ã€ŠAdopted by the Mob (An Astoria Story) [LitRPG Elements]ã€‹


 Chapter 1

    A crew of teens and pre-teens and I make our way down a street a few blocks off the Strip in Vegas, where the less grandiose buildings were built to support the once-glorious skyline that offered entertainment and the promise of riches to those foolish enough to be dazzled by the glitz and glamor of it all. Nowadays, the only glitz we get is the shine of the world on whatever drug the local dealer is selling by the kiosk.

    The War of Warlords, the Warlord Period, Era, Apocolypse: there are many names for it, take your pick, most of the street gangs do; destroyed much of the infrastructure in cities like this in a grab for power as the System that the Empress of Humanity shoved upon us paved a path to power for everyone, and not just the ones who had already possessed it. Turns out there are a lot of determined psychopaths in the world.

    The past has no bearing on our search for food, however, so me and my rats (the teens), and the few grubs (pre-teens) that tag along to help carry stuff and learn from us, are patrolling a familiar area looking for hidey holes or strays to roll up on. Instead of strays, however, we find a pack of mongrels.

    I motion for my troupe to scatter, as I recognize the teen posted on the street as one that sells drugs and food for ¡®company¡¯.

    The feral System initiate eyeballs me as I approach, looking at my various parts to try and figure out who and what I am. I should be used to these looks by now, there are a lot of street gangs in Vegas, and the boys that initiated into the System without guidance or direction like to think that they¡¯re the cocks of the walk when it comes to orphan groups that can¡¯t get into orphanages or other assisted housing. The streets are basically a training ground for our future usefulness to larger organizations, such as the Warram Group, the Wasteland Aces, or a few gangs that fled Los Angeles during the Warlord Period.

    ¡°Keep staring at me like that and I¡¯m going to get offended.¡± I say in a playful tone, attempting to disguise the rage roiling at the base of my skull. My fist clinches around the knuckles I have in my pocket.

    ¡°Huh, you are a girl. With no tits and that haircut, it¡¯s going to be hard to convince one of the boys to take care of you.¡± He grins and takes a second look at my body, nodding after his greasy gaze reconsiders my ¡®fuckability¡¯. His friends shake their heads and get back to their card game.

    I leap at the skeevy ass as soon as his buddies are distracted and the feral initiate squawks in surprise just before I crash my brass laden fist into his mouth. Dazed and shocked, the boy only manages to fall back in an attempt to create distance. I pounce on him and land two heavy hooks to the side of his head before rushing the card-playing group.

    A gaggle of teens and pre-teens erupt from the nearby rubble with pipes, bats, and whatever else they can find, yelling their approach and causing the four other boys to pause in confusion for an extra moment after seeing me pummel their friend. Boss? Doesn¡¯t matter. I leap bodily at the closest one, hanging onto him like a baby chimp while I tenderize the back of his head and stick fingers in his eyes. The three others look for an avenue of escape.

    A few of my rats are taking kicks and punches, but these asses are taking pipes to their arms and legs, harried to the point of panic when I arrive to apply the strength that the smaller and skinnier children can¡¯t apply.

    Once they¡¯re all out for the count, I address the fifteen rats I corralled with me today. ¡°Scavenge the area, ten minutes. Food is finders keep, handheld weapons come to me, and electronics or tech type stuff go to Bruno to take to Jamie and we¡¯ll split the food she gets from it evenly. Go.¡± The team scatters like . . . rats, searching for a hideout or a shelter where the boys would have stayed out of the afternoon sun. Three stay back to search the unconscious boys. I go back to make an example out of the skeevy douche that was eyeballing me.

    Normally, I¡¯d pay no attention to people trying to figure me out, or hells, even the weirdos that would proposition me before figuring me out, but this asshole has been abusing the girls from Our Lady Luck, both physically and sexually.

    Sure, some of the rats go for selling their bodies for food and luxury. That¡¯s their choice, and at fourteen, they can make their own decisions. But when one of my grubs, a twelve-year-old, comes back with blood in her pants and tears in her eyes? Someone¡¯s punched their ticket to a messy end.

    I start by stripping the bastard, using his clothes to tie him to a large piece of concrete with rebar sticking out. Then I take out my fold-out knife and cut his neck, watching the blood paint his slightly chubby body. Kid was apparently doing well for himself before today. Then, to the gruesome message, the part that I know will take me past the line of justice to the path of vengeance. I cut off the weapon he assaulted my grub with and jam the fucking thing in his mouth. The gorge rises in my throat as I do so, but I try to assure myself that this taint on my soul will be worth it if it keeps these animals from assaulting my grubs.

    I walk back to the other boys and see that their shirts, pants and shoes are missing¡ªgood on those rats. Because I¡¯m already in for a pound, I feel almost nothing as I hobble the poor fools that followed a rapist. If they were in on it, they¡¯d have trouble catching their prey from here on out.

    ¡°Wrap it up. We¡¯ve been out here too long.¡± Kevin nods at me, taps two other boys on the arm and they toss some retracted switchblades at my feet before jogging off to get the rest of the kids. I examine them and stuff them in my pockets.

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    As we walk back, nobody talks. I think a few of the kids snuck a look at what I did, and I know Kevin saw me doing it. When we get back to the orphanage, the rats leave their hauls with the house mom, Mirabelle, a busty brunette my age with a kind smile and a comforting presence, and disappear to the washroom to get their cuts and scrapes cleaned. I open my mouth to talk to Mirabelle, when a hand grabs my elbow hard and spins me around.

    I use the spin to clock my assailant in the face.

    ¡°What the fuck Kimber?!¡± Jamie screams, holding the side of her head.

    ¡°I come back from a job and you feel like surprising me? What the fuck to you too Jams.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not getting any attention tonight.¡± She huffs and walks away.

    I can¡¯t tell if she means sex or cuddles. The cuddles are part of what keeps me together after long weeks of keeping this mismanaged heap of children safe in this freaking wasteland. Without Jamie, I would be just another violent reprobate, but her price is sex¡ªor at least that¡¯s what I¡¯ve equated it to.

    I like women, sure, but I¡¯m not really ready to be that kind of intimate with anyone. When she seemed interested, I kinda figured that I owed it to her for keeping me together, and sometimes putting me back together, so I go along with it. I don¡¯t know if she knows or cares that I¡¯m not into it, but what we have is stable enough, so I don¡¯t mention it.

    Jamie turns back at the door to address me, ¡°Come on, Kimber. Mother wants to talk to us.¡±

    I sigh heavily, turn back to Mirabelle for a brief wave and then drag my feet after my roommate.

    I know the route to Mother¡¯s office better than any child at Our Lady Luck with as many times as I¡¯ve been summoned. I know the lash better too, but that¡¯s at least by design: the rats and grubs mostly don¡¯t deserve them, so I take them in their stead. Fucking lash-happy nuns.

    ¡°You¡¯re always so difficult after a job, Kimber. Don¡¯t let that show to Mother or it will affect all of us.¡±

    ¡°If she paid more attention to us instead of giving lip and hand service to the gangs in the area, I wouldn¡¯t have to run jobs.¡± I scoff.

    ¡°If you didn¡¯t make so much trouble, they would give us more food.¡±

    I scoff at that too. ¡°Nah, Grace and Desi are spiteful bitches. They only care about themselves. They sit and eat in front of starving children as a form of punishment. It¡¯s funny, I can go out and seek retribution for their abusers on the street, but the kids¡¯ biggest oppressors get away with it because I need their approval to get a placement so I can help more people.¡±

    ¡°We all kowtow in different ways. I just wish yours was less pathetic.¡±

    ¡°Gods, you sound just like them.¡± I know I fucked up as soon as I said it. She slaps me, to my shock. Our expressions probably match right now.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± she shouts.

    ¡°You fucking slapped me?¡± I growl and barge past her to continue my journey. She says something, it might have even been aimed at me, but my mind is so loud and so Red that there is no chance I caught anything she had to say.

    I make it to Mother¡¯s office and she asks me to wait until Jamie arrives. When she does, she stands right next to me and tries to hold my hand. I clench a fist and let her deal with disappointment.

    ¡°Do you know why I¡¯ve called you here?¡± Mother asks. I want to say half a dozen scathing remarks, but I settle with shaking my head. ¡°Warram Group is in the market to adopt a dozen or so orphans, and they¡¯re starting with Our Lady Luck.¡±

    That is . . . that was not even on my extensive list of reasons for me to be standing here. ¡°Okay, is that a tomorrow thing where we do a massive cleaning effort? Or a few weeks thing where we clean progressively and stay out of trouble?¡±

    ¡°The second. They are coming on your birthday, and I expect you and all of the other sixteen and seventeen-year olds to be presentable with updated profiles.¡± She taps on her console. ¡°This means no missions to get more food, no brawling with neighborhood gangs, or simply just refrain from being yourself for a few weeks.¡± She states pointedly.

    ¡°Are you going to going to ask the sisters to stop skimming food or are you going to overlook my stealing food to keep people looking like Warram¡¯s money is going to keeping their interests healthy?¡±

    Her face colors with anger, but she quickly schools her features before replying. ¡°The sisters are not thieves, and as I said no more missions. You¡¯ll just have to convince the younger children to stop being gluttonous beggars.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me?!¡±

    ¡°There is nothing you can follow that with that won¡¯t earn lashes.¡± She narrows her eyes at me, daring me to test her. I almost do. But then I remember, she only said no more missions, not no more stealing. I smile in response and wait for her to continue while she waits for me to comment to my detriment.

    After several minutes, she dismisses both of us after telling us to keep the other teens apprised of the situation. While we walk back to our room, I already have a plan forming in my head on how to keep the teens fed and the grubs with a store that the Nuns won¡¯t find.

    When we get back to the room I grab a blanket off the bed and a book from the small library I¡¯ve amassed since living here.

    ¡°Where are you going with our blanket?¡± Jamie asked.

    ¡°Elsewhere. You¡¯ve been rude and violent, and I don¡¯t want to be around that tonight.¡± She shouts at me while I gather a few things in case she kicks me out for good, and I just let it wash over me. When I get to the door, she throws a threat that actually matters.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t stay with me tonight, I¡¯ll have a bonfire with your books that you can watch from the roof.¡± There¡¯s panic in her voice that I can¡¯t think of a reason for, plenty of anger and a hint of desperation.

    ¡°Jamie. I killed a boy today and I¡¯m not feeling much guilt save the waste of life that his was. Today is a terrible day to threaten me.¡± Then I left.

    My little den on the roof isn¡¯t much, but it¡¯s a place I can go when the noise of the house is too much. I¡¯m rarely this well prepared to weather the night, so I snuggle in with a small flashlight and get to reading. About an hour later, I see a fire in the yard, a trashcan full of debris with Jamie standing next to it and an armful of books. She stares at me while she burns each one, waiting for the fire ebb before adding the next. I stare back into her eyes the entire time, never once looking away, probably only blinking a few times in the hour she spent ¡®teaching me a lesson¡¯. My sense of obligation to her died as soon as the first book hit the fire.

 Chapter 2

    The next week finds me being as petty as I know how. I save some of my food and steal the electronics that Jamie was supposed to fence for us and go buy drugs with the lot of it. I reach out to the Toddler Titans, a group of older ferals that recruit as many nerdy ferals that they can, and they can get me ketamine and a roofie cocktail. I blend them of course and get about five doses out of the transaction.

    The week anniversary of her burning my pet project, when she¡¯s had enough time to relax, after heightened awareness period for reprisal, I take all of her clothes out to the yard, drag the small dresser out to the yard and soak all of her clothes in flammable liquid before rigging a small torch to fire as the drawer opens. The message is clear, of course. Same method, same place, same fuck you.

    A normal ¡®eye for an eye¡¯ response would have ended there. However, I am a petty bitch and when a person fucks with someone who is down and won¡¯t fight back, they can eat all of the dicks. Hence me putting roofies in the steamed milk that her and the Sisters have with tea on Sunday nights after bible study.

    It took me most of the night, but I finally found the multitude of hiding spots for the non-perishable foods that the orphans are supposed to get that the nuns have been skimming. I know they¡¯re skimming because Mother and the Sisters buy fresh, perishable goods for themselves to eat daily. Which is a massive misuse of their budget, which is why stealing more from the Orphans makes me want to murder. In any case, I do nothing more to Grace and Desi than invade their privacy and take the food they stole.

    I cut off Jamie¡¯s hair as close to the scalp as I can without cutting her. I then chop it as fine as I can and then rub it into the remainder of the clothes she has and the sheets. I also start populating another hidey hole with some comfort items like a few grungy pillows, wadded up paper stuffed in a sack, and some ratty-ass chairs to read in. I start staying there at nights and hide the food I liberated nearby. I bring some back every day to start feeding up the teens and supplementing the grubs.

    After years of feeling safe in Our Lady¡¯s walls, it¡¯s odd to be separated from the noise and what I thought was comfort. To my great surprise, some of the rats followed me in the coming days and set up some scavenged cots in my rat hole, preferring it to the bustle of the Orphanage. Plus, I do have the food.

    Jamie consistently sicked the Nuns on me. She tried to get me for burning her wardrobe, but since everything was effectively contraband, I got a few lashes for disorderly behavior and nothing else came of it¡ªfrom the nuns anyway.

    Now, however, I am being confronted with bat and knife-wielding thugs, trying to extort me for food that I promised my grubbies. I don¡¯t get out of this without some  . . . shitty hits, but one knife against two and three bats? I¡¯ll probably keep my teeth?

    I start by throwing switchblades. Only one out of the four landed pointy, but one less knife on the first assault is a win. I take a bat to cross one knife with as I wheeze from a chest and arm hit. I swing my fixed blade at a face, which he tries to block while I stomp his knee sideways.

    I lunge into knife number two with an inside twisting strike while he takes an outside chopping swing. Fuck me, I have to take this somewhere, pick a location chica. Outside forearms have meat and not a ton else, so I halt that chop with my bones.

    ¡°Fuck you!¡± I shout at the man who stabbed me, as my knife rushes toward his neck, he tries to move, but I lodge my blade under the inside of his jaw and end him with seven inches of steel. I retreat a few steps to jab my knife into the man with the busted knee, pulling the blade from my left arm to deflect a bat.

    My melee was furious and bloody, and I don¡¯t know when the rats that have been staying with me arrive with pipes, but when they do, I get a break from being withered with bone-creaking blows.

    ¡°Shit, Kimber. You look . . . not well. What do you need?¡±

    I hate to ask, because I hate to sell food, but I need a Terminal.

    ¡°Boys, I need a Terminal and some help getting there.¡± Two of my rats nod and one takes an arm as the other braces my battered leg. ¡°You guys are amazing. Are they all dead?¡± They shake their heads. I take a deep breath, shrug and murder the remaining unconscious or groaning thugs. ¡°I don¡¯t like doing this, by the way.¡±

    ¡°We weren¡¯t judging, Pops. You need to figure your woman out though.¡± This freaking guy. I nod in agreement with having to handle Jamie, but, like, calling me Dad gives me the feels and shit.

    When I get to the Terminal, I order the cheapest T-1 regenerative in exchange for a kilo of food. I offer the boys a buy and one asks for a coffee and the other a sweet toasties and I pay a quarter kilo for that. I established a trading account years ago, but I stopped fencing the electronics when Jamie started bitching about it. I don¡¯t know what she was skimming from it, but I suspect it was tea for her weekly time with the nuns.

    I think about how long that must have been going on and feel betrayed beyond measure. Sure I found out last week, but if I time it with her desire to participate in fencing our goods, it¡¯s been going on at least a year. Well, time to hide some bodies in her closet.

    I do a shit frame job. However, with a lack of other evidence, the other two nuns knowing I have leverage on them after their stash of fucking food disappeared (and keeps disappearing, the stupid cunts are pathological), and bodies stowed in Jamie¡¯s spaces, we earn a visit to Mother¡¯s office a week before Warram shows to buy us like slaves.

    That¡¯s rude to Warram, actually, as they are affectively buying an apprenticeship in a Grecian style and offering to optimize our System Tracks and Skills as best they know how. I actively want to be a Warram Orphan as they have the best resources in the area.

    ¡°Kimber, Jamie says that you¡¯ve been terrorizing her for the last two weeks.¡± Mother says.

    ¡°She slapped me before we last met, I denied her sex and slept on the roof so she burned the books I collected in retaliation. That was too far for me to forgive, so I moved out. She¡¯s been a petty bitch about it and sent some thugs to rough me up yesterday to express her displeasure.¡±

    I can feel Jamie¡¯s glare but Mother takes a deep breath to center herself. ¡°I¡¯ve also heard that you¡¯ve stolen from the Sister Grace and Sister Devi.¡±

    More leash to hang myself with, fine then. ¡°I found several hoards of non-perishables, no luxury items like chocolate or tea to speak of,¡± I openly emphasize the Sisters¡¯ favorite foods, ¡°And since I know that you and the Sisters provide yourselves with fresh food, I assumed those hoards were from errant orphans so I reclaimed them and have been redistributing them daily.¡±

    A humorous variety of emotions parade across her face, including outrage and embarrassment. This is an obvious sign that if the Nuns are complaining, and all I found were non-perishables, that her vaunted ¡®Sisters¡¯ have been less than holy.

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    ¡°You will get ten lashes for your flippant behavior.¡± She scowls.

    ¡°Sure you want to do that with less that a week before Warram shows, on my birthday?¡± Jokes on them, though, my birthday was last week and I¡¯m already fourteen. Two more years to my mandated System initialization if I don¡¯t get picked next week.

    ¡°Twenty lashes will serve as a warning to Warram of your penchant for misbehaving.¡±

    Those lashes did not feel good on top of my deep bruises, but the regenerative is still lingering I my blood, so hopefully I¡¯ll get a little boost from it.

    ¡°You really are a shit, Kimber. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d tattle to Mother about our disagreement!¡± Jamie shouted in the hallway. Before I can reply, Mother sticks her head through the doorway.

    ¡°Miss Gooding, we have yet to reconcile bringing your blood games into my house.¡± She opens the door to her office wider and motions for Jamie to join her.

    Genuine surprise shows on Jamie¡¯s face for the first time that I¡¯ve known her. It¡¯s as though she realizes her petty machinations are coming due. I can¡¯t believe I let her have her way with me.

    ***

    ¡°Kimber, a moment of your time please?¡±

    I turn to see Maribelle addressing me from a respectable distance with several small children holding her legs.

    I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ve ever heard her talk to me. Her voice is comforting. ¡°Your space or mine?¡±

    She smiles, her face full despite rampant malnutrition in this house. ¡°The yard should be fine, if you will.¡± I nod and follow her lead.

    ¡°So, what am I fucking up today?¡±

    ¡°Oh? No, none of that. I just wanted to thank you for accepting Jace, Harper, and Bryant. They have been having trouble coping with a society and enjoy your commanding presence.¡±

    ¡°Heh, ¡®bout the only people who like me these days.¡± I wipe my hands down my face. ¡°I killed again today, and it¡¯s hard for me to feel bad about it. Should I feel guilt?¡±

    Her laughter is thin, yet musical. ¡°I am not here to be your mother too, Papa Kimber.¡± She titters in earnest as she hides her mouth with a hand.

    Jeeeez, what a cutie. ¡°I just don¡¯t know what to do. Finding and trickling in the stolen food sounds like a good deed, but I¡¯m no parent figure.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps not by traditional standards, but here? You¡¯re their protector. You take in the dark so they don¡¯t have to. The sense of security you provide cannot be questioned. As you become the dark, what is to fear but what we already know? As you become the dark, the monsters that lurk are learning to fear it as much as legends of old.¡±

    ¡°Pfft, some legend, but thanks Maribelle. I could definitely use that to keep the grubs from being so afraid. ¡®Don¡¯t worry, as long as I¡¯m around the monsters under the bed will stay under the bed.¡¯ Or, how about, ¡®if you see something, it¡¯s not looking for you, it¡¯s checking for me.¡¯¡± I can¡¯t help but laugh at how ridiculous that sounds and my laughing gets away from me enough that Maribelle¡¯s laughter leaks out from behind the hand covering her mouth.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you laugh, Kimber. You don¡¯t seem to get a break from the seriousness that you¡¯re engaged in.¡± She walks over and puts a hand on my shoulder. Somehow, that shoulder starts to immediately relax. There has got to be some kind of hoodoo at work, even though I know she¡¯s not old enough to self-select System integration, she is way too good at making people feel comfortable around her. I could use that relaxing aura on the rest of my back though.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s good to have a moment without responsibility from time to time. I¡¯m hoping when we get picked up by Warram that I can be told what to do instead of having to figure it out for me and a dozen other people.¡±

    ¡°Confident that Warram¡¯s going to want us?¡± She smirks. I can tell she agrees with me.

    ¡°Uh, yeah. How can I not be? Even if they¡¯re only here to select a handful of kids, there are four of us that are clearly more together or capable than the rest.¡± She nods at my statement and waits for me to continue. ¡°Plus, why else would they schedule their assessment for my birthday?¡±

    ¡°I had wondered about that. No use thinking too hard about it though. Next week we¡¯ll know for sure.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I honestly can¡¯t wait.¡± I sigh and run my hands through my shaggy crew cut. ¡°I should go get some of the pasta and canned beans for the teens so I don¡¯t get fucking lashes because there isn¡¯t enough to eat.¡± I reach up and squeeze her hand before walking off.

    When I get back from my bolt hole I hand my room-mates the pasta and cans and ask them to guard it while I set up the kitchen. To my surprise, there is a brand new padlock on the gas valve. Well fuck them, the vengeful cunts. ¡®Hey Kimber, make sure they¡¯re fed or else!¡¯ but you can¡¯t cook or use the kitchen or anything.  I get a pot and fill it full of water and put a pan in there to heat the beans too. I pull a rack out of the oven and go back to see my room mates. I ask them to move the trash barrel back to the burn mark in the dirt while I go get some wood.

    The wood is supposed to be used only when important people are visiting, so that they won¡¯t think that the temperature is utterly unregulated in the winter. Well, if they lock me out of the kitchen, I¡¯m gonna steal shit to cook with. I nab a few of the magazines that the nuns collect and go back to the yard to cook over a fire. I of course splash the wood with flammable liquids to ensure I don¡¯t have to waste a bunch of firestarters. About an hour later, we¡¯ve scrounged up some bowls and start digging into our bland but bountiful meal.

    ¡°So, who¡¯d you have to fuck for all this food?¡± Marcus asks. The big man is a capable protector, but he does not understand words like ¡®polite¡¯ or ¡®tact¡¯. Which is part of why we get along.

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered that you think I¡¯m pretty enough to get paid this much for sex. I do have dexterous hands, though.¡± He snorts and then coughs up a noodle. ¡°None of that though. I¡¯ve know for a while that we haven¡¯t been getting the food allotment that our benefactors buy for us. I just finally got mad enough to find where it was being hidden and steal it back.¡±

    ¡°Thank fuck for that. I want to look like a human on market day instead of whatever boney alien we look like now. Well, except for you Kimber, you¡¯ll probably still look like a boney alien.¡±

    ¡°Copy that, Marcus. No stolen food for snarky black assholes.¡±

    Jamal gasps from across the trash can fire, ¡°What the fuck Kimber?!¡± I snort at that and then hack up a noodle as a result of my laughter.

    As the sun sinks toward the horizon, we bullshit and laugh as a group for the first time in months¡ªthe stress of food shortages momentarily forgotten. For the fourteen plussers, I¡¯m seeing a sense of hope in their eyes that the end of our incarceration may be near. Hope is a dangerous and wonderful thing, I just wish that Warram had spots for all of the folks here that are between fourteen and eighteen. I don¡¯t want any of my rats falling in with the assclowns that I¡¯ve been roughing up lately.

    I drag the rack and cooking utensils back to the kitchen to clean them, and an irate Mother is there to meet me.

    ¡°Do you know how expensive that wood is?! What possessed you to cook in the yard instead of in here?¡±

    I point to the stove. ¡°Hard to use a stove when the gas line is locked shut. If I gotta feed the kids, I¡¯m going to find a way to do it.¡± I squeeze past her and start scrubbing the pot, trying to get the burned noodles from the inside and the char from the outside.

    ¡°You need to resolve your conflict with the Sisters, Kimber. You¡¯ve clearly angered them. Go talk to them and get the lock removed.¡±

    ¡°Sure, might as well do your job too. Since I¡¯ve already had to reclaim hoarded food from Grace and Desi, what¡¯s one more task that is literally in your job description.¡± I wasn¡¯t looking at her while I was being rude. If I had been, I might have prepared a reaction to the metal spoon hitting my back.

    ¡°You dare speak to me that way?! With all of the evils you have visited upon yourself and the people of this house, you should be grateful I allow you to stay!¡±

    It takes all my willpower to reign in my desire to retaliate. The honey badger instincts are tempting me to throw cautions and fucks to the wind and see what happens. I turn toward her, holding the handle of the pot as though I¡¯m thinking of bludgeoning her to death with it. The confidence flushes from her face.

    ¡°That¡¯s like asking me to be thankful for your incompetence, or for the thieving, petulant bitches that even you don¡¯t want to deal with. I won¡¯t be doing that, Mother. And I fucking can¡¯t wait to see what this place devolves into after Maribelle and I are gone. Maybe Warram will finally see that the successes you¡¯ve claimed will be leaving with us.¡± I throw the pot into the sink with a loud bang and march past the lazy bureaucrat. I see her hand raise in the corner of my view and turn to swat her hand into dropping the spoon. ¡°Grow up.¡±

    I hear a series of clangs in the kitchen as I walk down the hall. Her frustration brings a smile to my face, even though I know I¡¯ll be paying for it later. If she punishes the kids to get to me, I¡¯ll take it out of her ass.

 Chapter 3

    Luckily, Mother doesn¡¯t attempt to punish my grubs or rats to get to me. I¡¯d like to think that she got over her little tantrum, but I¡¯d wager she realized that I can cause her enough trouble that Warram would ask questions in the few days remaining before their visit.

    The Sisters of course double down on filling my time with meaningless tasks and trivial bullshit. They refuse to unlock the stove and have bought a lockable crate for the wood to keep me from stealing it. I¡¯ve been stealing slats from their beds, but that¡¯s about to be blatantly obvious if this goes past today. I¡¯ve been augmenting with their civilian clothes, but the cheap synthetics aren¡¯t good for cooking.

    Things continue with a skewed version of normal until the morning of the day before my ¡®birthday¡¯ when I wake up to Jace and Harper holding me down while Bryant ties my hands and feet together on my pillow bed in my bolt hole.

    ¡°To what do I owe this betrayal?¡± I growl out to the boys sitting on me.

    ¡°You¡¯ve made Mother and the Sisters desperate enough to offer us a placement with Warram if we ¡®handled¡¯ the problem that you pose. We decided that you missing their visit would be good enough.¡± Pragmatic and merciful. I can respect that. Their hope and trust in Mother is a bit stupid, but their aversion to people and crowds make them an outside chance for an established, organized gang like Warram unless someone vouches for them.

    ¡°I appreciate the lack of blood. I wish you the best of luck on Mother keeping her promises. Please get the fuck off me.¡±

    Jace and Harper chuckle as they stand. ¡°Thanks for not going nuts about this. This is likely our only shot to avoid joining the petty thugs that scurry around Vegas.¡± The whisper back and forth before turning back to me. ¡°Why don¡¯t you think Mother will back us?¡±

    ¡°Much the same reason you¡¯re hog tying me where I live. No time, lack of options. She needed someone to handle me, and if the result happens, she¡¯ll have more time to deal with the follow on problems once the Warram officials leave. That and she beat me with a spoon because I used wood to cook for you all instead of finding a way to unlock the gas line in the kitchen.¡±

    ¡°You were probably an asshole about it.¡±

    Shrugging while hogtied is awkward. ¡°She¡¯s allowed the Sisters to hoard food meant for us for years, so take that as you will.¡± I¡¯m not trying to convince them to release me, which is likely the only reason they¡¯re listening.

    Truth be told, I understand the betrayal. It¡¯s also the softest mutiny in the history of mutinies. A plus in both columns of my eventual retaliation. ¡°Can I get a long drag of water before you gents take off? A few days is a long time without it.¡±

    Jace shrugs and feeds me a water bottle, then bounces the empty off my face before he walks out. Well, I¡¯ll ruin you first dickhead, that was unnecessary. Well, since no one told them that they should consider biology while tying people up, I shimmy and adjust until I get a little twisting freedom from the bindings in exchange for cuff tightness, then fold my skinny ass over and shimmy my wrists underneath my entirely absent butt, pulling the whole binding in front of me. I wiggle some more to make the cuffs looser and make the binding less flexible so that I won¡¯t lose my hands or anything.

    I briefly consider that someone is watching the exit of my hole and what I should do while they get tired of staring at nothing. Tired, yes, I could sleep. So I do my best to find a comfortable position and try to rest.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    An unknown time later I get kicked. I lash out with my bound hands and manage to grab a foot. I alligator roll the damn thing until I hear something pop and I hear a yelp and some yelling in pain. I let go of the foot and roll toward the noise and grab at what feels like a neck with my hands and feet.

    ¡°Kimber! What the fuck!?¡±

    ¡°Well, Jayce, you kicked me and I object.¡± I keep fumbling for his neck as he flails and tries slapping me away between bouts of discovering his knee is fucked.

    ¡°You were supposed to escape by now and I got bored! Lay off you psycho.¡±

    ¡°I OBJECT!¡± I head but the ass in the face and pretty much anything he puts near. He tries to strangle me but puts a thumb near my mouth. I take it off his hands and decide that biting is working, so I keep fucking biting. Between biting him and hopping awkwardly on his head, I manage to get him unconscious with both of us covered in blood.

    I start searching his person as best I can, but it doesn¡¯t feel like he has anything sharp on him. I search the room, in case my alligator roll caused him to drop or throw something, and I find a sheet metal shiv in the corner. Hells yes.

    It still takes me an hour of finagling my body and the shiv to saw at my bindings with intermittent breaks to toss my whole self at Jayce¡¯s head. I briefly consider why Bryant and Harper aren¡¯t checking up on him, but perhaps the bonds between them ended with their bonds to me. It¡¯s night time before I get free and I¡¯m a little embarrassed about it. I tie Jayce up like they tied me, but focusing on tying the cuffs on his hands far too tight. I give his head a few good kicks to ensure he doesn''t wake up in time to save his hands and collect the food I stashed here, using Jayce¡¯s clothes as a backpack.

    I walk to an old pump station built from concrete that I¡¯d considered for a residence save for the half hour walk. I rummage for the key to the lock I put on the machine room years ago, grateful that the boys didn¡¯t rob me blind. I stash the food that I can¡¯t fit in a satchel and lock the room back up. I trek back to old town and the orphanage. I sneak into Maribelle¡¯s room, where I see her covered in half a dozen grubs in an adorable cuddle puddle, and drop off the food before I go back to the fire barrel to cover myself in soot.

    Despite how serious my sneak thieving is, I¡¯ve got a jaunty tune stuck in my head and now that I¡¯m not tied up, I¡¯m feeling pretty good. I start in Jamie¡¯s room because I know she has a legit backpack and then I proceed to the Sisters¡¯ room for their stash of sweets. I then hurry to the kitchens for the best knives in the building, proceeding to Mother¡¯s office to steal everything not bolted down.

    With the kitchen knives I dig out the chincy locks in the desk and dump the drawers into the backpack. I see that she has a fucking System tablet and in her infinite arrogance, she doesn¡¯t have it encoded to her or a passcode. I list the Sisters¡¯ sweets on the marketplace for a pittance and immediately get buyers. I¡¯ll hike out to a terminal after my thieving. I leave the petty cash, or I try to but my damned sticky fingers drag it with me. My impoverished ass isn¡¯t going to leave a Credit in Marks to get cold and lonely. This might as well be a rescue as much as it is a robbery.

    Having kept my escapade to mostly personal items, I saunter off to the terminal and bag another six Marks for the sweets and a few items of costume jewelry. While six Marks isn¡¯t a fortune, it¡¯s enough to keep me fed for two weeks, especially if I buy Imperial rations with them.

    A Mark is essentially ten bucks old US currency, and with sixteen Marks to a System Credit, I¡¯m safe for a while for sustenance. Also, a Credit goes pretty far if you have access to a Terminal. This is where Warram¡¯s hundreds of credits a year goes to. That¡¯s right friends, Mother could be buying weeks of rations instead of their fresh produce meals, but who am I to audit a budget?

    I march my happy ass back to my machine room, reveling in my ration boxes and gorge myself on foods I¡¯ve never had in my lifetime. Pot roast with rosemary potatoes? Shepherds pie? These are decadent, gluttonous feasts compared to two kilos of dried noodles and four cans of beans. I might just kill myself with food this week. Maybe just today.

    I pat the first food baby of my life and revel in the slightly uncomfortable splendor of being full.

 Chapter 4

    Market day. I eat a tasty garden omelet? No, it¡¯s definitely tasty, I just have no experience with omelets. I remember Mother telling me that the representatives from Warram would be arriving around ten o¡¯clock so I should start heading that way.

    While I would wholly revel in barging in on their little Orphan parade in the entry way, I decide to wait down the block until a train of vehicles I see are parked and the people are inside the Orphanage. When I figure they are deep into consideration of my charges and two traitors, I walk back to Our Lady Luck and climb up a van and sit on top of it to eat another ration. These things are so effing good.

    About an hour later, I feel the roof I¡¯m on flex.

    ¡°You know, it¡¯s rude to have multiple bolt holes when I¡¯m looking for you. I spent all morning to find you here.¡± I look over to match a face with the smooth tenor of a female voice that politely chastised me.

    ¡°Ahh, sorry miss. I find it appropriate when the Mother of my orphanage is trying to have me murdered.¡± I spear a rather large potato chunk and offer it to my . . . stalker?

    ¡°Oh? Which version of the omelet is it?¡±

    ¡°Garden with Ham?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Yes please.¡± She takes the fork and stabs a few additional potatoes before returning the utensil to me. ¡°That was nice of you Kimber. I rather like this version of you over the one in the stories and records of the Orphanage.¡±

    ¡°Mmm, I am much more pleasant with a full belly. I¡¯m Kimber Novarro. Whom might I be sharing a meal with?¡± My rooftop visitor stiffens slightly and I wonder if I¡¯m about to be violenced.

    ¡°Oh! Yes, I¡¯m Marcella Fontaine. I¡¯ve been tracking you for non-creepy reasons. Geniveve, Desi, and Grace all claimed you ran away. One of our most anticipated . . . new members running? That is so against your profile, it was laughable. So, I tracked you down. Turns out, our profile of you was right. I like you already.¡±

    ¡°I am getting over-enthusiastic sister vibes from you. Is this normal?¡±

    She scoffs. ¡°No way. Normal doesn¡¯t apply these days. I am looking for a protegee, and Warram¡¯s algorithm says that you¡¯re my girl.¡± She taps her cheek with her finger a few times before staring at something I can¡¯t see.

    ¡°I wondered if Mother¡¯s attempt at smoke and mirrors would work. So, we talking indenture, work donkey, or actual trainee?¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a dark view. Who do you think we are?¡± She snorts and shakes her head, ¡°Never mind, don¡¯t answer that. Trainee, mostly, but also personal project. I want to work toward both of our goals, but we¡¯re going to pursue them as aggressively as possible.¡±

    ¡°I mean, offering me my hopes and dreams is a good start. Where to I sign?¡± I say jokingly as I stuff a fluffy egg with onions and peppers in my maw.

    ¡°With the contract that Warram has with Our Lady Luck, I just adopted you. Sooo, you¡¯re mine until you¡¯re eighteen and you¡¯re going to train your ass off.¡± I lock eyes with her and give her wording a serious glare. She looks away for a moment to huff and looks back. ¡°Don¡¯t make it weird. Of course, if you don¡¯t want to work hard toward getting the best Track possible, then you could always decline.¡±

    ¡°Why do I feel like that even if I was afraid of working hard, it would be in my best interest to try anyway?¡± I say, moving on to the last few potatoes in my parcel.

    ¡°A lot of reasons, really, but you¡¯re not dumb, so you¡¯ll figure it out in time.¡± She stands up, brushes off her legs and rump and faces me again. ¡°I¡¯ve got some work to do, but once Parker is done with the selection process, you can tell him Fontaine talked with you already. See you soon, Kimber.¡± She hops off the roof, jogs behind the last SUV and hops on a motorcycle and motors away with her blonde pony streaming behind her.

    That¡¯s a solid exit, Marcella. Certainly not what I expected from meeting a leader in the biggest gang in Vegas, but as cool as she seems, when anyone tells you you¡¯re going to do something until your ass falls off, there¡¯s some pain in store.

    ¡°Why would she not take me with her?¡± I wonder out-loud and someone behind me coughs in response.

    ¡°Fontaine has more important things to do. Now get off my car and wait for the rest of the recruits to join us.¡± I look back and see he¡¯s waving his pistol in a shooing motion.

    It¡¯s rude to pull a weapon when I¡¯m being peaceful, but it is a solid way to tell me he isn¡¯t kidding. I slide off the side and drop into a crouch, slumping just a bit more to lean against the tire as I finish my food. He must have had the window open before he turned the car off and I wasn¡¯t paying attention. Was he reclined and taking a nap and I didn¡¯t see his profile? I had glanced to look for a profile of a head, but didn¡¯t see one. Huh.

    I tuck the trash back in the pack I liberated from Jamie and try to relax, remembering that today is supposed to be a new lease on the near-constant stress that has been my time at the orphanage. There have been some good moments, I suppose. The faces on my rats when they learned a new skill, used a parkour route that they¡¯d never completed before, or some other accomplishment that I¡¯d pushed them to learn that gave them pride. Those moments were the best.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    The front door to the orphanage opens to a pretty brunette in a plain black suit with a briefcase. She steps to the side, holding the door for a man in the most expensive-looking clothes I¡¯ve ever seen. His confident smile and much too perfect complexion show that he¡¯s used to attention and likes it, no expects it. I imagine he¡¯s the one in charge today, so I stand, strap my pack on and get ready to greet him.

    ¡°If it isn¡¯t the notorious runaway.¡± The man says before I can introduce myself. Guess he knows who I am. ¡°I¡¯m relieved that a potential asset of ours hasn¡¯t been found dead.¡±

    ¡°Sorry for being late, sir. Had a disagreement that I had to work out.¡± He raises an eyebrow in interest but refrains from asking.

    ¡°Talia, make sure we have her updated bio data,¡± he told the brunette with a briefcase, then turned to the group of kids behind them. ¡°Everyone load up in the vans starting with the rear of the convoy.¡± He turns back towards me and takes the remaining steps to me, his stare locking me against the side of the forward van. ¡°As for you.¡± He starts to assess me, spending a good amount of time on features of my head and face.

    I hear the briefcase open and moments later something is clamped around my bicep and the device pokes, punctures, and low-key shocks me before the woman takes it off again. I see all this happen in my peripheral vision as the man in front of me gives me the most invasive visual inspection of my life. Something at the base of my brain is encouraging me to scream or slap him, but before I can he steps back and nods to the woman beside me.

    ¡°Alright Kimber, let us get you in the van and we¡¯ll talk more on the way.¡± She opens yet another door and coaxes me inside with a hand on my back and a light shove when I start to look backward. She follows me in and sits next to me and closes the door. Mr. Smile opens the passenger door and jumps in next to the driver.

    A few minutes later, the vans behind us honk twice, quickly, and we pull out of the Orphanage parking lot at a sedate speed. I wonder if these vehicles are converted to aether-based drives or they have their goons scavenging petrol. After more than ten years since the Empress released the System on an unsuspecting Earth, gas has got to be getting scarce. There could be a refinery or something they can buy off the System Exchange, so who really knows.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to waste my breath on the spiel that I gave to the rest of the orphanage.¡± Smiley says, ¡°but as a top-rated candidate, you¡¯ll likely have multiple offers for sponsorship coming your way after the first few weeks of what we¡¯re calling the proving grounds.

    ¡°To keep a sponsorship you¡¯ll have to agree to direct your growth toward the department that picks you up. That said, your interests and capabilities will play a part in who selects you.¡±

    At this point he describes the proving grounds and the particulars of the tests, trials, whatever. It¡¯s obvious that Marcella and this man, who Talia eventually calls Parker, never talked about her picking up my sponsorship straight away.

    Parker, who never introduces himself, continues to talk about the benefits of working for Warram, and especially the department he works in. This man is apparently called a ¡®Face¡¯. Charismatic and pretty, they are the public face of the organization and occasionally act as interrogators and spies. He lost me immediately as he talked about the advantages because being in the general eye of the populace of Vegas does not interest me whatsoever. If I get famous through action, great, but celebrity because I¡¯m pretty? No thank you.

    I also think that Parker is low-key hitting on me, which is creepy, but it¡¯ll be interesting to see his ego take a hit when he finds out he has zero shot at influencing me that way. So far as I know, there¡¯s no cure for gay, and I¡¯ve only wanted to kiss girls since I was twelve.

    ¡°Since we¡¯re a few minutes out, I¡¯ll let you know what to expect when you arrive.¡± Parker sneers at the interruption but Talia carries on. ¡°All of the recruits will stand in a line to get various inoculations before entering the building. Then, while the others will be separated by gender for supply and lodging purposes, you and the other three top-ranked will be further separated and briefed on expectations from representatives from the various departments. They will explain what is required of their teams. There will be a brief Q and A period, after which you will be asked to indicate your two top choices.¡±

    So, Smiles was absolutely trying to get a leg up on the other departments. I respect the drive and subverting custom to get what you want. It¡¯s just Marcella did it earlier and better; and from the five minute interaction, I felt strong role-model vibes. I so want to look that good in a leotard.

    Lot of work ahead for that, Kimber, I scoff at myself. And remember, Marcella has made very few promises, so don¡¯t be quick to tell other people they¡¯re not the boss of you.

    ¡°That sounds pretty great, honestly. So, is the proving grounds more of a formality for the four of us?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t go that far. If you want into a department that demands physicality, you need to meet their requirements. Same for analytics, diplomacy, and so on. Until you sign an agreement with a department, don¡¯t let up. No matter how promising the algorithm says you are, there are few things more common across humanity than wasted talent.¡±

    That hits me. Marcella never had me sign anything. Despite her assurance, am I still part of this meat market? And here I thought I was done with uncertainty.

    Take a breath, Kimber. You don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, assumptions can only hurt you here. Maybe there was something in Marcella¡¯s words that meant more than it seemed? Or maybe she¡¯s a fucking rogue and a liar.

    I take a few deep breaths to calm my runaway thoughts and it probably makes me look as nervous as I feel.

    ¡°It¡¯s a lot to take in,¡± Talia says in a soothing, soft tone. ¡°But it¡¯s going to be much better than going back to Our Lady Luck.¡±

    My head snaps in her direction, my eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°Is that an option? Would you send us back?¡±

    Parker chuckles, ¡°It¡¯s certainly possible, though unlikely. Your face would have to be ruined to the point it would be too expensive to fix. Most likely, you would be put in hospitality services should you fail to meet other department criteria.¡± I don¡¯t like the way he says ¡®services¡¯, sounds like a way for perverts to abuse young women that don¡¯t have any marketable skills.

    My eyes narrow and my hands ball into fists as I bite back a retort full of fear and anger. I pull my chin away from Parker to look at the van door and promise myself that if I got placed in Hospitality ¡®Services¡¯ I would send as many perverts to the grave as I could manage before I followed them to hell.

 Chapter 5

    ¡°What¡¯s in the bag, kid?¡± A beefy teen about my height asks me. He¡¯s wearing an athletic top and canvas work pants(?) with some sort of weapon on his waist. Did they pull a construction worker into guard duty?

    ¡°Knives, rope, food and some trash.¡± I shrug and offer the bag to him. He holds out a hand to stop me.

    ¡°No clothes?¡±

    I shrug, ¡°Didn¡¯t seem important at the time.¡±

    He shrugs back. ¡°You can take one knife, worn openly, and as much ready-to-eat food as you can carry.¡±

    I drop into a crouch and quickly pull out the food, stuff some small stuff in my hoodie pockets and dump the chips and cookies in my hood. If I have to wear the knife openly, no reason to pick one that fits in my pocket. I pick a long, thin fixed blade with a sturdy cross guard and tie it and its sheath to my back beltloops. Zipping up Jamie¡¯s bag, I toss it to the side and stand ready.

    ¡°I am going to put a code on your hand or forearm that links to your System Profile. You do not have personal access to the System yet, but this will gain you access to the training facilities and rooms you are granted permission to.¡±

    I roll out my left arm and point to the inside meat of my forearm below and to the side of my elbow.

    ¡°Uh, mostly we do the hand.¡±

    ¡°Hands are too easily taken, though.¡± I see shock in the guard¡¯s face, he looks over to the next line to his buddy, who shrugs and nods. The man takes my left arm and presses a black box to it. Something wet hits before searing pain, a brief coat of wet before more and longer pain. About thirty seconds later, he pulls the box away to show a pixelated mosaic that doesn¡¯t resemble anything I¡¯ve seen.

    I¡¯m ushered forward toward the building, where I see Talia waving me over to join Marcus, Jamie, and Maribelle. I frown at the familiar faces, not that I¡¯m upset at Mirabelle, but Jamie¡¯s a two-faced bitch and Marcus probably had a hand in my ambush, or at least knew about it. Lets see how happy they are about the snacks I got out of my rations.

    As soon as I pull out the pack of cookies, Jamie and Marcus immediately looked at them and watched me eat the first one before diverting their naked desire somewhere else. It brings a smile to my face as the chewy, chocolatey treat hits my tongue.

    ¡°There will be refreshments in the meeting room, so let¡¯s not dawdle,¡± Talia says, while the man standing next to her takes that as his cue to open a side door and walk through it, beckoning us to follow.

    The narrow halls are well lit with a multitude of doors on either side and at a seemingly random door, the man leading stops and opens a door. Talia walks through and the rest follow, last in¡ªbecause I don¡¯t trust two of them behind me¡ªI have the opportunity to check the room out as the other kids attack the snacks.

    There are two tables with two chairs in the middle of the room and a long table with like ten chairs at the back of the room where most of the adults are sitting. My eyes immediately stop on Marcella, sitting on the edge of the table, as she gives me a small wave and winks at me in a way that tells me she¡¯s got mischief on the mind. Well, at least she still seems happy to see me, which makes me think this is an obtuse maneuver against her co-workers rather than a lesson for me.

    Parker is on the opposite end of the table, standing and chatting with some of the other adults as they look at the other three orphans, occasionally glancing at me. Though I don¡¯t love being paraded in front of people, the looks I¡¯m getting are way less disturbing than the assessment Parker levied at me on the outside of the Van. I shudder thinking of it again.

    I shake it off with a walk to the snack table, pick up a tray of sandwiches a mug of coffee and a cup to one of the tables and sit down. I look up midway through my second sandwich half to see the other three looking at the table full of adults, waiting for them to say anything.

    ¡°Perhaps it is time to take our seats,¡± an olive-skinned man said and motioned for my compatriots to get seated immediately. Maribelle skips to and sits next to me before either of the other two can manage. I smile at my luck and she takes a sandwich. Marcella chuckles at my antics and remains seated on the corner of the table.

    ¡°I am Parker, head of Public Outreach, Engagement, and Recruitment. Sometimes we engage with other organizations, sometimes we interview people. The skills that we look for include . . .¡± and that¡¯s when I start staring at his forehead while I eat my sandwich and wait for the next person to start talking.

    Jamie perks up when a woman with frizzy hair and a tablet starts talking about Analytics and Financial Services. She starts out telling us that her program tests for different types of pattern recognition and trends to see if recruits are suited for Finance and Business Management or Behavioral Analysis and Complex Pattern Correlation.

    Who organizes a gang like this? Like seriously, this sounds like some pre-fall corporation or something. I suppose that them ¡®departments¡¯ should have been a clue. I miss the next man¡¯s presentation mulling over the pros and cons of a corporation having a thug and wet work division.

    ¡°I am called Prakesh. My department trains everything from Thugs to Enforcers. If you are not fast or strong, no need to share your interest, I will not care. You will need to pass the gauntlet to obtain my sponsorship.¡± He spares a few glances at me, but he mostly talks to Marcus¡ªa physical specimen.

    Even though I know Marcella is interested in me, it hurts a little to see the disinterest in the team that I would have wanted to join. I like the idea of being an enforcer, messing up bad guys to keep our people safe. Sure there is going to be some enforcing to protect some profits and whatnot, but my morality is fine messing someone up for stealing my stuff. It¡¯s funny though, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d want to do what I was doing at Our Lady Luck, but right now, the feeling of pride I had in protecting those kids and keeping them fed feels really good. It¡¯s the responsibility of coming up with plans, and methods to achieve those aims that I¡¯m not really comfortable with.

    Now I¡¯m nervous for what Marcella has in store for me. Speaking of, I missed a few short presentations in my musings, and she¡¯s up next.

    ¡°If you¡¯ve been seeing people looking at me after their briefings, it¡¯s because I basically never look at new recruits. I¡¯m a specialist and I typically train members of Warram that have spent their time in another department. I¡¯m responsible for security systems, protocols, and special forces training. From hacking and infiltration, to long-cons and espionage, I¡¯m who the departments send people to so they can get a little more out of them. That said, I¡¯ve spent the last three years developing a program that should be able to get a new recruit to specialist in a little over two years and if my Protegee succeeds, I¡¯ll get a line item in the budget and a golden ticket.¡±

    She pauses to take a sip from an insulated cup. ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s in it for me. I¡¯m not going to tell you what¡¯s in it for the four of you because I¡¯ve already picked my Protegee, and I gave my brief.¡± Marcella looks me dead in the eye and walks over and hands me a sheet of paper.

    The room breaks out in murmurs while I read the document.

    /Marcella Fontaine, your adoptive Mother, wishes to take you as her Protegee.

    Are you willing to supply your maximum effort toward this task?/

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°I am.¡± I say to her, the document glows yellow for a second and she rolls it up and clutches in her hand.

    ¡°Then come along Kimber, we have work to do.¡± The tone was satisfied and expected to obey.

    I of course grab an extra sandwich before scuttling after her. I should be paying attention to where I¡¯m going, but for the life of me all I can do is look up at her expression and wait for it to tell me things. While munching away, of course, I don¡¯t know when my next meal will be, but I still have the snacks in my pockets.

    ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t eat too much, because one of my least favorite people is trying to . . . bury me in legalities and put you back in the pool of recruits. It¡¯s not likely, but we should put an extra nail in that coffin.¡± She starts jogging away and I follow suit as my motion causes the food in my hoodie to cause crinkly slapping noises. I chuckle over how ridiculous it sounds as we run through the hallways.

    We run to an events center with bleachers and everything, save for the main floor has been repurposed into a massive gym with a much smaller sparring area in the middle. If the whole building can hold a cavernous volume like this, it must be one of the massive casinos on the strip. I really should pay attention when people lead me places.

    ¡°Alright, see that outside ring with the little arrows on it?¡± I nod, ¡°Good. Start running and if you get to twenty laps, alternate lunges and jogging on each leg of the square until you can¡¯t jog or lunge anymore.¡±

    Instead of saying anything, I just get to it. Her instructions were simple and I¡¯m not dumb enough to fight back or hedge my efforts. I drop my hoodie full of snacks into the last chair in the row next to the track and get to running. Now I don¡¯t know how running long distance is for other people? But shit sucks. As far as I can tell, this loop is between a quarter and a third of a kilometer, so I set out at a pace might be able to keep up for an hour? I¡¯ve never run that long before, but Marcelle led with I was going to have to put in the work.

    That just gets me thinking about the effort to funding tie that she mentioned on the van roof. I have zero benchmark on her training routine, so maybe my sessions for a while will be to absolute exhaustion? In the street, that¡¯s a good way to die. Here? Maybe I¡¯m safe. As soon as I think safe, I hear a wet crunch and see a splat of blood as a boy¡¯s nose gets obliterated by his sparring opponent. Well, safer than I¡¯ve ever been, maybe.

    When my twentieth lap comes in, I¡¯m plodding with my every thought to shift my feet as much as I can with every step, to keep moving at any cost. I may have hit the first ten a little too hard. I get distracted by the refreshment table for the third lap in a row, and yet again my stumble almost takes me to the turf.

    You got this, Kimber, we go get some water, maybe see if I have a pack of fruit chews or something and try to do lunges without kneeing myself in the face.

    I maintain my shuffle pace to the bottle of water I was eyeing and shuffle back to my hoodie and slump into a chair while I search for a candy while sipping water. I find a small pack of gummy bears and destroy those chewy bastards. I figure I¡¯ll get a good five minutes of thinking out of this before I have to focus on the simple things to keep moving again, but it should be enough.

    I finish the bottle and prop myself back up on my stiffened legs and start with the best lunges I can handle. Less than half a side of the square-ish track, my form devolves significantly. My shuffle between lengths is pathetic, and I realize I¡¯ll be lucky to make it two laps. My legs are a shaky mess and two lunges is taking me a minute at this point.

    ¡°Alright Kimber, you can stop now.¡± I hear Marcella say and I stop, drop, and mop the floor with my face. ¡°Well, you did better than I thought you might as underfed as you are. Good intel though, which means we¡¯re going to use today as the standard you¡¯ll keep as we bulk you up. Twenty laps, two laps of lunge and jog.¡± She starts to walk toward the ring and I start crawling after her. When she pauses, I don¡¯t have the energy to look up.

    ¡°Climb into that chair and I¡¯m going to hand you things you will be eating between set groups, and how to manage your electrolytes and your water going forward.¡± I do as she asks, glad that the folding chair is sturdy. She hands me a tube a bar and a little pack of goo.

    ¡°That first pack are energy chews, they¡¯re sweet and salty and require water intake. I recommend those between set groups to pick you up and make sure your salt levels don¡¯t tank all at once. That second one is a protein and oat bar. It¡¯s going to make your weight training a little harder as your stomach needs to get used to having something in it, but it¡¯ll help you sustain into the second hour of your workouts and help you recover faster for your afternoon combat training. That little tube? That¡¯s sugar, caffeine and salt in a liquid of yoghurt-like consistency. It¡¯s for sprinting, max sets, and getting light headed between sets. If one and some water don¡¯t help stabilize you, stop working out and message me.¡±

    I have a brief thought of having nothing to message her with, but I can¡¯t be bothered to string sense-making words together right now. That¡¯s okay though, my mentor is really pretty and it¡¯s easy to just stare at her face while my head meat won¡¯t brain.

    ¡°Ah, damn. Get the chew out, and then attack the bar, putting two water bottles in you while I message the doc.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯bbe fine, miss font . . fonti? Fontan! No need for meds.¡±

    ¡°Empress¡¯ hangnails, your body is eating your brain.¡±

    Oh no! Better do what she said Kimber!

    I jam a couple of chews in my face and put a mouthful of water in there for good measure. Next, the bar. It¡¯s chewy, chocolate on top with oats and . . . something sticky-sweet on the bottom? The bottom is super tasty, but the top tastes like flavored foam board. I take a good look at it and the brown part actually looks like foam board! I glare at my trainer as I hate-chew this bar. The first bottle of water is over before this dry-ass bar is and now I know why she said to constantly sip water while I¡¯m doing this.

    ¡°Kimber you back? Or am I going to have to leave a trail of snacks to the bathroom?¡± I¡¯m not quite back enough to interpret her tone.

    ¡°That would be gross, but I¡¯d probably chance it.¡± She snorts at my not-joke.

    ¡°Not going to test that today. However, we are going to break for now. I didn¡¯t realize that starting this way can actually send your body into shock and that would be a mandatory stay with the doctor. So, you are going to take a shower, then I¡¯ll talk at you as we go through some more things. Go get your hoodie and meet me in the member locker room.¡±

    She walks away as I collect myself and stuff the remaining items she handed me and an extra stack of chews and a water bottle. The thought of a shower motivates me, hoping that an organization as big as Warram doesn¡¯t make their ¡®Members¡¯ take cold showers. I hope, I hope. By the time I get to my grungy top, I¡¯m moving with purpose.

    Marcella is tapping menus when I arrive and she walks into the actual locker room without saying anything. I shrug and I follow to see a few banks of lockers with long benches between them. She taps on a locker labeled P-1. ¡°This is your locker. Until you are a member, this will always be your locker. Wave your coded tattoo in front of it to see if it works. Your soap and shampoo are in there with your first compliment of clothes and shoes.

    ¡°There¡¯s a phone-sized data pad in there that has a dozen or so contacts you should have, it¡¯s linked to your profile. It has a language app and various training games and apps pre-loaded. Now, this is an important tool as it is one of the two things you will be doing when I am not with you. Meaning, if I am not around to direct you, you are working out, training, or eating. No exceptions, no excuses. Between set groups? Eating. Collapsed on the ground from your workout? Get your phone out and train Russian while you recover. I¡¯m aiming to make you a specialist faster than some teams train their raw recruits into members. You will simply not have time to waste. We have dinner together, and after that you can have free time. From dawn-till-dinner, you¡¯re working toward initialization and your track.¡± She pauses and looks into my eyes for questions, comments, or concerns. I have none, she is being very direct.

    ¡°There is also an incidentals card in there that links to a side account I made for you. Don¡¯t abuse it. There are a variety of reasons I won¡¯t transfer it to you specifically, but settle for I¡¯m lazy and paranoid. We¡¯ll fit you for your kit and we¡¯ll take that to your room after, but for now, get clean.¡±

    She walks out, I swipe my arm by the smooth black area and it clicks open for me. Great success. The space is completely occupied by a black duffel with a blazing red ¡°W¡± on the side. I pull out the toiletries and flip flops out and start stripping.¡± I stuff everything back in my locker, wondering where the heck I get a towel while I walk into the white-tiled area with better lighting.

    Found the towels, and huge mirrors displaying my skinny, naked ass, and a sign for soiled laundry. Well, hell, let¡¯s do that then. I go back, get my hoodie and pants and see a sign to scan before and after and follow the instructions. I take a towel and move on to the array of stalls with two sets of curtains one for the shower space and one for the changing space. Cool, I don¡¯t have to go full naked parade. I shrug and pull some curtains closed and turn on the water and point the handle to ¡°H¡±.

    In no time at all, I see steam coming off the water and I¡¯m so excited that I don¡¯t even test it before hopping in. I shriek and hop out while desperately trying to turn the heat down. Breathing heavy, I stare at the silver shower head like the bloody dragon that it is and flick my hand through its hellish stream a few times before the temperature starts to adjust. When I get it to the place that feels good, I remember the position and just soak a minute before soaping up my body and scrubbing the devil out of it. Rinse and repeat three times. I consider going for a fourth round, but then I think better of it.

    There¡¯s dirt on me that can¡¯t be scrubbed clean.

 Chapter 6

    ¡°Did you remember to tip the masseuse?¡± Marcella asks.

    ¡°Hah, hah, it took three scrubs to get me clean and my hair still feels oily. Here, touch it.¡± I grab her hand in an attempt to show her.

    ¡°Nope!¡± she takes her hand back. ¡°Nice to see your energy recover. We have a visit to the armory ahead, a visit to medical, then food in your room and some more of me talking, but this time about long term.¡±

    As we start walking, I tap the mapping app on my phone and have it track my route so I can input our destination and know where the hell to go in the future. This place is so big I could fall over and be in a different state. It¡¯s hard to believe there used to be enough people in Vegas to fill a dozen of these buildings. The War of Warlords ended around the time of my earliest memories, seven to eight years ago, but many places stabilized within two years after the start of the war period. Others places still smolder with conflict, which the nuns said was common in the pre-System Period.

    ¡°Kenneck! My Protegee needs gear!¡±

    ¡°Jaesus, ya banshee. I don¡¯t see why you come to my range for this, Fontaine.¡± He sneers, but walks over to a rail with a variety of armaments laid out. He assesses me for a second then turns back to Marcella. ¡°What¡¯s her combat weight going to be.¡±

    ¡°Sixty, sixty five kilograms.¡± The man whistles as he processes the difference between my current weight and my target weight.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to start you on a .38 special and a .308, 40 grain load for a long gun. I will not be fitting you for assault rifles at this time.¡± I like that he¡¯s talking to me, but I don¡¯t know what those numbers mean. He makes a similar assessment while I continue to stare at him with a lost expression.

    After half an hour we¡¯re both frustrated with pistols, and when we switch to rifles, Kenneck was spot on in guessing I¡¯m a .308 girl. It nestles into my frame like a familiar hay-stuffed sack and while the kick is a little much for me, it echoes down the length of me instead of kicking my weak points like the pistol does.

    ¡°Fontaine.¡± Kenneck says seriously, ¡°I can¡¯t let her carry a side arm. Best I can do is knives until she gets strong enough to wield the weapons.

    ¡°This is why I came to you. I presume you have a set of knives set aside?¡±

    The man sighs, but nods his head. ¡°I have a few blades that I would prefer over her pig sticker for trade craft, one that I would prefer for killing, and then a jack of all throwing set that does a decent job at everything a knife does, but is not exceptional at any of them.¡±

    I grab one and immediately hate it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t grimace at me girl, it¡¯s a training set designed to piss you off until you figure out what you want!¡±

    ¡°I know I don¡¯t want this.¡± I speak up. ¡°I¡¯ve been stabbing things for six or so years, and these are not it. I¡¯d toss a switchblade over these abominations. Got anything in two-sided throwable and combat with a line-ripper?¡±

    ¡°What in the seven hells do you need a line ripper for?¡± He gestures his frustration, but also searches through his collection for what I asked.

    ¡°Tendons, Kenneck. They¡¯ll catch and keep a serrated top, but a line-ripper comes out every time.¡±

    The man pauses to consider, his disbelief fading into professional curiosity. ¡°Huh, with your lower strength, that would be an issue. I take it you use the pig sticker to turn itself through the spaces between ribs?¡± I nod at his assessment, my opinion of him raised. ¡°one more question, do you spin or flick?¡±

    The corners of my mouth turn up in satisfaction. ¡°Spin, my good man.¡± And for the next ten minutes I¡¯m holding and throwing knives like I¡¯m on vacation. If it wasn¡¯t already my birthday, it would feel like my damned birthday.

    In the end, I pick a double edge with a finger hole in the base for sure-er drawing and the choice of treating it as a pseudo punch dagger. Solid weight, long as my palm, expert craftsmanship. I love them and Kenneck gives me a leather bandolier for the blades that hooks onto a gun belt he also gives me for a pistol he won¡¯t give me--yet.

    We spend much less time talking about combat armor needs as we already discussed my target shape so he recommends acquiring older gear not attached to sets to get the protection I need. That sounds like a bunch of shifting and awkwardness, and decide that even if Marcella goes through with a set, I¡¯ll hide it in the corner and hope to never wear it.

    I know we¡¯re going to the doctor next, and as much as I¡¯d like to avoid the whole thing, It¡¯s important to my training. ¡°So, mentor of mine, from a scale of none to Pervert, how much touching will there be?¡±

    ¡°Uh,¡± Marcella stops, ¡°like, maybe a six. Give me all of your weapons and your belt.¡±

    ¡°Miss Fontaine . . .¡±

    ¡°Kimber, we need an assessment, and I need him to sign off on your treatment.¡±

    I unconsciously snarl at the idea of a male doctor touching me. It doesn¡¯t just make my skin crawl, it¡¯s making my hand twitch. I might need therapy. Marcella pins an eyebrow as high as it goes and keeps that eye on me while she spends a minute in her menus. We spend a few minutes outside of the office with ¡°Dr. Renfroe¡± on the door until some seriously big boys walk up in some sleek looking suits.

    ¡°Marcella?¡±

    ¡°Kimber, these men are here to protect you and the doctor. Just, try not to get triggered? We don¡¯t have many doctors.¡±

    The large black man with hands the size of my torso looks at me with confusion, then rolls his shoulders in a shrug . . . or preparation, it¡¯s hard to tell, that¡¯s a lot of meat to move.

    ¡°Miss Fontaine, you know how I detest delays. If it weren¡¯t for your surprise Protegee, I would be on time.¡± He scoffs at me in my gym clothes. ¡°no smock? Get her out of those impeding clothes. I have data to take.¡±

    I look down and see form fitting clothes on my narrow ass. What the hell is he talking about.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± He grabs my arm and spins me.

    I refrain from raging, but everything in me tenses, becoming hyper aware of where my exits and potential weapons are. He touches the zipper on the back of my neck and all my restraint evaporates.

    ¡°Pervert¡± I seethe before the tension in my body springs into me bending in half and spinning while I grab the pen on his clipboard and aim it at the pervert¡¯s neck. I¡¯m a hand-full of centimeters away when I feel a bus slap me aside and a giant mitt catch my head before my body crumples against the opposite wall.

    The shaking of my brain has me confused and a little vomit prone. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t move. I¡¯mma puke if you do.¡± The man palms my head and drags me to a trash can, where I vomit.

    Nooo. I¡¯m wasting fooooood!

    ¡°Fontaine! We were not warned she was Talented for speed!¡± Renfroe sounds panicked.

    ¡°She¡¯s barely fourteen Jack, how the fuck would I know!? I added these two protectors for that reason.¡± Marcella defended.

    ¡°Some good they did! I won¡¯t be in the same room as that animal!¡±

    ¡°Jack Renfroe,¡± Marcella said in a low, threatening tone. ¡°You were impatient, and I warned of a Pervert trigger. You ignored me and tried to undress her. Now you¡¯re wasting my time. This time, you will take the time to explain why you need her to do things, or I will let her kill you.¡±

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Marcella looks around the room to see if anyone else had opinions, and the two large men that she invited hold their hands up in concession.

    ¡°Good. Now Kimber, I¡¯m going to give you a water and you¡¯re going to fucking behave.¡± My eyes go wide and I nod. ¡°Doc, start explaining.¡± She flings his pen back at him.

    The Doc takes a second to look around to ensure that he was alone if he wanted to disobey. ¡°M-miss Novaro. The extra tension in those compression clothing will mess up my calculations for your growth, and our estimates for your hormone therapy load. Additionally, we need a few baseline calculations that need measurements that clothes interfere with.¡±

    I take a breath, and seven more, then two more. Then I nod. ¡°sounds reasonable, but I¡¯ll do it this time.¡± My compression top and my yoga pants come off and I¡¯m feeling awkward in a sports bra and essentially black bathing suit bottoms.

    Renfroe takes some calipers and pinches my skin in various places, I snarl reflexively a few times and his hands retract at near-light speed. I get a sick sense of satisfaction that I put the fear of ME in him, but I try not to show it for an engagement as short as this.

    Marcella marches me out of the office more quickly than I can follow, so she¡¯s mostly dragging me. She basically throws me into the elevator, swipes her arm and smashes a button. I should pay attention to what floor, but I¡¯m more worried about the anger in her face. Is this rollercoaster how this is going to go? One minute she seems cool, the other she¡¯s treating me like a hassle.

    ¡°Marcella, what the hell is with the manhandling?¡±

    She sneers at me and slaps her hands against the elevator on either side of my head. ¡°My sister used to act like you. You¡¯re not the only one that gets triggered, Kimber. I almost watched that man kill you for trying to kill the doctor. It would be a lot easier if you didn¡¯t remind me of someone I care about, but it¡¯s too late to fix that.¡± She huffs, straitens herself and talks again. ¡°Just, please, don¡¯t commit suicide by negligence? Please.¡±

    The pleading in her tone settles me and convinces me that she¡¯s not just mad that I disobeyed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Marcella. I don¡¯t know why I react this way. I have since I started talking again. I¡¯m betting related trauma that I can¡¯t remember, but I obviously can¡¯t be sure.¡±

    ¡°Jesus, Kimber. You¡¯re not making me want to murder people less. Ugh, we should relax over food, but I don¡¯t want to go back down to the Cantina or I might stab another Officer. We¡¯re going to splurge and get room service, but don¡¯t get used to it.¡±

    I have no idea what she¡¯s referring to, but room service sounds like someone is going to bring us food, and I¡¯m all for that. We get out of the elevator and I see numbers that start with twenty seven. It doesn¡¯t take me long to figure out that we are on the 27<sup>th</sup> floor of this building, and I am now higher above the ground than I have ever been in my life.

    She keys into room 2722 and I move to follow like I have all day and she hip bumps me back into the hall. ¡°I am not sharing a room with you. But you do have a roommate. I¡¯ll let you get acquainted. Lunch in forty minutes.¡±

    I nod and back over to the room next door. I scan my arm on 2723 and the door lock goes green and the latch clicks open. The first thing I see is an open living space with couches, chairs and a large screen, and behind all that? Floor to ceiling windows of the open sky. I rush over to the windows and slide my face along the whole length in amazement, before a part of the glass pushes out under my weight and leads me to a small balcony with a pair of chairs and a small table.

    I stand and stare at the horizon so long I wonder if I missed lunch. I walk back in and see a small kitchen, a bar-top transition with stools and a sink, a small room with a closed door and Maribelle with a room and a large bed behind her.

    Maribelle with a bedroom behind her?

    ¡°Maribelle?! Uh, why are you in my room?¡±

    Her smile is bright and bashful¡ªI almost forget what I was thinking about.

    ¡°I¡¯d, uh, prefer if you called me Belle? We¡¯re going to live together, and part of my work includes helping you stay stable.¡± My knee jerk is to spout indignant rage. ¡°Before you say anything!¡± Belle rushes out, ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to get to know you for years. Jamie was just really hard to get past.¡± I snort at that, agreeing with the sentiment and the difficulty.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I mind being your roommate, it¡¯s just . . . all of the change.¡± I chuckle and shake my head while staring at the floor. ¡°As much as I¡¯d like to think I don¡¯t need your help, the last month and a half have been trying.¡± I take another deep breath and try to deflect the conversation away from myself for a moment. ¡°Since you already have a job, does that mean you also have a sponsor?¡±

    ¡°Mm?¡± She says, distracted by something before looking into my eyes again. ¡°Not as of yet, but I do know what department I¡¯m working for. So when miss Fontaine asked for emotional support and behavioral therapy, mister Dunn thought I would be a good fit. Truthfully, I was relieved to hear I¡¯d be helping you and staying with you. I haven¡¯t been alone my whole life, and having a familiar face around is really nice.¡±

    ¡°Wait, wouldn¡¯t all of the faces be familiar?¡± She smiles as though I¡¯ve asked a thoughtless question. I¡¯ve seen her use it on the grubs dozens of times.

    ¡°Kimber, one orphanage is not enough to feed an organization this large. There are more than a hundred new people, or that¡¯s my estimate that took a series of tests with me this morning.¡±

    ¡°Eww, tests. I¡¯ll take exercise to exhaustion over a test any day.¡± She giggles at me and my sour face.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad. They set us in front of tablets and we answered questions and played with them for a few hours. That¡¯s when someone from personnel services introduced themselves and asked what I was interested in doing. I described what I liked about working with the other kids at the orphanage, and she suggested I should work toward trauma support and other wellness activities.¡±

    Huh, that¡¯s a perspective I don¡¯t think I could have looked at Our Lady Luck from. Hating the circumstances, but loving working with the kids. I suppose I could say the same, liking to go out of scavenging missions, protecting, and seeking justice for the kids that were harmed and abused. I should probably talk to Marcella on what morality ideals we¡¯re working under.

    ¡°So tell me what you¡¯ve discovered about our rooms¡±

    ¡°The furniture is the nicest I¡¯ve ever seen, and most of the cabinets and closets are locked. Oh, and the bathroom has a huge tub with hot and cold running water!¡±

    I chuckle at the excitement in her voice about the water, ¡°Yeah, I almost melted into the drain of the shower in the locker room from how nice that water felt.¡±

    ¡°The locker room they had us use was not that nice.¡± Bell says quietly. I arch an eyebrow at her tone, but she shouldn¡¯t have to use that locker room again for at least a year, so I shrug and continue on the tour.

    I walk into the bathroom, see the ridiculous amount of space in here, there¡¯s a separate shower stall in the corner? What kind of mad luxury is this? I test it all to make sure it¡¯s not some surreal hallucination and am satisfied when I discover the shower jets are configurable.

    I spend ten minutes checking the closets and the locked cabinets. My arm code doesn¡¯t scan green, so maybe this is full of Marcella¡¯s stuff? Wait, she gave me a card with her info on it. I swipe it against the scanner and it beeps, shows a green light and clicks the lock open.

    ¡°Ahh, this makes sense. These must be snacks and stuff that we have to pay for.¡± I check the other cabinets, see a variety of small food items, a small fridge with canned and bottled drinks, and a cabinet full of alcohol? Who in their right mind would give me access to that? Probably too much hassle to set the permissions separately. Maybe a test of ¡°don¡¯t abuse it¡± too. I could see it being both.

    Belle stares at the cupboard of snacks as though she both wanted to raid it and she was afraid of it. Yeah, if it charged my personal account I¡¯d be afraid of it too. Since I don¡¯t have one of those, it¡¯s not near as scary.

    A lock on a door I haven¡¯t been through clicks and I dash for my new rifle. I get a round in the chamber as the door reveals Marcella behind a pushcart with food on it. She looks up to see me with my rifle in my shoulder, pointed at the ground in front of her. I stare back at her in surprise. Did she mention something like this? Did she say that our rooms were connected and I missed it?

    ¡°Put the gun down and let¡¯s eat. Good reaction time though.¡± She continues to push the cart to the table behind the couches. ¡°I got a meal for me and Maribelle, the rest of the cart is for you to finish. Since Jack said your system might overload if I feed you too heavy too fast, so we¡¯re going to start with a large meal and some items you can eat throughout the afternoon.¡±

    I crouch to see what the other levels of the cart have to offer. I¡¯ve seen pictures of some of these on the net when I could get the tablet away from the nuns, but no orphan I know would have been able to afford any of this. I pick a thing that looks like a steak with potatoes and some vegetable medley that doesn¡¯t look like it had ever seen the inside of a can.

    ¡°This is a lot, Marcella. Like I¡¯m going to have to train to fit this kind of volume in my body. How am I not going to get fat on this?¡± I stick a bean-looking thing in my mouth and it¡¯s crunchy. Huh, never new they could crunch. I stick a fork in the steaks and start gnawing on the end, except the damned meat is tender, juicy and easy to eat. Holy hells, this is what food is meant to be.

    ¡°That¡¯s kind of the point Kimber. It¡¯s hard for your body to add muscle if it doesn¡¯t have mass to convert. So, you getting a little fat on you is a good thing. Maribelle, sit and eat with us. I need to talk with you too.¡±

    She lets us eat in silence for a few minutes before she finishes her chicken-looking meal and while the both of us eat, she starts in again.

    ¡°Maribelle,¡±

    ¡°Belle, please, Miss Fontaine.¡±

    ¡°Alright Belle, how¡¯s your work schedule looking? Are you free evenings or are we going to have to work on synching things?¡±

    ¡°From what they¡¯ve told me, my afternoons and evenings are mostly free. I¡¯m to attend to your requests if it interferes with class or study, and they¡¯ve agreed to let me check out a tablet if your demands interfere with my instruction regularly. The only things that might impose on our time, is that I¡¯ve been told to learn to Cook, and to train in massage therapy.¡±

    ¡°That . . . is more caretaker than therapist. I wonder what they¡¯re thinking for you? Sounds good though. First aid should also be on your list. Self-harm and risky behavior are popular with the traumatized. Maybe learn the basics of that before massage therapy.¡±

    She nods at my trainer/mentor. ¡°I will let the counselor know your preference.¡±

    ¡°Is she always this . . . stuffy?¡± Marcella asks me.

    ¡°Nope. She just gets super nervous with authority figures. It¡¯s kind of adorable.¡± Belle blushes hard and starts hiding her face.

    Marcella smirks at my roommate, ¡°This might actually be interesting.¡±

 Chapter 7

    ¡°Noooo,¡± the girl next to me whines as I slide out of bed. I look back at the mess of semi-curly hair that hides Belle¡¯s pout.

    ¡°I have to get some food in before my workout time starts.¡± Though five a.m. is a hard wake-up, it¡¯s better than the hellish workout routine that Marcella has me on with no calories to spare.

    ¡°Are you coming back for lunch and dinner?¡± She asks, pulling my pillow close and snuggling that instead.

    ¡°Marcella wants lunch in the cantina today, but I don¡¯t think she¡¯d schedule me away from dinner. She likes the idea of family dinners.¡± I think all three of us do. The odd thing about it is that Belle is the mother figure while Marcella and I bicker like sisters. ¡°You¡¯ll text me if you need me to pick something up from the Cantina?¡±

    She mumbles something that sounds like yes and I chuckle as the mess of hair wiggles. I grab workout clothes from our dresser and change into what is basically the Warram gym uniform before grabbing some juice out of the fridge and tossing it into the bag that Belle encourages me to prepare the night before. After three months of this routine, it¡¯s nearly automatic. Somehow, Belle still protests when I get up early, but we¡¯ve only been snuggling at night for a month or so. Then again, I usually try to zonk out after our evening movies, but Belle convinces me to brush my teeth and wash my face ¡®like a normal human¡¯.

    It took me those first months to realize that the little things she was doing, like my laundry and setting out my clothes for the next day weren¡¯t just the things she did to help with her job¡ªthough the massages are amazing. I was so ready for her to start asking for things back, as recompense for her service, but she never did. Eventually, I started to want to do nice things for her too. That¡¯s when I stopped resisting Belle¡¯s emotions.

    Now there¡¯s a lot more cuddling and casual touching and it¡¯s been really comfortable. Marcella calls us out on how cute we are and teases me all the time by calling Bell my ¡®little wifey¡¯. I blush furiously¡ªof course¡ªbut mostly because I¡¯m afraid to like her more than I do, and we¡¯ve only kissed a few times. Sheesh!

    My morning routine took a few evolutions as determining how much I could tolerate eating before a workout changed every few weeks as the healthier I got, the more I could cope with eating and exertion. I now take a cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese from the Cantina before heading to the gym. I warm up on an elliptical with the arm things for twenty minutes before hitting High Intensity Interval Training workouts that I¡¯m given every week. It started as just going through the machines that worked the muscle group focuses for the day, but again, after I started getting healthier, Marcella seemed to up the difficulty tenfold.

    After that, I hit the Cantina to start my calorie mandate for the day¡ªI¡¯m up to 3k right now. Some studying and strategic game playing on my phone comes after that to let my mess of a belly settle while still being productive. Then comes an hour of muscle group appropriate cardio and today it was my choice of an arm bike or a boxing routine. I picked the boxing routine because the arm bike makes my legs all jittery and need to move.

    Before and after Lunch, I study more, usually a mix before lunch and just studying after. Midafternoon, I dress back in gym clothes and get two hours of martial tradition training. Marcella calls it that because there is very little beauty in Systema, and with her ¡®mongrel mash¡¯ with Krav Maga, it¡¯s an ugly but effective tradition. The last half hour before dinner, she ¡®allows¡¯ me to self-study kickboxing so that if I want sparring time I can have some that doesn¡¯t include hobbling my opponents.

    ¡°Every morning I¡¯m surprised that you make it to work on time. I expected the little wifey to make you late at least once.¡±

    I roll my eyes. ¡°We¡¯re not doing anything like that, Marcella. Shouldn¡¯t you be focused more on your own love life?¡± She flicks an almond at my face.

    ¡°Hey, I have my eye on someone, but she is currently working in Reno. So, nyah!¡± How very adult of you, oh mentor of mine. ¡°Let me see your gainz book.¡± She makes a motion with her hand.

    I search through my back, put the notebook in her hand and start my workout. Before I get to my next grouping exercises, she hijacks my attention at the refreshment table.

    ¡°Your legs are progressing far faster than your arms, but even your legs are slower than the projections that I¡¯m aiming for. We need to see the Doc again and see if we can up your hormone therapy or if there are other alternatives.¡±

    ¡°I know you mentioned that before, but what is it going to do to me?¡± I¡¯d admit that it would make me nervous, but if she¡¯s not going to hurt me, I guess it¡¯s okay.

    ¡°Same as it has been since we¡¯ve last seen Doc, It¡¯ll try squeeze the last few inches from your growth plates and allow you to build muscle faster. Side affects, some of which are already apparent, include mood changes some of your feminine features might not develop as fast, etc. Other than that, I¡¯m not really sure. The doc will better available to talk about what happens when we increase your dose.¡±

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°He¡¯s going to accept seeing me again?¡± I¡¯m absolutely floored. He said that if I never saw him again it would be too soon.

    ¡°I had to promise that I would find someone else to look after you. I have a prospect, but I still have to get everyone else to agree.¡± Her tone is tight and her expression reserved. Does she have history with the new doctor or is she being . . . no, Marcella is never secretive for no reason.

    ¡°Ugh, fine, I¡¯ll behave. Please, please, have the next person be a female nurse or something. That dude gives me the creeps.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, every guy gives you the creeps. Well, maybe Marcus and your sparring partner Jason don¡¯t.¡± Belle adds with a smile as she stirs something that¡¯s starting to smell good.

    ¡°Well, yeah. Marcus may have had a hand in trying to kill me, but his motivations are clear. Jason, well, I think Jason may like me in a way that I¡¯m not comfortable with, but his actions are straightforward, and if he ever brings it up, I have the ¡®super gay¡¯ card ready to go.¡±

    ¡°Well, how do you know that if you met a pretty guy . . .¡± Belle drifts off. Holy moly, is she really worried about my attentions drifting.

    ¡°Belle. I¡¯ve been abused by boys and girls. I keep making excuses that it¡¯s not all girls. I demonize the boys. That¡¯s an instinctual hint if I¡¯ve ever heard one. Plus, girls have boobs and butts. Fifty percent more curvy parts is a plus in my book.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re insufferable!¡± Belle scoffs, but Marcella offers a fist for me to bump, which of course I do.

    I smile broadly, satisfied at her adorable outrage, but knowing that I have an apology to give for scandalizing her. I slide up behind her and kiss her ear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to scandalize you, but girls feel nice. And I think I have a favorite.¡±

    I think my line is super smooth, but all it gets me is a whack on the arm with a wooden spoon.

    ¡°You are not allowed to be sexy while I¡¯m cooking! Go sit!¡± The effect of her words is severely diminished with the strawberry tone of her skin. Gods, she¡¯s adorable. Instead of patting her bottom, I sit down dutifully and ask my mentor about important topics.

    ¡°Sis, I¡¯ve been scamming a juice and Cantina takeaway before my morning workouts. Is there a better way? ¡®cause I can¡¯t do a full calorie download from the terminal before my gym time.¡±

    ¡°Nah, you¡¯re fine. You¡¯ve ordered fewer clothes and pampered Belle much less than I predicted, so you¡¯re safe. However, I expect with the meds we¡¯re picking up tomorrow, your habits will change a bit. Keep in mind that I am placing a lot of trust in you, and that your progress keeps my pockets open. That said, a month into therapy I¡¯m adjusting your schedule again to get you to an optimal regiment with your new testosterone quotient.¡±

    ¡°Will I get mannish?¡± I ask, not serious.

    ¡°No more than you¡¯re already becoming. You should be looking at more rapid muscle growth, an estrogen reduction that leads to irregular periods and some puberty growth changes, but by and large I¡¯m hoping this leads to a permanent body change of stature and muscle retention after your System Initialization.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what governs what an initialization crystalizes?¡±

    ¡°Intent and training mostly. You show your commitment to being taller and more muscular, then that is the best hope we have.¡±

    ¡°Hope and faith are not realistic assurances, Marcella.¡±

    ¡°I just want to prep you for when Jack tells you that you need to believe in the treatment. He doesn¡¯t need more reasons to be pissed off at you.¡±

    Ugh, I sigh and jam some more mashed potatoes in my mouth. ¡°Guy gives me the creeps. Think if I ask for a study or a paper that reflects that hope causes better results that he¡¯d do it?¡±

    ¡°If I promise him that it¡¯ll mean you¡¯ll be cooperative and silent, he¡¯d send us a medical journal on the topic.¡± She¡¯s pointing a serrated knife in my direction, waiting for a response.

    I hate chew some vegetable before nodding. ¡°Yah, fine, but he doesn¡¯t touch me unless he explains it first.¡±

    ¡°Gods, Kimber. I need to talk to the boss about Danielle ASAP.¡± She rubs her face before taking another bite of meat. ¡°If I get a lady doctor on location, you¡¯re going to owe me. Not a whole favor, of course, but I might ask you to pick up a trade skill for me, you¡¯ll want to pick up two until you hit level four anyway¡ªquickest way to get there without combat.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit, I too would prefer to not see Dr. Renfroe again.¡± Belle says from the kitchen.

    ¡°Wait,¡± I look down at my meal and back at Belle. ¡°What the heck are you cooking?¡±

    She snorts in laughter. ¡°Marcella convinced me to practice my desserts, so I¡¯m melting chocolate and making a strawberry sauce to go over the cheesecake . . . or other fun things.¡±

    It takes me a second to get the inuendo, but I start stuttering and coughing up the food I tried to breath when I gasped at her lewd thoughts. My mentor is also coughing. My thoughts wrap back to what she actually said, and the imagery of licking chocolate off of Belle doesn¡¯t sound so bad. Well, until she would try to reciprocate and a trauma flash would hit me and I would start screaming. Things I don¡¯t want to subject my adorable roomie to.

    ¡°I did not expect that from the mousey one.¡± Marcella adds, sipping water to cool her throat from the hacking coughs. ¡°Think I¡¯ll pick the cheesecake though.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be gross, sis. And Belle, we are going to have to talk about that, yeah?¡±

    She sighs, ¡°Yes. I¡¯m scared of what you¡¯ll say, but okay. Should I start crying now? Or . . ¡°

    ¡°No! Why would you be crying? I¡¯m just not ready to sex. I have some trauma and Jamie played into it.¡± I play with my potatoes a little before continuing. ¡°I guess that¡¯s mostly it. I kinda flip out and get violent if it¡¯s overwhelming.¡±

    ¡°Oof, kid. That¡¯s tragic. At least you¡¯re young and have time to work through it, I guess.¡±

    I watch Belle do a few more things in the kitchen before she comes over and sits in front of her plate. She scootches over immediately so that our legs are touching while she eats. It¡¯s been a thing lately and I can¡¯t say that I mind, and before long I¡¯m thumbing circles on her leg. I¡¯m not sure whether I started doing it to calm her down or calm myself down, but it seems to be doing both.

 Chapter 8

    ¡°Dear Empress, is this really necessary?¡± I look to the reception area of the hospital and there are six thugs in the freaking place.

    ¡°I do think the doctor is being a little ridiculous, but considering he is our only dedicated doctor Track, the Boss didn¡¯t have a problem with it.¡± Marcella grimaces at something in her mind and moves on.

    ¡°But you and Bell both agree that I¡¯m getting better with my anger management!¡± I protest, some distinct whining leaking into my voice. Ugh, teenagers and stupid hormones.

    ¡°While that¡¯s true, you¡¯re better and faster with your violence as well. Though I doubt Jack would allow clear lines of movement between you and him again without you being restrained.¡± She smirks at that. I get the feeling that she doesn¡¯t call him Jack because she likes him.

    Goon set number one walks up to us and searches me for weapons. They pat my arms and legs and the female wipes down my torso. I¡¯m still weirded out by the touching, but getting a female goon to do it was a considerate choice.

    Marcella told me to prep for today with a sports bra and compression shorts so that when they ask me to take my clothes off, I¡¯m less self-conscious about it because these are basically my workout clothes. They have me disrobe in an anteroom of a radiology suite where they have me stand in something like an airport scanner.

    The next room has a bunch of machines in it and a pair of chairs with wing arms that currently have thugs on either side.

    ¡°Let me guess, hop in the chair, and those straps are to tie me to the chair?¡± One goon nods and the other explains.

    ¡°Doctor¡¯s orders. You are not to have your hands free when he is in the room with you.¡± I shrug in response and hop in the chair. My mentor sags in relief and I instantly feel sad that I¡¯ve caused her that much worry over this.

    Mook and Ook strap down my arms and then they put a belt strap around my belly and tighten it enough that it wouldn¡¯t be able to slide over my ribs or my hips. This freaking sucks. ¡°Not panic inducing at all, tied down, half naked in a room full of men and I¡¯m about to meet the pervy doctor. Who would be nervous?¡± I mumble to myself.

    Marcella walks over and puts a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Kimber, I can kill everyone in this room before they can second guess touching you.¡± She whispers in my ear. ¡°Not that it helps with your anxiety now, but you¡¯re going to have to deal today.¡±

    Once the goons double-check my restraints, they signal to the Doc that he¡¯s as safe as he¡¯s going to get.

    ¡°I believe I demanded a muzzle?¡± Renfroe said with a smirk.

    ¡°Feeling confident now that her hands are tied?¡± Marcella asks, picking underneath her nails with a throwing knife that appeared like magic. ¡°Did you bring the paper she asked for?¡±

    ¡°You were serious about that? Why can¡¯t she just do as she¡¯s told?!¡± He¡¯s visibly frustrated with our need to be informed, as though he isn¡¯t the one wasting time right now.

    My frustrations get the better of me. ¡°So you don¡¯t think I should read research that would convince me that believing in belief as a treatment is believable? Isn¡¯t that the whole point of reinforcing my treatment? Knowing it¡¯s going to work better? Why cant you take off these restraints and just take my word that I won¡¯t attack you for being a creepy asshole? The restraints are just a waste of time for your insecurity right?¡±

    ¡°Kimber, enough.¡± My mentor says calmly, ¡°and Jack, you¡¯re going to send me the research. I want everything that helps her training and the results at initialization. Can you do as you are told? Or should I find ways to convince you?¡±

    I watch the doctor¡¯s face melt from anger to fear as he nods that he can, in fact, do as he¡¯s told.

    ¡°Good, now let¡¯s move to the next task so we never have to see you again.¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    The doctor moves to a cart near my chair and starts explaining that he needs to take several vials of blood and inspect my ankles and wrists again. Marcella then hands me my tablet with a few search queries queued up to explain what they¡¯re searching for with a link to documents about the Placebo affect and a study of studies (is that really a thing?) collating results about the brain¡¯s ability to manifest and reinforce desired results.

    There was also a report to Macella¡¯s bosses rife with data and medical jargon, it was not a casual read. The recommendations section was written in plain language a 12 year old could understand. Looking up the jargon in the recommendations for the mental reinforcement, and looking at the data presented in the analysis section, I find out why the suggestion is important. Pre-system medical data shows that the brain can manifest symptoms and are called ¡®somatic effects¡¯. Combine that with the very well documented system choices that are tailored to ability and User desires, reinforced hope can actually be a course of action. Now, he goes on to couch his theory by saying that the semi-dormant nanites in children are not usually as responsive, so the results may be lessened significantly. Huh. The more you know.

    Before long, Renfroe disappears into the back room again and the guards start to release my restraints. They wait patiently while I put my clothes back on and escort us to the waiting room of the hospital. The thugs at the doors give me back my knives and we¡¯re headed back to the van in the parking lot.

    As we settle into the van with a driver, I wonder how much that little escapade cost Marcella. Then I think of the cost of getting that many thugs to an off-site location and embarrassment and shame flood my system.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for all the hassle I¡¯m causing you. Hiring those goons couldn¡¯t have been cheap, and you¡¯re probably tired of my attitude too.¡± My voice wavers as I apologize as tears well up in my eyes. Is this where she tells me that I¡¯m spending too much money? That I¡¯m not worth the extra effort? My heart starts thundering again as I worry about my future.

    ¡°Mm, they were more than I wanted to spend. So what I need for you to do is to stop living moment to moment like you have been. Like the doctor¡¯s notes said, your nanites might be fighting your progress because you¡¯re not thinking of your future development enough to believe in what we¡¯re doing.

    ¡°This new dose schedule is going to mess with you, Kimber. As your mood is already at the edge of tolerable, you need to start discussing your feelings and thoughts and worries with Belle and me. If you start taking to the hormones and a new mass-building regiment, you won¡¯t be able to have violent outbursts anymore. If you kill someone in training, it¡¯s over.¡±

    I flush again in embarrassment as the accident last month with one of my sparring partners almost ended with his death. I surged at a lewd comment he made toward me and I ended up punching him in the neck. He needed a tier 2 med injection to fix the spine damage and the bruising on his brain stem or something. I was too busy panicking to remember what his injuries ended up being except that he almost died.

    ¡°I am trying you know.¡± I must sound pitiful.

    ¡°I know. You¡¯re trying to manage your emotions and issues alone, and it¡¯s not working. I hired Belle for a reason, Kimber. Also, it feels ungrateful and selfish that you aren¡¯t sharing more with me. You don¡¯t have to hide how young, inexperienced, afraid, or uncertain you are from me. I guarantee I¡¯ve felt the emotions you are feeling, and though my experiences can never be the same as yours, I still have more experience with them and just maybe, I can help you feel less alone in what you¡¯re feeling.¡±

    By the time she stops I have the sniffles and my face is leaking. ¡°Gods, this rollercoaster sucks.¡± I wipe my eyes again, ¡°Who thought further unbalancing a teenager¡¯s hormones was a good idea?¡± I awkwardly laugh but the wetness continues to dribble down my face.

    ¡°Seems like you needed a cry. Your girl¡¯s going to be sad she missed the opportunity to comfort you.¡±

    I sniff, ¡°I still don¡¯t understand how she can think that. I mean, I feel bad when she¡¯s hurting, but I don¡¯t feel guilty when  . . . oh, that¡¯s something I probably should feel guilty about. I should be there to help her through tough times after all.¡±

    ¡°Eh, don¡¯t worry about it too much. Part of what I¡¯ve been paying Belle to do is subdue her strife some. Now wait, before you get angry, she still tells you what¡¯s bothering her, she¡¯s just downplaying the severity a little bit.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not better Marcella!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not, but it¡¯s been effective. Think of it this way: the more you share in the future and show control over your emotions, the less Belle will have to downplay hers to focus on you. She¡¯s your girlfriend, sure, but she also has a job to do.  While you talk to her about the ramifications of that revelation, talk to her about how your volatility is about to increase.¡±

    I scream in frustration. ¡°Could you not try teaching me lessens when I¡¯m fucking crying?!¡± The car got quiet. The driver¡¯s knuckles are white and my mentor¡¯s features are tight as she glares at me from the side of her eyes.

    ¡°We are definitely going to talk about that when we get home.¡±

    Gods damn it. I definitely stepped to far on that one. I still blame her a little for chastising me when I¡¯m vulnerable, but I really should be able to control myself better.

 Chapter 9

    Belle moves into a new module with her training that includes asking me a lot more questions about how I feel. It coincides with the adjustment with my therapy, so I just figure it¡¯s Marcella being cautious. The questions part anyway, I like that she¡¯s stepped up her cooking and that she¡¯s teaching me some basics as she talks through her lessons while she cooks. I also have moved into a new module, aka training routine. It¡¯s a three week cycle of weight lifting focused on free weights and raising the numbers on those weights as quickly as possible. This is apparently for training the mass that I¡¯m building to do better? I don¡¯t know the science behind it, save that the free weights force me to use more muscles together than the machines did.

    I¡¯m still eating constantly, with my backpack half full of snacks at all times. I¡¯m getting more frustrated with just studying, so I¡¯ve taken to hitting the books on my rest days while doing low intensity cardio on the stationary bike or elliptical. Marcella thinks that this ¡®need to move¡¯ may be tied to the increased aggression and impatience that they¡¯ve been seeing after my hormone adjustment. My mentor and Bell are being very patient with me, and before I know it, I¡¯ve been living with Bell and next to Marcella for eight months.

    ¡°Talking shop at the dinner table now are we?¡± I snicker at Marcella across the table from me.

    ¡°What else is there to talk about, your current job is to train. Same with Bell. I¡¯ve already given her every accolade imaginable about this mind-blowing chicken piccata, and I need to say something to break up the cutsey-eye bullshit you to have going on.¡±

    ¡°You could always eat with your buddies downstairs and fully avoid any ¡®cutesy-bullshit¡¯.¡±

    ¡°And miss out on the only benefit of knowing you? Hells no.¡±

    We devolve into bickering and I catch Bell giggling at our argument. When she stands to clean up our plates, we stand to help her, continuing to bicker while cleaning up the kitchen.

    ¡°Since you two are too busy arguing, I guess I¡¯ll have desert by myself.¡±

    ¡°Desert?¡± Marcella asks.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be good.¡± I plead. I know how good her desserts have gotten.

    She snorts at that, ¡°I¡¯m not asking for a miracle, Kimber, just less arguing.¡±

    Rude, but true. I zip up my lips and get out three little plates and offer them in hope. She smiles kindly at me and pulls a cute little cake out of the fridge. With a small piece for each of us, she hands us forks to eat at the bartop. I see little pieces of cake buried in the firm white structure dusted with chocolate shavings. The white part is thick, sweet and creamy while the cake is wet tasting of coffee and a vibrant nose of sweet alcohol.

    ¡°Holy shit Bell. Whomever gave you this gift for cooking should be prayed to.¡± I say.

    ¡°I would consider continuing to live with Kimber if you came with her.¡±

    That got both me and Bell laughing while we finished off the decadent treat. Our chef makes to clean up again, but I pat her hand and tell her no. ¡°Make yourself a tea, because I¡¯m rubbish at it, and I¡¯ll draw you a bath?¡±

    She ducks her head as her cheeks redden, but nods anyway. I set to washing the dishes and setting them out to dry as Bell putters with her tea making. She uses a thermometer and a scale to make it the way she likes it, and every time I¡¯ve tried, it hasn¡¯t been quite right. I half expect she fusses about it because she thinks it¡¯s her job or something. I¡¯ve been ordering bath salts for her on occasion and it¡¯s by far the gesture she¡¯s appreciated the most, besides snuggling for a movie that is.

    I add the packet to the tub as it fills and sit on the edge as I contemplate why either of us insist on these types of things. Emotions have been odd these last five months, while they have been easier to express, they have also been all over the place for me. While I can tell sometimes when Bell is tired of my shit, mostly she¡¯s even as the consistency of that creamy white topping¡ªnearly as sweet too. I¡¯m not dumb, I know Bell likes me, but sometimes I can tell when she¡¯s training on me, and since she told me about the direction of her training, it triggers me when I notice it.

    That kind of admission introduced so much doubt in my mind it drove me to some tactical mistakes in the gym that I¡¯ve been paying for ever since. Cheap shots in the ring are a big no go, doesn¡¯t matter how pissed off you get. The larger boys have stopped pulling their punches and many more of my matches are ending in knockout instead of either side tiring. The only thing Marcella said publicly was to me: ¡°Are you learning from this?¡± I nodded and nothing changed afterward. I assume it¡¯s a sleep on the bed you made kind of situation.

    I¡¯ve been learning how to identify the hits I can¡¯t take, and spending my effort to avoid those and try to punish if I can. It now takes longer to knock me out. Getting better at fighting doesn¡¯t make me any better at managing my anger though, just focuses it. I still don¡¯t like being manipulated, but I don¡¯t suppose anyone does.

    I get up and walk out to tell Bell now that the tub is full to see her chatting with Marcella. I feel a little twinge seeing them being so chummy, but I take a deep breath, put a hand on Bell¡¯s lower back and kiss her head while telling her the bath is ready. She smiles wide, thanks me with a squeeze to my side meats and takes her tea into the other room. As soon as the door to the bathroom shuts, my mentor asks.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    ¡°How serious is this thing between you two? That was pretty possessive, especially for you?¡±

    ¡°I was just thinking about that. I like the idea and the feeling of what we¡¯re doing, but something in my head wonders what portion is because of her training. I don¡¯t know how much of the casual manipulation is just being in a relationship, and another part of me thinks that I¡¯m fucking fifteen and shouldn¡¯t need to think hard about emotions.¡± She smirked at that and lets me continue. ¡°Then, just now a part of me didn¡¯t like the idea of you two being so chummy. But you¡¯re like my surly big sister, and my mentor, why would I react that way?¡±

    ¡°First off, everyone has thoughts like these. Something to keep in mind, but not to use as an excuse, is that we are experimenting with you on preparing for a specific result with finnicky chemicals in your body. However, unless you want to significantly alter your training goals, this is your reality for a few years. There is hope that when you initialize that the System can help you regulate. We have a method that is more of a gamble that will cause changes, but there¡¯s no guarantee the changes will be in the direction we want.¡±

    ¡°What? Why would I ever gamble with my body like that?¡±

    She shrugs, ¡°In case your physical growth as you reach puberty isn¡¯t what you want? I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s one of the things that you¡¯re allowed to say no to if the big bosses offer it. The fact that it¡¯s on the table as an option is a really big deal, but you and Bell are developing at a rate that makes these investments seem worth it. Part of the reason I even asked you how serious you two are, is that she turns 14 next month. There will be a push to get her to level three to pick up a track, but if the skills she initializes with aren¡¯t leaning in the right direction, the Organization¡¯s investment in Bell will lessen. If her Track doesn¡¯t come through with desirable options, she will be transferred to a different program.¡±

    ¡°Let me guess, they filled you in on all this to prevent me from going ape shit if I was surprised by this.¡±

    ¡°That and I can tell you¡¯re not being as expressive as you could be, and now that I hear that you resent the manipulations, I will tell you that limiting your responses may limit how she perceives her efforts, and may affect her results.¡±

    ¡°So what am I supposed to do, ignore how I feel?!¡± why am I yelling?

    ¡°No, and watch your tone. I am asking you to focus on acting on how her actions make you feel, and not focusing on the motivations. Sure, she may just be in love with you, but somewhere in that hormone addled brain, you¡¯re convinced that a part of that is just her training. To that, I would say, so what? So what if her training makes her better at making you happy? It doesn''t change the fact that she clearly enjoys making you happy.¡±

    ¡°What if that is just part of her training too?¡±

    She snorts at that, ¡°I take it back, you are stupid. She¡¯s a young teenage girl and not that good an actor. Neither of you can lie worth a damn and you both have expressive faces.¡±

    Shit. I have noticed that before: Bell can¡¯t lie at all. I wipe my hands forcefully down my face in frustration. ¡°Ugh, how can I stop being stupid.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t. None of us can. We just learn enough to stop feeling dumb all of the time.¡± She taps on her invisible system for a few seconds. ¡°You have the detriment of being a teen so you¡¯re acting dumb all of the time while simultaneously thinking you know everything.¡±

    ¡°Really helpful that. Eleven of ten mentor rating.¡± The banter does lighten my mood though.

    ¡°I linked you some app recommendations for your phone.¡± She stands and stretches. ¡°With that, I have some work to do and you have rest to get to. We¡¯re doing max sets this week.¡±

    Damnit, I have a feeling that I¡¯m going to be sore for another month.

    ***

    ¡°Tell me that the Novarro kid will be your replacement in ten years.¡±

    ¡°I could, Medvedev, but I don¡¯t see her taking to silent infiltration the way I do. I think she¡¯ll prove to be a multi-tool more than a scalpel. There might be a skill that she could be the best at, but all I¡¯ve found is that she¡¯s pretty good at everything. She understands why people act, she¡¯s developing to be a physical specimen, and she¡¯s an intuitive fighter. Miss Gooding is helping her process and identify emotions and her squabble with Salazar is teaching her patience and humility. All of this will make her a great enforcer, but while she could do the job, she¡¯d be a mediocre specialist from what I¡¯ve seen.¡±

    The man I have fought along-side since the onset of the system sighs and slumps into his plush chair. ¡°This is not what I hoped for. You know this push for the algorithm was designed to find me specialists that could help us branch out and grow by becoming underbosses in other locations. We need to be in Reno and Boise in the next ten years, Fontaine or stability will start to become our enemy.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t disagree with your goal, Boss. I disagree with the implementation. You have an eye for talent, but you were only ever a decent protector, you¡¯re not very pretty, nor are you comfortable to be around. But you don¡¯t have to be because you know a lot about all of the roles and are good enough to get your point across and you know enough to identify others that can do the specifics better than you. That is the boss¡¯ job in my eyes, so if you want this algorithm thing to work, you need to find a multi-tool as well as finding those specialists. And if that doesn¡¯t work, she could be the kind of infiltrator that runs things as a deputy to some arrogant, incompetent asshole.¡±

    ¡°Now that, Miss Fontaine, is the kind of idea I need from my lieutenants. A plant with some grit, a minion in name only, and a good way to get power in my pocket in a new area with low to moderate investment. If you can build me such a person, I¡¯ll keep my grumbling to a minimum when you chose to retire.¡±

    I laugh at that, I know for a fact he can¡¯t reign in his grumbling. ¡°Fat chance, but I¡¯ll see what I can do. In the meantime, can we get a female nurse to do checkups on Kimber? I¡¯m tired of listening to Bennet whine about protecting Salazar, and I think it¡¯s weighing on Kimber to be treated like a threat for multiple hours.¡±

    ¡°Can she stop being a threat for those hours?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t count on it, especially if she ever finds out he¡¯s an actual pervert and not just suspects he is one.¡±

    He sighs again, but I know I got him.

    ¡°Yes, fine. I¡¯ll ask Danielle if she has any friends that will do it. If she has to come in herself, you owe me a favor.¡±

    ¡°Gladly. Danielle is a treat.¡± I beam at the sound of her name as it slides from my lips. His daughter is a snack and I would adore another chance to sweet talk that woman. Medvedev sighs again and I can¡¯t keep my laugh inside as he shoos me away.

 Chapter 10

    ¡°Happy Initialization Day Belle!¡± I wake her up at my normal workout time and smother her in attention. She paws my face trying to push me away.

    ¡°Sleepy, snuggle or go away.¡± She¡¯s trying to kick me away too, but her energy and awareness levels are far to low. I keep smooching her face. ¡°You know I won¡¯t initialize until I get to work.¡± She grabs my arms and rolls on top of me, spreading like a human blanket making it quite difficult to move. Well played lady sloth.

    ¡°Are you tied up at work all day?¡±

    She nuzzles into my neck, ¡°I am. I have a meeting with some officers to review my stat sheet afterward and discuss what crafting skills I¡¯ll use to get to level three.¡± She hooks her legs under mine and scoops her arms to lock around mine.

    ¡°Cooking should give you a nice boost. Thanks for taking care of Marcella and Me.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d be mothering someone so soon, but Marcella¡¯s a good kid.¡±

    I snort and chuckle at that, and  about to add to the hilarity when Belle covers my mouth with hers. After a few seconds, she pulls away. ¡°Ten more minutes baby, please.¡± She nuzzles a little more before her breathing evens out in slumber.

    I¡¯ll probably get in trouble for this, but Belle¡¯s been amazing and deserves a little extra effort from me. Of course I know that this is going to take more than ten minutes to get down to the gym, but if I skip my trip to the Cantina it won¡¯t be too bad.

    I was very wrong, and the worse part is that Marcella is waiting for me today looking damned disappointed.

    ¡°It is Bells initialization day?¡± I say in a rising question while feeling super guilty.

    ¡°And your tablet doesn¡¯t work?¡± her finger taps against the bicep of her crossed arms as she scowls at me. Somehow I don¡¯t think explaining that my girlfriend climbed on top of me and restricted my movement would go very well.

    ¡°I was dumb and distracted. Sorry for wasting your time.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s coming out of your afternoon, Kimber. You have a workout to get through, and any part that you don¡¯t finish before lunch you¡¯ll finish after another doctor¡¯s visit.¡±

    ¡°Nooo, didn¡¯t we just go to the doctor?¡± I whine.

    ¡°That was more than three months ago, and your attitude is fraying at the ends. I need to see if the changes have been worth it. Now get running.¡±

    My warmup is the same every day: three sets of 1k running and twenty burpees. Then it¡¯s to the weightlifting portion of the morning. This week is listed as ¡®recovery¡¯ and my sets are all 12-15 reps. Each cycle is three weeks long and after a few months she changes things up completely as soon as I¡¯m getting used to things.

    The legs and back routine isn¡¯t very stressful, but super tiring and I¡¯m still sucking down water before my 2k row. Despite the compliment of snacks I put away throughout my 3hr gym time, I am ravenous by the time I finish my shower.

    ¡°Did you at least remember to put your sports bra and shorts on for your doctor¡¯s visit?¡± Marcella asks as she sits across the from me in the Cantina.

    ¡°Ugh, no. I wasn¡¯t planning on seeing the doc today, because no one told me.¡± I glare at her.

    ¡°It¡¯s frustrating isn¡¯t it?¡± She quips, stuffing broccoli dipped in dressing in her mouth.

    ¡°It¡¯s not the same! Me being late is hardly comparable to a pervert seeing me half naked!¡± Marcella¡¯s eyes flick between my face and the rest of the room.

    I look around and see that people are looking at us, and somehow I¡¯m standing with my hands planted on the table. Oops.

    ¡°Yeah, that is getting worse. You snipe back with anger and cruelty now, where it was usually embarrassment and frustration. Belle¡¯s even commented that you are friskier and more demanding, though you still won¡¯t have sex with her. Your troubles with sparring partners is obviously a concern, but I¡¯ve already spent considerable time talking about that.¡± She likes pointing with her silverware and is doing it again with her fork.

    ¡°You say that like I¡¯m doing it on purpose.¡±

    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re letting it happen. Are you at least trying to explain or resist these impulsive emotions?¡±

    Have I not been? Looking back to a few instances, I guess I¡¯ve been lamenting how my outburst affect Belle, but not on the emotions that are causing those actions. Damn. I start stuffing my face so that there¡¯s no expectation for me to talk. Once I get to the cookies, I¡¯ve calmed down enough to maybe talk about myself and doctors.

    ¡°So is this going to be an every three months thing? The checkups?¡±

    ¡°I would prefer much less frequent, but we¡¯re messing around with your body, so I want to be safe and effective. We¡¯ve already seen benefits in strength and weight, but the doc will be able to tell us more about how well we¡¯re doing overall and if we can dial your testosterone supplements down a bit. And then we fight the reputation you¡¯ve gained as Kenneck has decided not to qualify you to carry until you get your anger under control.¡±

    I slump in defeat. That explains why I haven¡¯t been able to get any range time. ¡°Can¡¯t really blame them can I? If I can¡¯t control my hands, why would I be able to control what¡¯s in them?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got some time. Not a lot, but some. It can wait until dinner to night at the very least.¡±

    Seems like a lot is riding on this doctor¡¯s visit and my ability to reign in my anger and flippant attitude.

    ***

    ¡°Be honest with me Marcella. Renfroe is not coming here, so where are we going?¡±

    ¡°The mutagen injection lab. You¡¯re gonna be an animal hybrid and fight crime.¡±

    ¡°Ha ha, we literally work in organized crime so I know you¡¯re lying.¡± I twitch a little and worry the seam on my pants as Marcella is a very competent liar and they could very well be injecting me with more perceived poisons.

    ¡°Did you hear that Belle saw her mentor today??¡±

    Joy and panic force my heart to stumble and stutter. ¡°Uh, yeah. Any idea how it went?¡±

    ¡°Nope! I just saw her walking with her advisor and may have been eavesdropping.¡±

    ¡°Why would you tell me that, now I¡¯m going to be all nervous! Does she stay if it¡¯s good news? Do they kill her if it¡¯s bad? Do they  . . .¡±

    ¡°Stop stop stop.¡± My mentor interrupts, attempting to save me from myself. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t kill her, dummy. Send her to a different department, sure, but kill her? Not a chance. That aura of hers is too valuable to waste.¡±

    ¡°Buh, I¡¯m going to be a wreck now until I see her again.¡±

    ¡°You two are adorable.¡± She started saying that more now that I blush when she says it. I actually like it now when she says we look good together, and I¡¯m embarrassed that she¡¯s noticed for some reason.

    Reacting because my chemicals say so instead of what I¡¯ve done or thought is annoying. ¡°And you still need a girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, that I am planning on asking someone out this very day.¡± She stops and faces me, planting her hands on her hips in assertion.

    ¡°Pfft, I¡¯ll believe that when I see it. Who are you going to ask out?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Marcie, who are you going to ask out?¡±

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Marcie? I look behind my mentor to see a tall alabaster beauty with knowing eyes and gaunt features. I¡¯m about to right myself when she cocks her head and smiles at me with a little wave of her fingers. My heart spins in place, cutting off the flow of blood to my brain and I black out for a second. I regain control and vision with just enough time to keep my face from meeting the concrete floor.

    ¡°Uh, my heart tripped, I mean my feet were dazzled, I mean . . . I don¡¯t know what I mean.¡±

    ¡°Her heart tripped?¡± a velvety voice asked, ¡°Marcie, she¡¯s adorable.¡±

    Oh god, if I could die of embarrassment it would feel like this. My dutiful and compassionate mentor is laughing like a hyena while the tall brunette titters at my misfortune.

    ¡°Come on now, Kimber. I¡¯m Nurse Medvedev and I¡¯ll be performing your next few checkups. Let¡¯s get you off the floor and see about some tests. She helps me up off the floor and I try not to react as she touches my hand. I fail of course, but I hope she can¡¯t tell.

    ¡°Marcie?¡± I say stupidly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t rent trouble, Kimmy.¡± She says, pushing me through the door. I shudder at the nick name and vow never to call her Marcie again. She hands me my backpack and I pull out a water bottle and an energy bar and focus on collecting myself.

    ¡°Do you ever tire of having that effect on people, Danielle?¡±

    ¡°It can be tiring, yes, but your protegee seems to be confused?¡± Well yes, nurse, very confused, thank you for noticing.

    ¡°She¡¯s been struggling with her emotions lately. The treatments probably aren¡¯t helping with that. I¡¯m pretty confident she just discovered she¡¯s attracted to women though.¡± Asshole laughs at me again.

    ¡°Can you two stop fucking with me and get on with it?¡± I growl

    ¡°Hey,¡± Marcella says poking me hard in the shoulder. ¡°Think about the way you¡¯re acting, and control yourself.¡±

    I swat her hand away, ¡°You think about how you¡¯re laughing at a hormone imbalanced girl in front of a person she¡¯s never met.¡±

    Nurse Medvedev sighs loudly, ¡°Sorry, Kimber, if I embarrassed you. And she¡¯s right, Marcella. It was inappropriate to laugh at her when we¡¯re here for a professional visit. So, I¡¯ve looked at your records and data, I want to hear about the person that it comes from. Tells me some good and some bad things about the program you¡¯re on.¡±

    Hmm, how much to share? She doesn¡¯t seem to work for the Organization often, so I may as well overshare. ¡°Well, I love the amenities but I don¡¯t like that I feel guilty about accepting them? I don¡¯t think I could have gotten this far without Belle, but I feel terrible that she might not be getting what she wants from the arrangement. My schedule is grueling, but the rate of my improvements has been really nice. I worry about what happens if Marcella and the Org think that the cost is too high.¡±

    ¡°Okay, it¡¯s good to hear that you think your training is worth it, but what about your emotions? Besides likes and dislikes, how are you managing friendships and the people you¡¯re close to?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s been hard to manage because I have to pay attention to them all the time. Before, my emotions were like a glowing ember in a box. I had to stoke them in order to express them, and they never got out unless I opened myself up. I really only did that for Jamie before I came here. Now, they feel like a barely contained mass of electric sparks: I can¡¯t keep them from leaking out and when I try to open up it takes all of my will to get them going in the same direction. As for friends and stuff, I really only see Marcella, Belle, and my ex sparring partner enough to care about them. The boys at the gym just tolerate me.¡±

    ¡°Okay, wow. That certainly paints a picture. I guess I didn¡¯t understand how isolated you were. And, while messing with your hormones can enhance your physical growth in some areas, it¡¯s hard to tell when it becomes too much for mental stability. It appears that you¡¯re hanging in, but sensitive to change. You¡¯re about eight months away from your initiation into the System right?¡±

    I nod and the calm and collected woman, whose demeaner is calming me down. ¡°Yeah, like two months before I start working though.¡±

    ¡°That might change if we can¡¯t pull in her volatility under stress. The weapons guys got super jumpy after she almost stabbed Salazar. You read about what she told Parker on recruitment day?¡± The nurse nods. ¡°Even the remote perception of that behavior is a trigger.¡±

    ¡°I see. Kimber,¡± she puts her hand on my knee and I stiffen. She pulls back, ¡°Can you look at me for this next part?¡±

    I nod and raise my head with my eyes closed and then open them after a deep breath.

    ¡°Thank you, now I want you to think about how it felt before the dosage was made more frequent and then tell me if you think that would make a difference now.¡±

    I remember not knowing what to do with the increased presence of emotion in general, so much so that I couldn¡¯t analyze how much of that emotion was anger, so whenever I opened the box to check it would all spill out.

    ¡°I can¡¯t really say. I am far more experienced with the emotions that I have now, and Belle has shown me some ways to release emotions besides aggression, so that the box is less full all the time. While I feel that this level is unsustainable, I don¡¯t know how manageable the old level would be with the tools I¡¯ve learned.¡±

    ¡°That was well articulated, Kimber. Thank you.¡± I break eye contact after her praise. I just can¡¯t even.

    ¡°From my perspective, she is much more expressive than before, and the aggression serves her well in the gym, but not really anywhere else.¡±

    The beautiful Russian takes another deep breath. ¡°I think you may be a good candidate for my research. Have you heard of Aether Poisoning and aether-driven mutation?¡±

    ¡°Marcella hinted at a mutation option as an unpredictable gamble, but not why.¡± I look over toward my mentor and she nods in agreement.

    ¡°Okay, so, aether is an additional energy source that Earth is drastically undersaturated with. Astoria, the capital system of the Empire is rich with it and thus they have developed people that can use it. Have you played games that have wizards and mana?¡±

    ¡°Not recently, but I have a strategy game that has that.¡±

    ¡°Okay, well, people that can utilize aether, can effectively use magic. Earth natives have no natural way to process aether on our own with as low as the ambient levels are here. To sustain the version of the system nanites that utilize aether, they have to slowly administer aether-rich foods and eventually their body learns to both accept and discard aether in a way that can sustain the System and keep the aether from poisoning you. If the poison builds up too much, your body loses control of the excess and releases it all at once, causing a mutation. These can be beneficial or harmful, based on length of exposure, the amount, and the alignment of the aether you have been exposed to. That is the gamble that Marcella was talking about.

    ¡°Before explain my proposal, I need an NDA agreement from both of you.¡±

    ¡°Done.¡± My mentor says immediately. I nod.

    ¡°I need a verbal agreement to not disclose, sweetie.¡±

    ¡°I agree, I won¡¯t tell anyone about the research. I can tell Belle that I¡¯m part of an experiment?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but nothing including aether, magic, or any adjacent term.¡± I didn¡¯t even think that stuff was real until today.

    ¡°I can do that.¡± Nobody I know would believe me anyway. Well, Bell would because she trusts me implicitly.

    ¡°Okay, documents filed. My research studies system events such as tier ascension, or module upgrades to give direction to the excess aether in a body. It¡¯s been promising in tier-ups, but it¡¯s difficult to find aether-adjacent modules on a tech-based planet, so that is still a gamble. In your case, you have shown both a desired effect and a commitment to that effect via the therapy, that your System initiation could become a tier zero ascension instead of just an initialization, and you would most likely see physical changes as a result. The best part, is that if the System event doesn¡¯t use any or all of the aether, we stop the influx of aether and you will process it out over time, with some mild to moderate discomfort until it¡¯s gone.¡±

    ¡°That sounds way better than a mutation. Why haven¡¯t you tried this on an initialization before?!¡±

    ¡°Slow down, sport. Your class is like the second attempt ever to spend a prolonged period to prepare for initialization to target intake skills and Tracks at level three.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s part of it, the other part is aether is more intent based than even the nanites are proving to be. You have to have intent and conviction to get aether to act predictably, and even then it¡¯s not enough sometimes. Finally, the first attempt costs around a thousand credits for food and beverages infused with aether.¡±

    My mentor coughs, probably on the thought of that ridiculous sum.

    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of money.¡±

    ¡°And that¡¯s for the quick version. Theoretically, if we could get her tolerance up, she could get a bigger bump during the system event because her levels could be higher. The quick version is six weeks of food and juice, escalating as appropriate. I have the budget for another participant, but it¡¯s only for six weeks.¡±

    ¡°What are your thoughts Kimber?¡±

    Less buzzing emotion and still make my physical goals for initialization? Yes please. ¡°I like the idea very much. Especially since it seems like the only way to reach our overall goals for me.¡±

    Nurse Medvedev looks at Marcella and they must be chatting via System.

    ¡°Yeah, Danielle, I get it okay? Sheesh. So here¡¯s my deal for you Kimber. We knock this therapy down and you have until your 18 month mark to convince the weapons guys to let you train, AND to be proficient enough to be trusted on a field assignment with a weapon I will help fund getting you the best start possible. Lower target is to convince everyone that it is worth their time to help you qualify on weapons during your field period. You will owe both teams as they would be spending their spare time to help you. We still get you enrolled in the research. Failure condition: we have to delay your field start for weapons qualifications, you lose your extra privileges, I eat a lot of crow with the Org, and your initialization goes how it goes we see what kind of candidate you are after that.¡±

    ¡°I know I can do option one.¡±

    ¡°Ensure you don¡¯t fail first, if you do, you¡¯ll embarrass quite a few important people.¡±

    ¡°Marcie, please.¡±

    ¡°No, she needs to hear this. If I bet this hard on her, she doesn¡¯t fail alone.¡±

    While I don¡¯t like that she¡¯s hammering the point so hard, I think I understand. ¡°You¡¯ve been nothing but reasonable. The only reassurance I can give that would mean anything is to do it.¡± I stand up to leave. ¡°I think I remember a guy at the gym talking about meditation. That might help with at least the perception of mindfulness.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, go home, congratulate Bell, find that meditation guy tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Can I afford to waste a moment, appearing to care only about myself? Nobody on my road to failure knows I live with Belle, no one cares. So what good is it? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get back to work, studying, since that¡¯s what I¡¯m supposed to be doing without you, that¡¯s what you told me right? I wouldn¡¯t want to appear disrespectful, ¡®cause that would be embarrassing right?¡±

    As soon as I mentioned Belle I started crying while I choked out those words. I shouldn¡¯t have said all that, but bringing up spending time with Belle after hammering home how much is at risk, and how much failure will cost. How much I have to do in two months and then again for six months after that. I manage not to slam the door after I rush through it, but it was difficult.

 Chapter 11

    When Kimber walks through the door with cuts on her face, a swollen eye and bloody knuckles I finally understood desire to hurt someone¡ªwhoever did this to my girlfriend. I realize I¡¯m standing there staring at her instead of helping her. I rush over and start pulling her over to the sink where I stash my first aid kit.

    ¡°Belle, not so fast. It¡¯s hard to walk that fast.¡± I look down at her legs and see beaten skin and the beginnings of bruises down there too.

    ¡°Kimber, my god, what happened to you?!¡± I¡¯m barely keeping in my panic and anger as it vacillates from one extreme to the other. ¡°Let me get my stuff together and clean you up. ¡°

    ¡°Can I convince you to help me out of these clothes and into the tub first?¡±

    ¡°Okay, I  . . . I . . .¡± why cant I do stuff? I¡¯m good at stuff! Kimber boops my nose while I panic.

    ¡°Boop, reboot. Loading Calm Maribel, please wait.¡±

    ¡°How can you be so calm! Ugh!¡± I turn around and huff to the bathroom and start filling the tub and put in some of my froofy salts that she hates. Being rude while I¡¯m trying to help her and failing. I get some ibuprofen from the cabinet and fill a swishing cup with water. I stomp the ten steps it takes to get back to her. ¡°Take these now.¡± I glare at her until she does it.

    ¡°Hells, is your aura a painkiller too?¡± she sighs as she takes her pills. I step to her side so that she can lean on me while we shuffle the rest of the way.

    ¡°You were probably tensing and pulling on the bruises. It definitely helps you relax though.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nice. You¡¯re nice.¡± I really don¡¯t want to like the praise right now, but I do. I¡¯m still scared and a little mad though. I was having such a good day before I saw her face, and it feels so horrible to think that.

    She hisses when raising her arms so I can get her shirt off, and again for her clingy sports top. ¡°You know, this is not how I thought the first time seeing you naked would go.¡±

    ¡°Heh, ow. Yeah, this probably isn¡¯t cute at all.¡±

    ¡°No, but it is very worrying.¡± She unbuckles her shorts and as soon as she starts bending, I stare at the ceiling. I must have looked away for too long because she has to ask for help again.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can twist very well, so I was going to sit and plop. Can you keep my head from smacking the tile.¡±

    ¡°Geez, I can help lower you. You can¡¯t weigh . . .¡± when I grab her elbow and the back of her arm, I can feel the thick, tensed muscle and my whole body flushes. When did she get so strong? As she crouches into the tub I can¡¯t help but stare at the muscles at the edge of her ribs ripple. Look at her face, quick!

    When I do I get sad and angry all over again.

    ¡°Now that you¡¯re settled, will you tell me what happened.¡±

    ¡°I think you should tell me how your initialization went, superstar. Then I¡¯ll tell you.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, you are so frustrating!¡± I stomp off again, en-route to the first aid supplies and back again.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Bell, I didn¡¯t want my bad decisions to interfere with a day that¡¯s supposed to be about you.¡±

    ¡°You expect me to talk about me while you¡¯re barely able to get in the tub?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that, it¡¯s that I want to be able to hear about how great or terrible your day is no matter how I¡¯m feeling. I know I don¡¯t tell you how important you are to me, so this is me trying.¡±

    The steam collecting in my eyes, starts to sting as I sniffle. ¡°That¡¯s really sweet of you, but really dumb if you knew how seeing you like this makes me feel.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I guess I¡¯d be a complete mess if you came back beat up.¡±

    ¡°You would?¡± I said, completely oblivious. I realized I never questioned how she felt about me, I just hoped that one day she would care as much as I do. She sits up and grabs me by the face.

    ¡°Of course I would. Do you think I don¡¯t care about you? Do you know how hard it is for me to accept the casual touches and how much you try to do for me? I knew how much it meant to you, so I worked to accept your attention, even though I don¡¯t think I deserve it. I learned to appreciate your touches, even though it reminds me of the abuse that other kids are subjected to. I asked you to help me work through emotions I¡¯ve never really expressed. I trust you so completely it frightens me. So of course I would be a mess if someone hurt you.¡± She hisses as she leans back out of the twist she committed to.

    I thought she was just numbly accepting everything as it came. I thought she was working on her expression to help in dealing with other people. I never knew all of this was constant effort for her. ¡°has it all been a burden for you?¡± I¡¯m choking back sobs now as I take her hands and star scrubbing the rough skin free of the ingrained debris.

    ¡°Hell no, Belle. Though it was a few weeks into my medical treatment before I had enough caring to appreciate what you were doing.¡±

    ¡°You suffered for MONTHS!¡±

    ¡°Totally worth it. Now I want to start working on making you feel that the work and suffering you went through was worth it.¡± She¡¯s starting to say a lot of right things. Is there another shoe to drop?

    ¡°I swear we can talk about this after you tell me what happened.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an insufferable brat!¡±

    ¡°And you are quite possibly the most selfless and lovely person ever.¡± A part of me knows that she¡¯s being sweet as a deflection, but I¡¯ve been dying to hear something like that from her. A sigh of surrender escapes me.

    ¡°I will accept blatant and over the top flattery this one time.¡± She beams me a smile, a gruesome smile that can only reach one eye as the other has swollen shut.

    ¡°I rushed down to my advisor after you finally got me to wake up and we spent the afternoon discussing the options. He discussed what skills I should focus on to get level three without coercing me, and then took me out to lunch to celebrate my choices.¡± I smile at how I got to geek out over the food with the chef.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stop there, c¡¯mon Bell, tell me what you chose!¡±

    ¡°I picked cooking, of course, and first aid. My advisor said that a mix of domestic duties and medical support would give me the best chance of getting something like social worker!¡±

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Aww, that¡¯s so sweet! Now you can deal with all the people that have to work with me!¡± I don¡¯t know how, but even with her messed up face, that comment makes me smile and I get a brief moment of joy as I throw bath foam into her face.

    ***

    I¡¯m enjoying the sting of Bell tending to the wounds in my face when a loud bang issues from the far side of the suite and I¡¯m half out of the tub before I recognize the voice shouting.

    ¡°KIMBER! What the fuck did you say to the Gym crew? I had to go grab dinner for the three of us to avoid the comments of what those assholes think I did to you. And to save face! People had the confidence to talk bad about me to my face! You done fucked up kid!¡±

    Marcella turns the corner, her face a rictus of rage until she looks down at my hands and face. ¡°Oh. Yeah, that¡¯d do it. Lift up your legs.¡± I do so automatically. ¡°Yep. That explains the comments. Who helped you.¡±

    ¡°Help? That¡¯d be crazy. A vulnerability in the ploy. I did this to myself.¡± I say with a smug grin on my face.

    ¡°You WHAT!?¡± Bell grinds the brush into my hamburger knuckles.

    ¡°No shit? Damn, now I¡¯m kind of impressed.¡± I start to chuckle, but it hurts.

    ¡°Explain yourself Kimber Novarro.¡± She points the brush at my face and picks up a bottle of iodine. No thank you.

    ¡°Please no, Belle, not the brown stuff. Shit. Uh, so my meeting with a new nurse happened today, and well, she was a pretty Russian lady that Marcella is totally into, and she was razzing me like a sister and trying to be professional which confused me and my now volatile emotions and I called her out on her shit in a stupid way in front of a girl she likes. So then the nurse tells me good and bad news, tells me about a test program, sounds kinda miracle-like but could have some large, expensive consequences, so Marcella hammers home some options and the cost of failure and then I get emotional because I¡¯m confused on whose bullying me, my sister or my mentor, so I try to storm out to work more to not embarrass her, but then she brings up missing your initialization right after I feel abused, so I say some angry shit and come up with a plan that needs me to learn meditation.¡±

    ¡°Hells, take a breath kid.¡±

    ¡°Do not stop until you get to the bloody face.¡± Bell takes my chin and tells me there will be consequences if I don¡¯t continue.

    ¡°Okay, so I¡¯ve been denied gun and other weapons training because I appear too violent. So what better way to show effort than to reduce the treatments that are messing with me and to seek help with meditating. Save that I went off on a few people several months ago and the boys haven¡¯t let it go, so how do I get enough respect for them to help? ¡®Cause sympathy wouldn¡¯t get the right kind of help, I beat the shit out of myself with creative use of towels, lockers and steel trashcans, and then say that I learned some consequences to my outbursts and that I thought meditation could help. One of the boys bit, gave me some conditions, then I crawled home in the pain of my success.¡±

    ¡°This looks like success to you!?¡± Bell shouts at me again. She¡¯s done that a lot tonight. I must have really scared her.

    ¡°Sorry I scared you hon. I didn¡¯t think about messaging you to prepare you until it was too hard to text.¡± She tossed bath fluff in my face again. ¡°I felt backed into a corner, and this seemed like a way to check a bunch of boxes.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, by actually backing me into a corner. Now I have to act a certain way to stay within the narrow line of protecting your attempt at progress, and not looking like I broke and lost my shit. We can talk more about a way forward after dinner, now that I know that this was a calculated move instead of a juvenile revenge plot.¡±

    ¡°It can be two things.¡± I hiss as Bell squirts iodine on my hands.

    ¡°Yes it can.¡± She taps out a few things before continuing. ¡°I¡¯m going to order a few things. Belle, please get our idiot to the table for dinner.¡± My girlfriend nods and waits until Marcella leaves to flick my nose and then pull it straight.

    ¡°Fuuuuuuuck.¡± She jams some cloth up my nose and then rubs something on the cuts in my face that keeps them from stinging at every soap bubble. She dashes some ointment on my hands and wraps them up in a bandage and then a mass of tape in the pattern of a boxer¡¯s fist wraps. Clever. Wasteful, but clever. She pulls me up out of the suds and wipes me down in less than a minute before shoving me into the bedroom.

    ¡°I am so mad at you right now. Mad enough to consider what not forgiving you looks like. I am really uncomfortable with this level of anger, and realizing that you are the only one that has this power over me is . . . strange. I hope you meant what you said earlier about wanting to show how much you care, because after this. After hurting us both like this, I need a commitment from you, Kimber. Figure out what you¡¯re willing to offer.¡± She says right before throwing clothes at my head.

    Deep breaths, Kimber. Deep breaths. I scared her enough to make her question her own resolve and that would shake anyone. She¡¯s hurting and not trying to hurt me more. She¡¯s trying to resolve her torment, and I understand how that feels. Deep breaths. ¡°I¡¯m going to need a ¡®soda¡¯ for this conversation.¡±

    I put on the shorts and tee and shamble barefoot to the small fridge and grab a ¡®soda¡¯ for Belle and myself. I set the drinks down and I get a vaulted eyebrow from my mentor. I sigh, turn around and shamble back behind the bar, put ice in a short glass and pick an amber liquid labeled ¡®whiskey¡¯ halfway up the glass. I set it down in front of Marcella and she nods with respect this time.

    ¡°Not where I was going with that look, but I respect the response. The Lieutenant¡¯s canteen had Asian dishes today, so I got a few tubs of soup and a few tubs of noodles and ran off in anger.¡±

    ¡°I like Asian food.¡± Belle said.

    ¡°Lieutenant¡¯s canteen?¡± my voice gurgles through my ¡®soda¡¯.

    ¡°Ah, yeah. I guess I need to lay out the feels too.¡± We keep staring at her. ¡°For shits sake, eat. You probably won¡¯t choke at any of my revelations.¡±

    ¡°Nice comforting statement, three of ten.¡± I say, slurping tasty nutty noodles into my maw.

    ¡°Fine that shit is part of it. We¡¯ll start with comments like that.¡± She flicks a piece of rice at my head and continues. ¡°When I first saw you, I thought Parker had fucked up in flagging you for an enforcer. And then you started doing things without question and following me around. One of the younger guys looked at you twice while you were running those laps and I wanted to push their face in. When my sister was younger, she used to follow me and work with me like you did. When she got older, boys looked at her twice too. You just kept reminding me of Junie, and you never made it hard to be hard on you. It was only ever hard at night when the work was done, just like Junie.¡± She takes a gulp of whiskey an stares at the glass for a second.

    ¡°When we upped your treatment frequency, I started to get confused as well. Sometimes you would act like my sister and sometimes you would act like some trainee that needed to be reigned in. So after months of struggling with the dichotomy and watching you struggle, I¡¯m ready to beg Renfroe and you to pull back on the treatment, when I randomly decide to ask the Boss to send us a nurse for your future treatment.¡± She drained the rest of the glass and got up and fetched the rest of the bottle and brought it to the table to pour her next glass.

    ¡°Never expected for him to call Danielle. She was the last person I was serious about, so when you started with a rude tone, I didn¡¯t even hear what you said, I immediately defended Dani.¡±

    ¡°I felt so betrayed right then.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, I hadn¡¯t reflected on how you actually felt until your panicked word vomit in the bathroom. I like that you connected with me too, so that¡¯s why all the honesty. I know you¡¯re not Junie, but I actually like bickering with you, and in these suites I¡¯d like to continue that. Outside though, you¡¯ve forced our collective hands into being reluctant hardass and dedicated student.¡±

    ¡°I enjoy bickering with you too.¡± I flutter my eyelid and smile.

    ¡°Shit, you kind of went too far, with all of  . . . this.¡± She waves at me.

    ¡°Kind of hard to sell an ass beating without a beaten ass.¡±

    ¡°You are such a brat. I volunteer my time and money to provide these niceties and allow ¡®sodas¡¯ and this is the thanks I get?¡± She tips he glass at me and takes a sip. ¡°And in thanks, you will hug me before I leave and pretend to hate it.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but laugh at that, I hiss in pain some too, but mostly laughing. Belle gets up and hugs Marcella. ¡°Hey Belle, do you know what Danielle calls my dear sister?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I heard ¡®Marcie¡¯¡±

    ¡°Traitor!¡± My mentor and surrogate sister yells.

    ¡°Aww, so cute.¡± Belle squeals and hugs her tighter.

    ¡°If your girlfriend didn¡¯t have such a restraining hug, I would come over there and flick your bruises.¡±

    ¡°Pfft, you are going to make me spar and make everyone in the gym feel like an ass.¡±

    ¡°Well, I am now. Look at you having good ideas.¡±

    We spent the rest of the night trading quips and toothless insults. It was nice.

    Later, instead of me pulling her onto my side for a lopsided weighted blanket for me, Bell pulled me half on top of her and she sighed as she tucked her hand into my waistband. After I got over the initial surprise I forgot about my bruises and fell right to sleep.

 Chapter 12

    After our collective heart to heart, everything at home felt . . . natural. Bell started coming home late some nights, but she was dutifully polite about informing us so we could bring up cantina food for the three of us. While Marcella did not volunteer further info about the Lieutenant part of her cantina leak, I did learn that if she was a ¡®Lieutenant¡¯ that she was far more important than who I thought would be training me.

    When she started to lean into the persona I created for her, I knew just how important all of the other trainers thought she was. I¡¯m convinced that they thought she was death come to collect them, and only barter in favors and trade could stay her reaping another day. So they fed their trainees into the ring at her behest to demonstrate for and teach me valuable lessons.

    I told Belle the next day that I had bartered for the personal Chef and Dietitian for the Miss Fontaine would prepare an extra meal in exchange or Meditation training twice a week. She agreed, but only if I agreed to help her with housekeeping in the pre-initialization bunks. Not even one of those sloppy fuckers wanted me hanging around for hours, so by sheer coincidence, she spent less time cleaning up after people when my eyes promised to murder everyone eyeballing my girlfriend. One of the guys almost convinced me to come back at midnight to disappear his ass.

    Belle and I both decided that would not help me get my weapons qualifications. She also convinced me she had other ways of handling it. She revealed that said pervert had sent her unwelcome pictures of a lewd nature and his bunk mates threw him a sock party. He then suddenly had to visit his dead grandmother for a year until the next selection class. Coincidences are strange aren¡¯t they?

    We¡¯re sitting at a late dinner from the cantina when Marcella gets a message in her System, which she apparently forwards to Belle. I am feeling so left out, but also so included? The feeling of Family makes my eyes start leaking.

    ¡°You okay hon?¡±

    ¡°Yeah Bell. I just thought how I wish I had the system, but also, the petty bulshit of Marcella sharing a message with you makes this feel like I have a family again. And what do you know, I have emotions and shit that make me cry.¡±

    ¡°Fine fine, I got good news and amusing as hell bad news.¡± My found sister says. ¡°Jim and Denny agreed to train you up on guns and knives, not because they have proof of your stability, but because they have heard nothing about you and were reminded of my menace and their own stab-ability!¡±

    ¡°Oooh, that¡¯s a terrible pun. I love it.¡± I take a sip of tea, because Bell is convinced she can teach me to appreciate it. ¡°How long has it been since you flexed? Like proper exercised your ability?¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± she considers as she swirls her Irish coffee. ¡°Five years at least, probably closer to eight since people saw me work.¡±

    ¡°What are you both talking about Kimber?¡±

    ¡°My dear sister is a big scary . . .¡± I get interrupted with a forceful monotone.

    ¡°Can it, Kid. Hard break.¡± I throw my hands up.

    ¡°Sorry, teach. I didn¡¯t mean to go too far. And Belle, I don¡¯t want to keep you in the dark, but she and I made promises.¡± I expect some pouty pushback, but instead she nods.

    ¡°At times like this, it¡¯s hard to remember we work for an organized crime business. I get it, ladies. I don¡¯t like it, but I get it. But three can play at this game: I know stuff that you don¡¯t know.¡±

    Her sinister payback smirk is so attractive that I grab her face and kiss her lips. I timed it so well that she forgets to hold me back. I smile as I separate.

    ¡°I always wanted a partner in crime.¡±

    ¡°And it¡¯s ruined,¡± Marcella pushes my face away.

    ¡°It very much is not!¡± Belle wakes up and pulls my face back in for a kiss. I¡¯m smiling.

    ¡°Mooom, Kimber is being gross!¡± Marcella yells, well and truly ruining the moment as we all laugh.

    ¡°Fuck I love you guys.¡± I blurt out as the fuzzy feeling in my chest and head spew out of my mouth.

    ¡°So sappy, I¡¯m . . .¡±

    ¡°I love you too!¡± Bell shouts in my face.

    ¡°Yep, I¡¯m out.¡± My mental sister exits with cake in hand.

    She holds my shoulders and stares at me while surprised at her own exclamation. It¡¯s super awkward so I pull her into my lap. This devolves into shifts in grunts and awkwardness until her legs and arms are wrapped around me like a monkey and her head is on my shoulder. I have no idea what to say or even do.

    ¡°Can we fall asleep like this on the couch with a movie on?¡±

    ¡°Very yes.¡± I stand, flexing hard to make it look effortless and cool, and walk us over to the couch. I tap her legs to signal I¡¯m about to squash them while I lie down. She taps a few invisible buttons and the screen lights up with one of the superhero movies she likes.

    She¡¯s looking very cute as she nuzzles into my admittedly flat chest, and that smile is looking mighty kissable.

    ¡°Can we kiss sometimes before we sleep?¡±

    ¡°All of the yesses.¡± She kisses me and struggles with something I can¡¯t see, but when she breaks the kiss to scootch up and put a pillow under her head for effortless smooches, I get all warm in my belly. It took seventeen months, and a scattered and confusing amount of effort on many sides, but I can finally say that I feel love for a girl that calls me girlfriend.

    ***

    ¡°Kimber! Stop fucking around!¡± Billy Garnet Shouts at me as I miss yet another target with a thrown knife.

    ¡°I can murder every one of these targets with a throwing knife!¡±

    ¡°Every knife can be a throwing knife you arrogant shit! BE BETTER.¡±

    I¡¯ll fucking show you better you unrelenting piece of shit. ¡°You got a printer and ten minutes?¡±

    ¡°If it will help you stop wasting my time, I have the world!¡± He shows me to an office where I print off a picture of Doctor Salazar.  ¡°You have beef with the doctor?¡± he asks, and I know why he¡¯s nervous.

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Not really, I¡¯ve come to terms with him. But I don¡¯t have a picture of the pervert I will never forget, so this reminder will have to do.¡± I walk out to the ten meter target for knives and I put a printout of Salazar on the body target. I walk back to the line and warn the line crew. ¡°I¡¯m about to tap into some feral shit, so please step behind the line and out of my vision.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you say, chica.¡± The gathered men chuckle as I line up the knives in front of me while I concentrate on the frame of mind I need.

    That target is a pervert. It likes to touch patients and is a terrible pervert. It¡¯s too nebulous with it? And with no real person threatened, it doesn¡¯t hit home.

    ¡°Nobody would come after you, pup, but I hear your girlie is a snack and the doc . . .¡±

    As soon as someone associated my worries about perverts with Bell, I snarl and lose feeling in my extremities and only see red.

    ¡°That fucking pervert will never touch Belle.¡± My ruined voice breaks as I shout, displaced from my body as I watch it swipe up a table of knives, swipe up and release knives at the printed face, and swiping down at the printed crotch, I keep one for my vengeance, just in case the blades to the skull don¡¯t penetrate I watch as my body carves the target in two. As soon as my eyes survey the most assuredly dead target, my consciousness re-connects and I stumble a little before walking back to the line, placing the remaining knife in my hand on the table.

    I look at the linemen and the range officer and the shock on their faces.

    ¡°I count nine of ten knives released, want to score that for me gents?¡± I am still wound up as all hell, but my asshole trainer spun me up to train for this, so I know what to expect.

    ¡°No I do not. I¡¯m going to write 90 of 100, barely hit expert. Any dissenting opinion?¡± They all walked away. ¡°I¡¯ll forward your results, kindly get off my range.¡±

    Well, yet another training team freaked out and bullied. Only the gun guys left. I can¡¯t freak out with that set, any loss of control with a gun is a fail, no matter how well I recover. I can¡¯t blame them, really. I¡¯ve been working hard on corralling my emotions, but I¡¯ve had some sparring kids complain that I can¡¯t control my trigger.

    Now, I didn¡¯t think so either, but Marcella has been working hard on the idea and she¡¯s the reason we landed on a way to hold back during a hyped-up fight. We focused so hard on that that I almost failed my knife final. In the end, sister mentor convinced me to hold on to that bickering energy in a fight and flash the pervert warning when I needed brute force.

    She gave me a photo and then randomized my opponents. Fight number three is the supposed pervert. I hit him so hard in the gut that my shoulder slides out of place with a pop, and the boy I¡¯m fighting immediately vomits and falls over on top of me. They separate us and I groan as Marcella grabs my arm. She twists and jerks it, popping it back in and jabbing me with some pressurized injector. Marcella scolds me in public about the waste of resources.

    ¡°While I don¡¯t usually approve of such brutish intimidation tactics, it¡¯s inching us toward a full field period. The gun boys can¡¯t be intimidated though. Physicality is next to nothing and reflex and accuracy are paramount.¡±

    ¡°Mushbrain, in case you haven¡¯t seen, my reactions are both accurate and fast.¡±

    ¡°Fluffy tiger, you have never had to focus on multiple targets before.¡±

    I snap my eyes to Bell, ¡°Et tu Maribelle?¡±

    ¡°She paid me in baby pictures! I am so weak!¡± I snarl at Marcella for working her intel on my girl.

    ¡°Put those marshmallows away, fluffy,¡±

    ¡°I hate you.¡±

    ¡°Save it for the range you cotton candy terror. If you can¡¯t use the overdrive on the emotions, how about an underdrive? Clamp them down to an ember for a minute or two?¡±

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s a solid idea, but how do I practice that?¡±

    ¡°Watch mild abuse?¡± She unhelpfully.

    ¡°If you want to spend more money on very bloody experiments, please continue.¡± I challenge.

    She rolls her eyes and waves her hand in dismissal. ¡°yeah, it was a bad idea. Belle, you know her well, did she ever dampen her emotions to control herself.¡±

    ¡°Marcella, I wasn¡¯t this close to Kimber in the Orphanage. Her emotions were already minimal around me.¡±

    ¡°Sorry hon, but I had  . . .¡±

    ¡°Kimber, you don¡¯t have to explain our separation at the Orphanage. We are both much different.¡± She coughs purposefully, ¡°Jamie¡¯s the only one that understood her that well then. Next in line was Mother. She liked to talk to Kimber.¡±

    ¡°Care for a visit?¡±

    ¡°No¡±, ¡°Yes.¡± Bell and I answer differently at the same time.

    I respond first, ¡°I would have thought you¡¯d be happy to see the grubs.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the younger kids were a substitute for finding my person, okay? I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t love them the same way. I am so terrified that you and this place has ruined me for a wider family.¡± My favorite person says as she cries into me. I of course respond with bravado.

    ¡°Belle, no way the grubs forget their school mother. You¡¯re not old enough to fully realize kids, but I bet you remember every feeling the second you walk in and so do they. The only thing that may prevent that is if the boogey man walks in with you.¡±

    ¡°No way you terrorized these kids.¡± Marcella says as she arranges a car for us.

    ¡°True. I was the trained monster that had everyone¡¯s back. Jamie convinced the grubs that the monsters worked at night because they were afraid of me. It was cute.¡±

    ¡°Can we not talk about Jamie?¡± I take a breath and reply.

    ¡°Belle, Jamie curated me for two years. I couldn¡¯t forget her if I tried. Every entry into emotion that I have was forged by trauma or by her. I love you, doofus, but I can¡¯t forget Jamie¡ªthat bitch.¡±

    She digs her fingers into my scalp and I resist a moan. ¡°It¡¯s hard not to be jealous. You consume my thoughts and I go to therapy to help separate my need for you so I can help others.¡±

    ¡°Uh, Belle. That¡¯s concerning.¡±

    ¡°More concerning than your feral destruction leap?¡± She ripostes.

    ¡°I surrender, Belle. If you¡¯d rather go back to the ranch, Danny would take you back.¡±

    ¡°No, it just  . . . ugh. I wonder about when you get the system okay? I got this presence from something I was doing at the orphanage. What happens if this is your talent?¡±

    ¡°Oh, OH!¡± My mentor exclaims. ¡°That would be fantastic!¡±

    ¡°For orphan¡¯s sake, focus. We are here to tap into my shit to pass me through my firearm practical. Once that is done, I will make it up to both of you separately if we can focus for a few hours.¡±

    ¡°A few hours huh?¡±

    ¡°My sister is being lewd again. I¡¯m fifteen. No shenanigans allowed.¡±

    Her response was to pull me along and talk to Mother about me in front of me. My mentor is so mature. I suffer through a few second had stories about me and when Bell approached the grubs they were too happy to see her to talk about anything else.

    The image made me a little jealous and made Marcella want to talk about kids, which was uncomfortable for me and Mother. Serves her right for tagging along on a sisters¡¯ day.

    ¡°How are you doing Kimber? Are they treating you well?¡± I chuckle at Mother¡¯s attempts. She tried sometimes, but really didn¡¯t understand us.

    ¡°I¡¯m good, mum. I¡¯ve got a good mentor, a comforting companion, and I¡¯m receiving the best training that money can buy. The only issue is that they haven¡¯t created metrics for as far as they¡¯ve pushed me. Not a bad life eh?¡± I say, with only a smidge if flippancy.

    Another hour or two has Marcella trying not to fidget, so she throws in the flag. ¡°Alright, I have a few ideas, and this isn¡¯t going to help with our current problem. Go collect your girl and we¡¯ll discuss some  . . . drastic measures.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, okay. Mother, try to pay more attention to the Sisters and how little they care.¡±

    ¡°They do the best,¡± as soon as I hear that I yell.

    ¡°Bullshit. They are elitist, selfish bitches that want to belong to something. Teach them or release them, don¡¯t subject another generation to their apathy.¡±

    ¡°I see your mouth hasn¡¯t improved.¡±

    ¡°Nor has your awareness. Maribelle, Jamie and I held this place together. You better hope that our efforts bleed into the algorithm for the next decade or you¡¯re screwed.¡± Before she can retort, I walk out. I have no interest. From what I know of selection day, we were the only school that had hits, and it was certainly nothing that the administration did.

    We walk away with Belle feeling fulfilled while sister dearest and I are just mad at the waste of time. I collect Belle in my lap for the drive and nibble her ear until she squeals. I¡¯m enjoying her responses, but I always worry about leading her on about more . . . physical stuff. I know I am not ready, and she is older but very understanding, but I still worry? Marcella tells me I¡¯m an idiot and not to worry about that until I feel the desire to do more, assured that Belle would understand. I still worry.

 Chapter 13

    ¡°Alright, kid, make it safe and put it on the bench.¡± The firearms instructor says to me, like a cop to an armed criminal.

    I jerkily hit the release and struggle to lock the slide back as my hands have gotten sweaty. I¡¯ve got two weeks left until I¡¯m supposed to go to field training, but as soon as we start the practical pistol course my brain starts trying to escape and fight my way out of the loud enclosed space. Stationary target shooting I an effort in controlled breathing and strained focus. When I have to break that single minded focus onto movement and positioning and staying in cover and pieing out to take a shot, I just get jumpy and then my breathing breaks and then the flight response starts going into anger.

    When I notice things are getting out of hand, I have been trying to do what my instructor just told me, but he¡¯s been preempting my behavior early so that I don¡¯t fumble and wave a loaded weapon around.

    ¡°I can¡¯t say that I¡¯ve seen someone improve so much on target shooting, and then have these kinds of problems when we get to the motions, but unless Fontaine has any ideas about how to get through this . . . mental hurdle, all I can suggest is dry fire repetition¡ªwhich won¡¯t help much in the field when conditions are dynamic.¡±

    I nod at that and grab a sport drink from the table while I try to calm myself down. ¡°I think she¡¯s got something in her back pocket.  Decided not to use it when meditation seemed to be working.¡±

    The man comes over, sits down next to me on the bench, while careful not to touch me. ¡°You have been making improvements, like I said, but right now I can¡¯t recommend you deploying with a side arm any place you¡¯d be in the thick of it. I could clear you for long-gun work, but that¡¯s not really what you¡¯re training for is it?¡±

    I shake my head. ¡°I appreciate your being patient with me, and you know, letting me train with weapon at all after the whole doctor thing.¡±

    He chuckles at that. ¡°Renfroe¡¯s a good doctor, not so great person. Post war, we gotta take the good with the bad while we pull society back together again. But that¡¯s big picture stuff that you can learn once you¡¯ve got the system, gotten your Track and maybe by your 18<sup>th</sup>, become a citizen of the Empire.¡±

    ¡°Wait, I thought we weren¡¯t part of the Empire?¡±

    ¡°Heh, fine. Short history lesson. Empress Astoria gave the nanites to Earth because the world leaders couldn¡¯t stop arguing about who would get it, so she gave it to everyone. She also agreed to let them manage their world, countries, etcetera; as she had newly claimed the title of Empress and had another planet to run. So, she gave Earth a special status, and gave us enough rope to hang ourselves with. After five years or so, we were pretty sure she wasn¡¯t coming back to prop us up, sure she¡¯s been back, or so the rumors say, but never to pull Earth into the Empire¡¯s government control. That said, there are things that are hard coded into the system for the whole Empire, like the initialization no earlier than 14 thing, that all humans are subject to. One of those is expanded access to the Exchange and fundamental rights as a Citizen at the tier 1 upgrade, or level 16. Granted, regional authority set the self initialization age to 16, so we all operate under that for orphans, but it is what it is.¡±

    ¡°You know that raises more questions than it answers right?¡± I say tiredly, sipping continuously on my salted sugar drink.

    He chuckles at that. ¡°Yeah, that hasn¡¯t really stopped for me either. Anycase, you¡¯ve got thirty minutes until I have a group of other field eligibles coming in. Use that time to dry fire the course, then after, you need to have a hard conversation with Miss Fontaine.¡±

    ¡°Thanks Mr. Kenneck.¡± I watch as he takes the magazines and can of ammo away from my station, hells, he picks up the ammo on the line and pulls it back into the vault that the guns are kept in. I¡¯m pretty sure that was the casino¡¯s money vault at one point.

    I go through the course eight times before my time¡¯s up, and while it does help with my comfort with this scenario, it¡¯s not the same without the noise and the pressure not to fail as the steel targets stay silent. After turning in the 9mm, I head to the gym to get my light route finished and spend another hour exhausting myself on the heavy bag and speed trainers.

    I drag myself up to the suite after a long shower, most of which I just sat under the hot water, wishing it could sluice away my troubles along with my expended minerals. Bell isn¡¯t home, which make me sad, no hugs for me yet, but maybe some of her leftovers would be like a hug from the inside until she returns. I tuck into yesterday¡¯s orange chicken and spicy chow mien, feeling better as soon as the memory of making this with her last night floods my thoughts. As I¡¯m cleaning up, I hear a trio of knocks at the joining door between rooms.

    ¡°Hey Marcella. Did Mr. Kenneck message you?¡± I say without looking up.

    ¡°He did. Told me what happened in the practical course too.¡± She sighed and slumps into the seat across from me at the small table. Her reaction to the news doesn¡¯t give me much hop. ¡°So what do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± The implication that I had control over the situation throws me for a loop, as I¡¯m at a loss for what to do, and I say so. ¡°I just feel so crippled by my brain and my trauma, and the therapist says these things take time, but we don¡¯t have time. I¡¯m getting overwhelmed by the volume and concentration of things I can¡¯t control while I¡¯m on that course, and my trainers are right to think that it¡¯ll be worse in the field.¡±

    ¡°Hey, Kimber,¡± she reaches over and takes a hand I was gesturing with and begins rubbing her thumb over my knuckles and it anchors me from flying off into a helpless panic. ¡°there are some things we can try, but they¡¯ll probably mess you up in other ways and maybe force you to take some steps back in resolving your past trauma.¡±

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Being vague isn¡¯t helping, Marcella.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right. But they¡¯re levers you have, such as this familiar contact thing that Bell instinctively uses to comfort and calm you down. I¡¯m doing it right now and it seemed to let you focus a bit better.¡±

    I nod at that. Usually I don¡¯t like prolonged contact, but I guess Marcella isn¡¯t just some person kicking my ass and training me, hasn¡¯t been for a few months now. The touch is actually comforting and it surprises me now that I¡¯m thinking about it.

    ¡°So, my ¡®idea¡¯ is conditioning at two ends of the spectrum. First is a jump on training you will get anyway: Enhanced interrogation resistance. I don¡¯t know if you ever used a mental escape at the orphanage. It¡¯s easy to escape boredom, it is hard to escape pain, and hardest to temporarily escape trauma.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah. I can do the boredom thing, I usually plan out what I have to do in the future to like, minute detail, or pick some silly idea to plan in detail so that I¡¯m not bummed when it comes to nothing.¡±

    ¡°Okay, yah, focusing on minutiae is a solid step in a lot of management techniques. Another well-used method and with a combination of conditioned responses and that kind of management, I think we can reign in your panic and anger enough to keep you in control through the course, and with fine tuning, I think we can give you the right tools to deal with those emotions in a more stable way than what we¡¯re going to start with.¡±

    ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be any down sides? What¡¯s the catch?¡±

    ¡°Bell and I will be attempting to train you like a pet, and you have to trust both of us not to be embarrassed about it.¡±

    I blush immediately at the thought of Bell scratching the back of my head and telling me I¡¯m a good girl.

    ¡°Yes, that is exactly what I¡¯m talking about, but also with treats or sounds so that I don¡¯t look like a predatory lesbian to the other trainers.¡±

    I snort at that. ¡°I mean, you are a predator and a lesbian . . .¡±

    ¡°Ew, don¡¯t be gross. The long pole in the tent of the ¡®reward¡¯ portion will be to find a snack or a treat that you can have whenever Belle appreciates what you¡¯ve done, tie it to appreciation and affection, and get that treat to link with a pleased serotonin rush instead of embarrassment. I will be doing something similar when I think you did something worth being proud of. Think of something you like, but hardly ever get and is portable. You will always have them on you, but are to never just randomly snack them if this is going to work.¡±

    ¡°Like a caramel chew or something? Or a piece of taffy?¡±

    She beams a smile at me, ¡°Yes, exactly like that. And since I have never seen those things around you, those are great candidates.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that going to be super degrading for me to be rewarded with snacks at the gym in front of the others?¡± I can feel the embarrassment already.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I said that it would only work if you trust us completely, and believe that we love you and are trying everything to help you succeed.¡±

    What did she say? It¡¯s horrible that a single word can hit me so hard in the feels. ¡°Do you really mean it?¡± I feel so fragile right now. I could have kept on pretending she was a big sister, not expecting her to feel the same. Even after what she said after I beat the shit out of myself, I don¡¯t know if I ever really believed it fully.

    ¡°Belle and I would do anything to help you succeed? Of course we would.¡±

    Tears well up in my eyes, bidden by what feels like a let down, and laugh sadly, ¡°No, not that. How could someone like you love me?¡± I start sobbing and curl in on myself in a full breakdown that I haven¡¯t experienced since just after I started remembering again.

    ¡°Shh, shh, it¡¯s okay Kimber. I¡¯m here, I¡¯ve got you.¡± I didn¡¯t notice being collected and cradled in a sitting position on the floor, but Marcella has me all wrapped up in arms and legs and is rocking me gently. ¡°When I told you that you reminded me of my sister right away, I wasn¡¯t kidding. What I guess I didn¡¯t say is that even though you are a troublesome pain in the ass, you¡¯re also a good person, and a fierce friend. But even when I¡¯m mad at you, I still want to eat dinner and bicker about stupid shit with you. You wormed your way into my shriveled up heart, and I will stuff you in the musty used towel bin if you repeat this, but I think I need this little family of ours just as much as you do.

    ¡°So yeah, I love you twerp. And for making me say it, you¡¯re doing five burpee laps around the arena tomorrow as your warmup.¡±

    As my heart swells at her admission, my mind shrieks at the thought of tomorrow¡¯s warmup. I wrap my arms around her in a fierce hug and mutter, ¡°I love you too asshole,¡± into her shoulder.

    ***

    I don¡¯t do many solo adventures in the kitchen but I haven¡¯t heard anything from Belle tonight. Marcella says that since she initialized now, they¡¯ll be broadening her training, shadowing professionals and trying to progress her through skills to level three.

    ¡°In fact, if she¡¯s been incommunicado for this long, she might be recovering from a Module download. Some skills can be . . . data rich enough to put someone into a protective coma for a few days.¡±

    ¡°A few days!?¡±

    ¡°At the outside, of course. But this early on, it is very unlikely to get something that impactful.¡±

    ¡°Way to make me panic, jerk.¡± I¡¯m making chicken noodle soup, and if a nugget of carrot just so happened to fly at Marcella¡¯s head in my inexperience, I¡¯m calling it an accident. ¡°So I had a major breakdown before you could finish explaining your plan. The part about resisting interrogation?¡±

    ¡°Ah, yes. I have some people to contact to see what kind of help I can get. If do this myself, it¡¯ll impact the other training we¡¯re doing. So, essentially, someone is going to work you over while asking you personal information. Low-level telepaths are common enough, so schooling your thoughts is also worth attempting.¡±

    ¡°And this is when I should try the distraction and escape mentality methods?¡±

    ¡°Ideally, but then again, you are way too calm about me telling you I¡¯m going to hire someone to tie you to a chair and beat your ass for a whole week.¡± She stares at me to see how I react.

    I shrug. ¡°I know what you¡¯re saying, and that it¡¯s going to be worse than losing a fight, but is having the attention of that kind of professional something I can really understand before it happens?¡± I stop chopping and look over to her, ¡°Plus I do trust that you¡¯re trying to help me with my goals, so I¡¯ll try to take it as it comes, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but maybe?¡± she sounds unsure, ¡°What¡¯s going on in your head right now?¡±

    ¡°Not a lot, really. The things you¡¯re telling me, I know they¡¯re going to be important as soon as tomorrow, but right now, I¡¯m tired from a rollercoaster of a day but after realizing that I have a sister and a girlfriend that love me, and believe in me, what does the rest of it matter?¡±

    ¡°Memorize that feeling, Kimber, store it somewhere secure. You¡¯re going to need it.¡±

 Chapter 14

    The woman that Marcella found to help harden me against interrogation was a terrifyingly clinical professional and has been attacking me and teaching me for most of a week. This is my fourth abduction.

    The first time I was bagged and tagged as a group of people got in after me on the elevator, taking me to a different floor and what felt like an offsite location. It was after a gym session and Marcella had started rewarding me with these small caramel chews. She wasn¡¯t big on praise in general when she was in training mode, so the accolades and the candies felt really good. So I was totally distracted and oblivious when the bag was put over my head.

    As the setting seeped into my mind, I stopped struggling as the much stronger thugs had me thrown into a vehicle and the bump on my head stunned me enough to give them time to tape my hands and feet, and then inject something in my neck for a nap. I was beat up and questioned about Jamie. They focused most of the pain to the face and the body, alternating types of questions, and the severity of the pain as the result of not answering. From surprise hits, to full explanation of how that baton was going to send shooting pain down my arm as they lay into a nerve cluster. I ended up telling them a bunch of surface things about Jamie and then repeating myself a few times. It was the best I could do.

    After a few hours, she¡¯d untie me and force me to learn about ways to resist, predict and deconstruct an unpredictable interrogation, by goading, and testing out the reward for obedience, or at least perceived obedience. I tell you, there was nothing more confusing than being cut free and led to a small classroom with food and some first aid items.

    The next two abductions were at different times and places, but the interrogation and classroom periods were similar, save for the tools they used and the games they played. At the end of each day, however, I got to go home to Bell and she¡¯d comfort me and we¡¯d spend time together, even some of that was positive response training, but with Belle I don¡¯t remember caring that it was training.

    This time was different. This time they bust into my hotel room, I tagged a few with knives from the kitchen and hit one with a chair, but they overwhelmed me in the end with violence and naptime drugs. This time, when they pulled the hood off of me, there was a male face in front of me. No wait, it is the male Face from selection day! But why would he be here? From what I thought I understood, he¡¯s pretty important in the organization.

    ¡°There are probably a hundred questions running through your slow little mind right now.¡± He pauses. I shrug. It seems to annoy him so I save that for later. ¡°Well, I saw an opportunity to gather information, and since you¡¯re going through hardening training anyway, you get some benefit while I have some fun.¡±

    ¡°This is fun for you?¡± I ask, remembering what Marcella¡¯s friend said: people that enjoy what I did to you make better torturers than interrogators.

    ¡°I enjoy watching arrogance get knocked down, yes.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no. Arrogant teenagers. The world quivers under their collective egos.¡± I get slapped for that one. He¡¯s got rings on too, the bastard.

    ¡°I¡¯m not here to banter, stupid girl. I¡¯m here for information.¡± Power hungry and maybe hates women? Maybe just someone in my group like Marcella? Rival lieutenant perhaps? All possibilities, I take note and file that away too.

    I stare at him blankly as he waits for me to say something. Dumbass didn¡¯t ask me anything.

    ¡°I did hear that you were trainable. Fontaine¡¯s little pet, some call you. Some, the spoiled little bitch.¡± None of this is news pretty boy. Marcella warned me the first might happen, and the second always went along with preferential treatment.

    ¡°Good, then you¡¯ve probably heard of the algorithm, and that the group I selected with you were identified by it. I want to know what was so special about the Old Vegas Orphanage.

    I raise an eyebrow and wait for the question, even though I do understand what he¡¯s getting after. I get a heavy fist to the stomach for it. It makes me cough and spit. ¡°Sorry, as you said, I¡¯m pretty stupid. There were a lot of answers to your statement.¡±

    Another ring slap turns my face, and his hand turns my chin back. ¡°Tell me what made your Orphanage special, and the pain will stop.¡±

    I feel compelled to give him answers. Like little hornets in my mind, are stinging, forcing me to open my mouth and say something. ¡°Extra food and freedom to be ourselves was pretty special to me.¡± Uh, that was a gross and violating feeling.

    ¡°Gods, you really are stupid.¡± He sighs as he walks around the chair. ¡°I don¡¯t care about what is special to you personally.¡± He says before kicking my chair over forward, smashing my hands into the concrete floor with a slap of my face against it a moment later. ¡°You will tell me what conditions at the Orphanage led to four candidates for advanced Track options being selected!¡±

    He yells and I feel the compelling tone again, the hornets stinging my brain. Maybe I have to answer, but perhaps I can make him not believe it? Nothing to lose, I suppose. ¡°You¡¯re looking at it, asshole. I¡¯m what¡¯s special. I kept the rats and grubs safe, cover for them when they messed up, and sacrificed for them so no one had to be hungry. I get that you wouldn¡¯t understand sacrificing for others, but not everyone¡¯s a self serving piece of shit.¡±

    It¡¯s not safe to antagonize a captor like this, but maybe he¡¯ll make mistakes that buy me enough time for others to find me? He kicks me with a snarl, hard enough to shift and snap some ribs as the chair is forced to roll to my right side instead of my face. I cry out despite myself.

    ¡°You want to be difficult? Are you so cavalier with your own life, or are you protecting someone?¡± He looks thoughtfully at the wall then taps out a few things and then turns back to me. ¡°I¡¯ll let you think about some better answers while I arrange some things.¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    As he walks out, I think that conceding slowly is how you¡¯re supposed to buy time, not whatever I just did. He has me wait a few hours, but just as I¡¯m about to fall asleep, he puts a collar around my neck that shocks the shit out of me. I wheeze as my teeth clench with the rest of my body, and my broken ribs start stabbing the surrounding meat again. He chuckles as he walks out again.

    I get tazed right as I¡¯m about to fall asleep for a few hours, then every half hour after that. At this point I figure he¡¯s either gone home or gone to sleep himself. I figure I should test it then. Unfortunately it¡¯s easier to roll onto the back of the chair instead of back on my front.

    Kipping my body to try and break the legs off is more painful in my ribs than it is effective. It did, however, turn me enough to see that a steel table is about five feet from me. The metal chair proves to be more robust than I was hoping and it was too much to hope that he¡¯d be dumb enough to have a wooden chair.

    With the table legs in place I can use a hand and the legs to roll to my hands, knees and toes. I push myself up the leg with my fingers, and the painful application of my face against the edge of the table, I manage to balance my weight over my toes and shuffle to a corner where I scrape and slam the chair arm covered in tape against the table until it frays a little. I alternate between wedging the edge between my elbow and the chair arm to try and rip the tape and trying to fray the tape more. By the time I hear a tearing noise, I¡¯ve fallen on my face again and I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s the tape or the skin on my elbow. I use my weight and muscle to progressively tear my right arm free, low key scream-crying from the pain in my ribs as I toss myself about.

    My hands aren¡¯t in the best shape from falling on and torquing my fingers, so it takes me longer than desired to rip myself free from the tape. I quickly check my pockets for my phone or my candies, but both have been taken away. I look around the rest of the room to see if I have anything else to work with. The walls are covered in a fabric padding, and the only feature beside the door is a small circular vent near the ceiling and what I assume is a one-way window you see in old cop shows.

    The door has a touch pad electronic lock and the window might be vulnerable to steel chairs. The fucking collar keeps on its thirty minute or so schedule, which is oddly comforting that the racket I roused didn¡¯t cause any changes. I play with the clasp and find it really is a dog collar. What an asshole. I touch the electrodes to parts of the lock and wait for the shock to happen again. Just in case I can keep the noise down, and in the lucky event that this lock fails open.

    My ears hear a buzz and a soft click and my readied hand yanks the door as fast as I can and pull the handle to my belly with a quiet thud. Holyshit, it worked. I slide out of the door and shut it behind me, and turn around to find that my room was constructed inside of a warehouse. A small room attached to my prison is in the right place to be on the other side of the window, so I poke my head in to see a messy room with trinkets and tools strewn about a desk with my stuff among the clutter. I also find a knife and the controller for the shock collar.

    Slinking back out I try to lose myself in the machines and crates until I find an exit to this questionably sized maze. I¡¯m so tempted to run, but I know that a running person at any time of day, but especially at odd hours of the morning, will draw more attention than walking. The panic and flight are building at such a rate though, I¡¯m not sure I care. As a last ditch effort to control my shit, I break my promise to Marcella and administer a candy without being told to. The instant reminder of my two favorite people and how proud of me they are, pumps enough reward chemicals into my brain to let me think through the panic.

    First, you need to move at a confident, but unalarming pace. Move now. Then, to get back to base, I need to first put distance between me and my crime¡ªany direction will do. After half an hour or so, I look for land marks in the distance, some of the strip is still lit at night, climb a building to find the light if you have to. I can¡¯t climb very well with my roughed-up hands and hurt ribs, and after all of the pain and the adrenaline that will fade once I make distance, I will be tired and sloppy. Risk communicating? Company phone, probably could track you right now. Blarg. Have to assume Parker doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m missing.

    I power on the phone and bring up my contacts to find Marcella¡¯s number.

    /Unexpected resistance on night training, request immediate pick up./

    \Re-routing vehicle for pickup. Dessert will be waiting.\

    Ten minutes later, a car flicks their brights after turning the corner to the street I¡¯m on. I wait until they pull past and jump out to flash my phone light in their rear view. The car stops immediately and I walk up to the back passenger door and open it.

    ¡°What¡¯s the best dessert?¡±

    ¡°Tiramisu¡± a female voice responds. No one I know it seems, but clearly sent by Marcella.

    I get in the car and slump down far enough that my head won¡¯t show if a car passes.

    ¡°Life threatening injuries?¡± She asks.

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s ibuprofen in the kit on the floor.¡± I find the kit and slam some pills. I¡¯m tempted to use the t-1 recovery injector, but I don¡¯t have the creds to pay for it yet. I¡¯ll live in either case, but now that I¡¯m not in life-threatening danger, the pain is coming to the forefront. If I relax, my ribs move; then I tense up and my ribs move. Broken ribs are stupid.

    Another thing that¡¯s stupid is how I was left unsupervised for so long. Maybe he realized if he slipped into torture that Marcella might retaliate? Maybe he was goading me to lose control and look like a psycho on camera? That would probably be the easiest way to make me and Marcella lose face without inviting his own assassination. But he didn¡¯t even try to use Bell against me once, so now I¡¯m just turbo confused.

    Speaking of confused. ¡°Are we going in the main entrance? Looking like this?¡±

    ¡°Eh, you and Marcella will get a slap on the wrist at most, but no-one would risk open violence on the floor. It¡¯s one of our remaining legitimate business ventures.¡±

    I have no idea what business that would be besides gambling. ¡°Hey, thanks for picking me up.¡±

    ¡°Fontaine¡¯s got a crew that keeps an eye on things, and we look out for each other. Apparently you¡¯re in, so remember that in the future hey? Oh and you got out on your own, be proud of that.¡± She gestured for me to get out of the car, and it felt awkward not giving her a tip, so I place a couple of caramels on the center console and get out of the car. I hear laughing as I shamble through the sliding doors.

    As soon as the stale air hits me, I¡¯m immediately wrapped up in a zip up hoodie and directed around the edge of the gambling floor by a hovering hand on my back.

    ¡°Its really good to see you Kimber.¡±

    ¡°Thanks for sending someone after me.¡±

    ¡°I was going myself until I realized my cars were all out looking for you.¡± She squeezes me in a side hug and I hiss like a mad cat.

    ¡°We don¡¯t have any female nurses on tonight, you going be able to tolerate that?¡±

    ¡°If it comes with food, water and pain killers, I¡¯m all for it.¡± She chuckles at me, but there¡¯s no mirth in her eyes.

 Chapter 15

    I was given a pill bottle full of supplements that help feed the nanites, and a low-cost recovery booster before wrapping me in light compression and telling me no strenuous activity for at least a week. Pfft. Right. I need to run the course at least once before my firearms final so I can see if the tricks will work.

    When we got up to the apartment, Marcella kept me from being crippled by my worried girlfriend. She gave me some sugar drinks and Bell set out a pile of food that she had saved from the dinner I¡¯d missed. And all of this excitement is happening at like five in the morning. And then, the hard part: Marcella asked me to tell her what I remembered. Surprisingly, my brain hasn¡¯t shut any of it out.

    I told them about the break in, who had abducted me this fourth time and how flustered he¡¯d gotten about Marcella and me. I told them about my escape and my guesses on why it was even possible. By the end of it, Bell was crying and squeezing my hand to death and Marcella was gritting her teeth and clenching her fists.

    ¡°I have to figure out how to respond to this. He took you to the warehouse where you¡¯ll be training next week, so I think he was trying to wash you out in multiple ways. And obviously if you wash out, then it¡¯s a black mark on me too. As bold as it was, he didn¡¯t do any more to you than he could explain away by how long it¡¯s been since he last operated as that kind of Face.¡±

    ¡°So we do nothing because we can¡¯t prove he acted in malice?¡± I ask, too tired to be angry.

    ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m going to make his life miserable. If he says anything to anyone, makes a single remark about my training methods or losing track of you, I¡¯ll remind everyone of how much a security risk he¡¯s become in his complacency and insist that I retrain him personally. I¡¯ll have him convinced he¡¯s a fucking teapot by the end of it.¡±

    ¡°I get treated like I¡¯m a lot more important now that I have what¡¯s considered an ¡®upgraded initialization¡¯. Won¡¯t that happen with Kimber?¡±

    ¡°Theoretically, sure, but six months is a long time when a Lieutenant wants to grind an axe on your forehead. Just because this was the easiest option to discredit us, doesn''t mean it¡¯s his only option.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, he seemed pretty intent on learning why the algorithm selected four kids from our Orphanage. He has a weird compulsion talent or something. It felt awful.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk any more about Parker right now. I have a lot to do today in order to get ahead of this, before he tries to spin something in his favor. You two will be staying in my suite until Kimber heals, and probably until I send you off to field training.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, okay, does that mean I get to take a shower and go to bed now?¡±

    ¡°Sure. Go shower and collect your things. Bell, when do you need to be at work?¡±

    ¡°Seven thirty.¡± I can tell from her posture that she¡¯s sad that she can¡¯t stay with me all day.

    ¡°Ladies, I¡¯ll be fine, just lock me in your hopefully upgraded security area with snacks and my phone, and I¡¯ll work on stuff I¡¯ve been neglecting.¡±

    ¡°Notice how she didn¡¯t say ¡®don¡¯t worry¡¯ knowing that would be impossible.¡± Marcella sighs and scrubs her face. ¡°Seriously Belle, go keep your hands busy until you have to go to work. Kimber, shower.¡±

    I get up and start moving, following orders is way easier than thinking right now. Bell follows me to our room and starts collecting clothes and toiletries for me. Who knows what Marcella will be up to for the next hour, nothing pleasant I assume from her demeanor.

    I wince getting my clothes off, but the shower is a godsend as I allow some of the fear and the anger flow down the drain with the vomit and the blood. I scrub the cuts on my face and hands with a continuous hiss, and end the warm comforting experience long before I was ready.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    I see a clothing set including one of my tight gym shirts, a t-shirt and some lounging shorts set on the bed and I crawl into them. I pull the front of my hair back with a tie and go to find my favorite people on the planet.

    ***

    I was surprised to see how resilient the girl had become and she¡¯d nearly goaded me into injuring her instead of just hurting her. A not insignificant portion of me wants to drop her mangled body on Marcella¡¯s her stoop and leave it there, but if Marcella finds a way to suspect me of doing it, she would likely try to have me killed.

    I get out of the car in front of an Organization warehouse and see the man I left at the door. ¡°How is she?¡±

    ¡°Building¡¯s secure boss, didn¡¯t see anyone come near.¡± The security thug said.

    ¡°Not the building, the girl in Interrogation, I told you to keep an eye on her,¡± I growl. ¡°Are you really that stupid?¡± I say putting my [Convincing Argument] skill into the words I spit at him.

    ¡°I mean, kinda boss? I thought that since we have a warehouse full of off-the-books drugs that¡¯s what you were referring to.¡± He shrugs, thinking it a perfectly reasonable thing to keep an eye on.

    Frustration spikes through me for the thug and at myself in equal measure. I had lost sight of the greater game for the chance to defame the competition. As with all gambles, I¡¯d win big if it played out, but if Marcella comes here before the drugs are moved tomorrow, then I could jeopardize my good will to the folks up north. Luckily, we aren¡¯t processing and packaging here, we¡¯re just the middle-men between the Cartels and most Northwesterly markets. As important as that is, it¡¯s not as immediate as the person in the interrogation room.

    I walk quickly to the small office space adjoining the room and find that the office had been cleaned. Not well, mind you, but the desk was clear and the shelves were straightened. I dash over to the drawers and open a few to find that everything was missing. Cleaned and taken. I look up to the one-way mirror and to my horror, the space is straightened with no sign that there had been someone in there overnight.

    I run over to the other door, punch in the code and fling the door open wide. A thick stench of ammonia fills the room and again, the room hasn¡¯t been cleaned well, but the blood is gone. Was it a cleaning crew for next weeks training class, or possibly one of my guys? No, they would have left it alone if had they seen a person inside tied to a chair. Or were they that stupid?

    Focus, Parker. It doesn¡¯t matter how stupid they were. It matters who found the Novarro brat and what else they saw. If it was Marcella, then I can expect some retaliation soon. If not, I may have to wait for someone to blackmail me and then have them found and killed.

    ***

    ¡°Hey Carlos, how¡¯s tricks?¡± I say, walking up to a rotund Mexican man wearing a tropical button up and flip flops.

    ¡°Hola chicka, not bad. Thinking about expanding our selection, but the details are . . .¡±

    ¡°Secret, of all people I get that.¡±

    ¡°So, you need more of that wake-up cocktail? Been a while since you came by for that, you working again?¡± He gives me a creepy smile. Carlos is not a violent man himself, but he likes hearing about gory and violent adventures.

    ¡°I¡¯m training a prospect right now, not back to that kind of work. And no, for once I have something for you.¡±

    I pull five of the kilo bricks in blue shrink wrap I found and put them on his desk. He punches a knife in and tastes it, then whistles. ¡°Five kilos of uncut cocaine? Is there more of this to ¡®find¡¯? Because I would be very interested.¡±

    ¡°I may have stashed some away, but I don¡¯t want to many people asking questions you know.¡± Especially since I don¡¯t want Parker to get itchy and suspect he¡¯s missing drugs before his deal goes down. I didn¡¯t want to steal this much, but the crates were evenly packed so I needed to take a whole layer and it took me until just before sun up to get.

    ¡°Aye Chica, I get you. I didn¡¯t see you. You get your 20%.¡±

    ¡°Fat chance, Carlos. I know I usually buy from you, but even at half wholesale, this is a bargain. And don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re taking a thirty percent ¡®silence¡¯ fee or I might be offended.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine, 35%¡± He sighs at the loss of his fantastical pay day.

    ¡°I¡¯m good with that.¡± I smile at him, ¡°In case you¡¯re feeling adventurous, do try to remember that I can easily look up what the going wholesale rate on our ledgers.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re way less fun when you have something I want.¡± I chuckle at that while I set the blue bricks on his desk.

    ¡°But it¡¯s so nice to see that people in the Organization are such team players! Keep up the good work Carlos.¡± I give a little wave as I walk out his office door and shut it behind me.

    The nerve of that weasel. As it is, I have too many messages to send, adding a sleazy drug dealer to the recipient list would be more hassle than it¡¯s worth. Plus, it¡¯s not that I was there for the drugs, so I did barely any work for them. Plus, who couldn¡¯t use a thousand or so credits? Especially since we¡¯re getting close to pumping Kimber full of expensive aether-rich foods.

    I have some work to do before I can punish Parker without burning some bridges with Medvedev, but I¡¯m patient, I¡¯ll get there, and when I do he¡¯ll feel alone and afraid just like everyone else.

 Chapter 16

    Being restricted to quarters is boring. After two days I¡¯m already restless and jonesing for a workout. That¡¯s not something I¡¯d ever thought I¡¯d say, but after 18 months of intense workout routines, I miss the motion and the effort. Marcella laughed at me and said that the medic told me explicitly: no work outs above range of motion and stretching. She did give me another regenerative and Bell has been the most doting and caring person I could hope to have with me. However, this much attention makes me uncomfortable and I think my reluctance is wearing on her already.

    ¡°Kimber, we have a checkup with the medic tomorrow before lunch. We need it to go well so stop whining and don¡¯t do anything to overtax that regenerative. After that, you have three days to pass your pistol practical. Two days later you¡¯ll be staying in a training barracks for enforcers and that direction of specialists. In three months, I¡¯ll be stealing you for meals for our research project. Six weeks before your birthday, we go see Danielle.¡±

    ¡°Ah, about that. My birthday is actually like ten days before what they have on record.¡± Bell turns to glare at me and Marcella just raises an eyebrow. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really present when the Orphanage took me in. When I realized that the date was wrong by a week or so, I didn¡¯t see the big deal. When I was told that we were part of this exchange thing, I thought the difference was a good idea if I thought you all would force me into a track. Of course, when I found out tracks are gained at level three, then the date itself didn¡¯t matter anymore. Until now, when we¡¯re trying something wacky for my initialization.¡±

    ¡°Huh, not terrible logic as far as it goes, but glad you said something now. I would have been very angry if you popped ten days earlier while feeding you aether.¡±

    ¡°You just want to impress Danielle.¡±

    ¡°Of course I do! She only agreed to give me a third chance if you have nice things to say about me and you perform well.¡±

    ¡°Pfft, you are so screwed.¡± We¡¯re both chuckling at this point, which still stings a little for me.

    Bell, tired of being ignored comes over and flicks me on the nose. ¡°I¡¯m grumpy that you didn¡¯t tell me before we celebrated your fake birthday last year. But we still celebrated you, so . . . just don¡¯t do it again okay? It hurts when you keep things from me.¡±

    ¡°You know that¡¯s going to be part of both of our jobs soon, right?¡±

    ¡°You know what I mean, Kimber. Don¡¯t try to defeat my feelings with logic.¡±

    I chuckle at the adorable pout and pull her in for a hug. ¡°Is Belle going to be staying with you when I leave?¡±

    We both look over to Marcella, ¡°Afraid not kids. I¡¯ll be hanging around the barracks, and since you can absolutely not stay there, your Mentor is arranging a separate room near the other pre-initialized. Believe it or not, it should be a good opportunity for you, Belle. Staying isolated with us wasn¡¯t the best for your training.¡±

    ¡°It was fine, but also very important for me.¡± She says, squeezing my leg.

    ¡°Me too.¡± I beam at her. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have gotten this far without you. Without either of you. So thanks.¡± Bell and Marcella blush at that and I feel like I am very much winning.

    ¡°Thank me by passing your pistol qual.¡±

    ¡°Gah, no ¡®good job¡¯ for starting to learn Chinese. No ¡®well done¡¯ for beating your score for the drug dealing game.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you praise if you beat my scores on those games.¡± Belle chimes in.

    ¡°No chance. You are way smarter than me. Marcella¡¯s just more experienced.¡±

    ¡°Hey! Listen here you little shit. The intimidation and ¡®wig out¡¯ mechanics don¡¯t work as well in the game as they do in the real world!¡±

    ¡°Pfft, you¡¯ll be crying about it until you¡¯re a cybernetic granny. In two years, when I¡¯m a hot commodity, you¡¯ll be claiming you deserve all the credit for the support you gave me.¡± I wait until her faces screws up to yell at me then interrupt. ¡°And you¡¯ll be right. I¡¯ll owe you and Belle everything. All this before trying to give me a magical boost.¡±

    ¡°Stop it Kimber, you¡¯re going to make my fierce warrior eyes leak.¡± Belle and I smile at my mentor and found sister. The super sappy, bad ass infiltrator. She walks up and thumbs a caramel in my mouth. ¡°That was really emotionally mature of you. Good job. Kimber¡± She ruffles my hair as a flood of happiness and embarrassment roll through me.

    It really did not take long for that trick to work on me. Not having much in the way of praise for most of my life, turns out I really like it. I¡¯m alarmed somewhat that people can be trained like dogs, but that too is information that I will file away for future use.

    ¡°With gooey emotion out of the way, my friend that was training you, before Parker abducted you, sent some manuals that you should try to memorize. I picked these, because Belle might have some insight as she¡¯s training on how to relieve PTSD, but she also has to gain trust. Look at the books and see if you can think of ways your training programs overlap, but oppose in direction.¡±

    Marcella heads over to my old suite, and then a few minutes later the outer door closes, signaling that she¡¯s out for the afternoon. Bell sits on the bed and lays her head on my shoulder.

    ¡°What am I going to do when I can¡¯t see you everyday?¡±

    ¡°Be awesome? Like every other moment of your life?¡± She pinches me, but giggles at my praise. ¡°Seriously Belle, we¡¯ll text. I probably won¡¯t have access save evenings, but it can still be our lifeline. Though I like how you¡¯re assuming I pass my pistol qualification.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve always believed in you silly. Even at the Orphanage when I didn¡¯t know you as well. I was afraid of you, but I always knew you had an eye out for the younger kids.¡± I nod at that. I knew I was frightening the kids too, but it¡¯s good that they at least knew I had their back. Bell would know, she was basically their mother.

    ¡°I saw how you were with the grubs when we went back to Old Vegas. You must be glad that you get to go and visit Gen Pop after just hanging with me for more than a year.¡±

    ¡°I think so? I¡¯m terrified that our . . . relationship will change but, I think both environments will give me confidence in my future. I have always been terrified that a home life would be mutually exclusive of a work life, but living with you and Marcella has given me some confidence.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad I could help you out for once.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. While I appreciate how giving you¡¯ve been the last couple of months, that¡¯s not why I do it. I¡¯m not only here for you, but I¡¯m super into you. You¡¯re also the best friend I¡¯ve ever had.¡±

    ¡°Believe it or not, I can safely say the same. I know you don¡¯t like it when I bring Jamie up, but since I¡¯ve spent so much time with you, and your chill and comforting vibes, I don¡¯t feel as much pressure to do something or be something for you, besides what I want to do because I appreciate you.¡±

    Her face vacillates between smiling and crying just before she kisses me. ¡°That was exactly the right thing to say. You¡¯re getting much better at expressing yourself.¡± She pulls away and sneaks me a candy. The rush of pride and appreciation floods me and I feel a comfy buzz in my belly and mind.

    We flop down onto the bed and she adjusts to lie on my unwounded side and we lay there for an hour, just chatting about random things about this facility, the weird people we¡¯ve seen, and then games that we¡¯ve played.

    ¡°Oh hey, do you still play that auto chess game, where you have team-up units and stuff that just go after you place them?¡±

    ¡°Not as much as I used to? Maintaining my rating only takes a few games a week. Why, did it recently pop on your list?¡±

    I nod at that, ¡°and I could really use some coaching? Maxing my powerful units isn¡¯t working out.¡±

    ¡°Oh, honey, you can¡¯t ignore the synergies. The team-up bonuses for the different units are probably the most important part of the game.¡± I pout at her and plead. ¡°Okay, I can coach you, but you¡¯re hooking up your phone to the TV so we can snuggle and play.¡±

    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Deal!¡± I exclaim.

    ***

    ¡°Novarro. This qualification round consists of 40 rounds on paper, ten each for standing and kneeling unholstered fire. Ten for standing two-shot holster draw, and ten for kneeling 1-shot quick draw. You only get 40 rounds, save duds or other malfunctions, and the first three sections have a minute each to get all 10 rounds out. For quick draw, you have five seconds per draw from the point you put your hand on the weapon.

    ¡°The second stage is a five mag, thirty shot course scored with contacts on steel targets. Time stops when you finish or when you run out of mags. Do you understand the requirements of this exam?¡±

    ¡°I do Instructor Kenneck.¡±

    ¡°Then check your mags, step up to the line and the first timer will start when you load your first mag.¡±

    I huff a deep breath and do a couple of deep breaths to focus my thoughts and walk through the first timer. Draw easy, three rounds, close to chest and rest, two rounds, close to chest, one offs to finish. Extension fatigue is a thing, and there are ten extra seconds to do each of the first three target rounds.

    I load and aim and pop, level, pop, level, sway pop, pull in. Breath and breath, level, pop, level, sway, pop, chest. Breath, level sway, pop, level, sway, pop, chest. Breath, level, pop. Breath, sway, pop. Chest, breath, level, sway, pop.

    ¡°You had 12 seconds remaining. Use all of the time.¡± He says in admonishment. I Iook out to see my one-offs are in the eight area.

    ¡°You have up to two minutes between targets. Your next target begins with time or when you load and lay your hand on your weapon. This is your second standing target.¡±

    The order of fire is different that the intro? Interesting. I should not rest with the weapon out. I should two shot, return quickly then rest. I can rest on the last two draws if I have to. I take the two minutes, popping a bar into my mouth and chewing as I mentally prepare. I load, rack, place on safe and holster the gun.

    With a few seconds left I widen my stance and draw. The hardest part of this round is that you get one heavy trigger and one light trigger and have to do it all over again¡ªcocking the hammer back before a trigger pull is a big no-no. Nines, eights and a seven or two greet me from that target. I need to make up some points in kneeling.

    I take as much of the two minutes as I can, take a swig of water and an energy chew.

    ¡°The next two targets will be from a kneeling position. For the normal fire, you will start standing, kneel and draw. After the first draw you may remain kneeling until you re-holster the weapon. The timing on this target begins as soon as you move toward a kneeling position.¡±

    I move up to the line, load and rack my weapon, safe and holster too. I take a few breaths and kneel back into a forward lean on my torso and draw. Two pops, rest on my knee. Continue until the last two shots are one offs as my arms are getting tired. The slide locks back, I eject the mag and I stand to make the weapon safe and re-holster.

    After my two minutes, Kenneck explains that the quick draw is different, since I will be timed from the point I put my hand on the weapon, I will be required to drop in from a standing position each time. This goes mediocre at best. I get a lucky nine, but the rest are sevens and sixes. The extra motion for no reason spun me up a little and I didn¡¯t have time to pop a chew. Actually I did. Damnit!!

    ¡°You have ten minutes before you must start the course. During the course you will have a series of barriers you will have to shoot from either standing, kneeling, or prone. The barrier will have markings to tell you which position you will fire from. Each steel you shoot has to be hit twice before moving on. Combat reloads are up to you to time. To qualify you need to finish the course. To pass with the ability to move on to advanced training, you need to finish in less than five minutes.

    Ten minutes seems like a long time, but when you¡¯re running through the positions I¡¯ve memorized it flies by. By the end I¡¯m spun up and don¡¯t know if I can handle the noise. Again. I look up to my trainer, and while he¡¯s not allowed to coach me, he is taking exaggerated breaths, reminding me to do the same. I hand full of breaths and with time running out I remember how much the candy worked earlier and the time I almost clamped up during my escape.

    I thumb a caramel like Bell would and a warm shiver resonates through me. The serotonin and all of those ¡®good girl¡¯ vibes roll through me. Let¡¯s go be a good girl for Bell. Twenty shots and three positions later, I¡¯m unstable again. I contemplate a few seconds about trying to forcefully squash that feeling, but a snickering Marcella plays back in my mind: ¡®combat is a hard time for un-tested tactics¡¯. I nod softly, chew another caramel, to much less effectiveness, but it lets me finish the course.

    ¡°Your official time is 4:48, good work Miss Novarro. Congratulations.¡± I jump around and spin like an excited child, glad that my weapon is safe and holstered after Kenneck comes out and coughs loudly at me. ¡°Your average target score was well into marksman, and your course was sufficient should you ever want to come back for advanced training. You have my recommendation for the Enforcers course.¡±

    I leap at him with a hug, and though briefly terrified, he accepts it with a chuckle, a pat, and then pushes me away. ¡°Enough of that girlie. People might think I¡¯m not treating you fairly.¡±

    ¡°Heh, not you Kenneck. You¡¯re a calibrated scale. Equanimity is all you know.¡±

    ¡°Bah, I¡¯ll not be influenced by praise. You get and tell your trainer to message me.¡± I nod and walk back to the line to make my weapon safe and return it. They sentence me to stuffing mags for thirty minutes, but that¡¯s not so bad after I qualified!

    I¡¯m in a great mood as I walk back toward the elevators. I punch the button and start dancing in excitement again. The elevator pings and I start bouncing again when a heavy caliber hits my shoulder and punches me into the elevator. I scramble behind the console to avoid future bullets, and one grazes my leg with a rip and peel, bit otherwise I¡¯ll live. I crawl up to hit the floor button and the doors immediately start closing. The tap tap of someone running to the elevator is rapid, so I roll over, collect a knife and use all of the tension and fear in my body to accelerate my throw and thrash It forward. The elevator doors shut fully. I don¡¯t see the resolution of my throw.

    Guess Marcella was right. This was the first time I was alone since I escaped and I almost got assassinated again. I stumble and dash in a cycle to get to my suite and throw the locks closed behind me. ¡°Marcella! Bell! I need help!¡±

    Thundering footsteps come from the bathroom and a very naked Marcella is running at me. I turn away and blush.

    ¡°Oh shit! You¡¯re shot!? Did it go through?¡±

    ¡°N-no. It still burns.¡±

    ¡°Get into my suite and pull out the surgical kit I have in my bathroom. Take your top off and lie on the table in the living room, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±

    I do as I¡¯m told, and yet again, taking my shirt off sucks. I walk over to her fridge and cabinets and grab a clear liquid and take a swig. Me and the bottle are both set on the table with the medical kit on a chair, waiting for Marcella.

    Ten seconds later, she walks in with PJ¡¯s on and determination in her eyes. She takes a swig of the bottle herself, puts it aside and pulls out a small plastic bottle and starts cleaning the area. ¡°Okay, I feel it, but this is going to hurt almost as bad as getting shot, maybe worse.¡±

    ¡°Hells.¡± I resign myself to the agony. She injects me with some pain killers and starts digging with some calibrated tweezers, or whatever the hell they are. The anesthesia works okay until I feel the vibrations of the metal grabbers touch my scapula¡ªit feels like fingernails across the chalkboard of my soul. I feel her pull something out and I start moving to turn and yell at her, but she pushes me back down to the table.

    ¡°One more dive, there¡¯s a piece of shirt in there and I need to find it.¡± She roots around in my back like a toddler in a toybox. What seems like an hour, and a few soul scrapes later, ¡°Gotcha you fucker!¡±

    Now that I have permission to move, I shout a stream of obscenities and take a deep breath to start again, when Marcella sets the bottle of clear liquid on the floor in front of me and reminds me that there¡¯s a third step to all of this. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you were here instead of Bell. I wouldn¡¯t want to have her dig in my back.¡±

    ¡°And it¡¯s better for me?!¡±

    ¡°Yes! You¡¯ve cut people open before. So have I. Plus, she¡¯s so wholesome. I want to save her the pain.¡± I take a swig of the clear liquid.

    ¡°Are you drunk already? You need to stop, or it¡¯ll mess with your healing. I forget how small you are, even though you added like half a person in weight.¡± I feel some poking and tugging back there, but nothing near as bad as digging in the wound.

    I take another swig as I feel the punctures start to hurt again.

    ¡°I said stop, you delinquent.¡±

    ¡°Fiiiine, literal buzz kill.¡± I put it on the floor and grab for a candy, but I end up just patting the bottom of the table.

    ¡°You are such a brat. I¡¯m here, giving you the best medical attention this floor of the hotel can provide and what thanks do I get?¡±

    ¡°I thanked you!¡± I turn to glare at her, but she forces me down again. This time she climbs on the table and sits on me, flopping her legs over my arms, which means she¡¯s sewing between her legs. She¡¯s really capable and I¡¯m lucky to have her as my mentor.

    ¡°Hey Kimber, did you fling some knives at someone after you got shot?¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah! I was coming back from the range, so of course I had my knives with me. The bullet made me spin, and the pain made my brain growl ¡®how dare you!¡¯ so I flung ¡®em good.¡± I feel her chuckling on my back.

    ¡°Yes you did. A random patrol found your attacker, they didn¡¯t make it far before passing out from blood loss and died before they could get medical attention. I can¡¯t believe what a trouble magnet you are, but you are likely going to be a great asset to the Organization.¡±

    ¡°I wanna be able to punish really bad people. Make it so the rest of them can just live. You know?¡±

    More chuckling on my back, ¡°That is certainly a goal. You do work for a criminal enterprise though.¡±

    ¡°I do! And so does Belle! Isn¡¯t that crazy?!¡± It really is odd that someone like my incredibly kind girlfriend is working here. Did we have a choice though? This is what I wanted, but I don¡¯t know if Belle did. I miss her. I need to get a picture of her on my phone.

    ¡°Done! I¡¯m going to clean you up then toss you in bed. I¡¯ll talk to Belle yah?¡±

    ¡°Tell her that I think she¡¯s amazing!¡± I can hear her laughing at me.

    ¡°I like knowing that this part of you is alive somewhere under all of that rage and determination.¡±

    Even though I know part of it¡¯s an insult to my current personality, it makes me happy that she believes in me. I also feel really sleepy and decide that wherever I am is the perfect place to sleep.

 Chapter 17

    It¡¯s only been two days since the last person tried to kill me and friggin¡¯ Marcella says I can¡¯t take another regenerative on top of the three I¡¯ve had in the last four days. Not meant for serious injuries, she says. Bullet wound itches like a bastard I says.

    ¡°Stop scratching it you dingus, you¡¯ll bleed through the shirt I just bought you. I like that outfit.¡±

    So do I. The long-sleeve maroon dress shirt wouldn¡¯t show the blood though, and especially not through the pinstripe vest and pants. The wingtip wedges are an interesting choice, but they match my outfit and I can still run in them so I guess it works out. Marcella rolled up my sleeves to make me look a little less professional, which I appreciate as I¡¯m supposed to have my shit together and report for interrogation training.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see any of the other trainees dressed up. I mean I trust you, but I¡¯m going to get singled out aren¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes you are.¡± She says with a coy grin, not looking at me.

    ¡°You arranged something with the instructors, got me special treatment and now the others are going to hate me.¡± I said matter-of-factly.

    ¡°I did, not special treatment but credit for your ¡®unscheduled training¡¯, and yes, they probably will hate you. Mostly because you¡¯ll be better than them.¡± She looks at me at the last part with a warm smile full of praise and a warm, happy shiver runs through me.

    I look out at the warehouse I escaped. The arrangement is different, no crates and rando vehicles, the heavy cranes are still overhead and there is a two-story building on the side of the warehouse that I assume are the barracks. Between that and the interrogation area is a makeshift classroom next to a small weights area. The other trainees are just inside the three-stage roll-away door tossing their named duffels in a pile, where I have already thrown mine off to the side.

    A man I don¡¯t recognize walks to the center of the open space in front of the classroom area and bellows. ¡°Enforcer Recruits! Fall in!¡± The men and few women run toward the man and I move to step forward but Marcella pulls back on my vest, keeping me in place.

    ¡°You¡¯re a trainee. Not a recruit. You will sit for the classroom portions and watch the interrogations and otherwise follow their instructions. You are not to sit in that chair again, even if they ask you. If someone asks, they are trying to hurt you. Parker will be here on week three and four to administer the interrogation Final. He is not here to train you, and you are not his protegee. You route all of his ¡®requests¡¯ through me, understand?¡±

    I nod. ¡°I do. Thanks for the head¡¯s up. I¡¯m certain that Parker will try something. The feeling of his voice Talent still makes me twitch.¡±

    ¡°Oh, if you see him using that, rat him out to the instructors, he is absolutely not supposed to use it on recruits, but he is petty enough to use it to try and fail people.¡±

    ¡°Are you not going to be here?¡± she sighs and slumps.

    ¡°I want to be, I do, but I¡¯ve been putting off my job for too long. Medvedev is getting jumpy at the lack of pointed information gathering since I took you on. This was a part of the negotiation that I would be able to see you every evening for the last twelve weeks before your initialization.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t even fathom what you¡¯re sacrificing for me, but thank you. It kind of means everything to me, you know.¡±

    ¡°I do. But also know that I think investing in you is worth it. Let¡¯s not worry about the cost until after you get your Track list. Some things are in the works, but we need to know where you¡¯re headed before we vocalize the idea.¡±

    ¡°That I understand. Alright. I get the clothes better now too. Alright, cool professional mode engage.¡± I pull my hair back into a nubby pony and shake my shoulders out. I touch my thigh holster of knives in reassurance. My pistol harness is in my bag as they won¡¯t have us with guns until much later in the training.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    I watch the instructors shout at the fifteen recruits, likely information that Marcella already gave me a head¡¯s up on. She practically gave me a syllabus. I realize almost every day how fortunate I was to get a Mentor and how much of a miracle it is that we get along so well.

    About a half hour into it they break off and jog to get their gear while one instructor directs the recruits and the other comes toward the both of us.

    ¡°Miss Fontaine, Novarro. This deviation from our normal schedule chafes a bit, however, we are in need of another interrogator for this many students.¡± I look up at Marcella, thinking she wouldn¡¯t be here, but did she make arrangements to? ¡°We would normally never do this, but we will supervise your first interrogation from the box, and if you don¡¯t suck, we will need to use you in a handful of times in the rooms we¡¯ve set up in the barracks.¡±

    ¡°No dice, Jerrico, we agreed she¡¯d be in the room or in view of an instructor at all times!¡±

    ¡°I understand what you¡¯re saying, Miss Fontaine, but we made that agreement before you kept pulling levers, and two of our instructors refused to be liable for teaching your protegee.¡±

    Marcella grinds her teeth and starts twitching her hands. The man she¡¯s focused on looks terrified. ¡°I can see how my actions might cause that. She has to be able to protect herself.¡±

    ¡°There is no way, we don¡¯t even carry . . .¡±

    ¡°Listen, jackass,¡± I interrupt, ¡°you are talking to Lieutenant Fontaine and are supposed to work with her as she is working with you. Two, I was abducted and taken here against my mentor¡¯s knowledge by the man you use to qualify your recruits. Two days after I escaped I was shot on my way from the range to my suite. So let¡¯s start over, shall we?¡±

    ¡°Long story short,¡± Marcella says, ¡°There is a credible threat to her life, and I value her life more than every person I¡¯ve seen today. I will not allow you to bet that your security and screening is good enough.¡± She then stares at him until she shows teeth, and then he folds.

    ¡°Fuck, fine. She can keep the knives when we don¡¯t have eyes on her. Not on the first one in the box though.¡±

    ¡°I can concede that much.¡± She nods pulls me aside, ¡°Excuse us a minute.¡±

    She walks us out of normal speech range before she stops, facing perpendicular with a hand in front of her mouth. ¡°How are you feeling about this?¡±

    ¡°Like one of the recruits is definitely a plant and is going to try and kill me.¡±

    ¡°I think the instructors that bailed were approached by me and Parker, and decided to remove themselves from the fight. The two that remain are really great and I hate to intimidate them, but hells if I can just skip this training for you. The Organization has checklists, and this is one of them.¡±

    ¡°So what do I do? I¡¯ve never interrogated before. Sure I took the accelerated classes from your friend, and I chatted for a week with Bell about connecting with ¡®patients¡¯, but is that enough to do the job?¡±

    ¡°On creeps, absolutely, because if one of them dies, no big. This is why the instructors are nervous and the fact that it¡¯s you. You still have a rep, and killing an assassin makes the threat a bit more real.¡±

    ¡°Then how the hell did he come to this conclusion?¡±

    ¡°Every one of your instructors and trainers commented on how much effort you put into doing the job right.¡±

    A flush of appreciation rolls through me, especially for Marcella and Kenneck. ¡°I don¡¯t like being here again, but I should be fine with my knives. I can do the work, Marcella.¡±

    ¡°I know you can, I believe in you, I just don¡¯t believe in anyone else outside of the family. So, I¡¯m going to let you borrow one of the most expensive things I own.¡± She hands me a tiny ring while gripping my hand. ¡°It¡¯s for your toes. And it can hold two cubic feet of material. There¡¯s a Glock and some ammo in there as well as some credits.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the system!¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Slide the inner rings away from each other and it will dump the contents, together it will store whatever you point it at. It¡¯s worth about 10k credits so don¡¯t lose it.¡±

    ¡°Holyshit.¡± I whisper in wonder. ¡°Marcella. Take it back. It¡¯s too much.¡±

    ¡°You should listen to your Mentor. I¡¯m a lieutenant in our Organization after all.¡±

    ¡°You are a menace.¡± I look over to the instructor, just hanging out as though he was told to stay put. ¡°We should go see to him, he looks afraid to move.¡±

    She looks and tries not to laugh, then nods and walks back. ¡°Sorry for the hassle. My protegee has something to say to you.¡±

    Damn woman, ¡°My apologies, instructor Jerrico, for the disrespectful language. I would be honored to assist with your course as I am able.¡± Confusion spreads across his face. Apparently the both of us are a lot to deal with together. Good for us.

    ¡°Any other qualms or surprises I should expect, Miss Fontaine?¡±

    ¡°Have fun with Parker, I hear he¡¯s still got a pinecone up his ass.¡±

    ¡°Figure he¡¯d be used to it by now.¡± The instructor says and Marcella and I lose our shit.

 Chapter 18

    I meet Jerrico and Marks outside of the separated but not spacious instructor cabins¡ªat least I don¡¯t have to share. We walk up to the office that I stole my phone and candies back from during my escape. I freeze, flashes of the looks in Parker¡¯s eyes echo through my brain. I pop a candy to get the small flash of comfort and reward to calm me down.

    ¡°You okay Novarro?¡±

    Yeah, seeing Parker decide whether it was worth it to kill me is still fresh in my mind, and just like when Jace tried to kill me in old vegas, I haven¡¯t processed it yet. ¡°Flashbacks to last week. I¡¯ll work through it.¡±

    ¡°He must have an axe to grind if he gave you that kind of reaction.¡±

    ¡°He ever use his compulsion Talent on you?¡± I look at both men and they shake their heads. ¡°Then start there. We can talk more when he gets here or I suspect he¡¯s using it on a recruit. If you need more information, could we share another time?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Jerrico says. ¡°You ready for this?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not, but I have to learn the work some time.¡± I start to make for the door.

    ¡°No knives this time, Novarro.¡± I sigh and take off my thigh holster and slap it on the desk.

    I tap in the code on the door for this week and step into the room.

    A fit, but reedy young man sits in the middle of the room, ducked taped arms and legs to the metal chair I remember. I take a few minutes to assess his state and decide that he¡¯s currently just bored as he tries to dramatically raise his head and stare at me. I do like the confusion on his face as he takes me in.

    ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡± he asks. Hubris in the face of someone he believes he could take if he were free. Not understanding the scope of the situation. Thinking he¡¯s safe with instructor overwatch. Standard bravado.

    ¡°I am the person asking you questions. What is your name?¡±

    ¡°How about we trade some clothes for answers.¡± A bright flash of rage spikes my brain and before it can roll into action, I pop a candy. I watch his eyes follow my hands, and then my mouth as I chew.

    ¡°Do not be lewd with me. I generally react poorly, this is your only warning. Now, what is your name?¡± He smirks at me.

    ¡°Suck my dick.¡± I warned him. I accept the trigger and front kick him in the chest with my wedges. He groans as the air leaves his lungs, the chair slides a little before it topples and he smacks his head against the ground.

    I walk up slowly, ¡°I warned you. If you decide to be lewd, you decide for pain. You answer my questions and you can have a candy.¡± I know he won¡¯t take it, not right away. He doesn¡¯t seem to be tracking well, dazed from the slap to the concrete. Maybe I can play this differently?

    I pull out my phone and turn on the flashlight. Shine them in his eyes and wait for him to move his eyes and pull his face away. ¡°Hi, my name is Julia, I¡¯m a first responder. What is your name and do you have any medical allergies?¡±

    ¡°Uh, what?¡± I step back as he looks at the white walls and ceiling, ¡°Uh yeah, Joseph, and not that I¡¯m aware of?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good, Joseph, do you have a last name and anyone we should call while we take you to the hospital?¡±

    ¡°Hospital? No! I can¡¯t go there!¡± I see some lucidity in his eyes as he panics.

    ¡°Okay, okay. It¡¯s fine, Joseph.¡± I put a hand on his shoulder and one on his head and start thumbing his hairline. ¡°We can give you basic attention and then drop you off wherever you need.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not taking me to the hospital?¡±

    ¡°No, Joseph, just tell us where you want to be dropped off and we¡¯ll take you home.¡±

    ¡°The Warram building, I . . .¡± crap, he¡¯s coming out of the suggestible state. I pull out a candy as I lean over to stand him up and feed it too him. ¡°You¡¯ve been so good for me, Joseph. Just a little more info and we can get you on your way.¡±

    ¡°No! No. You¡¯re trying to trick me.¡± I laugh at that and come around the back of the chair, careful to be out of the head-snap injury angles.

    ¡°You¡¯ve already given me so much, just be a good boy and tell me who you came with. Just one name and this can stop.¡±

    ¡°No way, you can¡¯t break me, I¡¯m not telling you anything.¡± Mm, bravado again. He¡¯s unsure of what happened while he was dazed and is doubling down?

    I put the edge of my wedge on his quad, wiggle it to split them high on his thigh, then lean all my weight into it. He screams. ¡°Just one name! Then I walk away.¡±

    ¡°Fuck you!¡± he yells. That¡¯s not lewd, so I don¡¯t have to shake his brain again.

    ¡°You¡¯re being very rude,¡± I say lightening up the pressure on his leg, then jam a thumb behind the joint in his jaw and further dig my heel in. As he screams my thumb hits the nerve harder in his jaw.

    ¡°Joseph Caldwell! Joseph Caldwell came with us!¡±

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    I step back, feed him another candy then pat his face lightly, ¡°Good boy Joseph.¡± His eyes widen as he realizes that I know he gave me his own name. He chews and eats the candy anyway. I smile at him and give him a finger wave as I body block the keypad and exit the room.

    I walk into the office, look at both instructors and put my knives back on. ¡°Questions, comments concerns?¡± I ask them.

    ¡°I liked how you used a mild concussion to get info. I disliked how hard you kicked him in the chest.¡± Marks comments.

    ¡°I liked the roleplay change when your presence didn¡¯t affect him in the beginning. I disliked how you walked away immediately after you got what you were told to get.¡± Jerrico added.

    ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m not sure what benefit there would have been to staying?¡± I ask, unsure as why that is wrong.

    ¡°In a classroom setting, it was perfect. Nothing we can¡¯t solve with a regenerative, took less than an hour. In the field, we have more important information to get to, and sometimes these concessions are just gateways to the information we want.¡±

    ¡°So, try to get more, good job for now, I¡¯ll be back?¡± both of the men looked uncomfortable after I ask that.

    ¡°We don¡¯t usually nice cop the way you did. Good approach, doesn¡¯t usually work for men.¡± Jerrico states.

    ¡°Okay, I can definitely work on that.¡± I think about how bad that went at the beginning and that most men probably won¡¯t take me seriously. I should also get some gloves to put on? Then I could hit folks without hurting myself and it would a visual prelude. Whipping around a kick with these shoes is too much damage, or it would be with the acceleration thing I can do when triggered.

    ¡°Alright, feel like you¡¯re able to give an after action to the class?¡± Marks asked.

    ¡°I have some suggestions sure. Is it okay to be teaching them before the first round of interrogations has gone by?¡±

    ¡°He volunteered to go first, he¡¯ll probably tell them something, but ego will protect some of it.¡± Jerrico tried to assuage my frown. Didn¡¯t work, as I don¡¯t love my methods being known, but it is the point of both sides of this course: to learn.

    I watch from the office as they cut the young man loose and escort him back to the classroom. I follow them back to class and watch as they give him a snack and some water, likely to keep him focused and recovering from the head injury.

    ¡°Our first interrogation done in less than an hour. Both sides made mistakes, but we¡¯ll focus on what to do better as the questioned party.¡± Jerrico pointed at me.

    ¡°Joseph¡¯s downfall came with a head injury and his pliability while concussed and confused. Confusion is a common tactic to lean on and pester. Frustration and embarrassment come from repetitive questions during that confusion. Holding that in your head, the chief problem with confusion is responding to anything before understanding.

    ¡°Sounds ridiculous, but take Joseph¡¯s case. His head hit the floor, I assessed his concussion and leaned into it by being soft, yet persistent. The annoyance drove him to respond in an attempt to buy time to think more and drive off the confusion. If you can resolve to think and stay silent, then they may coerce you through pain. Pain will buy you some thinking ability. Unless they are moving to torture, pain can often buy you clarity and time.¡± I stop and awkwardly stand there until Marks steps next to me.

    ¡°Something that both of us saw, was that Joseph was mouthing off at the beginning. While that can be a strategic move, that was not how his words were used, and then Miss Novarro used his impression to change her approach, which was very effective.¡±

    That little thrill of praise still gets me.

    ¡°You have until after lunch to prepare yourselves and learn from your fellow recruit¡¯s experience. Then we will cycle through the rest of the class today.¡± Marks states and walks away with Jerrico and I follow them.

    We walk silently until we get to the faculty area. ¡°No impulse to join them Novarro?¡±

    ¡°None. It¡¯s not my job to socialize at this juncture. I have been told that socializing before I initialize could be detrimental to my progress and the progress of others.¡±

    ¡°Jesus, you really are a good candidate. For the afternoon, you may have two recruits to test, and you cannot take more than two hours for these assessments. The final is up to eight hours, but that should not be something you¡¯re involved in.¡±

    ¡°I assume you two will be prepping the recruits and I will be releasing them?¡±

    ¡°That is preferred, yes. Do you have a phone you can check in case we need to change things?¡± I nod at that, checking for the shape in my pocket. ¡°Alright then, enjoy your lunch and we¡¯ll see you in an hour and a half.¡±

    The task they have set before me is daunting. I have to help them teach a class based off a week of practical experience and some book learning. How is that reasonable? In any case, this will also get me ahead of this portion of the exercises in the field. Not really sure what they¡¯re going to do about that, but not my job . . . yet.

    More to think about during lunch, but I can do that while eating. I walk toward the two men that are running the show and they both point to the wall next to the bunks we sleep in, where I find a console labeled ¡°Meal Kiosk¡±.

    The screen reads /Please present ID or biometric data./ A smaller pad starts flashing indicating where I should ¡°present¡± something, and since I don¡¯t have my ID card on me right now, I wave my mosaic tattoo in front of the device.

    /Mosaic Code detected. User Kimber Novarro connected. User ID has been flagged with Instructor permissions for three weeks. Greetings Instructor Kimber Novarro, please indicate meal time and daily calorie intake to be issued a meal. If you wish to supplement, you may visit the Exchange, though only food items are available from this access point./

    I hit ¡®Lunch¡¯ and input 3k for today, since my normal workouts will be severely truncated. A warm paper box appears in the bay below with my last name printed on it. I walk over to the picknick table where the instructors are sitting and join them.

    ¡°That¡¯s a mighty big box for someone your size. You planning to stock-pile?¡±

    ¡°Uh, no? If they have something I can snack on I will probably save it, but on Miss Fontaine¡¯s training schedule I was eating four to five thousand calories per day. I figured three would be a good place to start.¡±

    They both seem surprised, but nod as they can¡¯t fault my logic. ¡°Not going to have as much opportunity here. We don¡¯t use the recruit area for our workouts, we use machinery and run in circles around our area. There¡¯s a shower stall on the far side of this barracks. Not much for amenities, but it¡¯s about all you can expect when doing the job away from HQ.¡±

    ¡°No worries here.¡± I say, opening my meal box to find a full-sized chicken salad under a protective cover with a BLT cookies and chips sitting on top. Hot damn, cookies!

    ¡°Trade for the chips?¡± Marks asks.

    ¡°Sure, got a bar or granola-esque snacks?¡± I ask, digging into my sandwich and slotting the cookies in my vest pocket.

    ¡°Done and done.¡± He offers me a bar and I hand over a full-sized bag of chips. ¡°Big bag? Hot damn!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re gonna let him swindle you like that?¡± Jerrico asks, clearly jealous.

    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s a goodwill gesture. A thanks for not treating me like I¡¯m radioactive.¡±

    ¡°Oh, and where¡¯s my thanks, huh?¡±

    ¡°Amir, don¡¯t be like that.¡± Marks warns.

    ¡°No no, Marks, he¡¯s right. But I will bet that I get a full-sized desert tonight too. Will trade for snacks.¡± I waggle my eyebrows.

    ¡°You¡¯re alright Navarro.¡± He says, patting me on the back with gusto. I choke a little on the surprise of the assault and both of the Instructors get a kick out of that.

 Chapter 19

    ¡°Good afternoon! I do hope your meal was satisfactory and the room temperature is to your liking.¡± I actually care a little about how much food they¡¯re getting, but that¡¯s not why I said that.

    ¡°Trying to establish a rapport? We going by the book now?¡± The teen in the chair says with an edge in her voice. Coming into this, I knew that the young men were stronger than me, but this girl looks it too. Is it that she¡¯s older? I¡¯ll have to ask later.

    ¡°I planned to start there, unless you have something interesting in mind?¡± If she wants to start acknowledging what this is, why not? I walk over to the table they provided, with a few tools arranged for me. Nice. I sit on the edge and take a piece of my leftover sandwich and start eating it.

    ¡°No proposal? No deal you want to try? That¡¯s a little disappointing,¡± pause to take another bite and talk with my mouth full, ¡°You were off to a good start.¡±

    A few minutes of silence later, I put one of my precious cookies on a napkin on the edge of the table and work to spin her to face it. ¡°With a body like yours, you probably need more than the rations you¡¯re getting.¡±

    ¡°Are you checking me out?¡± She asks with a tone of surprise.

    ¡°Maybe a little.¡± I do my best to wink flirtatiously, but I doubt I managed it.

    ¡°Well now I¡¯m curious. Curious about the girl that gets special treatment. Who are you?¡± she tilts her head in question.

    I let an over-excited grin bloom on my face and bounce on my toes. ¡°Oh! I like this game. We trade questions. You answer mine, and I answer yours.¡±

    ¡°What if you evade my questions?¡±

    ¡°You get food.¡±

    ¡°And if I evade yours?¡±

    ¡°Depends on how clever I think your reply is. Since you went first, I am Instructor Novarro. And you are?¡±

    ¡°Jamie Salcedo.¡± My mind twitches at the name, deviously close to my Jamie¡¯s name. I take out my phone and see that there is in fact a J. Salcedo in the program.

    ¡°Girlfriend texting you?¡± She asks. I grin.

    ¡°No, she isn¡¯t,¡± I place the cookie in her lap and put an energy bar on the table. ¡°Where were you selected from?¡±

    ¡°Oh come on, that shouldn¡¯t count as my question! That¡¯s such a cheat!¡± I break the cookie in her lap in half and start eating it. ¡°Noooo.¡±

    ¡°That was a learning fail. Small penalty. Now I¡¯ll ask again, where were you selected from?¡±

    She sighs, ¡°A southside Halfway house near old Arizona.¡± I put the bar in her lap.

    ¡°Good. See? You¡¯re getting it. Your turn,¡±

    ¡°Did you really kill an assassin last week?¡± Oh? Now that¡¯s a solid gossip point.

    ¡°Sure did.¡± I pull a few pieces of chicken wrapped in grease paper and lay them out on the table. I see I have her rapt attention now.

    ¡°How did you get into this training program?¡± I¡¯m intentionally driving to more personal questions to see where her limit is. I can practically see her walls coming up.

    ¡°I was nominated.¡± She initially had a straight face, but as I stare at her, waiting for more she smirks. In response I whip my arm around and slap her with a crack.

    ¡°Not the time to get cute, Jamie. Gather yourself and let¡¯s try again.¡± She takes a deep breath with her eyes closed. When she opens them again, the surprise is gone and she has a focus in them that wasn¡¯t here earlier.

    ¡°I¡¯m not playing this game anymore.¡± If you¡¯re losing, change the game. Good tactic. Games are risky as either side can stop obeying the rules at any time. Don¡¯t finish the game, however, you don¡¯t get rewards.

    I collect the food and put it back in my pockets. I didn¡¯t have any more squirreled away, so I guess I was fortunate she stopped. I hear a little whimper as the last of it disappears. She must be really hungry, and I kinda feel bad for teasing her with food. Blarg, work to do.

    ¡°The problem is, I still want to know how you got into this training.¡± She shrugs at me.

    The next twenty minutes were mostly me just beating her up and using pressure points, repeating my question until I didn¡¯t care anymore. Frustrated and figuring I¡¯d gotten enough, I¡¯ll try one more tactic and be done with this. I shamefully started punching her in the chest.

    There was some shouting and some attempts to dodge by twisting, but in the end, sobbing tears told me something more.

    ¡°I was sponsored, okay? I initiated into some decent skills that someone liked and I got picked up, they hired me a trainer to get me more skills to qualify to get here, and when my track told us we succeeded, I got a spot. I¡¯m not going to tell you their names, or anything else. No matter how traumatized my boobs get.¡±

    She looks ready to pass out from the pain, so that tracks. Holyshit, though. She has a Track and she¡¯s here? How many other recruits here have a track?

    ¡°Okay.¡± I tell her as I take off the gloves and tuck them where my pocket square should go. Salcedo¡¯s relief shows as she slumps forward and continues crying. I drag the chair with her in it to the door, block with my body to enter the code, and drag her out on the stoop so she¡¯s facing the closed door and away from the others.

    I put the chicken and the bar in her lap and slice the tape on her left arm and back away. As soon as I see her start working to free herself I keep moving and duck into the office attached to the stand alone interrogation room for a brief time out and to watch one of the instructors work. To my surprise, Marks was sitting in the office staring through the glass.

    An athletic, borderline buff boy sat there with a ragged shirt and a swollen face, he was crying and yammering. When I look back to Marks, he looks up at me and asked. ¡°Another quick one for you?¡±

    ¡°Forty five minutes. Recruit wanted to play a game. I played along until she didn¡¯t and then I went for one more piece of info with some tactile encouragement. Took a solid half hour of that to get it. I think she did well.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll look at the tape later. This guy came in with a chip on his shoulder and we caught snippets of him trying to create a pecking order. I brought him in and immediately laid into him for five minutes and left for a minute or two. Went back in and did it for ten, and at the end he just started talking. Hasn¡¯t shut up for the last ten minutes I¡¯ve been in here. But this type of tactic only works on a small section of subjects.¡±

    ¡°Mm.¡± I acknowledge. ¡°Are the pauses to let them second guess themselves?¡±

    ¡°Not with him, but that is a use for it. For a novice interrogator, it¡¯s more difficult to identify who it will be effective on, but as your reads on people get more accurate, and your toolkit expands, that¡¯s when you can really shine.

    ¡°This prat thought he was clever and tough, where in my experience people who think they are both are rarely either. The pauses are for him to feel failure through no fault of his own. Helpless people want to grasp at any hope they are given. If he was a difficult target, I would think of using you as a first responder or a scientist or something to go in there and tend to his wounds and ask questions, but I won¡¯t need to do that for this session. He¡¯s practically begging to answer my questions.¡±

    He gets up, rolls his shoulders and shakes out his hands. ¡°There are some bars in the drawer and coffee in the machine if you want.¡± I nod and express my thanks while moving to take advantage of the offer.

    I chew on the bar and sip the tar-flavored caffeine drink and watch Marks saunter into the room. He slaps the boy to get him to focus and buries his knuckles in his stomach when he won¡¯t stop rambling. He then gets three very personal questions answered including who his parents were and details of his status screen. Marks shakes his head in disgust, frees his arms and legs and dumps him outside the room and storms back into the office with a flare in his nostrils.

    ¡°How did a basic [Brawler] make it into this program?! He barely has the required skills and many are still rated low beginner.¡±

    ¡°Is everyone here initialized but me?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Only a handful have Tracks, but they should get one before they finish the program.¡±

    And my worries are realized. Everyone here is older than me. ¡°I guess I¡¯m a little surprised no one from my class was selected?¡±

    ¡°Ahh, yeah. This is the first year that protegees were chosen based on more than intuition. From what I can tell there were fewer sponsorships this time around, so fewer young candidates would result. Just a theory mind you.¡±

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    ¡°Of course, I appreciate the info all the same. It was weird to lay into someone that was clearly older than me though.¡±

    ¡°That, you will get used to. Scumbags come in all ages. Men and Women scumbag in different ways, but that¡¯s a class for later in the course.¡±

    Silence permeates through the office as he gets a coffee to sip. I notice that the room has blood on the floor and tape still attached to the chair. ¡°You want me to clean this one up while you prep others?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it, the supplies are in the corner there.¡± I nod and watch him pick up a roll of duct tape as he leaves.

    Cleaning was a routine set of actions that don¡¯t take much thought, so I enjoyed the mental break while I worked on getting the blood off the floor. The smell of the cleaning chemicals lingers, even when Jerrico comes back with another recruit, the scent is noticeable.

    He comes out to talk with me and asks if I want this one as he asked about me and if I¡¯d be interrogating him¡ªseemed afraid of it, even. I told him I would give it a shot.

    When I walked into the room, the boy¡¯s eyes widened further than surprise.

    ¡°He said it wouldn¡¯t be you, he said!¡±

    ¡°Instructor Jerrico lied.¡± I grin like a cheshire cat. And start playing with him.

    The sadistic monster character I played was a little too comfortable, but in the end, I convinced him that I was a vampire that could read surface thoughts through blood, and that I wanted to see if tasting brain matter would give me the answers I wanted. As soon as I put my knife against his scalp he broke and vomited his life story to me. I cut an arm loose after I drag him out of the room and walk into the office after maybe an hour.

    ¡°You leaned too hard on him. On the fear I mean. Fear that strong and prolonged can ruin a person¡¯s brain.¡± Jerrico warned. ¡°Also, another fault I noticed was that, for a few minutes, you were enjoying yourself. It¡¯s okay to enjoy a job well done, but enjoying the process, the torture and torment, leads to a dark place.¡±

    I nod at that and hang my head, having no good response because I realized it too.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take it too hard. This is a learning experience for you as well, and this kind of reason is why we don¡¯t usually let trainees interrogate. Then again, I made the mistake of not respecting that the boy was afraid of you before you showed up. And to your credit, we don¡¯t really care if you break a scumbag while getting information.¡±

    ¡°I see, so is he going to wash out because of me?¡± I¡¯m afraid of the answer.

    ¡°Yes and no. He would likely not have passed the final, but he¡¯ll probably need therapy before he can be re-employed. The boy that Marks pummeled will probably wash out too, seems to have broken his drive. Doesn¡¯t give me hope for the class though. We usually get three washes in the final alone.¡±

    If that keeps up, it¡¯s a third of the class gone before we get to the field part of field training. Damn. ¡°What happens to them after?¡±

    ¡°We generally re-employ them to another section of the Organization. A ten-year stint lets you walk away free and clear. The price of becoming a specialist, though, is you don¡¯t get to walk away. I got tired of killing folks after five years, re-employed as a trainer. Been here for a decade. I know the timeline¡¯s a bit wonky, but don¡¯t think too much about it.¡±

    This is why we don¡¯t assume, Kimber. I would never have picked Jerrico as an assassin. I think he likes it that way though? Seems to take this seriously, but not in a way that is overly restrictive or taciturn.

    I take his advice and put the moral quandaries to the side, ¡°got anything for me after I clean this up?¡± I gesture at the room.

    ¡°Mm. Marks and I have some more sessions to get through the recruits. We¡¯ll have an after action and review your barracks interrogation after dinner¡¯s settled. Say eight-ish.¡±

    I acknowledge the time with a mock salute and clean the interrogation room before heading back to my room to change into my workout gear. A few laps of machinery-free areas has me warmed up and wondering what the gentlemen were using the pads I saw laid out and stacked up for. I see a bunch on the side stacked next to a pillar, when I get an idea. I jog to the office, duck in to grab a roll of duct tape and give Jerrico my most reassuring smile and dart back out.

    The pads are only about three centimeters thick, but they do Velcro together on the bottoms and they are flexible enough to wrap around one of the I-beam pillars supporting the warehouse. I strap three lengths together and move the rest of the pads away. With a few pad to steel tape anchors, I start wrapping the pads around the pillar, and five rotations later, I have a nice thick pad that I then put thick bands of tape to the middle, top and bottom.

    Excited, I do a few test punches and kicks and decide to go back and get my gloves. I spend at least an hour doing routines on the makeshift heavy-bag and getting rid of my exercise jones. When I turn around to see Marks and Jerrico studying me? My hand was on my knife holster and I had almost drawn when I realized it wasn¡¯t creepers.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t we think of this years ago?¡± Marks asks.

    ¡°She¡¯s fifteen, energy oozing out of her pores. I was worried what she had planned with the roll of tape she made off with.¡±

    ¡°Not the knives she walks around with? It was the tape that had you worried?¡± Marks shakes his head. ¡°Lets go get dinner and let the kid clean up.¡±

    I chuckle as they walk away, and I swear one asks the other if I shower with the knives too. I¡¯m certainly taking them with me to the stall in case some pervert wants to die today. I doubt it¡¯ll be an issue though it doesn¡¯t feel as though the people I interrogated would be up for revenge.

    The shower is a glorified overhead water bucket with a pull chain. I haven¡¯t taken a shower so cold in a year, but it kind of reminds me of a simpler time, when all I had to worry about was food and petty revenges. Now people are trying to kill me, I have a family I want to save, and the upcoming initialization hanging over my head. Time to do dinner and look at the after action.

    I pull on track pants and a sleeveless hoodie and go to get my meal box.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what the lottery has for me today? Open the box.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, oh! It¡¯s still sizzling! Chicken fajitas with sides, a steak with fries, a side salad and half a cheesecake.¡± I look down and see the glorious bounty and think that with the cheesecake this is way over the calories I have left for the day. ¡°Huh, my calorie allotment for the day must have glitched, this alone would be 3k.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t care, gimme that cheesecake.¡± He starts reaching and I slap his hand.

    ¡°This is a trade, good instructor Jerrico. Show me the snacks or the cheesecake gets it.¡±

    He reaches down and sets down four packs of pretzels and six sleeves of almonds. He gestures like it¡¯s some grand reveal.

    ¡°Can you believe this Marks?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re robbing a kid.¡±

    ¡°Stealing cheesecake from a baby, the travesty.¡± I smile and chuckle at the discomfort in Jerrico¡¯s body language. I hand over the covered delight and rake in my snacks. ¡°Ooh! Smoked and salted almonds. Nice.¡±

    Marks groans, I assume he¡¯s jealous of the dessert. ¡°Look gents, sweets aren¡¯t my favorites. I crash way too hard. I¡¯ll let you decide who gets what, but if the calorie mix-up happens again, I may just donate to the foundation of sweets deprived Instructors.¡±

    ¡°A noble charity.¡± Both instructors agree as Jerrico passes over a sliver of the creamy-looking treat to Marks.

    I tuck into my meal box and my mouth is nearly overwhelmed by the richness of the steak and the fiesta of the fajitas. I don¡¯t get to be full often, but to my shame, I have to share my fries with the guys to finish my meal. In my defense this one was two full meals.

    The instructors invite me into Marks¡¯ room and tell me to link my phone to the TV and tap the link they sent me. I do as instructed and my interrogation of Jamie pops on screen.

    ¡°As a preface, Jerrico saw your other interrogation. We talked about it while you were cleaning up. Will discuss both after.¡± I nod and he taps play on my phone. The sound clarity is only okay, so we stop and rewind a few times.

    ¡°It looked like you were about to stop before the  . . . chest punches.¡±

    ¡°I was, I had gotten two pieces, but if it weren¡¯t a recruit, would I hesitate to try the most painful option? I would have felt that I¡¯d left something in there, so I leaned on her for ten more minutes and she caved.¡±

    ¡°I liked the food baiting. I disliked the phone usage.¡± Marks critiques. I knew that would come up.

    ¡°I liked the slap, disarming, makes the consequences more real. I dislike that you didn¡¯t reward her during the game. If you¡¯re making the consequences real, the rewards must seem real too.¡± Solid point, especially with food.

    ¡°That seems like solid feedback, and your thoughts on my going too far with the previous recruit will be taken to heart. My excuse for the phone is I thought she was taunting me with my friend Jamie¡¯s name, so I checked the recruit listing to mitigate my anger. A weakness sure, but I had a reason I felt was important.¡±

    ¡°Still, if you need to do something like that, work it into the plan, instead of just doing it and scrambling after. That said, it was a good interrogation. You were in control the whole time, and you kept the whole picture in mind.¡±

    ¡°With all that in mind, what do you feel about how Jamie and Carter performed?¡± Marks asks.

    ¡°Jamie did great. She saw an opportunity to get to know more about me once she thought I was not fully present with the phone. When she lost control of the exchange, she tried to change tacks which almost worked. I don¡¯t have the skill to have gotten any more out of her, the pain looked like she was going to black out soon.

    ¡°Carter. Well, I agree with Jericco in that I shouldn¡¯t have proceeded with him at all. I played into his fears and took it too far instead of easing off and putting in harder, but more sensible work. And if I go back to Joseph, I think he has the ability to do better, but I don¡¯t think he took it seriously when I walked in and that started him far behind.¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay, ¡®instructor¡¯ Novarro. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but ease up. The next week, we shouldn¡¯t have any other sessions for you to do as the washouts leave us six a piece and we can do that if you help us clean after each session.¡± He uses his big instructor voice and everything.

    ¡°I am here to help until it¡¯s time for me to get back in line.¡± I hold my hands up in surrender.

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t understand who her mentor is, does she?¡±

    ¡°Look, Novarro, we really appreciate the help and it¡¯s not your fault this whole training cycle went tits up when the Lieutenants got involved. That said, it¡¯s messed up that you have to do this at all. With your, anger management, I¡¯m surprised you can work with us.¡±

    ¡°Gents, I honestly feel better that these recruits have initialized. I¡¯m with the Empress in thinking that I can make rational, informed decisions at my age. I don¡¯t have as much information as an 18 year-old would have, but that¡¯s what I believe parents and mentors are for¡ªhelping inform us to make the best decisions. Would I normally condone adults laying into teens? No, but the fact that you care enough to chastise me about my excesses, and that you are only teaching folks that have trained and chosen to come here, it feels less skeevy.¡±

    ¡°Huh, you¡¯re more mature than most adults I know. Then again, you had to be didn¡¯t you?¡± Marks analyses me with a critical eye, as though he¡¯s seen something different about me.

    ¡°Before we devolve into how great we think we all are, Marks and I have been discussing your training. We want you to stick around until just before Mr. Strum arrives, and then we¡¯re sending you to a team to handle the rest of your training.¡±

    ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± After being appreciated, news of being sent away is a punch in the gut.

    ¡°No, Novarro, you would have passed all of these interrogations, and it would be a disservice to you, and possibly a good beating for us, if you don¡¯t get field interrogations before you move to the tactics team.¡±

    ¡°And with Miss Fontaine warning us against Mister Strum, we¡¯re tempted to move you to the field unit early.¡±

    ¡°Do you two practice the whole tandem talking thing?¡± I smile at the ridiculousness of these two and appreciate their confidence in me.

    ¡°Years of working together. We spend so much time doing the job, that we¡¯re used to each other.¡± Marks says.

    ¡°I don¡¯t recommend it.¡± Jerrico teases and gets a punch in the arm for it.

    ¡°You guys are adorable. And thanks? Since people are already mad at me, and I get special treatment because of my mentor, may as well keep riding the wave.¡±

 Chapter 20

    My schedule for the next two weeks is drastically different. The recruits are given three days to recover with a restorative for each, and then the second cycle of interrogations begin. During that time I audited some classes¡ªmost were an in-depth version of what I got from Marcella¡¯s friend¡ªand worked out. Sure, I spent a ton of time brushing up on my Spanish and learning Chinese; as well as some papers on squad tactics Marks sent me. The second rest period, I mostly just stay away from the recruits as they are becoming more resentful, save Jamie. She apparently has no hard feelings and goes out of her way to say hi to me, so I sneak her food.

    Speaking of food, I adjusted my calorie number on the kiosk again the morning after my first day of interrogations, and around mid-day I get a message from Marcella: ¡°If you can see your abs, keep stuffing your face. Your body needs material to build muscle.¡± I scoff and send her a reply akin to 5k calories was a lot my dude. She sent me a buff arm and a poop emoji. Made me laugh in the middle of lunch, shooting sports drink out of my nose.

    With the third interrogation looming, one that is supposed to be their final exam, the air is thick with paranoia as the instructors can pull them in to be question any time in the next four days to add an element of uncertainty and panic into the equation after they have gauged their ability to handle it.

    ¡°So what happens to the recruits after this? Aren¡¯t they going to the same place I am?¡± I ask Jerrico as he sets up the main interrogation room to have a different visual than the recruits are used to.

    ¡°Hmm, no. The thinkers have told us that after such a brutal and possibly demeaning experience, the recruits should be given a break and then a rigorous exercise program to resocialize, vent some anger and frustration into growth, and analyze if there are any lingering effects of this phase of our interrogation training.¡± He shrugs. ¡°The two weeks we did last time seemed to help some, so we¡¯ve been told to stagger sending students to the field teams over a second two weeks. Putting you in two-ish weeks earlier than that. Not sure what the Close Quarters Battle school is going to do with you, but that¡¯s out of our purview.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure that Marcella will brief me. Thanks for all the help guys, it was really enlightening tailing you and picking your brains.¡±

    ¡°Hah, just don¡¯t go and threaten anyone else with actually eating their brains.¡± Jerrico jabbed.

    ¡°Well, I suppose Mexican folklore has room for another brain sucker.¡± I beam at them, trying to cover my embarrassment with comedy. I get a polite chuckle.

    We talk about nothing important for another ten minutes or so, how kids have it easy these days, ¡°when I was your age¡± stories that were all like comfy cuddle stories that lightened the mood as they know I had a hard childhood and wanted to keep distracting me from the work ahead of me. When a black SUV pulls up, the chatter ceases.

    A goon steps out of the front passenger side and opens the door to the back, where a well-dressed snake slithers out of the car and into the warehouse. He¡¯s every bit as slick looking as when I first saw him, but with the extra piece of shit factor of me knowing he¡¯s going to enjoy watching the recruits suffer. Parker Strum struts up to us.

    ¡°Excuse us, I¡¯d like to talk to the instructors.¡± The venom in his voice is palpable.

    I don¡¯t move.

    ¡°Are you deaf as well as dumb girl?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s on the instructor roster until the end of the day. So, you¡¯ll have to be more specific.¡± Jerrico said in an even tone and neutral face. The twitching visible on Parker makes me smile inside.

    ¡°She should be with the other recruits preparing for their final interrogation with the rest of them.¡± The Face is trying to school his anger but is failing.

    He really does hate me, doesn¡¯t he?

    ¡°The decision was made above our paygrade. Until tomorrow, she¡¯s an instructor here, not a recruit.¡±

    ¡°Then, I wish to discuss matters with these two men, you are excused, girl.¡± He stares at me and his goons take a step forward.

    I look up to Marks and Jerrico to see what they think. They both shrug. Well alright. I walk over to the picknick table and sit to watch the men chat, and Parker is animated in gesticulation. I text my mentor that Parker was a day early and currently talking to the other instructors. She texted back some swear words and what he could do with his mother. Then I assume she calmed down and started giving me advice.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    \I can be there in a few hours. DO NOT let him or his goons isolate you. DO NOT let him intimidate you by playing the Lieutenant card. If he tries to force the issue, dart to a safer place and hide until I text you again. He does not have authority over you, but don¡¯t be stupid about it.\

    /Copy. I¡¯m irritated, but not afraid. I¡¯m probably going to be stupid about it the longer I¡¯m exposed to that fucker./

    She sends me back a ¡®no¡¯ and stops texting. Ugh, why do people want to bring me drama when I have so much internal bullshit to handle. This, after being told that my schedule is hassling a lot of different parts of the Organization. I bet all of them are grumbling that I better be worth it. No pressure, Marcella, just a little pressure from everyone! What¡¯s another rock in the path eh?

    ***

    I begrudgingly admit, Parker does good work when his emotions aren¡¯t involved, but the fact that he uses a goon to do the roughing cheapens the experience a bit. One of the instructors is always in the room with him except me. I refused as Marcella told me to.

    ¡°You know he¡¯s going to insist he interrogate you. You have a plan for that?¡± Jerrico asks.

    ¡°A bad one, but yeah. Did you hear my whole story?¡±

    He shakes his head. ¡°Just that you¡¯d filled all the requirements for the ¡®practical portions¡¯ and one of our old instructors confirmed it herself.¡±

    ¡°Huh.¡± I¡¯m honestly surprised that Marcella would put them in this position. But putting out info that sounds like slander against another Lieutenant wouldn¡¯t help us get anywhere positive. ¡°This should be interesting then. I think Parker¡¯s finished with this one.¡±

    A few minutes later the goon drags the boy out and starts cleaning up. Parker walks up to the mirror, straightens his tie and coat and walks to exit the room¡ªthen enters the office.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here too. Hello, Novarro. Enjoy the preview?¡± He asks with faux civility.

    ¡°Enjoy, not so much. Appreciate the expertise, for sure.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± She says with genuine cheer. ¡°They you¡¯ll appreciate the opportunity to go next.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the offer, but no thanks. My training is in the office observing today.¡± I say as emotionless as possible, which lately is pretty reserved. Hooray for practice!

    ¡°It¡¯s not an offer, it¡¯s a certainty. You are taking your final today.¡± His face is a mask, but his teeth are gritted and his tone tight.

    ¡°You administered my final about a month ago in that same room, Parker. I remember the experience vividly.¡± I smirk at him falling into the trap.

    He scoffs, ¡°that was just a bit of extra training. A final has extra elements.¡± He says flippantly, really flopping all over the place emotionally.

    ¡°Oh? Hey Jerrico, what are the requirements for the final interrogation.¡± I look over to the knowledgeable instructor.

    ¡°A recruit must undergo a stressful event before an interrogation that will last between three and eight hours, administered by a senior instructor or a Lieutenant and observed by an instructor or Lieutenant to verify procedural compliance IAW the Warram interrogation manual. The student is not to incur debilitating or lasting injury during this period.¡±

    ¡°So, I was abducted from my hotel room at the Organization¡¯s casino around 8pm, bound, gagged and drugged. I awoke to Parker¡¯s pretty face asking me about some quirks about the algorithm. I incurred broken ribs among other bruises and scrapes, and I was picked up around 4am by an Organization member.¡± I turn, to Jerrico, ¡°Does that count?¡±

    ¡°Missing the observer to observe procedural compliance.¡±

    ¡°Not to mention without a witness it¡¯s all heresay.¡±

    ¡°So if Miss Fontaine obtained a recording of the ¡®interrogation¡¯ and assuring procedures were followed well enough for a final exam, would that count?¡±

    Jerrico nods. ¡°That would full fill the requirements, yes.¡±

    ¡°Not so fast, without the video, all your saying is conjecture.¡± He¡¯s flustered now, and I want to press in for the submission.

    ¡°Parker, think for a second. Do you really want people to see that tape? The one where you leave the interrogation and the office to go home? The one where you put me in a shock collar and crank it up as you leave? A video that will convince anyone that sees it that you need remedial security training?¡±

    He doesn¡¯t say anything and Jerrico looks shocked.

    ¡°Not enough to convince you? How many people know about your compulsion Talent, Parker. Or that it feels like a swarm of bees in your mind that you know will keep stinging until you give a truthful answer? How many people do you want to know that you used it to ¡®train¡¯ the protegee of another Lieutenant? How Many!?¡± I don¡¯t know when I started standing and growling, but I am thankful that Jerrico grabbed me by the back of the belt to keep me from poking the arrogant bastard.

    Parker takes the three steps and puts his face three inches from mine, ¡°Careful who you levy threats at, Girl. I am not some child you can intimidate like some boogeyman.¡± Oof, figures he would dig into that failure. ¡°You see, without Marcella here to babysit you, you will do as I say, when I say it. Do you understand.¡±

    The last statement he makes with the oomf that I remember, the bees and the stinging compel me to answer, ¡°Fuck you and that talent.¡± I say through gritted teeth as the buzz fades. Luckily that¡¯s a system approved answer to his question¡ªI guess. I hear a gun drawn behind me and I drop.

    ¡°You should take a time out, Mr. Strum. We don¡¯t use those kinds of talents on our own people, especially instructors and protegees.¡± I see Jerrico with a determination in his eyes and a pistol leveled at Parker.

    ¡°I will remember this Jerrico.¡± Parker snarls and stomps his way out of the office.

    After a minute of silence, we both sigh and as my instructor holsters his sidearm, he says, ¡°You were right. It was a shit plan.¡±

 Chapter 21

    I¡¯d like to say that Parker left me alone for the rest of the day, but that would just be lying. He had his goons try to isolate me throughout the day, and a few times I climbed up stuff and used my urban street rat skills to scamper away to more public places, which led to me sitting down for lunch in my gym clothes.

    ¡°You should clean up before you sit for a meal.¡± The ass says while eating daintily with a knife and fork.

    ¡°I mean, I would normally, but I can¡¯t ignore that one of your goons is missing and there were signs of entry on my door.¡± I open my food box to find three sandwiches, one of them barbeque, some coleslaw, fries and a bag of chips for sides. ¡°Hells yeah! Barbeque sandy. You want the chips Marks?¡±

    He slides a bar across the table and I toss him the chips.

    ¡°How much do you pay for that much food?¡± Parker asks.

    ¡°It¡¯s part of my program. Too skinny my Mentor tells me. I¡¯ve been gaining about a kilo and a half a week? Maybe four. Starting to see a little chub.¡± I say, poking at my belly, while I flex my very toned arms.

    ¡°A wee baby whale in the making.¡± Marks smiles while opening his chips.

    ¡°Nah, definitely a baby hippo. Too much rage for a whale.¡± Jerrico joins in the fun.

    ¡°Flagrant waste if you ask me. If they are Org funds, then you won¡¯t mind if I . . .¡± he starts to reach for my food.

    Apparently he¡¯s never discovered the intimate relationship between an Orphanage and food. I slap his hand away. ¡°No. Mine.¡± I say, childishly. Parker¡¯s face screws up in a rictus of anger¡ªapparently no¡¯s a word he doesn¡¯t respect.

    He reaches for something else, but at this point I¡¯m only focused on the hand and that no one is allowed to steal my food. I¡¯ve stabbed people for as much, so I let myself get triggered and nail his hand to the table with a knife from my holster. It embeds with a loud thud and a shake of the table top. I get up with my food and take a few steps back while everyone is momentarily shocked.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you just behave?¡± I ask, not expecting an answer. Though, I do suddenly realize I don¡¯t have a gun on in my workout clothes.

    ¡°You stabbed me?! Over food?¡± The prick shrieks.

    ¡°Honestly, I would have done the same.¡± Jerrico says, having stood up and put a palm on his sidearm. Parker¡¯s goon is in a similar position and Marks has his pistol on the table now, still snacking on chips. ¡°Mr. Strum, if you keep showing signs of not being able to control your emotions, we¡¯ll have to conduct training without you. Or delay until you figure it out.¡±

    ¡°Me? She fucking stabbed me over a sandwich!¡±

    Marks snorts and coughs enough that people stare at him. ¡°Sorry, but raise your hand if you¡¯ve stabbed a dude for food.¡± Even Parker¡¯s goon raised his hand.

    ¡°See, Parker, it¡¯s you that doesn¡¯t understand.¡± A jovial female voice says from behind the barracks. Everyone turns to look. ¡°Hands off the gun, jumbo.¡± She warns, pointing an assault rifle at him. Jumbo does as he¡¯s told. ¡°Grab your meal and this bag and get in the car.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this! This is my training program, Marcella, and your protegee stabbed me.¡±

    ¡°You keep thinking that Porker. And with your questionable treatment of her, I¡¯d say it was self defense, or defense of one¡¯s property. Something like that. Plus, she probably told you about the video right? Good. I¡¯d hate to hold security refresher training for everyone in your department.¡±

    No she wouldn¡¯t hate it, the smiling freaking liar. I love my fucked-up family.

    I walk quickly with my food and grab my duffel lying on the ground next to Marcella. She gestures to the warehouse doors and follows me in that direction. I hear a commotion behind me as I keep moving, and a clatter some 10 meters distant as I get to the car. That must have been my knife. Poor baby being left behind. Marcella jumps in behind me tells the driver to head toward our next destination.

    A half hour later, I still don¡¯t know where we¡¯re headed, but with the look on Marcella¡¯s face, I don¡¯t dare ask. Eventually, she sighs and slumps into the seat.

    ¡°There will be consequences for stabbing him. He might have forgotten about you once you picked up a Track, but now he never will. I¡¯m not surprised, but I had hoped nothing would have happened today.¡±

    ¡°I know, I tried. He and his goons harassed me and tried to corner me for hours! And then I thought things were okay, I¡¯d identified he¡¯d laid a trap for me in my room. Then he tried to steal food from me. I slapped his hand the first time, but then he snarled and reached at me in anger. Next thing I know I¡¯m ten feet away and he has my knife in his hand.¡±

    ¡°Ah, well, at least you slapped his hand away first. Super effective.¡±

    ¡°Wait, are you mad at me?¡± I can¡¯t believe this, I used self-control so many times this last month, but one minor slip up and this?

    ¡°I¡¯m mostly mad at the situation. I¡¯d have preferred you to have not sat down at that table for lunch, but what¡¯s done is done. I¡¯ll be staying in Primm with you for the first day to see that you and the field unit there gel, but then I have to get back to work.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± I shrink into myself at the tired and disappointed look on Marcella¡¯s face. All of my accomplishments of the last three weeks seem unimportant next to the cold reception from my mentor. I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s been through in the last few weeks, something that¡¯s affecting her much more than me right now, but it feels like someone I thought was my family is rejecting me.

    ¡°Hey, Kimber, none of that.¡± She slides up next to me and pulls my legs into her lap. ¡°I¡¯m upset, yes, but I still care about you. I really wanted us to be over this part, but we rushed the process and sometimes you get incomplete results.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not very fair.¡± I pout.

    ¡°Fair? You know very well that life, and even more so emotion, isn¡¯t fair. I¡¯m also mad at myself for not being able to prevent a situation that wasn¡¯t supposed to happen in the first place. Does that seem fair?¡±

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    I sniffle and laugh. ¡°No. Not being fair with either of us. But I wasn¡¯t being a very good representative for you, and that¡¯s not great either.¡± She held me while I cried on her, as though I was repenting for everyone I¡¯ve disappointed in the past. Those few moments where I felt Marcella was going to distance herself and eventually give up on me were crushing, even though it was just a misinterpretation of her situation.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m adding more stress to your situation. You probably can¡¯t even tell me what you¡¯re stressed about, but if you need someone you have me and Belle too, okay?¡±

    ¡°I forget that you¡¯re a menace and a sweetie in equal measure sometimes.¡± She kisses my head and ruffles my hair. ¡°When we start Danielle¡¯s research, we¡¯ll spend more time together and I¡¯ll fill you in on some stuff. But now, I should brief you on what¡¯s coming up for you.¡± She taps a few imaginary buttons and projects a screen.

    ¡°Haley, divider up please.¡± She waits until the black glass slides up before showing me some pictures of people, ¡°So, a friend of mine, Craig Hawthorne, and the team leader for this operation reached out to see if I knew a long-gunner. Kenneck said you¡¯d be good at it, so I diverted your training from Barstow, where Haley will continue on, to Primm where some meth producers are mixing in something dirty that¡¯s hurting people in our market. If all goes well, you and his squad will continue to Barstow and help another team put down a startup competitor there.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯re going to socialize me to the team, and then your off again to your mysterious work?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re so smart Kimber!¡± She boops my nose.

    ¡°Rude. Okay. So you¡¯ll contact me or send someone when it¡¯s time to come back?¡±

    ¡°No, not this time. I¡¯ll be giving you Haley¡¯s number. She¡¯ll be waiting for you in Barstow and will be your lifeline once there. In Primm, you are on your own. If you make friends like you did with your two interrogation instructors, you¡¯ll be fine. Any questions?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, is the trunk full of gear for me? Because I don¡¯t know if suits and gym gear are right for this mission.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I stuffed a ton of gear in the trunk for you. Speaking of gear, though, hand over the ring. You¡¯ll be toting around a much cheaper space saving backpack. Also, give me your phone and I¡¯ll trade you.¡± My mentor slides a sleek metal tube out of her pocket. She pulls on a tab and slides a flexible sheet of clear material out of it that locks in place at about 20cm. She hands the expanded device to me as the screen displays as parts become opaque and others light up. The screen is firm now in all areas and the little tutorial walks me through how to use the device and a preview of the apps it can use.

    I hand over the ring and my former work phone.

    ¡°The numbers you will need are in there, including Craig¡¯s current number. It has a bunch of features you will have to look up, but at least one of the guys on your team should have this model. Also, all the gear I¡¯m sending you with have manuals loaded on the phone, and the manuals for CQB and Urban Siege tactics are things you should absorb quickly if you can. First though, you need to double learn the manual for the cherry sniper rifle I got for you. There will be other new weapons and gear as well, but again, you¡¯ll have tonight and some of tomorrow to speed read.¡±

    ¡°Wait, modular raid armor? Jesus, Marcella, did you trade my life for this stuff?¡±

    ¡°Never. I¡¯d never trade your life Kimber. I did however check all of this out under your name, with my authority. If you lose any of it, you will be in debt to the Organization forever. Break it, a justification from Craig and a ton of paperwork will get you another one.¡±

    I have a dozen more questions to ask, but I¡¯d wager most of them would be covered by information loaded on this scroll tablet? Before I could contemplate the naming conventions for flexible screens, Haley stops the car and the divider slides down.

    ¡°Alright ladies, ten minutes for snacks and bathroom, then on to Barstow.¡±

    We get out of the car and Marcella leads us to the trunk where a backpack, a large duffel and a small duffel are stowed. She hands me the pack and the large duffel and we head toward the gas station building. My mentor gestures to keep eyes out and to follow her around the building. Parked there, was a two door Jeep-like vehicle with obvious off-road modifications and no top. She tosses our packs in the back, then to my great surprise, tosses me in the back and motions for me to stay down. She opens the door, slides in and we drive off in the alarmingly quiet off-road vehicle.

    We drive for near a half hour, even though I know this town is not half an hour big. When we stop, I look up to see Marcella¡¯s door open so I slide out and start getting our gear out. She motions for me to be quiet and to follow her and she in turn follow¡¯s the driver. We walk some distance to a hatch covered in brush and lift the hatch up. Both adults motion for me to get in, so I climb into a 5m deep tube via latter with gear strapped to the front and back of me. I step back into a red lighted hallway that leads to another doorway that looks far sturdier than any other door I¡¯ve ever seen.

    After the three of us are down and the hatch is closed. They continue with gestures in this hall too, but I just follow as they chat in hand signals. We approach the extra sturdy door, and the man we are with moves a giant swing arm, then holds a latch while pushing with his shoulder to open the door. A gentle breeze wafts in from up the hall. Once through, he closes the door and swings the arm back over the door.

    ¡°Okay, that should do it. The desert is too quiet to talk sometimes. Good to see you again Marcie. This must be the Kimber I¡¯ve heard about.¡±

    I snap to attention to salute. ¡°Reporting for duty sir.¡±

    ¡°You have never seen a proper salute before, but I respect the effort. I¡¯m Craig. We¡¯ll talk things over when I get the team together. We were not expecting you until nightfall.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sorry about that. People gunning for little sister here, and she is worth burning a scattering device.¡± She says as casually as she can. Too bad I know she¡¯s super serious about it.

    ¡°Aww, big sis loves me!¡± I cheer and glomp onto her side.

    ¡°Oh, gross. That was the grossest thing you¡¯ve done in front of me.¡± Marcella frowns and shoves me off. Craig chuckles.

    ¡°Never thought I¡¯d see you act like this again. Glad I lived to see it.¡± His smile is soft and proud. You can tell they¡¯ve known each other for a long time. His sturdy build and his stately beard are comforting in a woodsy and caretaker sort of way. Super odd.

    ¡°Ugh, this is why I never visit people that know me: They remember things.¡±

    ¡°Does she mope at home too?¡± I see he¡¯s talking to me.

    ¡°Hm? No, I¡¯m usually doing that. She can normally be found torturing kids with burpees or eating their food because she can¡¯t cook.¡±

    ¡°BETRAYER!¡± She grabs my head and starts twisting my hair in little swirls until they pinch.

    ¡°As wholesome as this is, we should get you settled in.¡± Craig seems amused, and thankfully tolerant. While spacious for a bunker, this place is still underground and more space means more air to pipe in, or so it seems. Maybe it¡¯s just not worth it to make this place a real facility.

    Craig shows us the modest mess area, crew quarters, and the ¡®facilities¡¯. He leads us to our room and tells us to meet in the mess in ten.

    ¡°This is cozy. Though I fully intended to crawl up next to you regardless. It¡¯s been weird not sleeping next to someone.¡±

    ¡°I bet, 18 months of Bell trying to wear your skin would do that to anyone.¡±

    ¡°She isn¡¯t that bad.¡±

    ¡°She has a locket of your hair in a ribbon, she¡¯s a full-on clinger.¡±

    I try to think of a witty response, but instead my mouth opens and spews, ¡°I missed you Marcella,¡± I step forward and hug her middle.

    ¡°Missed you too kid.¡± She rubs my back and I nuzzle into her arm a bit. ¡°how are you really doing?¡±

    ¡°Good, I guess. It doesn¡¯t seem real that someone is trying to kill me and roughing up kids for their own good is starting to make a sick sort of sense.¡±

    ¡°Oof, you are too young for existential thoughts.¡±

    ¡°But old enough to beat kids and murder people?¡± I head butt her in the boob.

    ¡°Hey now. I suppose you¡¯re not too young for much now. But you know that in this relationship, a small part of the sister job is me teasing you.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean I can call you old?¡± I smile into her shirt, knowing that she wasn¡¯t going to like it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t push it.¡±

    We hold each other for a moment and it makes me want to nap and stay like this for a day and truly relax. Life has different plans as Marcella taps me on the back to indicate our time to meet the others.

    ¡°I probably should have used that time to change.¡± Nah, I used it wisely, I muse to myself.

 Chapter 22

    ¡°Crew, this is Kimber Novarro, recent graduate of interrogation training, and our long gun for the op. The tall menacing one is her Mentor, and too scary for names.¡±

    ¡°Wait, the small one is our sniper? She would probably fit in the barrel!¡± A burly man, who was likely either a breacher or a squad weapon guy.

    ¡°She looks like a climber, I could see it. What¡¯s your rifle squirt?¡± A hard-looking man with a scraggly beard that looks as though he took some fire damage to the hairless parts.

    ¡°MRAD PSR with .300 magnum rounds. It¡¯s got a dynamic range, atmospheric compensation scope on it, so a blind turkey could be your sniper.¡±

    The hard man¡¯s face softens in . . . mirth? And the big man snorts.

    ¡°At least she¡¯s funny. Can¡¯t say the same for you Denning. Maybe she can be our mascot.¡± The muscular white girl eyes me in a way I don¡¯t understand. So I prepare to do what I always do¡ªfight discomfort with humor!

    ¡°Hmm, puckered asshole for a mascot. Seems appropriate.¡± That gets me a laugh from the whole team.

    ¡°You kiss your mother with that mouth?¡± Skinny dude with glasses says, not yet knowing he¡¯s being an ass.

    ¡°Member of the Angry Orphan¡¯s club, sadly, but I¡¯d kiss your mother with this mouth.¡± I waggle my eyebrows. To try to deflate the situation, but apparently a fifteen-year-old making insinuative comments is just too awkward.

    ¡°Well, now that we¡¯re clearing mines with our faces, I¡¯m Team lead. Big man is Denning. The grizzled vet is Tennison, the beefy tart is Waller, and the boy with foot in mouth disease is Templeton.¡±

    ¡°Pleasure to meet you all. As Harlow said, I¡¯m Novarro, and I¡¯m pre-initialized.¡±

    ¡°What the hell Harlow!¡± The rest of the team objects. Harlow tries to calm them down, but they aren¡¯t having it. The idea of a real kid on their team is unpalpable.

    ¡°Do we really have time to babysit while storming a manufacturing ring?¡± Big man asks. Denning.

    Marcella leans over and whispers, ¡°show ¡®em the speed. Denning has a field knife.¡±

    I let Denning¡¯s comment bother me and I cross the 3m distance in an instant, pulling the knife before he can raise his arms and I have it at his neck soon after. ¡°I would be happy to read you a bedtime story.¡±

    Quiet thunders through the space. For moments bordering on hours, the whirr of the forced air is all I can hear.

    ¡°Fuck me then, that was legit.¡± He pinches the tip of the blade to pull it back and I just release it to him and step away.

    ¡°As you can see, Kimber is more capable than your average ¡®kid¡¯. Though I¡¯m surprised you all wouldn¡¯t just take Harrow¡¯s word for it.¡± She looks at me and continues. ¡°I¡¯ll be retiring early. You should chat.¡±

    Everyone watched her turn to walk away, some watched for longer than they should so I cough loudly. At least Waller is embarrassed about the extra attention.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her. I¡¯ve never expected blind faith before and I won¡¯t start now. So, Novarro, if you have a mind for some Q and A, it could comfort the team some.¡± He sounds like he¡¯s asking and not telling, which is nice.

    ¡°Sure. I¡¯m not bashful. Whaddya want to know?¡± Four people shouted at once. I raise an eyebrow. Then point at Templeton.

    ¡°How old are you?¡±

    ¡°Fifteen and just over a half.¡± I then point to Waller.

    ¡°Who is that lady?¡±

    I smirk at that, ¡°my mentor.¡± She groans and I laugh. I point at grizzly.

    ¡°What was that move?¡± He asks, a calculated peering aimed at my body.

    ¡°Pre-Talent manifestation is my best guess. Speed for anger.¡± He nods, though to say he looked satisfied at my answer would be wrong. I point to Denning.

    ¡°How many people have you killed?¡± he gets a variety of looks and ¡®what the fuck man¡¯ aimed in his direction.

    ¡°Five? One in self defense when I was ten. I throat cut a teen who thought gang leaders could rape little girls when I was fourteen, and an assassin that shot me about a month ago, and one, maybe two in a disagreement.¡± The people in this room clearly did not grow up on the streets and were amazed at my childhood hit count.

    ¡°Post war streets have been mean, friends. You either grow up strong or find someone who did. I was the someone for my Orphanage.¡±

    It stays quiet or a minute before Denning broke the silence. ¡°The puckered asshole is a good mascot for us.¡±

    ***

    ¡°We¡¯ve got the breaching plan, and the CQB strategy, and some nominal spots for Novarro, what¡¯s left? What am I missing?¡± Craig shared layouts and plans with the crew¡¯s system and I got it on my scroll. I looked at the images and the surroundings while Craig was detailing the inside plan.

    ¡°How likely we thinking an ¡®other than front¡¯ exit will be?¡± I ask Craig.

    ¡°The plan is to subdue and contain at first. Analyze the drugs then destroy their production means. So inside for an hour or two. You will be expected to audible with us if we need to egress.¡±

    ¡°Okay, then the tower is out. I don¡¯t think I could get around the neighborhood fast enough from there to cover you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. These points were picked for their areas of coverage, you¡¯re the long gun, you pick the spots in the end. Just as long as you cover our asses, no one cares.¡±

    He¡¯s not here to spoon feed me, copy that. I nod in acknowledgement and try not to flush in embarrassment. Our last meeting before an early morning show time ends and I have that freshly-opened package feeling.

    Waller puts her arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. ¡°Don¡¯t let the tension get to you. This is your first day out, so don¡¯t focus on failure, focus on what you need to do for us and do it the best you can. And maybe give me your Mentor¡¯s comm ID?¡±

    ¡°Thanks for the advice, but no way in hell. She would chew me out then chew you up.¡±

    She shudders, ¡°Yes please.¡±

    ¡°EEEW!¡± I shove her away. ¡°It¡¯s weird when people think she¡¯s hot.¡± Waller then laughs the rest of the way down the hall.

    I reluctantly continue to the room I was sharing with Marcella until she left earlier this afternoon. One day back was not enough hugs, or sister cuddles. Nothing says comfort like an arm flop and a loud fart in the middle of the night.

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    Three a.m. comes before I¡¯m ready, but I dutifully put on my modular, Kevlar weave layered over carbon fiber mesh, armor. I strap my knives to my left leg and my 9mm to my right with my MRAD on a retractable sling magnetically clipped to my back. My belt and chest armor have a mess of ammo attached to it. My back plate has a fixed blade sheathed at the bottom and my helmet has various vision aiding attachments that would completely reveal my position if I ever used them. I feel like I¡¯ve seen old video of folks robbing banks with less gear than I have on.

    When I get to the door to the area with the red lights, I see that I¡¯m the asshole yet again as the rest of the team has miss-matched armor with some custom paint jobs to make it all blend together. The paint tries as hard as it can. A couple of jabs about how new my armor is and how fun it will be to break in make their rounds, but once we¡¯re through to the red hall, then it¡¯s silence out to the Jeep covered in a camo net.

    Craig and Big Boy Denning are in the front, with the four smaller folk of the squad in the back with our gear in our laps. I should say their gear. A backpack cordless saw and some extra shotguns with extra ammo and guns in the floor locker we¡¯re sitting on.

    The first twenty minutes were interesting as the crescent moonlight revealed some towers on our back way to a town called Mountain Pass. Grizzly Tennison tells me that those are power generation towers, some of which still work. The trail through the hills is bumpy and seems longer than it really is, especially with feet and guns digging into my legs.

    Craig parks by some storage tanks on the side that I want to take position on, but farther away from the lab building that was used to test or separate minerals. I¡¯m sure the original purpose of the building was briefed, but it went in one ear and out the other. Apparently it¡¯s a safer place to cook meth than a trailer in the desert.

    We all pile out and do a quick comms check. We click around and with a thumbs up, then we trot toward a set of processing buildings. Looking at the complex on the way in, I chose the three tall cylinders on the right connected by ducting and further connected to lower buildings by ducts, ramps and sloped roofs. I see a shrouded ladder leading to the top of the cylinders on the far side, so I click the mic to get the squad¡¯s attention, then motion for a boost and point to the ladder.

    Denning nods and follows me over to the side makes gestures for me to put both of my feet in his giant mitts and that he will throw on three. I climb into his hands and crouch, making sure my feet are even, then give him a pair of taps on the shoulder. On his third bob, he stands and hoists as I jump and I launch halfway up the side and have to grab on to the outer cage of the ladder instead of the ladder itself.

    My heart is thundering, trying to escape this reckless form of daring do, deep breaths failing to bring the rate down. I try a few more breaths then pop a candy to help calm me down. I can still hear my pulse in my ears, but my limbs stop shaking. I hear clicks around, I click and start climbing with slow surety. Without the gloves that came with this armor, climbing up the cage would have been much more painful, as I have to death grip the long vertical rectangular bars whose rungs are too far apart for me to use as a jungle gym.

    Five minutes later I¡¯m looking for a good spot for a nest and climb to the left most cylinder top closest to the car. I walk the edge of the roof to see the best spot from which to watch the door that doesn¡¯t have my weapon hanging over the edge. The box-shaped vent with fan unit near the middle of the cylinder appears the best vantage I¡¯m going to get that has a way to brace my MRAD.

    ¡°Crow in position,¡± I subvocalize. I get a click in response.

    Minutes pass before I see Tennison emerge ahead and to the right of my position, moving in a very speedy, but level gait. They cover the 80m between my columns and the target building in half a minute and flatten themselves against the wall. I continue surveying the lines of approach on my side and it¡¯s another minute before I see a pair of shadows come around the far side of the building.

    ¡°Patrol coming counterclockwise. Two minutes,¡± I relay.

    ¡°Copy. Don¡¯t let them see us.¡± Craig replies, and I click back.

    For most of the next two minutes I am mentally trying to hurry their ingress up, but apparently we are still trying to break in silently. I turn my compensating scope on and let it take its data to correct for distance and windage while I follow the patrol, trying to ready myself to shoot someone totally unrelated to my sphere of experience.

    Luck, or persistence, is with us tonight as Tennison manages to get the team inside, and Craig gestures to remain silent before slipping into the building. The next hour proved to me that I could both be anxious and bored at the same time. Keeping alert and seeing nothing is freaking hard.

    All is well and good until the patrol decides they want to radio in.

    ¡°Patrol is engaging their hand-held comm devices.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t let them inside.¡± I click in confirmation.

    I hit the calibration button on the scope again as the men on the ground are fiddling and checking their devices. They are facing each other so it¡¯s near impossible to see what their expressions, but I can see when the furthest man pulls out a set of keys.

    The crosshairs on the scope are red while I¡¯m seeking, but as soon as I use the breath control I read about, the hairs turn green as they align with my victim¡¯s head. Consistent trigger squeeze and my rifle cracks in the night. The shot hits the first head and the second abdomen, making the guy with the keys stagger, and in the moment he takes to recover, I¡¯ve racked another round and put a shot into his chest.

    ¡°Two down at entry. Moving.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve got two minutes before we¡¯re ready to make some noise. Be able to cover the rear entrance by then.¡± I click my mic and stand. Collapsing the stock for carrying, I start climbing ducting and trusses supporting the long traversal sections to scamper up to the crisscross lattice of conduit and ducting that run between the air-conditioners, and other large openings that are connected between the different buildings at this mine. I feel as though my feet are moving like the wind, but I¡¯m barely moving at a trot.

    Three minutes roll by and I¡¯m starting to worry as I see Waller bust out of the back door and start sprinting down the path between buildings. I¡¯m not in a great position to cover yet, but I can see Denning come out before Templeton, then Harlow, and finally a hobbling Tennison, who turns around and plinks a few bullets back in the door with his assault rifle. Craig and Denning fall back 15 paces then stop to cover the grizzled veteran as he tries to run on his wounded leg.

    As a man comes out the door, I make a reaction shot and wing his shoulder. That¡¯s embarrassing.  The cover gunners take him out.

    ¡°We need you to do better than that, kid. We¡¯re about to turn, and Ten is in no shape to stop moving.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get ¡®em boss.¡± I say with all the naivete of a suckling babe.

    Craig nods to Denning and they spring past Tennison to set up another cover location. At this point I have to assume that Waller and Templeton are getting the Jeep. When people emerge from the building I drop to the ledge and lie on the skinny piece of concrete and start popping shots as soon as the scope stops moving from the recoil. Three shots more and I have to put a new mag in, and the bolt action is flying forward and back as fast as an idling engine. A total of seven enemies exit the building before part of the building explodes.

    Between the feeling of the boom in my chest and being startled by the fire and debris, I lose my balance on the ledge and start to roll off. I immediately drop the rifle--as it is attached to me--and grasp for the ledge with both hands. I look down to see Craig and the big man have passed me and Tennison is almost below me, which is the good news.

    The bad news is that there are three wounded goons taking aim and shuffling forward. Another on the ground appears to be calling for reinforcements. Telling Craig I could handle it, I decide to risk it for the biscuit. I pull out my pistol, allow myself to feel the panic and need for action, putting my first pistol shot into some guys head. The following shots were much less accurate, but with Craig covering and Denning going to pick up the wounded grizzly, the few extra shots I make to wound the pursuers is all that is necessary¡ªI hope.

    ¡°You¡¯re good to drop, Novarro.¡±

    Orphanage me would have laughed and told him to eff right off. Trained dog Kimber automatically lets go, braces her pistol hand with the other, and pops off more shots as I fall toward the ground. They were good shots too.

    Denning caught and stopped me much smoother than I could have expected, then dropped me the last half meter to the ground. I scramble up and point my pistol down range.

    ¡°Rides here,¡± Craig says over comms. ¡°Novarro, take Dennings AR and help me cover while they load.¡±

    The big man unlatches his sling and slaps the gun to my chest. I holster my pistol and check that there¡¯s a bullet in the chamber of the gun he gave me. The big man scoops up Tennison and shuffles quickly to the car. I see some body-shaped movement and shoot it. I assume Craig is doing the same. Loading takes less than a minute as we just hop in a pile in the uncovered back as Waller accelerates away.

    The boys in the back lift me, shift me and pass me so that I can have a more stable position to turret with my rifle and ensure that anyone that follows us gets a bullet for their trouble. This particular sniper rifle doesn¡¯t have the caliber to stop the car, but the .300 mag rounds don¡¯t deflect much through a windshield, or so the info card said. To my great relief, I didn¡¯t see a single vehicle behind us.  Our return to the bunker was uneventful and we climbed inside within the hour. We stayed quiet until the sound of our collective sighs escaped as we collapse in the mess area.

 Chapter 23

    ¡°How does it feel to finish your first mission?¡± Craig comes over and plops next to me.

    ¡°I always thought I¡¯d be one of the ones storming the place,¡± he stares at me, expressionless, ¡°In a few years I mean. But scampering on top of buildings while trying to shoot people a hundred yards away was not even on my radar.¡±

    ¡°I hear ya. I thought Marcie was pulling my chain, but you did well enough. Going to have to work on your off-hand pistol accuracy while hanging from a ledge though.¡±

    I shrink a little at the criticism, but realize the ridiculousness of the example he used. ¡°If only I had known that ¡®making noise¡¯ meant trying to shoot concrete to the Moon. This must be one of those learn by doing scenarios.¡± Glance at our team leader¡¯s face, trying to see if he thinks I¡¯m funny, but just nods his head to some invisible beat. ¡°When are we headed to Bishop.¡±

    ¡°Sensible question. Couple days. We fled in a hurry in a direction people saw us leave in. We have to stay low for a few days, then take the interstate at night. We expect to be backup and or an occupying force once we take facilities there. You should get the training you need, and we can get paid.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but laugh at the thought of money right now. I get told what to do, what to eat, and where to sleep; money is barely even in my sights. My laughter may have turned manic by the way everyone is looking at me.

    ¡°Sorry folks, not cracking after one mission, I promise. I was just laughing at this is the first time I¡¯ve thought about getting paid since I was selected from the Orphanage. Been with the Organization more than a year and a half. That¡¯s looney right?¡±

    Waller scoffs, ¡°You¡¯ll be chasing credits soon enough. It¡¯s okay to enjoy having a sponsor while you can.¡±

    ¡°I guess, but I feel guilty for staying still too long when I could be eeking out progress toward a better Track.¡± I grouse and pull out a bar to distract myself. I hear a grunt when I see Grizzly do the same.

    ¡°I¡¯d heard they were taking that more seriously this year. Makes you wonder if it¡¯s worth the price for you and your mentor.¡±

    I huff at that. ¡°I mean, I gained ten kilos of muscle and maybe another five in fat, so yah, I think I¡¯m doing alright. Not to mention the extra language, some life skills, relationships and people I can count on.¡±

    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Templeton holds his hands up in defense of my word vomit. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean offense.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re all tired.¡± Craig says, ¡°Do what you need to do to calm down and get some sleep. We¡¯re here for at least two days.¡±

    I shrug at that and go back to the cubby that is my room to take out the secret device that Marcella smuggled into my pack, a small vehicle¡¯s ansible that connects to the nearest city-sized one, or Vegas, if it¡¯s less than a few hundred miles away. I order a cleaning kit that can service my rifle and pistol and a couple of sandwiches, then head back to the mess area that also doubles as the meeting and office area.

    ¡°You know, you can clean those in the morning.¡± Craig said.

    ¡°Yeah, but it will be calming, otherwise I¡¯m just going to picture falling off that building a bunch of times.¡± He nods and Grizzly puts a hand on my shoulder and tells me to wait a few minutes to get started.

    The veteran comes back with a shipping blanket and a toiletry bag full of wire brushes and oil. He throws the blanket over the table and spills his bag of tools out on it. I like the gesture, so I offer him a sandwich. He accepts and begins breaking down his weapons without another word. I follow suit with my rifle first, getting a couple of laughs when I have to hold the rifle with my legs to pull the cleaning cloth through the barrel. Craig joins us at some point and toward the end, Waller comes out with a different bag full of medic tools.

    ¡°Hop up on the table when you¡¯re ready old man.¡±

    Tennison and I finish putting our weapons back together, wipe them down, and fold the blanket back so Craig has space to work while Waller lays out some tools that I recognize from when Marcella pulled a slug out of my back. Except this was a different breed of human. The Vet eats the sandwich I gave him as she jabs the grippy clamps into his thigh. I was hollering and yelling by now, face down on a table. He¡¯s just eating a damn sandwich. I shake my head in disbelief and cart my weapons back to my room, hopefully to get some sleep.

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    ***

    After the last deal was sabotaged, five thousand credits of cocaine missing, I had to let go of my last security team¡ªscrapped the whole crew in the end. The resultant fiasco with the buyer left me ten thousand in the hole as the buyer decided to renegotiate on the spot, knowing I couldn¡¯t find another buyer quickly enough to satisfy the Central American suppliers. It also meant that those buyers wanted nothing to do with me anymore.

    Losing money, especially that much, hurts. What hurts more is not knowing how the drugs went missing. None of the boys admitted to seeing anything, which leaves a bunch of liars or the person that came after the kid took some of the drugs. Then, that little shit defies me in front of the program instructors, who ended backing her up! I¡¯ll figure out a suitable punishment for those should-be-retired killers after I fit Novarro for a casket. I wish I could get rid of Fontaine as simply. People inside Warram have been trying to get her away from the Boss or dead for a few years now. The Boss respects her though, making it difficult collude against her and not sign your own death warrant.

    ¡°Guillermo, what news from L.A.?¡± The only person in the same room as me at the moment.

    ¡°It¡¯s not L.A., sir, the Irvine settlement wants the shipment of ketamine and ¡®E¡¯ to help control their population. Needs as many units as we can get them, even willing to pay retail.¡± The tone in his voice is uncertain, as though problems are following me. Knowing that any business tied to that region comes with threats of reprisal for broken promises. Only the desperate deal with Southern California¡ªto bad that describes my situation.

    ¡°Did you find out where Fontaine took the kid?¡±

    ¡°She checked into her suite the night you called at the interrogation facility. Rumor has her and the kid in Primm on a special mission with Harlow¡¯s team,¡± the info man says as he taps away at his interface.

    ¡°Mm, must have been the lab that exploded in the hills. I¡¯ve heard some whispers that one of our cars was seen out in Barstow?¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah. It was checked out to someone that leads to Miss Fontaine. She might be sniffing around, but other than the car, we haven¡¯t seen any other activity.¡±

    ¡°FUCK! We can¡¯t pull out of this deal this late. The Valley thugs will come out and make that town New Valley.¡± What are the chances that the reason she¡¯s in Barstow has nothing to do with me?

    ***

    My Mentor has me seeing clients that he¡¯s decided only need someone to talk to. I¡¯ve been listening to mostly young men talk about being bullied and how hard it is to change from being important at their shelter/halfway/orphanage to being harassed¡ªor so they say. Kimber has been through so much more than they have, and their complaints and sob stories remind me of how little she complained.

    I¡¯m advancing, of course, even just suggesting lines of thought, coping and processing mechanisms and walking them through step by step is helping me get better. Mr. Lambert is proud of my progress, and I think what I will be doing when I get real clients will be important, but a month without a piece of my heart and the shallow issues that my clients have are wearing on me.

    When Marcella told me I had to move out it affected me more than I thought it would. Moving away from the sights and smells that I associate with Kimber was the last bit of crying I had in me¡ªwhich has oddly helped me stay unaffected for sessions.

    I only feel as though I have a few clients that actually need my help. Marcus is surprisingly one of them. He had more problems that stemmed pre-orphanage, but I didn¡¯t see the effects because I was dealing with the grubs, I mean . . . damn it Kimber. He¡¯s been dealing with VIP protection training and his inability to connect with people due to his home situation before his parents were killed in Vegas.

    In times of strife, historically, cliques and often racism reinforces itself. In the Warlord Period, this was especially apparent as oppressed people could gain power with the new system, and they did not wield it for peace. Marcus¡¯ family was one of the costs of handing power to everyone, in his eyes their attackers gunned them down for the experience. While many children in our age group have similar tales where their parents were literally sacrificed for someone¡¯s advancement, Marcus took it harder because in his mind, if he¡¯d have tried harder to stay in Oklahoma--where they had stopped for a few weeks for provisions and information gathering--his parents would still be alive.

    I¡¯ve come to believe that his problem stems from the kind of people he is being assigned to are similar to the people that would have been killing people to progress and when he starts to feel himself forming a connection with them, guilt and anger force him to shut it all down. My way forward seems less clear, however.

    Helping him trust again will be important for his future development, though I¡¯m leaning toward helping him trust in himself and those close to him to protect those he cares about¡ªthe few connections he¡¯s made anyway. I need to clear that with Mr. Lambert as well as the idea to trust in the training to help him establish professional boundaries and begin separating his trust issues from his work life. I don¡¯t think we can work through this much before the decision point in two months, but if we make enough headway, Marcus should be able to keep his job instead of being relegated to for-hire protection that Kimber would call thugs and goons are famous for.

 Chapter 24

    ¡°What¡¯re we walking into kid?¡± Craig asks sub-vocally, three streets down in an Armored Personnel Carrier full with two squads and their noise-making equipment.

    I recently discovered that my scroll-shaped coms device can sense in IR and show it to me in a heat map. ¡°Link for a video call, the IR readings indicate recent machine use in the garage, and at least a dozen people in the warehouse and offices.¡± I reply from atop a dilapidated billboard down the block.

    A notice in the corner of the screen tells me Craig took my recommendation to connect. I zoom out to encompass the whole building. He looks at the image for long enough to make me nervous and reconsider this going in loud approach. They gave me a rocket launcher and a grenade launcher and I want to use them.

    Taking our time to analyze for Barstow ended up in missing our quarry as they got wind of our assault. Since then, we¡¯ve only taken the time to confirm illicit activity, not who¡¯s behind it and have got middling results.

    ¡°Alright, start the clock on my mark. Fifteen seconds out, start the music.¡±

    Ugh, that doesn¡¯t give me much time to run five blocks and climb another building with a backpack full of ordinance. ¡®The kid can handle it¡¯ he says, ¡®she likes climbing, or at least hanging from ledges¡¯ she says; I¡¯d rather be on the ground being told what to do instead of being given starting conditions and ¡®cover us¡¯ for the rest of the mission. Blarg.

    ¡°Mark.¡± Craig says, forcing my brain into work mode. I pop a candy, pull my straps tighter, and ladder slide down some masonry features¡ªrelying on my gloves and boots to slow me down.

    I start jogging toward the office and attached warehouse and hear the ticking of the clock on my phone that¡¯s connected to my comms unit. When the clock gets to thirty, I¡¯m barely at the base of the building, so I load the rocket launcher and fire at 20 seconds. Luckily the building I want has an outboard fire escape so I climb a story while I load another rocket and launch and repeating for the last rocket on the third floor on my way up to the roof past five as I hear a loud impact of an APC hitting a warehouse door.

    Giving the occupants about thirty seconds was part of the plan for the office side, giving me time to switch over to the AR-15 with the M203 grenade launcher attachment. Takes me two grenades to get the range inside the doors that I had just blown in, hearing some screams of the daring folk that risked the rockets being the only ordinance coming in that door before our troops. Not something any of my team would have done, but then again, they send their mascot running down the road loaded for war while they take an armored vehicle into battle. At least I have my helmet on today.

    I switch to launching a grenade every minute or so, adjusting the timing based on whims to keep anyone inside from guessing the timing while I put together my MRAD. Adelanto is a spread-out town, originally a low-cost expansion area for commuters to L.A. metro and surrounding cities, which also made it a survivable location for the Guerrilla Wars that decimated large cities across the globe. It also made it easy to see reinforcements coming on the well-laid out grid of the streets in town.

    Ten minutes later I see a convoy coming our way. ¡°Beard Papa, I have possible reinforcement convoy of five vehicles 3km out. ETA 5 minutes.¡±

    ¡°Take prisoners and evac. Buy us any time you can Kid.¡±

    Damnit. On one hand, I like that he trusts me to give them more time; hells, in the four months I¡¯ve been running with these clowns I¡¯ve bought them enough time and saved enough asses to own an Italian pizzeria and burro rental service. On the other hand, my mistakes often lead to people getting injured and sometimes dead. I only ever feel relaxed on a mission when Marcella is with us, and since I started on the aether-infused food almost six weeks ago, she¡¯s been around nearly every day¡ªjust not always on my missions.

    One of the benefits of her being around more, is that I don¡¯t have to hide the portable Exchange Relay that she gave me, and with Craig authorizing the mission account while we¡¯re in situations like this, it allows me to do things like re-stock rockets on the fly. Fifty credits later and I¡¯m ready to test how well I can snipe with an RPG.

    I pick a point about 300m away and loose rocket one. It takes longer to reload than for the rocket to hit, so I decide to watch. Vehicle one sees the rocket in time to swerve, but not in time to pick a street to turn down, so the Humvee-like vehicle slams into a building at 50kph or so. Vehicle two takes the rocket under its front axle, popping one side up and causing the vehicle to eventually hit on its side after the driver failed to regain control. Vehicle three clips vehicle two in an expertly executed avoidance maneuver and vehicles four and five turn north on a street just before the accidents.

    I launch another rocket at vehicle three while it recovers and hit it nearly broadside as it turns off on a side street. ¡°Beard Papa, two vehicles re-routing to approach from the North. Three minutes.¡± I call in while slinging the launcher section to rest on my back and collapse my MRAD as I descend the fire escape in more of a controlled fall than using the stairs.

    I hit the ground and sprint towards the warehouse and use the far side of the street to get an angle on the corner I think the vehicles will be coming around. I take a brief break to load ordinance on my launcher and then against all common sense, begin running with a loaded rocket launcher. When I see vehicles between buildings a street farther away than I expected, I skid to a stop, rest the launcher on top of an old mail collection box and wait. Minutes later, well after the vehicles should have turned a corner, I hear Craig¡¯s voice in my ear.

    ¡°Loaded and leaving. Go to rendezvous 2 if you need a pick-up.¡± I click in response as I watch the bastard drive away.

    Seconds later, I see some people with guns peek around a building. I greet them with a rocket and run off, weaving between buildings straight away from the scene, then make a more arcuate route toward rendezvous 2 approximately 4km away.

    ***

    ¡°Did you have to spend 50 credits?¡± Templeton, the resident network guy and bean counter asks.

    ¡°For the last time, yes! Rockets cost money and my rifle is no good against vehicles!¡± I want to take the remaining steps forward to poke the bastard, but I know I¡¯ll end up hitting him if I do. ¡°And if you suggest we take it out of my pay again, then I will be happy to simulate what would have happened to you had five vehicles full of people chasing you with guns.¡±

    ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± he asks, daring me to confirm it.

    ¡°Yes, I am threatening to shoot you. You are harassing me with this shit. If it was once or twice, I¡¯d understand, but after every mission? C¡¯mon Templeton, just because I¡¯m young and small doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m a pushover, so what¡¯s your fucking problem?¡±

    ¡°My problem is your entitled, ¡®look at me¡¯ attitude! Woe is me, take pity on the pretty Orphan girl with a sugar momma that everyone¡¯s afraid of. It took me years to get the recognition that they just handed you.¡±

    I scoff at that, ¡°That says more about you than me. And handed me recognition? I know sitting in the car, preparing our getaway is boring, but it¡¯s also safe. The rest of the team is safer because of me, and they recognized early that they could rely on me to do that. It is not my fault that you¡¯re not happy with your success. You¡¯re a grown ass man with the system and you¡¯re jealous of a girl without it staging you up.¡± I shake my head and walk away, no longer wanting to shoot the man now that I know that his problems are all his own. I walk down the hall to the kitchen of the house we started occupying for the mission and see Craig talking with Marcella.

    ¡°I heard yelling, everything okay?¡± Craig asks.

    ¡°No. Dipshit is going to try to charge me for mission supplies again. Then I told him that if he doesn¡¯t stop harassing me, I¡¯m going to shoot him.¡±

    ¡°Ah, your normal banter then.¡± He turns toward my Mentor again.

    ¡°No, Craig. His inadequacy issues and jealousy are going from green to black. He¡¯ll be a liability if this continues, and if he¡¯s petty and mean to me again I¡¯ll shoot him. If he causes me problems on a mission, I¡¯ll kill him myself.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t have to Kimber. If a squad member betrays their squad, I¡¯ll take care of them and train the remainder of the team not to ignore issues until a problem shows up.¡± She smiles at me and her eyes make a promise to Craig.

    I nod in thanks. ¡°I appreciate the sentiment, but aren¡¯t we due back in Vegas soon anyway? They can ignore it a lot longer if I¡¯m not here to fuel the fire.¡±

    ¡°Cute, but also yes. After we question the two captives, we¡¯ll be heading back.¡± She sighs, ¡°I don¡¯t have a candidate with the same skills, but one of my team members can fill the gap while you source a new member through HR.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s who gave me Templeton. If she was staying I could get rid of him.¡±

    ¡°As much as I learned Craig, no thank you.¡± I raise my hands in surrender.

    He chuckles, showing an emotion with tired that I can¡¯t quite identify. ¡°Another team¡¯s Face and their muscle are going to start questioning the captives tonight if you want to sit in on it.¡±

    ¡°We do. Especially before the rest of the trainees get scattered out here to get field experience.¡±

    Craig sighs, ¡°At least I got a break from babysitting the first batch.¡±

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Once we walk out of the house, I grab onto Marcella¡¯s hand, needing some reassurance from the stress of the day, and she¡¯s the only one I can rely on for it. I know she doesn¡¯t want me to hug her in public, but holding her hand for a half block walk to the house two doors down should be okay. When we get inside, I full on glomp onto her side and hug her with as much sanity as I have left.

    My mentor stiffens for a second then wraps and arm around me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Kimber. I didn¡¯t realize how hard this was for you.¡± The understanding in her voice had some sadness to it, but I don¡¯t care. Now that¡¯s she¡¯s been more of a constant presence I¡¯ve somehow needed more affection? I¡¯m a bit embarrassed about it, but she doesn¡¯t seem offended, just surprised.

    ¡°No need to apologize, I . . . I just need more? I don¡¯t know why, but after living with Bell, I got so used to the casual touches, you know? I know you don¡¯t like the hugs and all, but thanks for understanding.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, now you¡¯re making me feel guilty. Go clean up, put on some jammies and we¡¯ll talk, watch a movie and I¡¯ll explain some stuff.¡± She squats down and looks up at me. ¡°But don¡¯t think I can¡¯t handle a hug or ten. I like them sometimes, I¡¯m just not used to them.¡± She grabs me around the middle and pulls me close. I think it¡¯s a cute gesture until she stands up still holding me and spins around with me splayed out like an umbrella.

    I squeal in delight of course and when I¡¯ve had my fill, I tuck my limbs in and the increase in speed causes Marcella to unbalance and fall over. We crash to the floor in a slightly bruised tangle of limbs laughing in our dizziness.

    ¡°You are such a brat.¡±

    ¡°Love you too big sis.¡± I say, flicking her nose as I roll free and hop up to take a shower.

    I try to keep my lamentations of missing Bell to a minimum, but four months without one of my favorite people is causing me problems. I text her as much as I can, but without the system, our access to each other is limited. I know how much she loves me, but I can tell the time away and the fact that I¡¯m not connected is a strain on her. I hate it and the next six weeks couldn¡¯t be over soon enough.

    Finished and in my jammies--a tank and sweat bottoms¡ªI head out to the couch with an extra pillow for each of us. I see Marcella with a bottle of something for her and a familiar bottle of aether-infused juice for me. The tingle of the aether took some getting used to, but now it feels like a little sparkle in my food and the juice feels like fake bubbly.

    ¡°What¡¯re you trying tonight?¡± I ask, drinking the tastiest juice in the Empire.

    ¡°Summer Farms Strawberry Shine. They have another one made from local fruits, but the aether persists and I¡¯m not gambling on that until your situation resolves.¡±

    ¡°My own mentor and found sister using me as a guinea pig? Le gasp! The indignity!¡±

    ¡°Damn right. You think I would risk this face for aether and a whim? Not a chance runt.¡± She pulls me into her lap in what I think is for tickles, but to my surprise, she grabs both pillows and puts one behind her head and another on her chest while reaching for the remote. ¡°So, how to shows, or the survival shows?¡±

    ¡°Survival shows, so we can heckle their bad decisions.¡± I reply with an excited grin.

    ¡°You¡¯re savage. Keep that glint in your eyes and teeth, kitten. That¡¯s the kind of ferocity that wins.¡±

    We spend hours and a dozen credits watching shit television and eating snacks before I doze off into the safety of familiarity.

    ***

    ¡°Wait, so you actually got me sponsored by the Organization?¡±

    ¡°Yep. They aren¡¯t na?ve enough to think that your success is due to my designs, but with Craig¡¯s glowing reference, and the interrogation trainers putting in a word, Medvedev and the other Lieutenants are believing in investing in the algorithm folk.¡± She makes a face, but it¡¯s guilty more than hiding.

    ¡°Out with it, Mar-ceee,¡± I emphasize the nick name from those that know her well.

    ¡°It sounds gross when you say it like that, and yes. It is okay if you call me Marcie. Anyway, Bell has been a boon to the algorithm¡¯s choices as well. She has managed to improve Marcus¡¯ performance, and has toned down some of the problem kids that she sees to busy her time and provide exposure.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of my girlfriend, when do I get to see her?¡±

    ¡°Blarg. If you only understood the political mess you two are. She is almost as smart as Jamie, but twice as productive. Bell has been a beast since you left, and Lambert, a lieutenant of Psionics, and the other feely types like Bell, thinks that reconnecting you two will decrease her usefulness as she rededicates her life to you.¡±

    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t sacrifice her job like that, she¡¯s too honorable for that and we both know it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Kimber, we do. But we also know that to her, that is a job and without you, she has more bandwidth. With you, it¡¯s tricky. She may want to completely dissolve her personality to be with you, she seemed willing last time. After the first two months she¡¯s kept the topic of you buried as to not influence her reports. Who knows what she¡¯s actually planning though.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s had her Track for almost six months, what more is there to change?¡±

    Marcella sighs, palms my face in an awkward motion and pulls me in for a hug. ¡°She¡¯s already level seven. Spent her first module already, but at half-tier, she has the option for another module and a boon.¡±

    ¡°Yah, I read the primer Marcie, but if you deny us contact, she will postpone it, and at her tier up, it may just be worse!¡±

    ¡°Or, as the top brass hopes, she will be more reasonable when the deferral comes to fruition.¡±

    I pinch my face in disgust. ¡°I want to respect what people are trying to do, but I¡¯m going to risk seeing her.¡±

    ¡°Which is why I scheduled her for a series of test to see if she could benefit from an aether infusion before her tier up in the future.¡± I search her eyes for a mote of deception and find none. She¡¯s made a point not to lie to me, so I suppose I can trust her.

    Deciding to change the subject, I ask her about her love life. ¡°How are you progressing with Danielle?¡±

    My sister swears, many times. ¡°As well as can be expected without having confirmed no chance whatsoever. She is purposefully stringing me along because of how I behaved months ago. I think that today may be my only chance to reconcile.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll help if I can.¡± I say off the cuff. When I look at Marcella, my statement meant everything to her.

    ¡°Really? Could you please? I really messed up, Kimber, and she¡¯s kind of, no, she¡¯s really important to me. I gave Medvedev a favor just to get her to see me again, for fucks sake.¡±

    Oh. Oh wow. She¡¯s deathly serious then. Agent Novarro on duty! ¡°I got you fam.¡±

    Be both flush and laugh at each other. I glomp for one more hug and she returns it before we knock on the doctor¡¯s office.

    ¡°Doctor Medv . . . Kimber! Welcome back to society! SO good to see you. Come in, come in.¡± Danielle looks back to my mentor, ¡°Fontaine. Close the door behind you.¡±

    We walk down the familiar concrete walls of the casino¡¯s basement before the halls open up into the treatment room. None of this is as warm and welcoming as the doctor¡¯s demeanor---at least to me anyway.

    ¡°Danielle, could we . . .¡±

    ¡°Kimber, please. We¡¯re here to talk about you. My personal experience has no bearing on this visit.¡±

    ¡°Doctor, you¡¯re full of shit. I can wait though. So am I dying?¡±

    ¡°What? No! You¡¯re not dying. I want you to sit on that table and mind your own business. Marcie, wait outside. We¡¯ll resolve this, but not when it can influence my study.¡± To my great surprise, my mentor acquiesces without question. Danielle hits a button that engages a privacy shield.

    ¡°You¡¯re not being fair to her. Or at least not making it obvious why you¡¯re being a bitch.¡±

    ¡°Jesus, the both of you are pushy. Get up on that table.¡±

    I stare at her, intending to be less than compliant. ¡°Doc, I am wiling to sacrifice quite a lot for her, so is this a hill you¡¯re willing to die on?¡±

    ¡°You know what? To hell with you and your stupid mentor.¡± She stomps into the other room, screams quite a few times and then reemerges from the closet.

    I sit there and stare into the pained and past-searching eyes of six months ago.

    ¡°I need this study, and you are a promising candidate. So, I will explain, if you agree to go through the tests without being a pain.¡± I give her two thumbs up to be a compliant asshole.

    She throws a suit at me. ¡°This is a field-reactive aether-sensitive power suit. We use it in reverse to sense aether fields and then we use other metrics to collect a base-line. Please put it on.¡±

    I don¡¯t know why doctors need me naked for so many things, but yet again I strip and put on doctor stuff. Half an hour of tests ensue including my using the pre-talent ability I¡¯ve developed, which resulted in her allowing to throw whipped topping at her head¡ªvery satisfying it was. To her surprise, I only asked relevant questions and kept quiet otherwise.

    An hour later, she surrendered.

    ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll give you the scenario and then you can ask questions okay?¡± I nod. ¡°Ugh, I definitely don¡¯t want to do this.¡±

    ¡°So, Marcie and I met while she was on a job, she had been involved with wet work before the system was introduced, and she¡¯d rescued me from kidnappers when I was just into college and my dad was making a name for himself, as a gangster of course.

    ¡°I was smitten, and had made it obvious for years. I had given up, when two years into the Warlord Period, we are at the same outpost at Lake Powell and  . . . we connected. Dad found out and had a fit, assigning Marcie to the far fields to keep her away from me. She relented until this year, almost five years later, and then she¡¯s a complete ass to you.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think she even knows this, but I have never forgotten her or moved on. Marcie¡¯s been my ideal since I was seventeen. When I came back at Dad¡¯s request, I thought she¡¯d decided she wanted me for the long term. Turns out, it was for you. I was ready, am ready for the whole shebang: kids, house, family. I came back because I wanted that life with her, then to find she¡¯s an absolute shit to the person she actually called me back for? I¡¯m not even sure why I¡¯m still here.¡±

    I let her pout for a few minutes before I ask for permission to speak.

    ¡°Can I speak on her behalf?¡±

    ¡°From you? I might actually listen.¡± She scoffs and I smile in understanding.

    ¡°She saw me as a reason to corner your dad into getting you, but she traded a favor for it.¡± She gasped at that, but let me continue. ¡°I don¡¯t know how much you know about her sister, but she¡¯s told me that I remind her of her sister and, when I first came to see you, she had no way to mediate the joy of seeing you again and my snarky teenage bullshit. She loves me like a sister, and it confused her at the time, before she put a label on it. Now, she knows, but that was well past when she offended you. She talks about you constantly by the way, and not about how ridiculous your genetics are.

    ¡°I can¡¯t promise she¡¯s thought about kids, but I know now, for a fact that she is thinking about family again. I know for certain, that if you give her something to call family, she will cherish it and you until her last breath. From a damaged creature that recognizes another, I can promise you that.¡±

    I was focused on getting out what I had to say; I have no idea when Danielle started crying.

    ¡°You think she wants kids?¡±

    ¡°With you, she¡¯d adopt the Moon and find a way to keep people from looking at it funny. She adores you Danielle. She¡¯s waited months to make her case. Granted, you make her a bit of a mess, but I¡¯d wager you find it cute.¡±

    Danielle blushes furiously as my guess rings true.

    ¡°So, does this mean I get to call you Auntie?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an unbelievable shit!¡± She blushes harder and flings cotton balls at my head.

    ¡°Dani and Marcie sitting in a tree, eff-you-cee . . .¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you finish that. I swear, you are taking your sister duties too seriously.¡±

    I scoff and run to the door. ¡°MARCIE!! SHE LUUURVES YOU!!!¡± I get a boot in the ass for my troubles. My mentor jumps over my tumbling body toward the pretty doctor.

    ¡°Um, I uh, Lurve you too? No, I mean, yes. I do, I love you too. Fuck. Are my hands supposed to shake this much?!¡± Aww, she¡¯s so cute. Those hands have killed dozens, but they shake when she¡¯s twitterpated.

    Danielle¡¯s eyes soften and she smiles at my mentor. She cups her face to still her hands and turns her chin to look at her. ¡°I think, that the world has conspired for us. It¡¯d be a shame to waste the effort.¡± Before Marcella can say anything, Doctor Medvedev pulls her chin in for a kiss that lasts minutes. Or so I assume; I walked away nearly immediately. Good deed done for the day, time to work out and eat my weight and try to sneak a visit with Belle.

 Chapter 25

    Turns out it¡¯s harder to see Belle than I thought, and just about as difficult as Marcella said. It takes halfway through my program with Danielle, or six weeks for us to arrange an appointment for her. I¡¯m practically buzzing inside the doctor¡¯s office to see her.

    When Belle walks in, it¡¯s like I¡¯m seeing her for the first time. Her hair¡¯s pulled back in a tight ponytail, she has professional black glasses on, and she has curves that fill out her skirt, blouse, and coat combo. She scans the room, greets the doctor and pauses when she sees me. ¡°Kimber?¡±

    I hear the surprise in her voice and assume it¡¯s happy so I bound over, pick her up in glee for a spin and plant a kiss on her lips. A second into the kiss I realize I¡¯ve made a mistake: Bell is stiff and my enthusiasm isn¡¯t reciprocated.

    I back up, put my head down and step around her toward the door. ¡°Bell, I¡¯m so sorry. I assumed, I shouldn¡¯t have. You¡¯re dressed so professional and I . . . I . . ..¡± I sniff and can¡¯t contain myself anymore and rush out the door to sob around the corner. How could I assume she would be the same? She has been working as a professional for almost six months. Maybe she doesn¡¯t have time for a kid like me anymore.

    Half an hour must have passed before I hear the clack of office shoes come down the hallway.

    ¡°Hey Kimber.¡± I hear pity more than compassion.

    ¡°Hey Maribel.¡± She winces at her full name, but I¡¯m not sure I care. ¡°Can you talk to me now?¡±

    ¡°Not for long, and I¡¯m not sure I should. It took me a while to get to this point.¡± I look up and quirk my head.

    ¡°You¡¯ve worked to be this cold to me? That¡¯s something you wanted to do?¡± I can hear my voice flutter with the threat of tears.

    ¡°Want? Oh no. I wanted to crawl in your pocket and go everywhere you were. But how is that healthy for me, Kimber? Do you have any idea how all-consuming my need to be around you was? No of course you don¡¯t. You didn¡¯t care to see any of that did you?¡±

    ¡°Fuck you, Maribel. Don¡¯t bring your distance-based rationalizations into this. I forced myself to feel for you. I actually studied to find out what it took to be a good partner and started doing the little things I could manage until I started to feel what the books described. And you wouldn¡¯t know because I didn¡¯t want you to realize how fucked up I was from the Orphanage. Sometimes I was glad you didn¡¯t know me well from then, but now, it seems you¡¯ve made up your mind from incomplete information. How does that make you feel, Maribel?¡±

    ¡°Nice words, but actions speak louder, Kimber. So does silence.¡±

    ¡°Interesting choice of hill to take a stand on. I wrote you messages from and through different departments for weeks, getting the same response every time: Miss Gooding is not accepting your messages at this time. Explain that to me.¡± I stare fiercely into her eyes from the ground. I can see the moment she starts to question what happened, then she shakes the thought out of her head.

    ¡°Whatever happened, I used the tools I¡¯ve been learning to help myself be less of a mess without you. Now that I¡¯m no longer desperate to see hear and touch you, I¡¯m not sure it would be the best to relapse.¡±

    The last word hits hard. She¡¯s been learning therapy tools and terms to help other kids, and she probably worked with her mentor to make this happen. He¡¯s probably the reason she used the word ¡®relapse¡¯. Was I really as dangerous as a drug to her? Is that what her mentor thought? I¡¯d like to think that my mind was set on how I felt about Bell, but if Marcella thought she was wrong for me and inhibiting my progress, what would I do? What if she thought she was a danger to me in general?

    Thinking I have gathered some mote of understanding, I rise from my crouch and look her in the eye. ¡°If you and your mentor think I¡¯m a danger to you and your work, that much I understand. I don¡¯t appreciate you trying to shed the blame to me when you just could have said I was a danger in the first place.¡±

    As I walk by her toward the doctor¡¯s office, not daring to look at my former girlfriend, I feel a touch on my elbow and a whisper. ¡°Kimber, wait.¡±

    I take a deep breath and turn to her. ¡°I did, Maribel. I waited, then I got too anxious to wait and then I asked my mentor and my doctor to arrange an appointment for you. Then whatever this was happened. What else am I waiting for?¡±

    ¡°Are you around for good?¡±

    ¡°Probably not in the cards for me. My job will include moving around a lot in the beginning. I would love you for every moment I¡¯m able, but I can¡¯t promise to be here.¡±

    She shakes her head and I finally start to hear emotion in her voice. ¡°I can¡¯t go through all of this again, Kimber. It was so hard not to compare every moment of my life to experiences with you. I need someone I can hold, someone I can touch. I can¡¯t rebuild myself every time you have to leave me.¡±

    I raise my head, and lock gazes with her, ¡°Tell me what you need from me Bell.¡±

    She looks away a few times, and by the time she meets my eyes for more than a moment, tears are dripping down her cheeks. ¡°Walk away and let me figure out a life without you.¡± She chokes the words out, and I can tell how hard they were for her to say.

    To me it feels like she grabbed the heart that I gave her, dropped it off our balcony and waited for a vehicle to run it over before pushing me off after it. Anger and self-harming sorrow warred in my mind until I looked back into her eyes and remembered that she used tools to say those hard and harmful things to me, I can use tools too.

    I reach to my belt and shake a quarter-sized tube until a caramel fell out. She looked down in surprise as I pop it in my mouth and the brief hit of serotonin allows me enough breath to squash my emotions into my appendix. The effort allows me the mind space to say, ¡°Okay,¡± turn around and walk back to the office and close the door behind me, hearing her cry before the latch clicks.

    ***

    Six more weeks, short a few hours of course, find me back in Danielle¡¯s subterranean lair of aether-based chicanery. I have been more ornery and combative since ¡®the incident¡¯ with Bell, but I¡¯ve been apologetic of my outbursts though I have been unable to contain it fully.

    ¡°Need you in the suit again Kimber, and this time, you¡¯re staying in it until you initialize.¡±

    I get naked in a doctor¡¯s office yet again, still finding it suspicious that I need to get naked for science as much as I have. She pokes some buttons, inspects my suit while fiddling with some of the squiggles on it, then starts tapping on her invisible display.

    I should have that shit in hours, which I can¡¯t wait for, and I won¡¯t have to feel left out of the joke any longer. ¡°So, what exactly are you looking for?¡±

    ¡°Hm? Oh, your saturation. Which is 93% right now. I¡¯d like you to eat an Astorian prepared sandwich to slide you closer to 99, but other than that, calories in general to fuel any transition that happens.¡±

    ¡°Well hell doctor, we both know I can eat. Bring it on. I can mess up a sandwich.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re buyin¡¯ I¡¯d take one too.¡± A familiar voice says, coming from the waiting room.

    ¡°No shitting way! Grizzly bastard, is that you?¡± I hear chuckling as the grey-speckled veteran walks into the room.

    ¡°The whole team calls me that now, you pint-size pain in the ass.¡± He smirks as much as he can. I also know he doesn¡¯t hug, or I would have leapt on him.

    ¡°Did you, or did you not stare down a Grizzly Bear and win?¡± he grumps at that, knowing that I¡¯m right. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Well, Fontaine figures you should have friends about for this. They called me since you ain¡¯t got none.¡± He smirks again.

    ¡°Awww, mighty kind of you Tennison.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s Mason, kid. And I¡¯m here to keep you company, or shoot you dead. In case you mutate into . . . something else.¡±

    Oh, well that makes solid sense, if Marcella were in a similar position, I wouldn¡¯t be able to do it. ¡°Thanks Mason. What kind of food you want?¡±

    ¡°Seafood? I haven¡¯t had fresh fish in a decade.¡±

    I look up some prices and am startled by the price of Earth fish. A whole credit for a salmon dinner? It better be served on the Empress for shit¡¯s sake. I see a foreign ¡®no aether Salmon Substitute¡¯ description and order that for Mason, and I que in a Summer Farms Sampler for me, to include bird, beast, and fish with greens and that strawberry shine Marcella likes. This should get me a few percent saturation easy.

    I pour my cheering section cum executioner a glass of shine and hand him his meal. He opens the box and his eyes close at a whiff of the meal before him. When he takes a bite and hums. He takes a moment to himself then says ¡°Not sure if this is my last meal or yours, but I¡¯m at peace with it.¡±

    Damn, old man, that was poignant. I lay out my boxes on the bed-table thing I was sitting and unpack my boxes of barbeque, sandwiches and . . . sushi? Aww, hells yes. ¡°You know, I could think of worse people to have a last meal with. Afterall, you are why people call a mustache a frowner.¡±

    He grunts and finishes his bite. ¡°And you¡¯re the reason kids aren¡¯t allowed inside during the day.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but snort at that. I would be a menace if I stayed inside all day. ¡°How many directions were uphill through the snow before you got home from school?¡±

    ¡°Five at least. Two more if we had to rescue idiots.¡± He looked at me pointedly, referencing a specific mission where they had to come back the next day to get me off a building I got stuck on.

    ¡°What is snow even like?¡± I ask, spreading the green stuff on a bite of fish as I found I like the nostril-clearing spice-paste.

    ¡°Like dust, but wet and cold. What¡¯s living with an assassin like?¡±

    I shrug, ¡°We wrestle, argue over movies, and shout at each other over the way we squeeze the toothpaste.¡±

    Old man nearly drops his fork full of fish. ¡°The great Miss Fontaine argues over movies?¡±

    ¡°Well yah. She¡¯s basically my sister.¡±

    ¡°Next thing you¡¯re going to tell me is faeries are real and the Empress is your girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, the Empress is a Royal Pixie. Does that count?¡± I actually got him to snort. I pat him on the back a few times and he swats my hand away.

    I hear staccato beeps from the machine behind me, showing I just passed 95% saturation. Hells, these beasts must be packed with aether. How rich is Astoria with the stuff compared to Earth? A few minutes later, Danielle walks in, looks at the machines and finger pokes some blood from me and puts it into an atomizer.

    ¡°Curious, your blood is a full two percent behind your skin. The disparity is usually the other way. You¡¯re eating . . . never mind, I can tell. Whatever you have is potent. Stop at 98, and coast. You should be at your year mark in a few hours?¡±

    I nod, ¡°How immediate is a mutation if I get to 100?¡±

    ¡°Good question. Through some truly reckless patients, we estimate that the system waits until full saturation occurs, or evens out, or reaches between 30 to 50% overshoot. The range is so large as some folks just go for the gold once they¡¯re over. Hasn¡¯t worked out yet, so please don¡¯t.¡±

    I am absolutely going to slam this food right before I initialize, but I¡¯m not going to say that to her face. The way the old man is looking at me, he knows what I¡¯m thinking.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    The next hour comes and Mason is well finished with his meal while I am still nibbling on mine to get closer to 99. ¡°Marcella¡¯s not coming is she?¡±

    ¡°Nah, kid. It¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I told ya. If you mutate too far, I¡¯m to kill you. Fontaine would stop me if she were here and the doctor told her that it¡¯s the best option.¡±

    ¡°Well shit, Mason. I was expecting pomp, circumstance, maybe a parade or something. Not a pending execution.¡±

    ¡°I could parade your entrails around the room if you like.¡±

    I nod at that. ¡°I would, actually. Red is my color.¡± Grave humor is crass at the best of times, but at the worst of times, it hits a spot that¡¯s hard to define. The funniest part of mortality so far is that people worry about it. Red flashes on my monitor start keening and carrying on. I see a 100 flicker into existence and then back to 99. Time to coast upward I guess?

    I start snacking again, Mason warns me with a ¡°Kimber¡± telling me he¡¯s being serious. Yet I continue to slowly eat the rest of my sushi. He cocks the pistol and holds it against his hip. I nod in recognition and we both stare at each other as I keep eating at a sedate pace.

    I hear running from the waiting room and when Danielle arrives her hair is mussed and her lips smeared. I mentally congratulate Marcella on a job well done. The doctor shouts though, which I don¡¯t appreciate.

    ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡±

    ¡°You basically told me if I¡¯m going to 100 early, coast upward. I have ten minutes at least. I couldn¡¯t risk evening out at 101.¡±

    ¡°Are you insane? Your blood is lower! You would have evened out lower.¡± I stick my hand out and she pokes me. The atomizer says that my blood is 100 and my skin is 101. Too late now. ¡°I hope your gamble is worth it. It¡¯s only your life Kimber, what good is that?¡±

    I know she¡¯s hurt and what she¡¯s aiming at, but I¡¯m still offended. ¡°I¡¯m an Orphan, so basically worthless Doc. Gotta swing for the fences right? If I fail, it¡¯s just Marcella¡¯s whole savings and livelihood right? Your big doctor money can take care of the both of you.¡± I fling fish at her dumb face.

    ¡°You could be ruining my study and the lives of future Orphans.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not ruining . . . Ow!¡± A jolt of electricity zings through me. ¡°The hell is that. Felt like the worst static I¡¯ve ever felt. ¡°Ow!¡±

    ¡°Kimber, you stubborn . . . lie down and I¡¯m going to stab you with things.¡±

    ¡°Ow, did you miss an or?¡±

    ¡°Fine, lie down and I will stab you, or I let you mutate and Mr. Tennison will shoot you.¡±

    Yep, good or. I lie down and she starts slapping electrode stickers on me, connecting them to wires and stabbing me with needles and connecting my blood to machines. Some of those machines break when my jolts come.

    ¡°Fuck! These are expensive Kimber! You¡¯re a stubborn shit and I don¡¯t like you right now.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like me much either!¡±

    ¡°Just accept the initialization prompt when you see it!¡± She shouts as she tries to ground the equipment to the conduit on the walls.

    After minutes of the shock and AHHH! bullshit, I see text in my vision.

    //Greetings Kimber Novarro! Do you wish to accept the System?//

    YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!! I may have screamed it as a shock hit me that was so powerful my whole back pulled off the table.

    //Aether detected. Analysis required . . . . 1%//

    Another shock rocks me, ¡°fuck your analysis!¡± I scream. I don¡¯t know how often the shocks hit me, but I know nothing else until I see another update.

    //Analysis Complete. Aether saturation 117%. Would you like to include Aether in your initialization?//

    ¡°Yes! For fucks sake! Just end this!¡±

    //Resolving exclamation to ¡®best use¡¯ through initialization process.//

    //Initialization progress  . . . . . . 7%//

    The electricity subsides, but the pain distributes through every possible section of my body. Meat, bones, organs: they are all stabbing my brain.

    //Initialization progress  . . . . . . 27%//

    Now, only my joints are screaming with the odd feeling of someone peeling wallpaper off the inside of my skull. The pain is so odd I don¡¯t think I screamed at all.

    //Initialization progress  . . . . . . 67%//

    ¡°If you shoot me after this much pain, I will make you watch me eat you.¡± I growl as I see Mason point his pistol at my head. He doesn¡¯t back off, but he tilts the pistol up some.

    //Initialization progress  . . . . . . 97%//

    The entirety of my body pops like cracking knuckles. The lancing pain subsides and just a full-body throb persists as the full-fledged display in front of my eyes ticks up the last percentages.

    //Welcome to the Andromeda Matrix, Kimber Novarro.//

    //Your aether has been used for the following:

    Body Structure Changes.

    Talent Enhancement.

    Skill Enhancement.

    Ephemeris changes. //

    ¡°Is it over?¡± I slowly push the gun against my head away.

    ¡°You fried my lab, it better be over.¡±

    ¡°Is that you kid¡±

    Say what now? What the hell does he mean by that? I know what the doc is crying about. The arcs that hit my body probably fried her gear. If  . . . he pushes the gun back? ¡°Grizzly, I¡¯m about to get offended, I don¡¯t care how many snow drifts you walked through.¡±

    ¡°God, it is you. What the hell happened? What kind of fucked up experiment is this?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s crawled up your ass old man? I swear . . .¡± he takes my arm and leads me to a mirror.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± I exclaim as I see my reflection. I am taller than the old asshole, and my bone structure is gaunt, my skin still light tan, but otherwise I look like a Mexican variant of Marcella¡¯s Nordic heritage. ¡°MARCIE!!¡±

    Feet patter at a breakneck pace. Marcella dashes in, looks for me and slides into the patient table, takes an endo and flops and skids across the floor on the other side. Less than a minute later, she joins us at the mirror and we¡¯re all checking for mirages. The novelty wears off us all around the same time as we turn an evil eye on Danielle.

    ¡°Doc.¡±

    ¡°Dani¡±

    ¡°Trollop.¡± Marcella smacks Mason. ¡°Doc¡±

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± we exclaim together.

    She¡¯s laughing her ass off. ¡°So, I thought when Kimber was calling you ¡®Sister¡¯ was an exaggeration, but it clearly wasn¡¯t for her. This is the power of intent with the system when aether is involved.¡±

    I turn to Marcella with a broad smile and mug her with a fierce hug. ¡°Believe me now, you giant turd.¡±

    ¡°Gods, fine! But you look like my mom had an affair with a tella novella star.¡± I squeal and basically tuck my hands and feet inside her pockets.

    ¡°Wait, I thought she was possessed because she wants to be Fontaine¡¯s sister?¡± Mason asks.

    ¡°Seems that way,¡± The Doc replies.

    As I realize that the System must have pulled this image or desire from my subconscious, a bloom of love and belonging flows through me, but I check it and stuff it down as I ask a very important question. ¡°How do you feel about this Marcie?¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding me? Now people won¡¯t ask me why I spoil you! Long lost sister, obvi!¡± She tackles me back to the ground and tickles the shit out of me. I¡¯m here for it and don¡¯t even care that her girlfriend and a grizzled war vet is watching.

    ¡°So kid, now that you¡¯ve had your pillow fight with the boogey . . . woman, what else did you get?¡± I see Danielle prepare her notebook for my answer. I think of my status and a sheet plops in my vision.

    <table width="636">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Name: Kimber Novarro

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Race: Human (P)

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Andromeda Code: T +

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Module points: 0

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Class: @t-3

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Subrace: N/A

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Track: avail. @ lvl 3

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    (t-0, lvl. 2)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Mind >

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Intelligence: C

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Clever: B

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Awareness: A

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Social>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Beauty: B

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Charm: D

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Presence: C

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Strength: C

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Agility: A

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Fitness: B

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Aether>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Capacity: E

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Refinement: S

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Power: C

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="4" width="636">

    Skills

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Pistols: Intermediate 2

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Rifles: Intermediate 7

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Ballistics: Beginner 4

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    MMA: Intermediate 3

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Endurance: Intermediate 2

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Cooking: Beginner 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    First Aid: Beginner 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Interrogation: Novice 7

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Urban Assault: Novice 8

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Blades: Advanced 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Manipulation: Novice 1

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Intimidation: Novice 3

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Mental resistance: Beginner 1

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="4" width="636">

    Talents

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Body of Power I

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Aether Dependence

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Enhanced Recovery I

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Triggered Action

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Mechanical Calm

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325"> </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    I don¡¯t know what half of this means, but I remember the grades being from E to A with ¡®S¡¯ being possible for the truly elite. Save I have an ¡®S¡¯ in an aether attribute. What the hell?

    ¡°Just share it with us Kimber.¡± Doc says.

    ¡°Yes of course Doctor. How do I do that as this is minute one of my system usage?¡±

    ¡°Just tell the voice in your head to do it.¡± Mason says.

    Just tell the voice, meme mah mah poo poo.

    I would not do any of those things, User.

    ¡°WHAT THE FUCK?!¡±

    The people around me chuckle, but I am not laughing. Okay inner voice, hello and help me understand.

    Hello, I am the embodiment of the collective of machines inside your body. The symbiotes too if you had any.  I will be your companion for your lifetime.

    Well, shit. That is awesome. Sotto Voce is a term that would describe you, but that¡¯s not a name. How about Tova?

    I like and understand the reasoning. I am Tova. May I call you Kimber?

    Yes please. Can you throttle reading my thoughts to when I think them at you?

    I can. I don¡¯t prefer it, as it limits my ability to help, but I will understand if you limit me so.

    How about if you limit your responses to when I think at you?

    That is a preferrable arrangement.

    Okay, Tova. I hope we come to enjoy our growth together! I feel an agreement in my mind that is honestly just odd.

    ¡°Oh, your skills are expansive, and you have more talents on initialization than anyone I¡¯ve met, but your stats are . . . low.¡± The doc explains.

    ¡°Well, doc, I have 5 talents? And one of them, Triggered Action boost my speed and strength based on my emotions, so, what is double ¡®C¡¯ in your experience?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I see. High ¡®B¡¯ low ¡®A¡¯ perhaps. Okay, I can use that as data. Talents to make up for your lack of stats is indeed an important measure.¡±

    ¡°But what if it doubles her agility too?¡± Marcella asks. ¡°I¡¯m going to eat your last bite of sushi, kiddo.¡± She deliberately tries to trigger me. I let it. As she reaches for it with chopsticks, I throw my bear paw at the sushi and snag it well before and toss it at my face. I chomp it as she snags the place where it was.

    ¡°Ahaha! I was right. Your speed is doubled as well. Clear into ¡®S¡¯ with your talent!¡± My now likely blood sister shouts in glee. ¡°Dani, this means your test on Kimber is a success! She¡¯s faster than ever, and has two more beneficial Talents.¡±

    ¡°They didn¡¯t boost her physical attributes though!¡±

    ¡°Dani, babe, look at her. She may not be a specimen on paper, but with inches in height and the structure of my people and the muscle density of hers, she can train a bunch of physicality! It worked, Doc!¡±

    She plugs some numbers into a screen and keyboard I can now see. Thank the Empress for small favors.

    Would you like your efforts to be visible?

    Tova asks me a simple question and I¡¯m ready to panic. I need to get used to this quickly. No, can you code finger wiggles to messages?

    I can do thoughts as well, but as you are choosing to separate from the idea of me reading your thoughts, I can register finger ¡®wiggles¡¯ at any angle with the proper intent. I am more capable than a transponder if you care to be adventurous.

    Okay, smartass. Scan for variants of my and my mentor¡¯s name in plus one minus one communications and alert me for hits in a separate folder.

    I try to be snarky, but Tova just check-sums me and continues with the work. Oh, maybe she¡¯s trying to build trust with effort? If so, it¡¯s working.

    ¡°I think my other big talent, Mechanical Calm, is linked to the treat thing you had me on. Can confirm it worked before this. Praise me so we can check?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Kimber, this is far above our expectations!¡± the doc rewards before thinking.

    I use the praise to suppress my emotions and a field of grey assaults me and it¡¯s all a smidge slower. I take and reverse Mason¡¯s pistol, the deadest of expressions on my face as I progress to collect other items. Before the clap of a belt tells me to stop using talents, I¡¯ve collected sections of most of their garments. Holy cow, these talents are boss mode!

    Alarm hits Mason and he raises his weapon, I slap and shove as he returns the gestures as we have a hand-to-hand-gun fight until one of his slaps disarms me. When he clacks a barrel against my head his face softens.

    ¡°Solid showing, Kid. Now that I know you¡¯re sane, I¡¯m off. Taking the food and the shine.¡±

    What a shit. I happily let him leave. Minutes later, the remaining people want to question me.

    ¡°Kimber. I want to talk about your status.¡±

    ¡°Can we do this tomorrow? I just got electrocuted a dozen times before I got my system. I could use a nap.¡± Doc takes a deep breath, then looks at my mentor. She shrugs then backs my play.  I love her.

    Doc Danielle nods and then we take the liberty to slink off to the elevators.

    ¡°Am I keeping you from your new girlfriend?¡± She blushes, the adorable assassin. I know I am, but I want to hear her response.

    ¡°I wanted to, but when I said that I wanted to spend a few nights with my new half sister, she beamed at me? Empress, I think she likes the idea of me having family to torture me?¡±

    ¡°Marcie, heh, I will only torture you in private. However, I will insist that we share blankets until I am forced to abandon my post. I have missed my sister time, and I¡¯ll be damned if Warram can keep her from me now.¡±

    ¡°Oh? What will you do if we are now related?¡±

    ¡°Be more ridiculous of course.¡± I reply, knowing that she wants me to say so. My mentor is a shameless hopeful. Despite her protests, I sleep on top of her, and she hugs me by the end of the night. I cry as she strokes my hair, similar to hers, as I soak her shoulder with pent up emotions that I¡¯ve been stewing in. Her petting fades as she falls to sleep, but I also fade as her breath evens, and I feel at home for the first time since I left Bell months ago.

 A2: Chapter 1

    ¡°What¡¯s on your agenda on your first full System day?¡± Marcella asks me as I que up the coffee machine.

    ¡°It¡¯s not planned for me already?¡± I say, with more interest than snark as I get breakfast fixings out of the fridge.

    ¡°That starts tomorrow. I figured I¡¯d give you a day off for your initialization.¡±

    ¡°Well, then, probably not much different than a training day? I figure with the few extra inches all around, I should see if a workout feels different and if it¡¯s changed anything for firearms and whatnot.¡± To be honest with myself, I hadn¡¯t thought about the minutia. I just assumed we talk about stuff and keep on driving hard until I got my track. ¡°Oh, I also wanted to ask if it was common to initialize at level 2?¡±

    ¡°Level 2 huh? Guess we missed that. You should text Dani about that. Makes sense though, two mid intermediate and an advanced skill impart a lot of experience. Speaking of levels, advancing skills now imparts general experience toward your levels as well. You need to figure out a hobby, preferably one or two that mesh with what you¡¯re aiming for. There are the usual life-skill based skills, there are the game-norm skills like smithing, leatherworking, tailoring and others, as well as some more esoteric choices like engraving, magitech, and other aether involved vocations. If you don¡¯t care much, or just want to be useful, there is a message board with a list of skills the Organization is looking for.¡±

    ¡°Huh, I guess that¡¯s the biggest change I should expect. Access to information via my system interface?¡±

    ¡°Yep. That and your AI helper. That clinches it, I¡¯m taking your morning back and assigning you to familiarize yourself with Warram¡¯s New User Guide and chat with your AI. Then you can have a free afternoon.¡±

    I laugh at her while I scramble some eggs with cheese and vegetables, like Belle showed me how to do. I¡¯m going to have to do a lot of things now that she¡¯s not around. I suppose I did get used to her taking care of domestic stuff.

    Are domestics a topic you¡¯d like to be more experienced in?

    Oh, hey Tova. Not really no. I don¡¯t mind this level of cooking, but I think I would lose interest pretty quickly. What do you think about hobbies?

    Based on the direction you¡¯ve aimed, and your current skills, I have some ideas of what would be useful, but you¡¯re not far from seeing your Track options--holding off is also viable. No, I do not get a head¡¯s up on your options. They are revealed to both of us at the same time, and I am not knowledgeable enough to speculate.

    Yeah, I think I would like something that would let me fix or modify my guns, maybe make them more versatile or something.

    I can think of a few options, but many require handling or using aether. Engraving and using aether with it creates Runes that can alter or augment function. Enchanting changes material properties using aether. Artificing is essentially a magic tinkerer, but that¡¯s more of a Track than a Hobby, the Empress¡¯ Track in fact. There are smithing specialties that can do what you mentioned, and base tinkering is also possible. Imbuement is an ¡®on-the-fly¡¯ limited-uses version of enchanting that can use runic effects. There other subsets of Runes and Enchanting such as Charms or Totems.

    Huh, charms sounds kind of fun. Is that like whittling plus magic?

    That is more totems than charms. Charms often use alchemical components to get the aether in them.

    Holy cow. Alchemy? I bet that is on the list of wanted hobbies for the Organization.

    I checked. Most aether-based crafts are on the list.

    Is there a reason you think I¡¯d be capable of these aether crafts?

    You have ratings in each of the aether ability slots on your status sheet. Thus, you will be capable of using aether. Ideally, you would adopt symbiotes to help you process them, but that is a choice only you can make. You may still select tech-based tracks while having a symbiote, should you desire to, but the enhanced ability to handle aether that the symbiote would bring may open more options for you.

    That easy, huh? So I can just order me up some microscopic aliens from the Exchange and just inhale them?

    Yes, and not exactly. The Empire currently needs to approve the purchase after assessing your basic abilities block. No other information is relayed save your region and it is to ensure that you have the ability to host the symbiote successfully. Most Earthers are put into a government run program to ease them into getting their symbiotes on Astoria as Earth is a difficult place to thrive with its low aether levels.

    Well, based on my talents, I need aether so augmenting my diet to get it is going to happen anyway. How much does the symbiote cost? Hmm, I¡¯ll look after breakfast.

    I set out plates of eggs and toast for Marcella and me and we chat about how excited we both are about where I can go from here.

    ***

    I placed an order for a single injector of Andromeda Matrix Symbiotic Interface Organisms, costing me ten credits should the order go through. I ponder the crafting avenues and am sure that I will pick aether-based vocations Imbuement, Charms, and Alchemy being particularly interesting to me. Although Runes and Enchanting seem very powerful, I¡¯m not sure how viable it will be with the low availability of aether here. If the stories have any truth to them, the Empire was practically forged with those two skills.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Having more reach while boxing the heavy bag is strange and most of the weightlifting exercises feel funny as well. I figure it may take up to a few weeks to make the adjustments¡ªespecially while sparring¡ªbut Marcella tells me that I won¡¯t have any jobs to go on until at least a month after I Track up. She also told me that the analysts are insistent that this cycle of selectees should use their initialized skills to target intense training or hobbies to obtain a desirable advanced Track.

    Does the System grade Tracks Tova? And what¡¯s the difference between the Matrix and the System?

    The majority of the races in the Supercluster Community call it the Andromeda Matrix. Empress Astoria thought general Humanity would have an issue accepting something called ¡®The Matrix¡¯ so she went with ¡®the System¡¯ due to literary custom established nearly a century ago. To your first question, no, the Matrix does not grade Tracks, however it is common to favor tailored options over basic options such as Farmer, or Blacksmith. When we become a Citizen, I can research the matter further should you wish to.

    Nah, it¡¯s not that important. I find it odd that the Organization spent so much time categorizing and grading known Tracks. References to the algorithm in the Guide say that it attempts to identify individuals that are likely to achieve grade ¡®B¡¯ or higher Tracks before Track refinement. A statement like that wouldn¡¯t seem too odd, save that there are few Tracks listed as grade ¡®B¡¯ or higher.

    One thing about the new body shape of mine is that the mechanics of running feel better. Maybe I got better at it while out in Barstow and Adelanto, but I can feel the energy from impacting the ground storing in my hips as my gait rolls toward the next step and being used as I push out to extend my stride. Not only am I faster, I¡¯m also less tired from the same distance. Heck yeah! Thanks Tova, and the Matrix of course. Now if I could get used to the weirdo that looks back at me in the mirror, that would be great.

    Hey now, if I don¡¯t look like me, maybe I can get a spar? The boys I¡¯ve trained with ask me ¡®new girl¡¯ questions and I tell them I¡¯ve trained with the general population in Krav and Kickboxing. I am learning kickboxing, so I might as well look like a newb while testing my reach and reactions.

    One thing I realize right away is that I have no callouses or use-based reinforcement after the change. My shins are weak, my feet are weak, and my wrists are just not aligning the same when I punch. One of the Asian boys comes up and tells me that my form isn¡¯t bad, but if I want to continue with the martial art, I need to harden my strike surfaces. I take his advice as it was meant¡ªfor once¡ªand thank the group for their time and attention.

    I decide that my workout is done for the day and hit the shower to be reminded that my initialization used the fat I was building up for energy too, and how much I¡¯m going to need to eat to get it back. My clothes don¡¯t fit the same either, but the outer garments I¡¯d been provided previously were either stretchy or didn¡¯t look too bad after the growth. Still, I should shoot a message to supply and see if I can trade the stuff in.

    I also send a message to our range officer to see if there were any times blocked off today. When I get back up to our room to pick up my firearms, I see a package with a message waiting for me to open it.

    /Congratulation on your eligibility for Symbiote use! Please allow up to four hours for your Symbiote to scan your aether capabilities, and up to three days for full integration to complete. As an Earth-based applicant, please consider sending our office your development data so that we may enhance our services to other Earth applicants./

    I open the package to find an oversized steel ampule with two buttons on it. One labeled ¡®deploy¡¯ with a number 1 on it, and the second labeled ''inject¡¯ with a number 2 on it. Simple enough. I roll the ampule over to see one-line of instruction.

    ¡®Inject into a body section that can accommodate the injection volume.¡¯

    I¡¯m guessing that means abdomen.

    You¡¯re brain¡¯s not taking up too much space either.

    Ha ha. Very funny Tova. Maybe I can download a humor module for you once I reach level 4. I depress button one, jam the needle up underneath my sternum and hit button number two before I can think too hard about the pain.

    Were you trying to inject it through your diaphragm? Because that¡¯s what you did.

    Kinda. I think as I waddle to the med pack for some pain killers. I thought there would be a decent chance I¡¯d inject them into my intestines instead of a space. Chest cavity has way more space right?

    Andromeda help me. No, not in humans it doesn¡¯t. You have a uterus with nothing in it, that would have been safer. You may have saved the Symbiote some time integrating though.

    Oh! Is there a way to upgrade to a full HUD display with one of my modules? Things like a progress bar for integration would be cool.

    Like this?

    A small circle with the numerals ¡®3%¡¯ inside, connected to a sliver of opaque white appears in the lower right area of my vision.

    ¡°Holy shit! I have a HUD now? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?!¡±

    I didn¡¯t know you didn¡¯t know. You could see the representation of keyboards Danielle and Marcella were using. I assumed you realized that your HUD was showing that to you. It¡¯s such a common request, that if the energy and materials are present, it¡¯s installed automatically now for Tech Users.

    Can you also quantize my energy levels to gauge fatigue and whatnot? Oh, and the emotional impact for my Talents?

    I would need more data, and it wouldn¡¯t be exact, but I could yes.

    Okay, sweet. Let me know when you have enough data for a good estimate. Oh! And please always show my approximate saturation percentage. I don¡¯t want to eat my way into a mutation by accident. I am so jazzed to have a HUD in my vision!

    And you cannot lose it as it is not tied to your eyes, but the nerve clusters just before they interface with your brain.

    That¡¯s neat and all, but what else can it do for me? I look at the holsters I am strapping on and wonder if it can increase my abilities with aiming and targeting.

    I cannot include information I don¡¯t have, like the scope view or correcting a reticle displacement if you don¡¯t know something¡¯s wrong. There are weapons with linking abilities that constantly feed targeting info to a user, but that sort of thing is a mod or three down the road.

    That would be neat, but it might feel a lot like cheating? I guess cheating to stay alive is a good move though. Anyway, time to take my pretties to the range!

    The mechanics of handling my MRAD aren¡¯t changed with my extra inches, but my pistol draw is completely hosed and I even have the holster in the wrong place. I spend an hour working on that and some more time talking to folks at the range about the benefits of a shoulder harness versus a leg harness. One of the guys mentions that it¡¯s easier to fight in a shoulder harness and realize that should be my metric more than anything else.  I put that on my list of work ¡®nice to haves¡¯ that I can now live update for Marcella to review whenever she has time.

    After putting my rifle and pistol back¡ªand picking up my knives¡ªI go to see if the barber is open, looking to complete the change of image with a faddish haircut. They say they can fit me in, so I tell them I want a short buzz on the sides and back, and long on top. The man with fancy scissors says that a little shaping would help it keep a cascading hair look when it¡¯s down and I easily give him permission to make it look good. Twenty minutes and three Marks paid and I have a much lighter head of hair that still feels nice when I run my hands through it.

 A2: Chapter 2

    ¡°So, I know that Alchemy doesn¡¯t sound as fun as tinkering and those other things you mentioned, but hear me out: Medvedev will subsidize your advancement after beginner.¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m afraid that they¡¯ll chain me to a lab and make me crank out potions.¡± I run my hands across the bristly parts of my head. ¡°I still want to go out on missions, Marcie.¡±

    ¡°I get it, I do. But what¡¯s the harm in taking a craft that they will pay you for? Plus, I won¡¯t be recommending you take a crafting Track, so full time alchemy wouldn¡¯t be beneficial without that kind of Track. Plus, think of the custom explosives you could make.¡±

    ¡°Say what now?¡± Is she just baiting me with explosives? She knows I loved firing the RPG and the M203 grenades.

    ¡°Alchemists in ancient times were famous for making explosives. Greek Fire is freaking legendary. Now imagine using aether to target effects of said explosives.¡±

    ¡°I could make custom ammo propellants . . .¡± I¡¯m sure my eyes sparkle as I say that, as I realize tinkering and alchemy would be a devastating one-two combo for modding guns. Marcella smiles, knowing she caught me with her skewed logic.

    ¡°Great! I bought a primer for you to read, and my team is assembling an off-site lab for you as we speak!¡± She slaps down a paper book and starts rubbing her hands together.

    ¡°You had this planned the whole time?! You¡¯re such a shit!¡±

    ¡°Since you told me you got a symbiote, absolutely. Dani is cross with you for not consulting her, by the way. Says you could ruin her research. I, however, am totally not planning to capitalize on the projects I will definitely not try to convince you to make for me.¡±

    Ugh, people are totally going to try and convince me to full-time alchemy. However, I owe Marcella so much, I can do this for her while focusing on the beautiful ordinance I will be making in the future.

    ¡°Alright, fine. But that clinches that I¡¯ll be trying to get tinkering as well so I can make janky devices that explode.¡±

    ¡°Sure sure, we can even ask the local kids if they can gather some junk for you to fiddle with.¡± My sister is suspiciously excited about me learning Alchemy. She found the right bullet points to sell me on the idea, so it doesn¡¯t matter now.

    ¡°Does this mean that I¡¯ll be under less pressure to level?¡±

    ¡°No, not even a little bit. But no one will question your activities when you register two crafting hobbies. Plus, getting Alchemy to Novice should put you into level 4 maybe even 5. Get to reading and we¡¯ll take a tour of your lab in the afternoon.¡± She says as she walks away toward our room.

    ¡°Your excitement is suspicious you know!¡± She replies with a cackle that is in no way reassuring.

    I start reading about solutions and solvents while periodically checking the second progress meter for my symbiotes: integration. The assessment phase was quick, as most of the available energy in my body was used in my initialization to both contain and shape the aether that was about to warp me. Now, it is apparently finding a comfy spot to build another organ inside my body. Integration also means that Tova will have a much more complete picture of the energies in my body and can alter my HUD display accordingly.

    ¡°Will it affect the integration if I eat aether infused foods?¡±

    Not appreciably. As long as you¡¯re eating to maintain and not to build up saturation.

    Excellent. I order a meal from the Exchange and start grazing on it while I read further about the different pieces of glassware and their functions, different ways to involve aether in the process, and skim some basic recipes and reference the various techniques they call for in the recipes. I shouldn¡¯t be surprised that the book also talks about holding intent in one¡¯s mind, but there are many different intent prompts in each recipe that seem a bit overboard to me.

    After training so hard to beef up, going through interrogation class, and being the sniper for Craig¡¯s team, it feels like I¡¯m being lazy working on crafts. If this is what the number crunchers on high are recommending, then who am I to argue with an algorithm that chose me in the first place. I still need to beef up again though¡ªso much food.

    Tova, are you allowed to help me with skills and stuff?

    In what way? I can advise and warn about knowledge we¡¯ve absorbed or codexes we¡¯ve downloaded. I cannot help control your actions, however: my nanites and the symbiotes are not designed for that.

    No no no, that sounds slimy and gross. I was definitely thinking you would help check if I¡¯m doing something or missing something that would accidentally kill me. Sounds like you can. Sweet. I¡¯m a little scared of being bathed in hot, caustic chemicals.

    Minor fears aside, I dutifully study the book and chatter with Tova about her desires. She resolutely replied with she has not been online long enough for choice perturbations to create a preference. She also mentioned that as she exchanges inputs and info with her symbiote counterpart, a noticeable personality should develop.

    Marcella comes out of our room a few hours later to eat lunch with me and introduce her to the people I¡¯ll be working with. Her excitement has faded some, but only to the point where she can hold still for five minutes and not mention it. Much to my disappointment, symbiote integration is at 72% when a car comes to pick us up.

    ¡°We¡¯re not headed to another warehouse are we?¡± I ask, suspicious as we drive off Strip.

    ¡°Nope, going back to your old neighborhood. I claimed an old-town casino years back and I use it as a base for my side projects. We cleared out the vault and made a little studio for you to work in and not explode half the city. Controlled ventilation too, so you don¡¯t accidentally gas the lot of us either.¡±

    ¡°What else is in the building?¡±

    ¡°Eh eh, no spoilers. That and they are private and compartmentalized.¡±

    ¡°Your secrets have secrets, got it.¡± She smiles at me for that and squeezes my hand as we continue toward Old Vegas. Most of the buildings in downtown are less than twenty stories, and Marcella¡¯s ¡°casino¡± is no exception. Looks like a hotel and casino though, so I wonder if I¡¯ll be staying here.

    She walks me in the front door, fills out some paperwork before escorting me through security. ¡°Probably not a secret that I¡¯m hoping that you¡¯ll come to work for me eventually, and with us in the meantime. I would like you to sign a non-disclosure agreement before continuing further.¡±

    ¡°My interest is piqued. What do I sign?¡± She sends me a document that tells me that I can¡¯t reveal what the Downtown Hospitality does, or what I do here. I agree and sign a document that sends a tingle through my brain, which is what I¡¯m told a system enforced contract feels like.

    ¡°Now that that¡¯s done, welcome to my side projects. Medvedev uses us for internal affairs type investigations. We do a lot more, but the less everyone knows the whole picture the better. You will mostly be working with procurement specialists and facilities I think. We¡¯ve never had an alchemist before, and Warram hasn¡¯t had a practicing one in years.¡±

    With the exception of the rickety cage elevator to the Vault, everything was in good repair, and some areas even looked nice.

    ¡°Director Fontaine, we¡¯ve  . . . oh wow.¡± A blond with her hair pulled back and hands covered with work gloves stammers. ¡°She really does look just like you.¡± She figures out she¡¯s staring at me in a moment and shakes the sight out of her head, ¡°Everything is set up, the component storage has been stocked with everything she could need for beginner recipes, and we¡¯ve contacted a glass blower to make a few items that are too expensive or come in too large of lots on the Exchange.¡±

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°That sounds perfect, Gina. Was it too late to get some scrap together?¡±

    ¡°No, but Travis suggested that Kimber be allowed to browse and separate what she wanted before bringing it down. Reduces labor for everyone, and clutter down here. There¡¯s a small container on the side of the loading dock that our scroungers are tossing stuff in. We don¡¯t know what you¡¯re looking for so, its parts of machines and computers.¡±

    It takes a second to realize she¡¯s talking to me. ¡°That sounds great. I don¡¯t really know yet, but it sounded like something fun and maybe productive to do while I¡¯m thinking other stuff over. Thanks for indulging me.¡±

    She laughs at my statement, hopefully not at me. ¡°It¡¯s been nice to see the Director excited about something again, and everyone wants to be on the good side of an Alchemist.¡± She winks at me and walks away.

    ¡°I will have to talk to the staff about flirting with my kid sister while you familiarize yourself with the equipment. We¡¯ve retro fit the vault door with biometric locks, and we have our own isolated utilities, so there should be no interruption to power, water, and even air. This place is part of the reason I am so poor. We funnel resources back into our projects and I get paid like any other employee despite the property claim being in my name.¡±

    ¡°Marcie, I thought you were cool before, but this is nova!¡± I shake my head, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you got me a lab for my birthday.¡±

    ¡°Heh, I guess I did that. Well, I trust you not to burn the place down on your first day. I need to make sure you¡¯re on the payroll proper and make sure you have access to the gym and cafeteria.¡± She taps her chin in thought, ¡°I have a room here too, you don¡¯t mind sharing with me if you stay overnight do you?¡±

    I scoff at her and give her my best deadpan stare.

    ¡°Right, we stay in the same suite at Warram, despite you having your own. Send me a message if you think we¡¯re staying here tonight.¡±

    When she walks out of sight, I turn to survey my new kingdom. The largest feature at the far wall is a heavy table with integrated piping for water and gas for heating with a ventilation funnel above with panels that look like they can drop around it. To the right wall, is a large cabinet full of apparatuses, burners and glassware. The left wall has a similar cabinet but with labeled reagents and a small fridge-like box that is labeled with ¡®perishable reagents¡¯. There are also two barrels with hand pumps, one labeled ¡®Ethanol¡¯ and another labeled ¡®Distilled Water¡¯.

    Okay where do we start? I go through the pamphlets to see that some recipes have been marked, but without having aether at my disposal yet, many of them can¡¯t be done. Hmm, Tova can you separate recipes that can be prepared separately from their aether infusion process?

    Yes, I have the digital version of these recipes, and several of them can be prepared up until a mixing an activation step to finish them.

    Perfect! She highlights a pain-relieving salve that I find in the book and brace it open on a book stand. I cut some mint and wintergreen into a mortar and grate in some sassafras bark and grind it into a paste. I then pour some Ethanol in the mortar and mix it until the paste becomes a thick liquid and no remnants of paste linger on the pestle. I pour the liquid into a sealable heat vessel and rinse the mortar and pestle with ethanol into the vessel. I then cover and seal the vessel and place it over heat to 60 C for an hour.

    While waiting, I search for hydrogenated vegetable oil¡ªa noted substitute for clarified lard¡ªand read about the next steps. Apparently there are two ways to perform the next step: strain through cloth, with some waste, or distil and collect to separate the solids and then move to the final low-temperature Ethanol evaporation that results in the targeted oils for the final step. I pick the double distillation route to familiarize myself with the equipment.

    I put the distilled liquid into a beaker and set the heating plate to 33C and a low-speed mix with a silicon coated magnetic pill. I set a timer for two hours and decide to go for a walk around the facility after closing the vault door.

    I check my percentage again, 90% now, as I hold on to the sides of the elevator in a quiet panic. I rush out as it stops on the ground level and head toward the front desk area. The man behind the counter does a double take before greeting me.

    ¡°Good afternoon Miss Novarro, how may I help you?¡±

    ¡°I was told there was a storage container for me on the loading docks. Can I get directions?¡±

    He nods and clicks a button on a receiver on the desk. ¡°I have called someone to take you there. It is not an advertised location.¡±

    A minute later, a cute teen in hostess attire shows up and asks me to follow her. Five minutes and too many turns later, we¡¯re in a cold concrete area with a roll-up door and warehouse lighting.

    ¡°This maintenance dolly was brought for you to use at your leisure. Please let one of the hosts or hostesses know if you need assistance.¡±

    ¡°I will! Thank you. Wait,¡± she turns back to me. ¡°I don¡¯t know the etiquette here, do I tip you?¡±

    The corner of her mouth rises a smidge. ¡°That is not necessary. We are compensated adequately.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay. Sorry. Thanks again.¡± She nods before turning away and leaving me here with a cart with a bucket on it and a stubby shipping container.

    I pull the lever over and open one side to see a pile of parts as tall as I am. With no particular aim, I pull the dolly close, and start sifting through stack, pulling out gears, springs, motors, tubing and various odds an ends. The only things that I pull consistently is the wiring and other copper that I see. Once I get my cart half full of stuff that I have no current purpose for, I close up the container and look around the bay.

    Seeing nothing of consequence I start putting my nose in other spaces. Ten minutes and several un-satisfying doors later I find the motherload through a pair of large steel doors. Many large tool chests, a lift, some things I don¡¯t even know what to think and a pair of devices on rollers welding masks on top of them. I may not know what a welder looks like, but the masks are super obvious. Wanting to know more, I look up the device models and see what kind of welders they are.

    A while later, realizing I lost track of time learning about welding, I see a flashing red icon in my HUD in the shape of a chat balloon.

    \Kimber, didn¡¯t see you at the lab, and your scrap dolly is missing, you okay?\

    /Sorry to worry you, but I wandered into a shop with tools and I got distracted learning about welding. I have a timer that¡¯s about to go off, so I¡¯m going to head back to the lab./

    \I¡¯ll meet you there.\

    I push my cart of scrap to the basement elevator and clinch my teeth for every second of the ride down. I see Marcella sitting in a chair outside of the Vault, and walk over to her. She hugs me fiercely.

    ¡°I was worried when no one knew where you were.¡±

    ¡°Sorry! I was curious and had nowhere to be for a couple of hours. I can¡¯t finish this project until my integration is complete, but I can set everything up to finish tomorrow.¡± I look at my percentage again, 96% so close.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. Staying the night will let me show you the Gym and cafeteria in the morning.¡±

    I take the beaker of ¡®extract¡¯ of the heating plate and cover it, placing it in the perishables box overnight. Marcella then leads us to a private elevator that leads to the VIP and Penthouse suites. We get off at the lowest floor of VIP suites and key into a room that looks more like a comfy hotel with a fancy tub than one of the suites we have at the Warram-owned Casino.

    ¡°This is surprisingly modest. I¡¯m, weirdly proud of you.¡±

    ¡°I only overnight a few times a month, so it wouldn¡¯t feel right to deny some of our guests the comfort.¡±

    ¡°What kind of guests do you guys get?¡± I say offhand, not really thinking about what I¡¯m saying.

    ¡°This and that, but the hotel side is socialized as a Health and Wellness Club for people who prize discretion. I started this place as a service to get people out of Warram without triggering any vengeance or vendettas for trying to leave the Organization. This place, and my ops teams are about as out as you can get without Medvedev owing you a favor. Our current focus is like Warram¡¯s: new markets. Though my infiltration to a new market will look a lot like my people settling into a domestic life with only light intel gathering.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still odd to me that you have this semi-altruistic operation that¡¯s basically an open secret. How does one get in?¡±

    ¡°Oof. Kimber, it¡¯s a whole thing. Right now, you¡¯re my guest. I can explain more later, but those that contribute heavily, can petition for a single guest allowance. I am using mine for you. I designed this ¡®Club¡¯ so that no one is above the rules, not even me. We have other important members that have been critical in our success, but we¡¯re no more than board members, and none of us can say we own the place.¡±

    I want to flop onto the sizable bed, but I¡¯m dirty from the scrap bin. I pout and pull jammies from my pack. ¡°I¡¯m going to have a bath, do you need to use the bathroom first?¡±

    ¡°No thanks. You¡¯re going to be busy for most of the next decade, you need to enjoy the pampering when you can.¡±

    I shed my clothes in a heap on the tile, realizing I got goop and green smears on them from the extraction. I need a lab apron. I put that on my growing professional items wish list. The tub fills until a beep starts circulating water via jets and the tub beeps again when it has reached a nominal temperature of 38.5C. I hop in and melt into the jets, letting the rush of water and the rhythmic pulsing against my back and legs lull me into a trance.

    \Integration Complete. User capacity has upgraded. Would you like to register as a symbiote user on Earth?\

    I mean, why not, they already know right?

    No. But too late now.

    \Thank you for registering as a symbiote user on Earth! Your Ration has been updated.\

    \Earthers are not guaranteed rations. Reduced priced aether-meals will now be available to you.\

    Now that¡¯s a benefit I can get behind. Government subsidized meals? Check and check.

    While it worked out this time, please do not spuriously accept prompts in the future.

    I think I¡¯m going to enjoy a bottle of aether infused juice and revel in the majesty of this massage setting.

 A2: Chapter 3

    ¡°This place is magnificent!¡± I nearly shout as she shows me the massive series of rooms that the ¡®Club¡¯ considers a gym. Marcella joins me for a warmup run, then tells me to do half a mile on a rower before introducing me to Jamal. The man is a trainer of personal trainers and has already designed me a high intensity interval workout schedule in exchange for the pain relief balm I¡¯m working on.

    I stare daggers at my mentor before she explains, ¡°Jamal, please don¡¯t take offense. She doesn¡¯t get the economy around here, but she¡¯s a good egg. She just initialized this week.¡±

    ¡°Oh? And you¡¯re pimping out her wares already? Cutthroat and shameless as ever Marcella.¡± He jibes and then gestures to me. ¡°I hear you¡¯re trying to put some bulk on? I can definitely help with that as long as you¡¯re not too concerned about visual aesthetics along the way.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m cool with being chubby while I gain, no worries Jamal. Can I snack in here?¡±

    ¡°Break areas only, Kimber. Drink additives are fine though.¡± He proceeds to wreck me for an hour and I even thanked him after. He tells me to either walk it out for ten minutes or get on an elliptical. There¡¯s a route taped out so I do that for ten minutes while trying to feel out what the symbiotes are doing.

    Finding a new energy source inside my body is harder than I thought it would be. I ask Tova how I should approach this, but all she tells me is that information is in module territory and not currently accessible. Well, fine. I¡¯ll meditate and then try small test batches. First I look at the recipe to see what kind of feelings and thoughts I should be projecting: calm, release, relaxation, soothing. Oof.

    I sit down and start breathing rhythmically and letting my mind coast on a calm sea. I ask Tova if the symbiotes can help show themselves.

    Make them process aether, see if that helps.

    I should have thought of that. She pings in agreement. I order an infused juice and sip it calmly while focusing on how it feels. As it pools in my stomach, a glowing radiative energy starts appearing in my mind. A moment later, small motes around that energy start lighting as they push, pull, and corral the energy into paths until the energy is more or less homogenous throughout the space.

    That was pretty neat. Can it go in reverse? Is that how manifesting aether works? So many more questions than answers! Does it matter what material I try to send aether to the concoction?

    That I can answer, in the text, there is a list of aether insulative and aether conductive materials. Crystal, gold, and copper are recommended common conductors. Glass, rubber, and clay are common insulators.

    Oh, so the glass stir rods are to prevent aether contamination. Which means I should look for a copper one? Okidoke. I start searching for copper utensils of any kind, and all I find are bowls and pots. I growl at my situation. Then I remember the copper tubing and wires I collected yesterday.

    I rush out of the vault and rifle through my bin of scrap to find some 13cm or so lengths of insulated wire with ring-shaped attachment ends, likely battery connectors for old cars. I strip the insulation off and chop the connector ends then scrub and rinse the devil out of the cabling. I spend some time pulling back the strands on one end to make a whisk structure, and unraveling parts of the other end to wrap around as a handle. Then I rinse it one more time in Ethanol so I don¡¯t contaminate the mixture with water.

    Happy with my new copper tool, I find the vegetable shortening and measure ten grams for two drops of the extract. With the heating plate set to 35C I let the shortening fully liquify before stirring it with calm soothing intent that I try to radiate through my hand. I put the two drops of extract in and keep stirring with intent.

    I fail, many times. The paste smells nice, but it¡¯s not an alchemic concoction. The manual says that once it cools, you cannot re-use the substance. I¡¯m so frustrated with myself. Why did I think that I could just do this like I did everything else? I made a cute little whisk for goodness sakes!

    I pop a candy. I know I shouldn¡¯t be eating in a lab environment, but I need my calming tools sometimes. I sip enough juice to feel the radiative glow again and calmly start another test. I keep sipping juice while the fat melts and start thinking about my intent to convey calm into the mixture with a silent prayer to my symbiotes to help me.

    I can feel that they are trying, instead of diffusing it, the motes are now pooling some of the glow into my stirring hand! I pick up the dropper and add two drops of extract before the feeling fades and keep projecting calm vibes into the whisk and mixture. This time, I feel my fingers tingle as the glow in my hand lessens. At some point I had closed my eyes to focus on the glow, but I open them to see that the mixture is suitably combined for me to take it off the warming plate. I pour it into a separate, cooler container that I have lids for and as soon as the fat starts to harden I can see the bright green of success.

    The extract is brown, dominated by the sassafras root color. This paste is supposed to be ¡®vibrant green¡¯. This is over-saturated and comically green. A huge grin spreads across my face.

    ¡°I DID IT!¡± I shout and dance around.

    My triumph high begins to fade, but with my happy and positive vibes, it would be opportune to finish the extract by making more batches. So I order up more juice, collect the tins that Marcella had brought down for me to fill and start working.

    When I hear a noise behind me as I¡¯m cleaning up, I immediately turn, squeal and launch myself at Marcella. She catches me with nary a step and starts chuckling.

    ¡°I take it things went well?¡±

    ¡°Yes! After like a dozen failures, I got a success! I basically have to be drinking infused juice or flushed with aether when I do it, but it¡¯s still a success!¡± I start poking at her face for sister reasons.

    ¡°Did you pick up the alchemy skill though?¡±

    ¡°Of course I did. I made the balm, I did alchemy.¡± I stare at her mouth, trying to understand why she would ask that.

    ¡°Not the same thing, but why would you know that. Okay, so your AI probably squashed incoming messages or alerts, so you should have some System messages if you learned the skill. It¡¯ll also tell you if you¡¯ve leveled up, gotten modules, most of your advancement comes from those types of prompts. Short story long, you can make things without getting a skill, so we persist until we get the skill we want.¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    ¡°Oh, Tova didn¡¯t tell me, but I was so happy I may have missed it.¡±

    You were in a ¡®groove¡¯ I did not wish to disturb it. Would you like an icon for system messages in your HUD?

    ¡°Yes please! And show me any that I may have missed today.

    <You have discovered Aether Sense!>

    /Due to techniques used, sight, touch, and psionics will be used to perceive Aether.

    <You have discovered Alchemy!>

    <You have learned a new alchemic recipe: Pain Relief Balm>

    /Products that resolve higher than your skill¡¯s level convey increased experience.

    <You have advanced Aether Sense>

    <You have advanced Alchemy>x2

    ¡°Nice work, Kimber, but I wouldn¡¯t make a habit of broadcasting your display. I get it though, you¡¯re excited. So am I, and if this stuff is as effective as it is hard to look at, we might have a winner.¡±

    ¡°How do we tell how effective it is?¡±

    ¡°Use it mostly. Some people have an appraise-like skill, but you can get around that by putting it on the Exchange for sale or paying a small price for assaying. No need for that here, though. Not that important.

    ¡°What is important is that now that you have the skill, you need to make something everyday to get that up to Novice. No need for big batches like this, but getting to level 3 is paramount, and if you get to 4, you can choose some advancement modules to work with. Modules are where a lot of a person¡¯s versatility comes from. Want to be better with blades or guns? Pick up a quick draw module or a blade dancing technique. You¡¯ll have more choices than you can afford, so don¡¯t snap pick them. Use that cleverness stat of yours.¡±

    Is she calling me stupid?

    ¡°Don¡¯t do that. No pouting. Your stats are great for adjusting and getting out of places, so don¡¯t think that intelligence is better than clever. No stat is an island. In fact, I¡¯d wager that the disparity in your high and low aether attributes will cause some interesting issues in the future.¡±

    Oh crap! You think that might be why I have to be ingesting aether to manifest it?

    A solid theory. With your power and capacity being so low, and your having some talents that passively need aether, it could definitely be the reason. We could try to saturate you some and see what happens to the aether.

    I do like experiments.

    The rest of my day is spent buying discount aether items and consuming them while trying to figure out a low grade stim gel. Whenever I get too frustrated and fear that my attitude will infect the product, I collect copper and head to the shop area I found to try welding some stuff. It does not go the way I expect, and I end up with some funky looking bits of half-welded half molten copper bits. Next time I should look up smelting and see if I can approach copper tools from that angle.

    It takes me the rest of the afternoon to figure out the gel, but the effects of my ¡®sample¡¯ seem super useful so I end up trying to burn off the energy with an evening workout. It works, mostly. When we sit down for dinner my legs are only bouncing a little.

    Marcella asks me to check my messages since I learned a new recipe today.

    <You have learned a new recipe: Enhanced Energy Chew>

    /Products that resolve higher than your skill¡¯s level convey increased experience.

    /Unassisted endeavors provide more experience

    <You have advanced Alchemy>x2

    <You have gained a level!>

    //You are eligible to Choose a Track. Please select from the available options, or defer to the next module opportunity.//

    //This choice cannot be undone, merely altered during key points in a User¡¯s advancement.//

    // Chose one of the following: Berserker | Sniper | Fixer | Parkour Enthusiast | Pocket Alchemist | Attack Dog | Blade of Vengeance | Hand of Justice>//

    ¡°MARCIE!!!¡± I shout loud enough that my sister jumps up looking for a threat. ¡°I got level 3! I have Track choices and two of them sound interesting.¡±

    ¡°Only two? Let me see.¡± I mentally turn my screen for her to look at. ¡°Jeez Kimber, scared me telling me you only had two choices. Instead I see more choices than I¡¯ve heard of before. Eight, granted some of these are pretty cheeky. Your lowest grade offering is Sniper I think, still solid, but I think you should read more on Fixer and the three word ones.¡±

    Okay, do I just stare at the words hard, ask for an explanation? Do I have to . . . there it goes.

    /Fixer: They got a problem, you solve it. Check out the deets while aether resolves it. While this term is used mainly in nefarious circles, with the right tools, a discerning eye, and a little bit of magic, you can correct or fix situations from the mystical to the mundane. This is a combined Track and levels more slowly than single avenue Tracks in the Tech or Aether branches./

    /Blade of Vengeance: Your ability to use emotions for speed and power make you the ideal weapon to be wielded in the name of Vengeance. When wielded for other reasons, your skills and talents are less effective. While in the [Throes of Vengeance], you may use the emotions of others to empower yourself. This is a combined Track.

    /Hand of Justice: Your continuous drive to do things for the right reasons and punish those that break your tightly held code of morality lends a weight of authority to your actions. While maintaining your code, you have to ability to [Pass Judgement] on persons or agreements whose actions, creeds, or execution have come into question or are otherwise uncertain. This is a combined Track./

    Okay, so I was right in not liking the sound of the Vengeance based Track. Would it be useful and powerful? Yes. Would I likely lose my mind and develop a thirst for blood? Probably. This is absolutely devolving from where therapy and a lot of my emotional effort have been aimed.

    ¡°Oh man, if I had been offered Blade of Vengeance when I got the system, I¡¯d have selected it in a heartbeat. Not sure if I¡¯d have a mind left now, but that seems perfectly tailored to where I was when I lost my sister.¡± I look at her with a bit of fear, knowing that if she told me to take it, I would.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, I know you don¡¯t want that and I would never ask you to pick it. In fact, despite how useful you being a Fixer would be for me, I bet you¡¯re looking hard at the Justice one.¡±

    My trepidation fades as a molten ball of gooey feelings heats the scary mist in my mind away. I nod. ¡°I also like that the description talks about an ability or talent that comes with the Track. That¡¯s good right?¡±

    ¡°Can be.¡± She grabs one of my fries and chews on it along with the idea. ¡°I know that crafting tracks come with abilities and or spells to enhance the skills that a person has in that craft. Good ol¡¯ Renfroe has an ability called [Steady Hands], which is why he¡¯s a great surgeon. I don¡¯t know if it was listed in the Track description, but I don¡¯t think it was.

    ¡°Whichever you pick, just know that Fixer would be easy to explain and even easier to get you on jobs. Justice can make criminals antsy, Kimber. The saving grace seems to be that it¡¯s based on your code, and not some high-minded government regulations. That said, I¡¯m not going to tell you what to pick. They both count as advanced tracks, and both could be very good for the Organization as a whole.¡±

    Well, Tova, what do you think?

    I can tell that one resonates with you, so why would I fight that? I want what¡¯s best for us.

    Alright then. I chose Hand of Justice.

    //Congratulations on selecting the Track: Hand of Justice.//

    <You have discovered a talent: Pass Judgement>

    //User does not have the skills necessary to utilize the Track selected. Deploying remediation.//

    <You have discovered Sense Motive>

    <You have discovered Discerning Gaze>

    <You have discovered an aether alignment: Divine Aether>

    /Divine is a focused subset of Light Aether.

    /Prerequisite for Divine Alignment not met. Deploying remediation.

    <You have discovered an aether alignment: Light Aether>

    /This skill is subsumed by Divine Aether.

    As I read the prompts, I feel twisting change roll through me and as the intensity amps up, my consciousness is wrung from me.

 A2: Chapter 4

    ¡°Yes, she got her track. Yes it¡¯s enforcer related. You know I¡¯m not going to talk about it over the network. She¡¯s also applying herself at alchemy. No.¡±

    I wake up to hearing Marcella yelling at someone.

    ¡°I said no. You can wait until tomorrow after she recovers!¡± She¡¯s got her head in her hands when I sit up.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Sorry Kimber, I should have taken that call somewhere else. The Boss is demanding to see you.¡±

    I walk over and hug her from behind. ¡°I¡¯m not that big a deal, what¡¯s going on?¡±

    ¡°Heh, don¡¯t underestimate your accomplishments. You¡¯re half right though. You were last to initialize, but you and Marcus got Tracks yesterday. Medvedev wants to analyze your sheets for himself and Parker¡¯s been whining about you stabbing him for months. All in all, I expect it to be a chaotic-stupid encounter.¡±

    ¡°Leave it to criminals to ruin my good day with bureaucracy.¡± I mumble into her back.

    ¡°Yeah, I expect to get a call later when he¡¯s calmed down. Probably agree to some kind of congrats dinner plus meeting. He likes forcing people to act against their nature by offering a polite gesture with a distasteful order.¡±

    ¡°If you helped put him at the top, why do you take this from him?¡±  She stands and pulls me over her shoulder to slam us both on to the bed. She suppresses my squirming to free myself and we settle with her half laying on me.

    ¡°It¡¯s a tough spot for both of us Kimber. He needs to enforce his authority to keep face with the rest of the officers, and I itch for independence but don¡¯t want to be in charge. In essence, my presence lends to his authority, so if I behave, he humors my projects and defends me to the other officers.¡±

    I make heaving gestures, enjoying the frown I get for bouncing her around. ¡°Politics are yucky.¡±

    ¡°As much as I would like to shield you under my wing forever, tonight you¡¯ll have attention of your own to handle as Kimber Novarro instead of my protegee. You going to be ready for that?¡±

    I lick my pinky and shove it in her ear.

    ¡°GYAAH! You¡¯re so gross!¡± She leaps away from me, trying to wipe the spit from inside her ear.

    ¡°Not grosser than politics!¡± I stick my tongue out and grunt at her with indignance.

    ¡°You owe me a tonic for your nasty germs.¡± That comment breaks my ability to take my offense seriously and I just start laughing.

    ¡°I¡¯m really glad you picked me.¡±

    ¡°Me too, Kimber. Me too.¡±

    ***

    I decide to make more balm, but there¡¯s a restorative variant that uses blood. It takes a few extra steps for separating the solids out of the blood, but it seems doable for my level. At the low-heat evaporation stage for the oil extraction, I set up a form and a Bunsen burner for a side project I¡¯ve moved to.

    I half-fill a box with molding sand, jab in my favorite glass stirrers and then pack the rest of the box with moist sand. I set a crucible on a ring stand above the burner and toss clipped and coiled wire in the cup. I pull the glass rods and pour a crucible of copper in each of the resultant holes. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I like the rustic whisk I made, but I won¡¯t always have time to clean my aether transfer implement between steps.

    The copper rods are rough, but they are straight. I like the bulbous ends on some of my glass stirrers so I try heating the flattened top of one of the pours and see if I can round it in the flame.  When the copper is bright and starts flopping, I round it out on the stainless steel table and smile at the cute little lumpy boy. I sand and lap the rods then throw them in the autoclave with the other tools I used.

    The aether imbuement comes in two steps this time. First, adding aether to the extract when adding the blood is supposed to keep precipitants from falling out, having to focus on teamwork and togetherness. So I think of me and Marcella when we¡¯re at the gym or bantering in the room. I get a slightly different color than described in the book, but the mix is a clear purple. With that success I¡¯m emboldened to mix it with the liquid fat with another aether infusion.

    I of course had to stuff myself with aether products to manage the infusion, and in the process discovered that it is unlikely that I will ever be at risk of accidental aether poisoning. Watching the color deepen back into the vibrant lavender that the mixture was before adding it into the fat. Neat. I write the color variant in my notebook, enjoying having something physical to write in as well as the inserts Tova has written in my digital copies. She¡¯s rightly decided to keep my musings out of that copy, such as ¡®I wonder if the kind of blood I use matters?¡¯

    Alright, seems the chat bubble in my HUD with an up arrow through it is solid yellow . . . skill upgrades? Can we have it flashing for new skill acquisition as well? It starts flashing yellow just before Tova displays the messages.

    <You have discovered Smelting!>

    <You have advanced Divine Aether>

    <You have discovered a new recipe: Fast-acting pain Relief and Restorative Balm.>

    /Alterations that lead to success reward additional experience.

    <You have advanced Alchemy>

    Alterations? What did I change? Sure I used my blood, instead of maybe animal blood, but that shouldn¡¯t have changed the recipe.

    Your aether is aligned now. The book recommends un-aligned aether, perhaps for this reason.

    Hmm, I¡¯ll have to see if we can un-align some when I have more time? Maybe we can get a glossary of aether or something. Not that I have time to look now. Marcella wants to head back to the Organization¡¯s casino after lunch. I didn¡¯t bring any of my nice clothes here, so I¡¯ll have to change when we get there, or order new here? That seems wasteful though, since I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ve stopped growing now.

    I message Danielle and CC Marcella on that little nugget of a question. I stuff a tin of the new balm in my hoodie pouch and make my way back up to the room for a shower.

    I put on gym clothes and a loose t-shirt with my sneakers then stuff the rest into my slightly compressed space backpack. I never go anywhere without this thing. When I walk out, Marcella is sitting on the bed with two food boxes, waiting for me.

    ¡°Great! You¡¯re ready to go. A car is waiting for us.¡± She stands and hands me a box.

    ¡°Are you serious? I thought you said we¡¯d be invited for dinner.¡±

    ¡°I forgot how petty he can be when I tell him no. He¡¯s organized a meet and greet for the four sponsored kids and some other promising trainees for all leadership. He¡¯ll likely let everyone know I was the one that caused this inconvenience.¡± She pulls me out the door and toward the elevator.

    ¡°I take it we¡¯re in a hurry because we both need to change and the event is in less than an hour?¡±

    ¡°See? Clever. We need to be 15 minutes early, and I already ordered you new clothes.¡± She pushes me into the back seat and starts digging into her lunch as she climbs in after.

    I want to throw something at her, but if she¡¯s brought me food, then we¡¯re likely not going to get a decent amount of food at the event. There are no aether foods in the box, and I don¡¯t want to pay a delivery fee for a bottle of juice. Bah, I guess I can wait until we get to a terminal.

    Sister dearest takes pity on me and allows me to grab some jerky and a jug of juice to pound while I get ready for a spite-based get-together. There are two suits laid out on the bed, one is a black pin with a maroon shirt that has white cuffs and collar. The smaller one is a deep maroon with a faded bronze shirt with white collar and cuffs. Hells, Marcella, these are gorgeous.

    We both dress quickly and after she slides her pumps on, she hands me some nice zip-up boots. The leather is soft and flexible and feels amazing, as do the fine clothes. She definitely spent the money to have me match her in color and quality.

    ¡°Not going to put on the Jacket?¡± She asks as she slides her jacket over her shoulders.

    ¡°If that¡¯s what we¡¯re going for, sure. Otherwise, could you braid my hair while I look for an accessory?¡±

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    She tilts her head in curiosity, ¡°Well, you¡¯ve caught my interest.¡± She says, grabbing my hair up and begins to braid.

    I look through hats and put maroon as a filter, I scroll for a few seconds to find what looks like the perfect match. I scream internally at the 13 credit price, but select it and pay the Mark delivery fee. I hear a soft poof a few seconds later, but Marcella jerks my hair when I go to retrieve it.

    ¡°There, finished. Now let us see that accessory.¡±

    I smile as I walk forward and lean over to roll the bowler with a white band onto my head. I give it one pat down and turn to see my Mentor.

    ¡°Mmm, I like it, roll up your sleeves a little and let¡¯s go.¡±

    We take the elevator down to the third floor and the East Ballroom. A bunch of folk are milling about, but none of them seem dressed up like we are. Are we sending a message? Or are these people just gossips? Marcella doesn¡¯t so much as pause on our way to the ballroom doors, so quick step to the door and open it for her, following closely after.

    A large spread of food, ornately covered stand-up tables and a string quartet are present to view our arrival, but few people beside the event staff are present.

    ¡°Good. We¡¯re first among the officers. It¡¯s fun when they see me talking to the ley folk and think I¡¯m fomenting rebellion. I don¡¯t do betrayal, but it¡¯s still fun to ruffle some feathers.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m remain amazed that you¡¯re still a part of this Organization.¡±

    ¡°Eh, I got to meet you. Worth it in my opinion.¡±

    My chest fills with gratitude and I almost miss it when another person comes to talk to us. Marcella mutters something and the girl rushes off. ¡°Gosh, if you keep saying such sweet things, I might just get attached to you or something.¡±

    ¡°Pfft. I already know you, weirdo. Like I know that you won¡¯t take a private room because you don¡¯t like to sleep alone.¡± I punch her in the hip.

    ¡°I love you too, ass.¡± A server comes by as I¡¯m swearing at her and gives me a death glare. What did I do?

    She sets down and lines up two rows of sparkling liquid and a man comes up behind her and sets down an array of small bites. I toss them a Mark each and they scamper off. I just hope that gets us treated well for the whole event and they don¡¯t expect that tip for every visit.

    I start mowing down on the mushroom and meat things, and the tomato and cheese on bread things are also tasty. Marcella elbows me, probably for attacking the food instead of being fancy about it. Fine, I straighten up and start sipping the sparkly stuff. Kind of sweet, kind of tart, not bad.

    ¡°Go easy on that kiddo, I do not want you drunk in front of these people.¡±

    ¡°Then why would you line them up in front of me.?¡±

    She shrugs, ¡°You¡¯re not really an adult, but I¡¯m also not your mother.¡±

    ¡°And I appreciate you not trying to be.¡± I tilt my glass at her and take another sip.

    Watching other groups of people walk in with uncertainty is just as entertaining as Marcella said it would be. Kids my age with patrons come in looking between us and the event staff wondering if they should go back and change. When the officers trickle in, they know the game and dressed up for the occasion. Marcus and Bell are dressed in matching color schemes as they enter the room with who I assume are their sponsors behind them. I stop being able to focus on anything else when I see Bell in a blue ballgown¡ªits full, flowy and absolutely her.

    I don¡¯t know who dressed her, but they are certainly leaning into the young, sweet, and innocent vibe. She looks around with a sense of wonder until she spots me across the room. A keen interest is betrayed in how long she looks and then turns to whisper to her patron. He then talks to the other officer and they both make their ways over to us. I nudge Marcella to grab her attention.

    ¡°Greetings Gentlemen, and Miss Gooding, how are you on this fine afternoon?¡± Her tone and her expression are not in synch. It makes me smile that she can sound so cordial and look completely disenchanted.

    ¡°As can be expected, Lady Fontaine, who might this dashing young lady be?¡±

    ¡°Kimber Novarro,¡± I announce with a bow, ¡°Well-met gents.¡± I touch my hat toward my ex, ¡°Bell.¡±

    The astonished look on their faces at my new appearance is satisfying.

    ¡°The experiment I put her through had some interesting results. She and I are quite satisfied with the outcome though.¡± She reaches over and holds out a glass to Bell¡¯s sponsor. ¡°Champagne?¡±

    ¡°Will we be privy to the details of the experiment?¡± Marcus¡¯ sponsor asks while moving to grab a glass and a stuffed mushroom.

    ¡°Eventually. Kimber was but one subject, and the doctor in charge is loath to make statements until the data is analyzed. Though I am confident that this year¡¯s crop of selectees would benefit.¡±

    ¡°What about our protegees? Can we help advance them with these methods?¡±

    Wow, talk about desperate to stay ahead. I guess they can see the considerable changes besides my face.

    ¡°Afraid not. Or at least not for a while. Sorry gents. Though I do hear that Belle is making great strides with Marcus.¡± She tips her glass and grabs another, a sly grin curling her lips as she sheds the burden of conversation.

    ¡°Oh yes! Quite. It seems that her work with Kimber opened a path to identify what Marcus needed help with. She has become quite the prodigy.¡±

    ¡°Yes, and Marcus has been making surprising strides in reforming the males of the general populace during our efforts to socialize his discomfort away.¡±

    ¡°No shit? Good work Marcus. The world needs fewer perverts.¡± I reach forward to shake his hand and he actually takes it. I smile big at that and return to my spot. ¡°Belle. Glad your job is working out for you.¡±

    Bell¡¯s neutral face cracks a little when I say that with a dismissive tone. Never thought I¡¯d be petty about it, but here we are. I try to get a better understanding of what I¡¯m seeing and a sense of regret leaks out for just a moment.

    Huh. So maybe she really does think she bailed for her own good. Doesn¡¯t fix things, but feels better that she might not have lied to my face. Nope, don¡¯t feel sorry for her, she made her choices and I made mine.

    ¡°So do either of you know what the Boss has planned?¡±

    ¡°Not specifically, but rumor has it He¡¯s going to praise and embarrass, per usual.¡±

    ¡°Even money on embarrassing us?¡± I say before I can think better of it. Marcella scowls at me and the man behind Marcus gleams in anticipation.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that bet. Say 100 credits?¡± I look up at Marcella.

    ¡°I¡¯ll witness the bet, but this is on you kid.¡±

    I sigh. ¡°How about 50? I spent a lot on crafting supplies this week.¡±

    He nods, ¡°A common malady, 50 it is.¡±

    ¡°Witnessed.¡± She says.

    ¡°And twice is a contract,¡± the man behind Bell adds. A brief flash and a quiet pop happen before me and something round lands in my hand.

    I look down to see a roll of paper wrapped with a ribbon. I unroll it and find the terms of our bet. What the hell? I gesture it toward Marcella and she takes it in hand for a read. She bends over to whisper in my ear.

    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to like your Track, Hermana.¡±

    ¡°Why, what is it?¡±

    Her grin turns sinister before saying, ¡°Justice.¡±

    The man who took my bet blanched when he read it and dropped the page like it bit him. He left dragging the other three with him, the other officer chuckling.

    ¡°Did I just manifest a binding contract?¡±

    ¡°Seems so, but he rarely honors bets he loses. It would be Justice to see him forced into it. I¡¯m hoping that¡¯s why, or you are going to be run ragged with interdepartmental requests for assistance.¡±

    ¡°In the effort of transparency, I may be developing magical brain powers too?¡±

    ¡°Yikes, not the time to talk about it, and you need to hide from anything you share from your sheet. The aether stuff too. If anyone asks, I¡¯m supplying you with crystals for the Alchemy.¡±

    Hear that Tova?

    Yes, and I will reduce the data to include only three talents and hide any skill related to mental and aether abilities.

    Have a second set ready that shows some aether abilities and skills in case someone calls bullshit on me having no magic. I just manifested a contract after all. She chirps in confirmation.

    The next half hour sees the two of us looking around for Parker and Jamie and her patron. Medvedev is also clearly missing. Marcella gets a message that pisses her off, and she takes off toward the lobby without me. Well, guess I¡¯ll head to the food and walk around.

    ¡°Hey stranger.¡± I turn around to see a brunette about my height, bright green eyes and a matching sparkly dress. She looks familiar but I can¡¯t place it. ¡°Perhaps if you had a cookie and my hands were like this?¡± She puts her hands behind her back and looks up at me.

    With the cookie hint it clicks. ¡°No way! Jamie, how are you? Sorry about that interrogation.¡±

    Immediately I can tell she appreciates that I remember her. ¡°No need. I learned a lot in that course, and I think you slapped some sense into me.¡±

    I take a deep breath and try not to feel too guilty about that, ¡°Looks like the past few months have treated you well.¡±

    ¡°Same to you. If it weren¡¯t for the rolled cuffs and the body language, I wouldn¡¯t have recognized you.¡± She reaches over to squeeze my arm and I unconsciously flex for her. The hell am I doing? ¡°How¡¯ve you been?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a lot to cover, Jamie.¡±

    ¡°I have time for you.¡± Oh em gee. I think she¡¯s flirting with me! Do I want that? I dunno. How does it feel? Pretty good, honestly. I shrug mentally and physically.

    ¡°Come back to my table and have a glass,¡± I hook my arm out like the movies show the boys to and she takes my elbow. I feel a tingle up my arm and it makes me giggle.

    Jamie takes a sip and her face brightens and takes another. ¡°So, you were about to tell me about you?¡±

    ¡°Nice segue. After the warehouse, I got put on Harlow¡¯s team as a sniper and lookout. Ran with them for a few months, got to play with explosives and rockets, but only sat in on one interrogation. Got thrown halfway up a building once too, that was frightening. It was a good time, I learned a ton, but I was glad to get back to Vegas.¡±

    ¡°That was you? The big guy on Harlow¡¯s team would not shut up about a suicidal kid that watched too many action movies. That team only ever referred to you as ¡®the Kid¡¯.¡±

    ¡°You met them? How are they doing?¡± I take a sip, but am sad there are no more snacks over here.

    ¡°A few times. They dragged a bunch of people back to Barstow and most of our interrogation class filtered through interrogating the goons they captured. I got offered to interview for a few squads after we finish our CQB course.¡±

    ¡°Still in that? I though that was supposed to end two weeks ago.¡±

    She shakes her head, ¡°We only came back from Barstow a week ago.¡±

    ¡°Daaang. No wonder you look so skinny.¡±

    She smirks at me and rolls her eyes.

    ¡°How long are you back for?¡±

    ¡°Six weeks, then I figure I do the interviews and work on getting level 8 and my next modules.¡±

    ¡°Oh yah? Did you pick grindable hobbies?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a personal question, Kimber.¡± She says with a straight face.

    ¡°Are we not getting personal? Jamie?¡± Her pixie cut is the only part of her that doesn¡¯t blush. She looks away from me and I can¡¯t help but think about how cute it is. I start laughing and apologies.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, that was too much. I¡¯m ridiculous sometimes.¡±

    She looks up at me again. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. You just caught me by surprise. I¡¯d like if we could see more of each other?¡±

    She is flirting with me! This is so exciting. What do I do now? ¡°I would too. But I really have no idea what people are supposed to do with their free time.¡±

    She laughs at me with mirth in her heart, ¡°I would be happy to show you.¡±

 A2: Chapter 5

    Jamie has made a point to touch me periodically while we stand and chat about her selection and training in the previous cycle. Things were much more disorganized then, she tells me. I wave over the girl I tipped earlier and ask for more bubbly and a snack tray she scampers to get it with a smile on her face. Yep, she definitely expects another tip. Girl comes back with six glasses and the rest of the tray full of food. She leaves the tray and gets that tip.

    ¡°Do they know you here?¡±

    ¡°Nah, Marcella said we should get here early and they fetched us a bunch of stuff then. Apparently I over tip.¡±

    She might have had something to add but the doors slam open and a mid-sized bear of a man trundles through. He¡¯s followed by a smug Parker and a cold-featured Marcella. I try to dig deeper on what she¡¯s thinking and I hit nothing but snow.

    ¡°Novarro! Front and center!¡±

    ¡°Aww, fuck me.¡± I slam the drink and touch Jamie¡¯s shoulder and march smartly before him.

    Saying nothing, he backhands me hard enough for me to slide halfway back to my table, knocking my hat all the way back. Pain splashes across my face and skull as my brain finally catches up with what happened.

    With a throbbing cheek, I walk back, put my hat back on, grab two glasses from my table and bring them back to where I was hit. The man grunts at me, takes both glasses and downs them both.

    He takes a step forward and yells in my face. ¡°Explain yourself!¡± I look over to Parker and his hammed up bandaged hand.

    ¡°About six months ago, Parker abducted me, interrogated me and left me alone overnight. I escaped, then went back to the interrogation school warehouse a week later for training. Three weeks later, Parker shows up again, attempting to order, cajole and threaten me into isolation again, and when he reached out to touch me I stabbed his hand to a table. Turns out he was just trying to take my burger. How was I to know?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not the story he tells.¡±

    I snort reflexively and speak before thinking. ¡°Mine¡¯s not a story that gets taller with each telling.¡±

    Before I know it, I¡¯m tossed a few feet again, this time the left side of my head hurts. I guess I packed a tin I made for a reason. I pop the top and spread it on my face. It stinks something piney, but the fast-acting part is for real. The pain subsides some and my teeth stop throbbing. I put the tin back in my pocket, grab my hat and go back for round three.

    ¡°What was that?¡±

    ¡°A balm I made this morning.¡± I don¡¯t move and I know it¡¯s pissing him off.

    ¡°Hand it over.¡± I do as ordered. He peers at it for a minute, nods and pockets it. He grunts then moves on toward the stage. Marcella nods at me as she walks by. I sigh and walk back to my table, mildly surprised that Jamie is still standing there. She hands me the last drink on the table. I grab her hand and squeeze it in thanks. After a few moments, she grabs my free hand and slots her fingers in mine. It¡¯s enough to distract me from the embarrassment that was forced on me.

    ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the Organization, and valued trainees, Welcome.¡± The bear-man pauses and places his hands on the podium. ¡°I called for this celebration to praise our newest Members, successful protegees, and promising trainees. However, accusations of impropriety have marred this occasion and unsettled me.¡±

    ¡°Kimber Novarro was accused of offering Violence to an Officer of this Organization without life-threatening cause. It should not be discounted that said Officer levied a grievance against a member of good standing with little proof.¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding?! She¡¯s not a member and there are witnesses to her stabbing me!¡± The pretty, petty man shouted before realizing his mistake. I guess we do have something in common.

    The man I have come to realize is Medvedev grips Parker by the front of his coat with one hand and lifts him off the ground with one hand, his features twisted by rage. ¡°She adopted a track that advances the Organization after picking a craft trade in service of the Organization. By the algorithm selectee rules that you wrote, she was full member last night. You accused her this morning, MONTHS after the event. Every one of your so-called witnesses said that you posed a credible threat. Either way, you lied to my face.¡± Through herculean effort, the Russian takes a deep breath.

    ¡°Though I want to kill you, petty lies are not grounds for execution. They are however unbefitting an Officer. Mister Strum, you are demoted effective immediately. Sasha Wilhelm will act in your stead.¡± He tosses him back and the man tumbles off stage. Medvedev then turns to Marcella. ¡°You both will be compensated in accordance with our customs.¡± She nods. He turns to me and waits. I nod as well while Jamie squeezes the devil out of my hand.

    ¡°Now that this ugliness is concluded, let us break to refresh ourselves and resume in twenty minutes.¡± That, is a nice way to calm yourself down and tell people they can leave at their leisure. Well played, grandstanding jackass.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± I hear Jamie whisper.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine Jamie. Never seen that interrogation tactic used in front of a crowd though.¡±

    ¡°You were analyzing his technique?!¡±

    I smile, ¡°It was the only way I could think to not fly off the handle. It worked somewhat.¡± I look over to see she¡¯s still scared. ¡°Sorry if I freak you out. I¡¯ve talked with my mentor about him, and what to do if I ever met him. I messed up, but not too badly.¡±

    She shakes her head. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what to think. I¡¯m a little turned on and kind of want to run away.¡±

    I laugh again, ¡°well, I should go find my mentor, but I¡¯ll be back.¡± I squeeze her hand before I saunter off toward the stage.

    Marcella pulls me off to the side and tilts my head back to look at my face. ¡°Do you need more balm?¡± I shake my head. ¡°You could have looked a little more vulnerable, but well done on keeping your emotions in check. I¡¯m really proud of you Kimber.¡±

    Ahh, those warm reward fuzzies. A feeling of correctness settles into my core. ¡°Thanks. I was just flying by the seat of my pants and trying to read you and Parker. What was he saying about compensation?¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°False accusations are serious business. Not enough to encourage people to stay quiet, but since he held high station, that fine is heavier. I think it¡¯s a thousand credits and a gift of guilt? I¡¯ll take the gift and send you the credits if you¡¯re okay with that.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯d rather break his face, but the demotion feels good to my Justice parts? That sounds super weird.¡±

    ¡°Fits the person though, weirdo.¡± She pulls me in for a side hug. ¡°Who¡¯s the girl slick?¡±

    ¡°Someone I interrogated in class?¡± Marcella stiffens, ¡°She¡¯s not being weird about it though. I don¡¯t know, the attention feels nice after Belle though.¡±

    ¡°Just be careful. I don¡¯t want to dig another pit for the people who break your heart.¡±

    ¡°Aww, you big softie.¡± I head-butt her arm and continue, ¡°Any other surprises?¡±

    ¡°Eh, not really. Boss wants you to alchemy all the time, as we expected, but I told him that you took an enforcer related Track, as you heard, we had a shouting match about the passed-up alchemy track, but in any case, you basically got a B-grade Track right away, and we all should be proud of that.¡±

    ¡°Blarg. So far my Track has been interesting. Not what I expected to have, but I¡¯m not beating up drug dealers and pretty happy about it.¡±

    ¡°No shit, blowing them up from afar is much safter.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Exactly. It¡¯s nice to have family that gets me.¡± And then said sister punches me in the arm.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a sappy shit. You¡¯ll make me cry.¡± I smile, then look back to the table and see that Jamie¡¯s looking around having second thoughts.

    ¡°Well, gonna go back to talk to Jamie.¡± I spin and walk allegro back to the table.

    She does not look as happy to see me as when I left. ¡°Hey again, you seem conflicted?¡±

    ¡°Oh do I? It looked an awful lot like you want to be involved with that woman.¡±

    ¡°Eew, no. No no. She¡¯s my mentor and basically my sister. She¡¯s also a fucking mess upstairs, but she¡¯s family.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Sorry. I got a little intimidated by your whole encounter. I don¡¯t mean to seem like a flaky bitch.¡±

    ¡°And I don¡¯t mean to seem like a cold shitbag. Just promise me this isn¡¯t like a trauma crush or something.¡±

    ¡°Hah. That is embarrassing, offensive, and fair to ask. I wanted to find out who the girl is that left me a bunch of food, and then snuck me food after that. That and you¡¯re really cute.¡± She flushes again, but keeps eye contact this time.

    Must be my turn to blush and look away. I grab her hand and squeeze it though. Making bold moves Kimber. Good work. I feel her run a finger along the shoulder seam of my vest and tug on it a little.

    ¡°This is a nice suit. Looks good on you.¡±

    I¡¯m screaming inside as my whole body blushes. I¡¯m being hit on and I don¡¯t know what to do! I¡¯m saved from thinking as some people come around to talk to us. Mostly trainees from GenPop to talk with Jaime, but they say hi to me as well and introduce themselves. I¡¯m still red in the ears from Jamie¡¯s advance, so I will never remember them.

    ¡°I heard you know Marcus.¡± A clean cut boy in slacks and a button down asks.

    ¡°Huh? Marcus? Yeah, we lived at the same Orphanage. What¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Any idea why he¡¯s so adamant about policing Co-ed behavior?¡±

    ¡°Like, consensual stuff, pervert creeper stuff, or violent sexual stuff?¡±

    ¡°Uh, what?¡± I wasn¡¯t that confusing. I¡¯m guessing he¡¯s referring to grey area stuff that the boys like to victim shame. My mind isn¡¯t jumping to conclusions, no way.

    ¡°Look man. Marcus has always been a consistently standoffish dude, but would defend people in a way you could rely on. If he¡¯s laying down the law, some women are being disrespected. Be glad he¡¯s doing it before I hear about it.¡±

    He scoffs at me and walks away, I hear a ¡°whatever bitch¡± a few paces away and I¡¯m forced to take several deep breaths.

    ¡°You okay?¡± she asks, putting a hand on my waist.

    ¡°I will be. I suspect he was taking advantage of people and wanted me to get Marcus to back off. I get triggered easily and I¡¯m working on it.¡±

    ¡°Seem to be doing well from my perspective.¡±

    ¡°Will you quit it! I¡¯m gonna melt through the floor!¡± I hold her hand to my hip while I bump her. She giggles again and it sends happy little tingles to my neck and ears.

    For a few minutes, we just stand there, in contact, enjoying the company before Medvedev takes the stage again. He looks far less angry this time.

    ¡°Alright, alright. Ten more minutes and we can break for half-priced drinks in the lounge.¡±

    Cheers break out across the room. He motions for people to quiet down, but he¡¯s playing the crowd well. ¡°It seems that all of our algorithm-selected trainees have gained Tracks and are now members of the Warram Syndicate.¡± Claps of respect make the rounds.

    ¡°Now we don¡¯t rank trainees, but we do grade tracks! Problem is, two of them are secret!¡± Boos break out across the hall as well as laughter. ¡°Yes, yes, we¡¯re all jealous. However, we can¡¯t have growth affected by indiscretion.¡±

    ¡°Jamie, Kimber, Marcus and Maribel, please come up here.¡±

    I slide out of Jamie¡¯s arm and go up to stand with a Jamie I haven¡¯t seen in two years. Marcus and Bell walk up under their own power, their Mentors standing behind them for the recognition. Jamie gets rolled up on the stage, her wardrobe cultivated but her eyes distant and clouded. The most shocking thing about her appearance is the electronics attached to her eyes, ears and scalp. What the fuck happened to her?

    ¡°Marcus has excelled recently and received the Track of Group Protection and Crowd Management. A surprising asset to the VIP team and a C grade first Track!¡± He gets a round of applause.

    ¡°Maribel has been working hand in hand with our psych team to get our trainees to move forward from their often traumatic upbringing, receiving the Track of Trauma Response Assistant, another grade C.¡±

    ¡°Which brings us to the more experimental protegees.¡±

    ¡°Kimber has been subjected to the most rigorous physical program of any trainee to date, as well as some highly experimental exposure that our doctors are still collecting data from. Her track is enforcer related, but is of High B-grade.¡± Claps around, but a lot of murmers.

    ¡°And our most promising new member to date, Jamie Kroch. She has undergone some transformative alterations, which she was fully informed of before undertaking, and has been making strides with our analysts with statistical prediction that can help us in the short and long term. These advances have cost her much, but her track has helped her integrate with our magitech systems, a confirmed A-grade track.¡±

    I clap for her. I can¡¯t not. Afterward, I put my hand on her shoulder and squeeze once. Her had jerks up and touches my hand. When our skin connects, I get a flash of a single sentence and a mess of ancillary data. I pull my hand away immediately and take a step away. Her attendants hiss at me and whisper at her.

    Tova, leave that alone until I¡¯m in a safer place. She chirps in confirmation.

    Medvedev ignores it. ¡°Trainers, trainees; our future is focus and sponsorship. It is clear that the algorithm is helpful, but the commonality of all of these exceptional trainees is the extra attention from influential members of our organization. Pick their brains, analyze costs, and prepare yourselves for a new selection period in a few weeks.¡± He waits for the half-hearted applause to die down before inviting the gathered to the lounge on this floor for half priced drinks.

    You have received an invitation to the Executive lounge on the 40<sup>th</sup> floor.

    I¡¯m about to ask Marcella, when she messages me.

    \I take it you got the invitation as well?\

    /Yeah, are we going?/

    \I would rather not, but I¡¯m not sending you alone to a meeting like that. I have history with that lounge, and I won¡¯t be staying for any of the ¡®luxuries¡¯. If you wish to, that¡¯s on you.\

    /Okay, do you want to talk before we get there?/

    \No. Not about that. But getting this kind of attention for anything other than your alchemy isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing.\

    I was feeling good, but now a sense of trepidation creeps up my neck and holds on tightly. I exchange info with Jamie and apologize that I have to leave. She seems sad and understanding, but a little lost as I walk away. She seemed so confident when she came up to me at the snack table; I wonder what¡¯s going through her head?

 A2 Chapter 6

    B2 Chapter 6

    **Marcella**

    ¡°Kimber, though the lounge is very welcoming, the people in it are vipers and opportunists. They won¡¯t be offering anything¡ªinformation or otherwise¡ªwithout expecting something in return. Normal hospitality like food and drinks are fine, as I¡¯m owed as an Officer, but ugh, do you get what I¡¯m trying to say?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be distracted by sparkles and promises?¡± It¡¯s a funny quip, but I¡¯m not in the mood for amusement. ¡°I think so. I definitely won¡¯t be as flippant as I was with Parker.¡± I can hope that her anger doesn¡¯t trigger in this environment.

    ¡°And, don¡¯t talk to the other Officers like you did in the ballroom. Confident is fine, but Medvedev takes disrespect more seriously than many crimes. The only benefit you will have is that there will only be a few people there, and most of the Officers know his habits by now.¡±

    I lead her to a private elevator I haven¡¯t used in several years, and had honestly expected I¡¯d never use it again. I work up a few mental walls to keep the emotion that I know is coming from leaking out through my eyes and face.

    Walking out of the elevator, the hint of cigar smoke and the soft sounds of jazz remind me of a simpler time where I would yell at my sister for her choices. This was the place that my sister met the husband that betrayed her for power. The husband that got jealous that we didn¡¯t need his stupid, petty ass anymore.

    ¡°Kimber, I don¡¯t mean to be a downer but be careful what you say here. The attendants are rewarded for full, exemplary service and are trained to do nearly anything to be of service. Also, if you say anything in front of Medvedev or the other officers, they will use it against you at some point.¡±

    She nods at me as we walk out toward the reception area. The first attendants come in a pair, one male and one female, and once we choose we will be attended by the same gender the remainder of the night, if not by the same person. They greet us in perfect unison.

    ¡°Welcome to the Executive Lounge. What do you require?¡±

    ¡°You,¡± I point to the young man, ¡°My protegee will need an Attendant in training. Female.¡± He nods and marches smartly away. ¡°You, will tell me your name and then arrange a French press of coffee and a whisky as old or older than you.¡±

    ¡°Lana, Miss. Do you have a preference of Columbian or Hawaiian Coffee?¡±

    Good question. ¡°The lighter of the roasts please, Lana.¡± She marches off and near simultaneously the young man returns with a cute kid a little younger than Kimber.

    ¡°This trainee is Prudence, Miss. Can I be of other service?¡±

    ¡°Prudence, this is Kimber. You will be attending her for the evening.¡± I turn to address the boy, ¡°Your service is appreciated. Please show us to Medvedev and I will be satisfied.¡±

    The boy nods and proceeds at a more sedate pace. I hear Prudence talk to Kimber, but her tone is low and volume soft enough for me not to eavesdrop. Kimber¡¯s reply is similarly hard to hear, but I see the girl turn and march off in the same direction Lana marched.

    Moments later, the boy steps to the side and gestures toward a seating area that I remember too well. The bastard kept this section the same, likely thinking fondly of the meeting he held on the last day I saw my sister alive. It seems he had the chair and the window replaced since then.

    ¡°Vasily, you agreed to never summon me here. Why would you insult me so?¡± I accuse Medvedev as I sit. Lana sets down a tray for me before I have a chance to settle. I smirk at the rage emerging on his face. ¡°Kimber, sit. Lambert, Bennet.¡± I nod at them while pouring myself and Kimber a cup of coffee and myself a thumb of 16-year old Scotch.

    ¡°And I¡¯ve told you never to call me that.¡±

    ¡°There are consequences to breaking your word. Unless you would like me to revert to what I was doing when we made that agreement?¡± I killed one of his personal staff every time he called me up here. He stubbornly persisted until he got tired of training new Officers.

    ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate threats, Marcie.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t dream of it. I¡¯m technically threatening Lambert and Bennet. I also don¡¯t appreciate you ignoring my intel. But hey, Strum was only trying to start his own Organization, nothing to worry about.¡±

    Kimber leans over in my direction, ¡°You realize he¡¯ll retaliate against me first, right.¡± She looks worried and has good reason to be. I¡¯m being blinded by old pain.

    I sigh. ¡°You have a point. Thank you.¡± I squeeze her leg. ¡°Alright, Medvedev. I got my petty shot in, and you got me to show in your lounge. What do you want to talk about?¡±

    He crushes a glass in his giant paw of a hand. An attendant rushes over with towels and a new glass. Vasily growls something at the boy and he rushes off as female rushes in with an injector. The asshole waves her off and pulls out a tin I recognize.

    ¡°Alchemy most of all. Let¡¯s see what your newest project has made.¡± He takes a sausage finger and scoops a helping out of the tin and slathers his bleeding palm with it. After twenty seconds or so, he grabs the apron of the girl with a first aid kit and wipes his hand off on it. ¡°Fast acting indeed.¡±

    Prudence comes over with a bottle of the infused juice that Kimber likes and a small tray of canapes.  Kimber squeezes her hand and mouths thank you while pulling the tray in her lap. The three other officers glare at Kimber. She smiles and continues on, daring them to say something. I smile at her. Nobody told her any rules.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Oh, damn, these are fantastic.¡± She mutters, not so quietly.

    ¡°So, I assume this is more to talk with her about what you want, instead of talking to me?¡± I accuse.

    ¡°As a new member, she can speak for herself.¡± He picks a cigar from the three he was offered and lights it with a cooking torch.

    ¡°Mr. Medvedev, I appreciate the consideration, but Marcella talks with me regularly about my options, and we¡¯ve decided on a direction, and we¡¯ve talked about what modules I might take at levels four and eight.¡±

    The man snorts and I¡¯m ready to leap across to jam that cigar down his neck. ¡°Oh, please. What could possibly be more important to the Organization than Alchemy.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know, sir. What¡¯s important to me, though, is synergy. My Track affinities synergize with Alchemy. I¡¯m looking for another crafting hobby that synergizes with Alchemy, but I¡¯m also looking to mesh my weapon skills with my Track. Marcella thinks that my modules can work me towards a charms or tinkering skill, and ultimately toward a justice-based Enforcer role.¡±

    I nod at her explanation. ¡°Her track would be a great benefit toward our internal affairs goals. Bennet already knows that she can manifest System backing for her contracts. Think about the benefits of not having to chase people down to enforce agreements.¡±

    ¡°Now, hold on, Marcella. One contract does not make a pattern.¡± Kimber rebukes.

    ¡°Bah,¡± I say, motioning for her to hand me something. My protegee hands me the scroll that was created. I open it to see that the agreement was paid out already. I grin like a thief and toss the scroll to Vasily.

    He looks down, then looks over to Bennet. ¡°Jim, did you pay this out already?¡±

    ¡°What? No, of course not, the girl was barely embarrassed. Probably a ploy to empress the girl she was talking with.¡± Bennet waves the comment off, clearly not intending to pay for losing the bet.

    ¡°Well, as I intended to embarrass her and Marcella, I would agree with the System in saying you owed her the 50 credits you wagered. But it seems that the System already transferred the money?¡±

    Panic showed on Bennet¡¯s face before he opened a screen to presumably check his balance. ¡°You little bitch! You dare steal from me?¡± Bennet rises from his chair, but before he can take a step I throw a knife at him . . . and he sprouts three?

    I look at Kimber while she sips her juice. She glances back at me and shrugs. That Talent is worrisome. Luckily the knives are all in his legs and he just collapses to the ground. Vasily and Lambert look between the two of us and just. . . wait.

    I gesture to Lana and tell her that Bennet requires transport and medical attention and she finds a large man to cart him off. Lana is providing expert service.

    ¡°I think I can see the benefit,¡± the crime boss states. ¡°It seems that Tracks that work hand in . . . Hand with the System have some unexpected results. Have we had one of these before?¡±

    Lambert and I shake our heads, but he speaks first.

    ¡°Not in this way. The Stat Oracle would be impossible without some System synergy, but we¡¯ve not had a Track that appeared to allow a User to act on its behalf.¡±

    ¡°Is that what you think is happening?¡± He asks.

    ¡°Our partnership with the System is too new to tell. We haven¡¯t had many Tracks of grade C or above repeat themselves. I just don¡¯t think we know enough.¡±

    Vasily sighs. ¡°As much as I hate to admit that research may be as valuable as products, I think that Novarro may be able to get us both.¡±

    ¡°Well, if you still count as a form of government in Vegas, issue some alchemy missions. You can get product without any transfer or purchase costs, and Kimber gets some experience and a little coin. We put her into some IA missions to see if we get some unexpected assistance and Kimber gets a near-perfect advancement scenario for her interest. Both avenues advance my side project, so I have no complaints.¡±

    Lambert motions to say something but retracts his statement.

    ¡°Spit it out.¡± Vasily waves with his cigar.

    ¡°Well, Sir, after a certain expertise level, our ¡®settlement¡¯ gains overall benefits for having professionals on location. Alchemist is one of those professionals, and Intermediate is the expertise threshold.¡±

    ¡°You were right about the armorer and weapons smith. Analyst and Merchant too. Though the analyst came across as some medieval consultant title. Fine. I¡¯ll agree to the quests and her time in IA, but as soon as she achieves Intermediate in any flavor of alchemy, she works back in the Warram Building.¡±

    That¡¯s about as good a deal as I¡¯m going to get him to agree to. ¡°If I get full autonomy with her until then, then I agree. If not, I get her until t-1 as previously agreed.¡±

    He waves dismissively, ¡°yes, yes, agreed.¡±

    A flash of light reveals a scroll in Kimber¡¯s lap and my resultant joy cannot be hidden. Lambert is fascinated, but also laughing. The only person that isn¡¯t delighted is Vasily: he doesn¡¯t like being cornered by System contracts.

    Kimber stuffs the scroll in her vest and continues snacking. I take a deep drag of my scotch in satisfaction.

    ***

    **Kimber**

    When we get out of that skeevy lounge I take an extra long shower to try and wash away the feeling that those ¡®attendants¡¯ probably did bedroom attending as well. I¡¯m really glad that Marcella warned me to be careful, but I also hate that she pulled Prudence into the situation. Not that she wasn¡¯t already, but I want someone to blame and swearing at Medvedev would have been counter productive.

    ¡°Marcie! I¡¯m going to head to the Health Club. I don¡¯t want to stay here tonight.¡±

    ¡°That place makes me angry too, but working angry won¡¯t be as productive as a good night¡¯s sleep!¡±

    I walk into the kitchenette to see my mentor in a sports top and sweats. ¡°If I could sleep. I think messing around with the scrap pile until I pass out is what¡¯s on my mind. Did we have a schedule tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Yes, of course we do. So, what I want is for you to go downstairs and spend 90 minutes beating the devil out of your mind on the heavy bag, then come back up and tell me how much you feel like running to the Health Club.¡±

    ¡°My schedule starts with Lamar in the morning, doesn¡¯t it.¡± She nods at me with a sadistic smile on her face.

    I call her an asshole to her face then keep swearing as I change into my workout clothes.

    Thirty minutes of the heavy bag and I¡¯m still angry. Sixty and I¡¯m gassed and frustrated. Ninety has me focusing on the pain in my hands and feet just so that I can operate the elevator. I slide into the tub and turn on the shower when I get to our suite and whimper as I reach up to pump the soap dispenser and wash myself while trying to baby my hands and legs. On the plus side, I¡¯m gaining some impact resistance.

    <You have advanced Mental Resistance>x2

    <You have advanced Mixed Martial Arts>

    <You have discovered Pain Mitigation!>

    /you chose to own the pain instead of escaping it.

    Empress take me, I like the advancement, but I was not smart about how I earned these. I crawl out of the tub and pull the towel to me as I continue to feel sorry for myself. I must have been making a hell of a racket because Marcella comes in, puts me in jammies and carries me to bed.

    ¡°Was it worth it?¡± she asks me.

    ¡°Too tired and in pain to think much. Maybe yes.¡± She grunts and doesn¡¯t speak again as she wraps an arm around me and drags me off to dreamland.

 A2: Chapter 7

    I spend the next week at Marcie¡¯s club, working with Lamar and his freaking dietician to pack on the weight the right way, and enjoying my meandering between tinkering and Alchemy. Sure, I don¡¯t have a tinkering skill, but I¡¯m hoping level 4 and a module will fix that.

    Luckily, Marcella came through and got me a few quests for Warram Holdings.

    ->Crafting Mission<-

    Learn two new Alchemical recipes. (1/2)

    Produce 3 dozen healing or restoration related items. (40/36)

    Create items that are used or sold for a cumulative credit worth for Warram Holdings (30/100)

    I¡¯ve been trying to work on technique on a few older recipes, but they just aren¡¯t cutting it in the usage department. I learned how to make Deific Flash Powder, hopefully a precursor to magical gunpowder, but I haven¡¯t been able to bridge the gap to creating flash-bang grenades from scrap as my tinkering skill will just not manifest.

    Moving on to the next recipe . . . Poisons?! Who the fuck?

    /Marcie, why is a poisoners book on my planning table?/

    \Because I could personally use a natural adjunct that uses aether and leaves fewer traces.\

    /You need a pure recipe, or can I use my affinity?/

    \Try both. I know you need practice creating un-aspected aether.\

    I scoff and curse a little at my mentor telling me I need practice. Granted, it is her job to push me, but she can¡¯t use magic; nanny nanny boo boo. In either case, if it¡¯s for her work, I am more than happy to help. I don¡¯t love the idea of making magical poisons for the masses though, I might have to talk to her about it.

    The ingredients are common enough, stone fruit pits, essence extraction, etcetera. The difference this time, and something that interests me greatly for future use is that I¡¯ll be using aether for the extraction this time. I have been wanting to move into charms and infusions so I¡¯m getting excited about the technical aspects of this recipe.

    Half a day later and I¡¯m still working on creating the catalyst for this stupid recipe. Why you may ask? Because it requires me to enchant the carbonate minerals before I grind them and they keep blowing up in my face.

    Perhaps you should take a scrap break? Unless you want some non-recipe ideas.

    If you have an idea that will get me through this block, I want to try it before I let it cloud my day.

    What about an evaporative whetting agent? The infused carbonate should be dampened while whetted, even if the agent is non-reactive.

    Wait, Tova, do you think that¡¯s the point of the infused extraction solution? The infused ethanol with the cyanide shouldn¡¯t react with the carbonate until heated above . . . 80C? That¡¯s too high for the extraction to survive.

    That conversion is for a common baking carbonate. A purer Sodium Bicarbonate has a much lower active temperature.

    Tova, you magnificent beastie. Let¡¯s give it a go.

    In her magnificence, Tova keeps me apprised of the material properties as I push aether in points that the recipe says, however, one mixture is volatile and more acidic that predicted and we have issues not adding copper to the mix as the carbonic acid starts making new and fun combinations.

    Try number 8, I ask Tova if gold would work as less reactive aether conduit and she says yes. Luckily I¡¯ve spent some time extracting gold, copper, and tungsten from my scrap pile¡ªapparently Tungsten Aureate is the new electrum.

    The new imbuement utensil does the trick and the thrice imbued mixture combines as it cooks at 55C.

    <You have discovered Flash Dose Aether-Cyanide.>

    /Aether Cyanide is an advanced poison.

    /Flash dose is a byproduct of Divine Aspect Aether.

    /As the first Human to discover this recipe, additional experience is awarded.

    /using techniques above your skill level rewards additional experience.

    <You have advanced Alchemy>x4

    <You have advanced a level!>

    Tova . . . what did we just do?

    We truly discovered something. We should also be wary of telling people about the results of our experiments.

    Damn it. What¡¯s worse, is that I¡¯d wager a brief codex in chemistry could morph our understanding to truly horrific levels.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    I package up the powder I¡¯ve created into capsules and feel like a criminal for the first time in my life.

    /I finished the product. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll ever make this again./ I send her the data to the item I discovered.

    \This is practically perfect for me, Kimber. I¡¯m willing to pay a premium.\

    Empress damned, piece of shit . .  . FACK! /Fine. Anyone but you pays ten times the price, even through you as a supplier./

    I can tell she agrees before I get a text as a fucking contract appears in my lab. Hey! Andromeda, thanks for the proof I¡¯m a terrible person. Super keen on the reminder, thanks queen.

    It¡¯s a magical, nearly untraceable poison. We really should feel bad about this.

    ->Crafting Mission

    Learn two new Alchemical recipes. (3/2)

    Produce 3 dozen healing or restoration related items. (60/36)

    Create items that are used or sold for a cumulative credit worth for Warram Holdings (1000/100)

    MISSION COMPLETE!

    /You receive Alchemy Experience

    /You receive general Experience

    /Your overachievement results in extra experience

    /You receive excess currency.

    End Mission <-

    <You have advanced Alchemy>x2

    <You have advanced a level!>

    You have Module options to review, Kimber.

    /Marcie, I got modules. Now or later?/

    \Tomorrow? I have to complete this mission before I come back. If that¡¯s too long, I trust you, but wait to talk to me before you chose anything at lvl 8.\

    Hit me, Tova. I want to see something good come from how awful I feel right now.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td rowspan="4" width="312">

    You have gained 2 module points.

    Please Chose from the following:

    </td>

    <td width="276">

    Alchemic Primer

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="276">

    The Art of Converting Crap to Creation!

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="276">

    Introductory Imbuement

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="276">

    Enchanting Basics

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    1

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Tova! This could be good. I can¡¯t imagine TACCC wouldn¡¯t get me Tinkering, and would imbuement help with alchemy and tinkering? It seems too good a combo to pass up?

    Despite how powerful Enchanting is, the Primer would likely give us a tier one recipe list to work from with enhanced completion percentages or results.

    But, but, this is what I¡¯ve been aiming for!

    Yes. Ugh, I figured someone should try to reason with you, despite having your same goals and motivations. I¡¯m just as excited about the duo as you are. You¡¯ll absorb Tinkering overnight, and imbuement as soon as that won¡¯t harm you to add.

    Make it so Number One! I say and the System floods me with subconscious knowledge so hard and fast that my motor cortex is compromised. Hells. I stagger to the elevator and then onward to my room. The time I arrive is immaterial as I know that as soon as my head hits the bed I¡¯ll be out.

    ***

    <You have discovered Imbuement>

    /Your experience with imbuement conveys increased starting rank.

    <You have discovered Tinkering>

    Tova feeds me those messages before I can think otherwise. I shake my head, start a pot of coffee and send a message to Lamar about training.  I hit the cafeteria and got some protein in me and stopped by the gym store to get a drink additive. A mark for an eight pack is not a bad deal.

    Today¡¯s two-hour session was grueling and awful. I still thanked the muscular bastard.

    ¡°So how long until I start filling out these clothes?¡±

    ¡°Nah, Chica, that is not on my goal sheet. I¡¯m to make you gain weight and gains. Your figure is none of my business.¡± I chuckle at him and his seemingly nervous deflection.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, muchacho, you¡¯re safe. We still trading balm?¡±

    He nods, ¡°Brutus wants some of those speed chews for your diet sheet, but that¡¯s not my game, ya feel?¡±

    ¡°I understand. I want an off-day light cardio plan for the fast-acting stuff though.¡± He nods and immediately shoots me the deets. Bastard was waiting for me to ask. I respect the con though, so I shake my head and walk off to the spa area.

    Now I would normally scoff at spending my Marks, but since Parker¡¯s disgrace I haven¡¯t been pinching my credits quite as firmly. I hit the sauna, the shower and the baths for two Credits for the whole day, assistant included. I indulge in a mobility massage while in the baths and tip her extra for torturing me for half an hour.

    With full attention paid to my body this morning, I spend lunch stuffing my face and contemplating my mental and craft development for the afternoon. Downloading the Tinkering module has given me some solid ideas, and with that module including some basic Magitech techniques, I have my sights set on an imbuement dipper with a crystal battery and a copper-based dipping apparatus. Granted, once I can draw enough tungsten and gold from scrap, I will be aiming at a W-Au dipper, but copper will likely work for most of the t-1 recipes I could hope to learn. I blame Tova for helping me tweak an off-tier recipe.

    I order the recommended mechanic¡¯s and jeweler¡¯s tools before I get started; feeling the pain of 100 credits worth of tools, but also knowing that this workshop will suit me for years. You have money to help you advance, Kimber, it¡¯s okay to use it.

    Bah! That is a hard ideal to internalize for sure.

    Hours later, I¡¯m working on brazing the outgoing aether conduits to the dispersal crown when I hear a familiar voice.

    ¡°KIMBER! You beautiful bitch! Do you know how much you helped me last night?!¡± Marcella pulls me into a hug and I grasp her back.

    ¡°No, but if my quest says anything, it tells me you appreciated my discovery.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a league beyond the current human market! Not traceable with t-1 medical, I checked. I¡¯m working on a long play for us, but I can¡¯t tell you what that drug means to me.¡±

    ¡°Well, I can tell you how gross it makes me feel to make it.¡±

    ¡°Bah, I¡¯ll pay your prices you gremlin. Of course, your high price will make me sell it for twice again more, but that¡¯s a later discussion. How are the bombs coming?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m working on alchemy simplification right now? I took Tinkering and Imbuement, if you were interested.¡±

    She scoffs at me. ¡°I knew you would take tinkering, but I had no idea you had single point options.¡±

    ¡°Yes! I wanted to solidify my magic options! Imbuement seems to be where I¡¯m going. I was offered enchanting, but I decided for a more immediate gain. I think maybe imbuement and enchanting could combine later? I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°Are you high? There is entirely too much giggling.¡±

    ¡°High? Should I work on making synthetic drugs?¡±

    ¡°NO!¡±

    NO!

    ¡°Okay, fuck. I¡¯m sorry?¡±

    ¡°You would never be free if you figured that out. Don¡¯t even suggest it. In case you were wondering, I just pictured murdering everyone I know to keep you safe. Don¡¯t make me live that Kimber.¡± She rubs her face to wipe away the image. ¡°Please?¡±

    Oh wow. That¡¯s quite a few emotions to cycle through. ¡°No worries, now that I can make contraptions, gun powder and accelerants all the way.¡±

    She breathes a sigh of relief and then I wonder whose life is so strange that their sister would be relieved that I only want to make explosives.

 A2: Chapter 8

    **Kimber**

    I want to cheer, I¡¯m so close to discovering a powder I can use for bombs and bullets, but Marcella decided to drop a bomb on me instead. She¡¯s moving to Reno with a team for up to a year, and I¡¯m not allowed to go with her.

    ¡°I know it¡¯s a crap time for it Kimber, but Medvedev approved my infiltration strategy and if we don¡¯t strike now, he may be petty about it later.¡± My mentor explains again as she funnels powdered A-Cyanide into capsules. She tried to get me to work on an aerosol version, but I refused to try to make an insanely lethal chemical more weaponized.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s suspiciously timed, Marcie. I¡¯m close to intermediate Alchemy, no team has accepted my placement, and you¡¯re getting a long-term placement at least a day¡¯s drive away? I give it three days after you leave before someone tries to put a collar on me and chain me in the yard.¡±

    ¡°Nothing I can do about the Alchemy thing. We made a deal over that. However, you haven¡¯t been put on a team, because Haley is going to put one together after I leave and I want you to accept the offer. It¡¯ll be an Internal Affairs gig, so you¡¯ll get some investigating, questioning, and perhaps some infiltration work in.¡±

    ¡°Empress bless you, I could use a break in the monotony of crafting.¡±

    My mentor scoffs at me, ¡°Just don¡¯t let your explosive dreams distract you on jobs.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll save the deep dive into dork-dom until I start charging my own ammo and I¡¯m big enough to use a fifty cal rifle.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t drool into the mixture, you¡¯ll spoil it.¡± She chuckles at me.

    ¡°Bah, a girl¡¯s got to get excited about something, and I really like guns and grenades.¡± I sigh with a smile, knowing that I could be really happy about my progress if it weren¡¯t for the fact that Marcella has to go.

    ¡°What¡¯s this mean for my access and accommodations at large?¡± I fiddle with my aether dosing apparatus while she gathers her thoughts to answer me.

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s a concern. I can pay for a room at the Club for you until you get Intermediate with Alchemy, and you¡¯re not a member yet, so it¡¯s hard to say. On the other hand, Warram treats their craft masters really well. You¡¯re not a master yet, but you¡¯re probably the only alchemist within a few hundred miles. Certainly the best funded. Make sure you get what you think you need included in your contract, as they will absolutely try to take advantage of you.¡±

    ¡°But because of my class, I can lean on my contract because the System will enforce it. I like where that¡¯s headed.¡±

    ¡°Just don¡¯t reach so high that Medvedev or one of the other officers decide to be petty for years after. Oh! I just remembered, I should show you the merchant interface for the Exchange.¡±

    I watch her pack up, throw my glass gear in the washer, and rigorously wash her hands, arms, and face. When she finishes packing up the poison powder into my hazards safe, we walk out and shut the vault behind us.

    The Club¡¯s lobby has a kiosk that is locked for weapons and hazardous materials, but we shouldn¡¯t need that kind of access for her to show me this.

    ¡°We haven¡¯t used the order features since I see you every day, but once you unlock a crafting class you get another tab on the exchange for orders, sales, and exchanges.¡±

    You don¡¯t use the Exchange very often, but you can also use it remotely within a thousand miles of a Settlement Ansible, assuming you¡¯re not completely void of aether.

    Oh, so because I have magic, I can interface from anywhere? That¡¯s solid, wait, can I bypass local restriction on the Exchange?

    That depends on if the restriction is limited by the kiosk or the Domain that you are in. I doubt it is a common problem as Humans don¡¯t carry enough aether to access the ansible without a kiosk or a personal interface that would piggy back off the nearest Kiosk or ansible.

    Alright. I¡¯ll experiment when I get moved back to Warram. Can we arrange a search and sale window side-by-side so we can do comparisons? She chimes affirmative.

    ¡°With this order for your fast acting balm and one for energy chews. As we haven¡¯t posted an order like this before, the System doesn¡¯t have a base price, so I¡¯ve listed a price that I would like to pay. Once you make the items and click the ¡®complete order¡¯ button, the Exchange takes the order and either stores or delivers the items. For the Club, the items will re-post for sale and will be held in some-sort of extra-dimensional storage until they are bought.¡±

    ¡°Cool. It¡¯s good to know that I can put in orders and not just use what¡¯s listed.¡±

    Since you can access the Exchange remotely, you can also pay for personalized delivery.

    ¡°Oh, now that I have to try.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Try what?¡± Marcella asks.

    ¡°Tova, my AI, just told me I get cool perks that I want to try.¡± I walk over to the break area, look around to make sure that no one else is around and order and select a snack. A cute little sushi boat appears in my hand.

    /A fee of 1 Mark has been applied for delivery. You are not currently eligible for Astoria¡¯s delivery discount./

    Ah, the Astoria discount applies to Empire controlled economies. Earth is an exclusive zone like a Vasal state. You can apply for citizenship to get those benefits once you reach tier 1.

    I¡¯m not even going to pretend that I know what Empire and Vasal zones and economies mean. I forgo the chopsticks and smear the spicy green paste onto my fish nuggets with my fingers. The Astorian fish is tingly with aether too. Marcella is looking at me like I¡¯ve been hiding secrets from her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. Tova just alerted me that I can do this. She doesn¡¯t get this kind of knowledge unless I ask or it becomes relevant. Like when my benefactor is about to leave me.¡± I shrug.

    ¡°So is it like a personal relay, or something else?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, from what she explained, it¡¯s much more versatile than that. Speaking of, you should put your Exchange restrictions on the building and grounds instead of just your kiosks. I could probably order a gun right now.¡±

    She pinches my lips and shushes me.  ¡°That could be a game changer for any team you¡¯re on. Hells, you can even have secret craft projects! Kiosks purchases can be tracked, but I doubt yours can. Oh. My. God.¡±

    She then drags me back up to our room and then chitters like a small rodent about selling side projects untraceably, and other situations where she wished she had the ability on several jobs she¡¯d been on. ¡°You could totally smuggle stuff with no one the wiser!¡±

    I chuckle at her, ¡°Slow down Marcie. I know I¡¯m a part of a criminal organization, but I don¡¯t need to jump into the crime part that completely. Plus, the delivery fee isn¡¯t cheap.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s hard! If you were tier 1 I would pull you along with me to do jobs. A sniper that can make custom explosives, and a tier 3 infiltrator? Good night that would be a good time.¡±

    ¡°Holyshit! Tier 3? Empress, I had no idea.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah. Medvedev and I busted our asses to get ahead of the curve, which paid off when the War started. We could create safety, so we collected and developed talent as we carved out a place for us. My focus changed dramatically after my sister was killed, and now I¡¯m trying to build a different kind of community since some of the power struggles have stabilized.¡±

    ¡°Speaking of, when do I get to be a part of this community?¡±

    She sighs and looks away from me. ¡°The quick version is that as long as you¡¯re under contract with Warram, you can¡¯t. Once you get out from under the Alchemy contract you¡¯re going to sign, and reach tier 1, we¡¯ll talk to the board of directors about it. The normal rules weren¡¯t followed for the algorithm selectees, so you¡¯re essentially Warram Holding¡¯s child until you¡¯re 16. Because Earth is a lawless Protectorate, Parental Rights differ from zone to zone, and in Warram, we can agree to basic contracts for you. Right now, you¡¯re mine, but you can supersede any agreements I¡¯ve made for you, if you contract separately with Warram. That¡¯s about as much as I can volunteer on the subject.¡±

    ¡°Wow, they¡¯re really going to pull a fast one on me aren¡¯t they?¡±

    She nods, ¡°I certainly would want you beholden to me if I were them. Oh, one last piece, make them agree to components separately if you can. Jumbo contracts are notoriously easy to hide things in.¡±

    ¡°Is it better if I just don¡¯t sign anything?¡±

    She snorts and laughs at me. ¡°No can do. I already agreed that you¡¯d do alchemy for them, but no more than two months at a time, and no more than 60% of your professional time per year. If you don¡¯t decide to include anything else, I have agreed to that for you. If you don¡¯t mind doing more alchemy, use your time as a bargaining chip. Enough of that though, I want to order stuff.¡± She taps her fingers together excitedly.

    In an attempt to get in the right mindset, ¡°Sure, but you pay for the fees too and I get a bag of caramels for the session.¡±

    She stares into my eyes, then flicks my nose, ¡°Deal. Now show me your menu.¡±

    The next hour saw me bored off my ass while Marcella ordered an arsenal and set up a fund that I can use to buy supplies for her personal orders. She put in enough for another ten batches of A-Cyanide. She also made me promise to keep her apprised of my recipe list.

    ¡°I get new mod points at eight right?¡± She nods at me. ¡°I skipped the primer this time, but I¡¯ll have to invest in it next time, I think, especially if the Org. wants me to be the staff alchemist. Until then, I should put Warram on the hook for buying recipes they want me to cook.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, you should, but remember, we used to have someone and some of that info is stuff that you should have picked up with the basic codex or whatever. I¡¯m not sure they were magically inclined themselves, but explaining that Imbuement was far more important to you than a recipe list¡ªand cheaper than charged Aether Crystals¡ªshould get you some leeway until level 8. You skip an alchemy option again, you¡¯ll definitely be paying for recipes yourself.¡±

    ¡°That primer better have the secrets to life in it since it costs two points.¡±

    She scoffs at me, ¡°My mods cost three to five points right now. But they¡¯re also proportionally powerful.¡±

    ¡°Do they always have a mix of craft stuff?¡±

    ¡°Nope. I occasionally get Track related things, like a poisoners handbook, or data on medicine and disabling nerve clusters. Tier ups are a strange beast: you almost always get a free mod that gets picked for you and a gift from the system. The free mods are usually desire reinforced things, like your body changes. Tier ups are currently the only know way to get attribute adjustments without magic or tech pumping. The data¡¯s not great on trying to reliably change attributes through tier ups, it¡¯s something Danielle was hoping to see when you had your body changes.¡±

    I smile at that, ¡°She doesn¡¯t realize that the power I had in this longer frame gives me more speed, though slightly less power overall.¡±

    ¡°That and the Talent you have that almost makes you faster than me. That¡¯s a freak of a talent, even if you can only power it a few times a day.¡±

    ¡°The talents pool well with each other, but I do not know why I got berserker talents.¡±

    Maribel gathers me up in a hug and rubs my back. ¡°Don¡¯t think of it like that. You now have ways to control your feelings or use them as fuel. As Danielle and Renfroe said, when it comes to the System, intent matters, and with aether, doubly so. Now that you¡¯re a magic berserker of justice, you should probably be mindful of where you want to go with that.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, too much thinking make Kimber itchy.¡± I hug her back, thinking I¡¯m in for a long rough patch before things get better.

 A2: Chapter 9

    ¡°I get why I¡¯m here, but I¡¯m asking if I get a handler, a go between, or whomever hands me jobs?¡± I¡¯m mostly trying to get them to lay their cards on the table.

    ¡°Is that something you are interested in?¡± Lambert asks.

    And they just want to see how na?ve I¡¯m going to be. ¡°What I am interested in is a room that is part of my salary, a lab to do the alchemy you seem to be trying to hire me as a staff position that is under my control, and a point of contact to lean on for other work when it¡¯s time to develop my other skills.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re still holding on to that sixty-forty time split?¡±

    ¡°I think that¡¯s where I¡¯m willing to start. Anymore than 60% alchemy, I have to agree to it, and you¡¯ll pay double. You want me to do it more than two months in a row, you pay triple. That, with the understanding that if I want to experiment in my free time, the Org. will not be responsible for that time, but can buy the products at cost, like it normally would.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Says another Officer, I think it¡¯s the interim one that runs the Face forward section of the business. ¡°Crafters are paid per lot ordered by Warram, or commission for goods sold outside Warram.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ll let me see another crafter¡¯s contract to see what¡¯s commonplace?¡±

    ¡°No.¡± She replies.

    ¡°My compatriot is correct in saying that salaries are  . . . uncommon for crafters.¡±

    ¡°Mister Lambert, if crafters aren¡¯t permitted to compare contracts, with all due respect, why should I care what¡¯s common? I want a room and a salary, as well as the ability to choose who comes into my lab. As I understand it, the Org. gets benefits for having staff crafters for this settlement, and you have an open slot for an Alchemist.¡±

    Lambert and the new lady look at each other, then to the other officers, probably chatting amongst themselves.

    ¡°After a brief discussion, a Salary in the form of room, and a small stipend is workable. However, we want a concession in the form of choosing your off alchemy work.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to want field time, two sessions of at least two weeks, per year. No attendant work or sex work, and it should be relevant to my second craft or my Track.¡±

    ¡°Who do you think . . .¡± The woman is shushed by Lambert.

    ¡°Those can be arranged. What is your second craft?¡±

    ¡°Tinkering. I like to make gadgets that make things easier for me.¡± He taps his chin considering his stance and confers with the other officers.

    A third person, a reedy man with a ledger and pen splayed out before him, starts talking. ¡°We have the bones of this agreement. If it is amenable to both parties, your employment as a Settlement Alchemist will be as discussed, with a salary, including room and a . . . 5 credit per week stipend. Your lab will be provided with an initial load at the standard that was setup at the Health Club or better, and then you will be responsible for altering the setup from your own funds, understanding that supplies for Warram-sourced orders will be supplied. The scope of other jobs will be detailed in a separate document, with the stipulations of no attendant or sex work. Another document will be drafted for your free-time work, and overtime work.¡± The man looks up to Medvedev, whose chair is much higher at the center of the arcuate table. He nods, then the contract maker looks over at me, I nod as well, seems reasonable. I forcefully restrain any aether that may want to leak out until I¡¯ve read it.

    The man types on his interface and moments later a stack of papers is delivered. They must have an ansible repeater or he has a personal device installed. Cool. He hands the stack to the boss who thumbs through the stack and then signs it. That¡¯s some speed reading bullshit. Back in hand, the secretary/contract man hands me the signature page to sign.

    ¡°Whole document please.¡± I ask.

    He scoffs, ¡°That¡¯s hardly necessary, it is as we¡¯ve discussed.¡±

    I leer at him and make a ¡®hand it over¡¯ motion, but he would not. ¡°Alright, lets see if this Track has any teeth shall we?¡± I focus on the page and the document it is a part of. ¡°Has this document been prepared as we discussed?¡± then I activate [Pass Judgement]. A golden light surrounds the signature page and then the whole document, before it turns red and then instantly to ash.

    Quiet pervades the room for seconds, then a pair of golden shackles appear on the contract writers hands and a bite in his mouth. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s kinda neat. Overboard but neat. Seems that he tried to sneak some extras in there and was being untruthful. Apparently, the Track Talent also uses my knowledge of the laws of the land. Super cool.¡±

    ¡°Novarro, release him from the spell.¡± The Boss orders.

    It will not release until the social debt is repaid. Hence Justice.

    ¡°Sir, those shackles will last until the penance for his infraction is paid. Or he dies, of course.¡±

    ¡°I said, Let. Him. Go.¡± The boss snarls at me.

    ¡°Your laws boss. ¡®Members should be treated with respect and dealings must be carried out in good faith.¡¯ You weren¡¯t super specific on the punishments for that, but, I think that¡¯s what the spell is waiting for. Your judgement on what the cost of breaking that common law is.¡± The other officers scowl at me. I shrug. ¡°No idea ladies and gents. First time this has happened.¡±

    Medvedev¡¯s posture changed from one of violence to one of new opportunities. Fuck me. I hate when people in charge look at me like that. It feels so filthy. ¡°Your room will be upgraded, and infused meals will be made available at the canteen while you are performing as our staff alchemist. A percentage will be taken out of his pay.¡±

    The man¡¯s restraints dissolve in a puff of gold glitter. Well shit, I guess if you are in front of the law of the land, he can literally tell you what a suitable debt is. That¡¯s heckin¡¯ cool.

    ¡°I wondered if your magic would accept that. Good that it did.¡± He gestured at the contract writer and he summoned another stack of papers, which he handed to me in full.

    There were some items that were added, I lined them out with my glitter pen, added the part about no sex work back in and signed it. The document morphs into a rolled-up scroll with a seal on it.

    ¡°How far can you edit before it breaks the contract?¡± Medvedev asks.

    ¡°Uh, it seems I can use the verbal agreement as the binding contract, then alter the page to make it reflect that?¡± Question mark?!

    He nods, gestures for the scroll and then reads it after I hand it to him. ¡°Let it be known, if you try to pull a fast one on someone with a contract, do not invite Kimber Novarro to the party.¡± He chuckles at his own joke with genuine mirth, the rest of the people laughed awkwardly or not at all.

    I dash out of the conference room as I¡¯m dismissed and hyperventilate on the elevator ride down to the gym. I message Marcella and quickly explain the madness. She laughs at me of course, and then tells me that my off-alchemy time will likely be validating contracts¡ªsomething she knows I don¡¯t want to do.

    It¡¯s been two months since I saw my sister, and I miss the heck out of her. In those months, my work with the Health Club has been minimal. A few protection jobs, more sniper work, and quite a few orders for balms and chews for the Health part of the Club.

    Since then, I¡¯ve gotten Intermediate in Alchemy by trying more of the odd recipes in the books that Marcella bought for me, and finally¡ªfinally¡ªfinding a variant of flash powder that works as smokeless gunpowder. Then I made gunpowder and started smelting brass until I was blue in the face. Thinking of that, I should have asked about the ¡®town¡¯ smith about using his machines sometime.

    I quick look at my sheet to make sure I¡¯ve got a handle on things before level 8.

    <table width="636">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Name: Kimber Novarro

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Race: Human (P)

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Andromeda Code: T-S

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Imbalance

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Class: @ t-3

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Subrace: N/A

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Track: Hand of Justice

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    (t-0, lvl. 7)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Mind >Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Intelligence: C

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Clever: B

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Awareness: A

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Social>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Beauty: B

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Charm: D

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Presence: C

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Strength: C

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Agility: A

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Fitness: B

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Aether>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Capacity: D

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Refinement: S

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Power: C

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="4" width="636">

    Skills

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Pistols: Intermediate 2

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Rifles: Intermediate 5

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Ballistics: Beginner 4

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    MMA: Intermediate 4

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Endurance: Intermediate 2

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Cooking: Beginner 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    First Aid: Beginner 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Interrogation: Novice 7

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Urban Assault: Novice 8

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Blades: Advanced 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Manipulation: Novice 1

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Intimidation: Novice 3

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Mental resistance: Beginner 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Aether Sense: Novice 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Alchemy: Intermediate 1

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Divine Aether: Beginner 7

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Discerning Gaze: Beginner 7

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Sense Motive (psi): Beginner 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Smelting: Beginner 5

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Pain Mitigation: Beginner 2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Imbuement: Intermediate 1

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Tinkering: Novice 2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325"> </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325"> </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="4" width="636">

    Talents

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Body of Power I

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Aether Dependence I

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Enhanced Recovery I

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Triggered Action

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Mechanical Calm

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Pass Judgement

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325"> </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159"> </td>

    <td width="167"> </td>

    <td width="152"> </td>

    <td width="159"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159"> </td>

    <td width="167"> </td>

    <td width="152"> </td>

    <td width="159"> </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    I laugh when I get to my Talents. I always forget about Enhanced Recovery, but it¡¯s probably one I use the most as accidents in the lab are sometimes painful.

    I contact Haley and ask if she knows of someone with a truck and some packing skills that wants a few credits of work. She replies almost instantly that she is that someone. An hour and a half later we have the imbuement devices that I created packed, as well as the odd projects I took to my room. I stuff the remainder of my things into the space-saving bag and we hop into the truck and head to Warram. I also have Tova diagram the lab layout at the Health Club and send it to Marcella because she knows everyone worth knowing.

    We are met at the loading area of the underground garage by a burly man in gym clothes ready to take boxes to my new lab? I quickly hug Haley, slap two credits in her hand and dart off with my backpack and the guy that can carry my hundred-pound boxes like they¡¯re a sack of sugar. Empress, Tracks for thugs must be intense.

    I follow him to a section of the Hotel past the medical facilities. This area looks newly dug out since the War and the signs say that other crafting labs are here as well. The smell of fresh paint assaults me and I see the words ¡°Alchemy Lab¡± stenciled on the wall in periwinkle. The smile that breaks across my face could be best described as obnoxious. I love purples and oranges.

    The big beefy boy sets the boxes down on a clean table, hands me a card and then leaves. I look at the card, which has my name on it, and check it against the multiple cabinets. They open to reveal shelves of basic ingredients. The ethanol and distilled water barrels also have release locks on their spigots, which surprises me. The lab is almost exactly like the one at the Health Club, just more secure. One new feature is that the door to the lab is actually the door to an office-like area that then leads to the lab. The extra visual break makes my insides happy.

    Tova can we key this card to my Mosaic?

    Yes, but it will not deactivate the card, so you still have to be careful with it.

    That¡¯s not preferred, but I¡¯d rather not have to have it either. Maybe I should come up with a hidden cache or something for these kinds of things.

    Un-packing my custom tools doesn¡¯t take that long, but Tova alerts me to a settings menu for my settlement workshop and I play with that thing until my stomach tiger turns on me.

    ¡°What would kill me first, Tova, hunger or aether withdrawl?¡±

    No external factors, hunger I believe. The way you absently use aether though, your symbiote would start consuming you before regular hunger got you.

    That¡¯s a solid yikes. Can we institute a reserve for that kind of thing? Do not spend past this threshold? Tova laughs in my brain.

    I already do that for us. You¡¯ve brushed that line a dozen times or so.

    Have I told you thank you lately? Even I know I¡¯m a mess. Thanks for helping me out Tova. She scoffs in my brain this time. Kinda feels like smelling sawdust while eating month-old bread covered in stinky cheese.

    Tova, how have your inquiries with shell-casing manufacturers using my brass going?

    Numerous non-native manufacturers will take the material and make you the powder casings, but only one is willing to form both bullet and casing from user provided materials without manufacturing the whole projectile group.

    Super expensive? Much the hassle? What¡¯s the catch Tova?

    They want a sample of your accelerant to make sure the casing can hold it. The company is Astorian: Merc Arms.

    Well, shit Tova, can you ask them for a consultation on my 50-cal project as well?

    Done. I sent a sample of your powder as well. I used our aether to facilitate.

    Tova!! You called us a ¡®we¡¯. That makes me really happy. Just maybe ask about aether use if we¡¯re low for the future, ¡®cause I don¡¯t know how much available money we will have going forward.

    Don¡¯t have boats delivered, copy.

    Tova¡¯s having me on, but it makes me chuckle. You spend two seconds on a request, and now we have grand dreams. Well, I can only hope the whole ¡®nice to have¡¯ sniping rig doesn¡¯t cost more than a few hundred. My settlement from Parker being a knob and jobs with the Health Club have me at about twelve hundred, but I think I¡¯m going to need all of that to power my alchemy side projects and tinkering.

    ->Crafting Mission

    200 tins of Fast-Balm

    50 units of UV block

    10 injections of Pain-b-gone.

    Rewards: Experience, Credits.<-

    And so it begins. I start the first stage of the Balm until the long rest overheat stage and then go to find the room on my card. Turns out, the room upgrade put me up in the suites level-- a junior suite in fact--on the 20<sup>th</sup> floor. The amenities are similar to what I had with Marcella sans kitchenette and too fancy bathroom. I would have traded the lounge/living room for the kitchenette, but I¡¯m not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

    Tova, did you manage to de-tangle the info that Jamie from the orphanage sent us?

    It¡¯s a plead for assistance, but the data she packaged with it is more encrypted than I can decipher.

    Blarg. I need to set an appointment. I text Jamie about a time to meet and leave it be. I probably shouldn¡¯t have waited so long, but at the same time, she shouldn¡¯t have pushed that upload through my skin and been a horrible bitch to me before we left the orphanage.

    I¡¯m only a few months away from 17 and I still feel lost in the woods. I need to put my feet in the stirrups and ride this bastard before it takes control of me. I ask Tova to plot the path to the Canteen that I¡¯m supposed to visit to see if my meals have started yet. I¡¯m perpetually hungry at this point.

    I¡¯m eating my infused meal of raptor bacon and turtle eggs, which I am totally in love with, when someone walks in.

    ¡°May I help you?¡±

    ¡°Word is we have a staff alchemist now? I was wondering what services you offer?¡± He seems nervous, but not too shady to work with.

    ¡°I have a list.¡± I push it to him. ¡°If you have special requests, I¡¯m willing to attempt them if you buy me the recipe.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay then.¡± He says and turns away, ¡°Thanks for your time.¡±

    Before I can even ask Tova what she thought, Daniella walks in my office.

    ¡°Kimber, I should tell you that people equate Alchemy with Apothecary. Any medical treatments should come through me. Understand?¡±

    ¡°Uh, of course. I don¡¯t want people coming to me for their sickness or whatever. Did you need stuff?¡± I ask with barely a stutter. Stupid, intimidating Russian doctor.

    ¡°Mmm. Not at your current level of proficiency. I am interested in medical supplies, but, I need 1AAB at least before I can accept it.¡± I quirk and eyebrow and hand her an injector I worked on.

    ¡°1IIC is the best I can do right now, I think I can hit your requirements in six months or so with steady work.¡± I shrug as she examines my ampule.

    ¡°This is surprisingly good work Kimber. Like, you could be a hospital supplier within two years.¡±

    My eyes flutter and my knees get weak with my trained response coupled with her sultry tones. Like, I know she¡¯s with Marcella, but Empress save me from her voice. Wait . . . holyshit, I¡¯m actually feeling these things! I haven¡¯t taken hormones for months! I grab her in a hug and spin her .

    ¡°Doc!! I think my hormones normalized during my initialization!¡± She immediately goes into physician mode, ruining my fun.

    ¡°You¡¯re due for a check up at level 8, when should I expect you? Next week?¡±

    I waffle my nod to show uncertainty, ¡°Can¡¯t be sure, but if my quest and my gun project resolve, two weeks at most.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll slot you in this Friday afternoon and next. You don¡¯t make it I get a long weekend.¡±

    We say goodbye and I send her with a tin of balm to try out. Peddling alchemist at your service. With that visit finished as well as my lunch, there¡¯s only one thing left to do: Get to work.

    ***

    **Medvedev**

    ¡°Boss, while I¡¯d like to tell you there¡¯s wiggle room, System contracts are notoriously stringent on the spirit of the law, not the letter.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Rupert, I saw. Tell me what this means for keeping her as an asset?¡±

    The lanky ma sighs as he shuffles papers. ¡°Boss, a system contract witness with line-item powers is a power beyond my ken. Instead of viewing her Talent as a viper, perhaps we should treat it as a tide: Minor, inevitable, and manageable.¡±

    ¡°Does that change our goals for her? What about the break that Parker wanted?¡±

    ¡°Most of our plans need to be adjusted, but the two contracts we left to separate agreements can be used for our benefit. I will express my discomfort with the shackles that bound me. That being said, there is no reason to believe that you can¡¯t be bound by your own rules.¡±

    Now that is an uncomfortable prospect. If I can¡¯t break the rules from time to time, what¡¯s the point of being in charge? ¡°Send her a few quests. Boiler plate craftsman stuff. See how she does.¡±

    Rupert nods and types at his unmatchable speed, then takes his ledger in a different direction than I¡¯m headed. I had hoped that Kimber separated from Marcella would be a more pliable User, but with that Track of hers, it¡¯s a whole new morass of consideration. Some test of her capability and loyalty are necessary and there is no point in planning a grave while work is being accomplished.

 A2: Chapter 10

    My days have been consumed by work. I finished my quest, took me four days--plus a sanity break of tinkering¡ªbut I got the units done. I would say this, that and experience woo! Save Merc Arms, an Astorian Crafts subsidiary, messaged me with some wonky ass bullshit.

    ¡°Tova, I¡¯m hearing a lot of hedging from you, just drop it on me for fucks sake.¡±

    Fine! Merc Arms does not like your powder¡¯s aether decay spectrum and want you to test your recipe with enchanted corundum powder instead of imbued salt peter. They¡¯ve done the calculations and they predict the merge will have an increase of 15% energy yield and 73% increased stability for storage. Additionally, they have built you a gun, and the apparatus to make the bullets you want.

    Well shit Tova, they want to hand me a whole world, of course I want to see where this goes. What¡¯s the catch?

    Video conference, and they come to us for the rounds of testing. Bullets, gun, the works.

    Empress, I need this Tova. Tell them, I need a kilo of this dust, for free, a kilo of Astorian wood pulp, preferably dried, and I will be amenable to a piracy of a deal when I make it work. Seconds go by before Tova replies and a thud hits my desk before she says anything.

    There¡¯s your answer, get to work.

    At three grams a test, I have like 600 tests that I can run and run them I do. They suggested I substitute the aether crystal powder for the salt-peter, but I¡¯m feeling I can bind the crystals to an aether-charged cellulose construct before the next two imbuement processes that I need to do¡ªhence the wood pulp.

    I blow myself up a mere three times before I get a workable hit. The result is twice as volatile with 40% more flame speed, but stable at 50C, the trick being, it needs an aether ignition, which I don¡¯t know how to build.

    <You have discovered the recipe: Thrice-imbued smokeless powder.>

    <You have advanced Alchemy>x2

    <You have advanced Imbuement> x2

    <You have advanced Aether Sense>

    <You have advanced Divine Aether>

    Oh hells, why does this feel like it would have been more difficult without the divine aether?

    Because divine aspect aether is a belief construct that is powered by faith?

    Make It gross why don¡¯t you.

    I don¡¯t have the aether left to make another batch, but as soon as I can reproduce this with the remaining two hundred grams I will send the results back to Merc Arms with my notes.

    I wander back to the Cantina and don¡¯t take my food to go this time. I just freaking eat there and no one called me on it. I was hoping that folks would become inured to my presence and it seems to have finally worked. Because karma works this way, another executive walks over and sits down in front of me to either study me or chew my ass.

    ¡°Good afternoon, Kimber. My name is Carlos. It has come to my attention that you make some items that encroach on my merchandise. As the Org.¡¯s new Alchemist, I can¡¯t tell you not to make stuff, but I am telling you not to sell stims, or other drugs on Warram turf.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Really? The Org has an executive drug dealer? ¡°I hear what you¡¯re saying. If people come to my office for such things I will happily turn them away. However, if the Execs put in an order, I¡¯m making it. Those stim chews and a localized pain blocker is all I have recipes for that might cross over.¡±

    ¡°Are they ordering big from you?¡± He clenches his fists but his tone stays level.

    ¡°A batch of 50 stims and ten blockers. Seems like a test amount of both.¡±

    ¡°Let me explain a different way. If your product starts infringing on my business, I expect a cut.¡± He stands and leans forward on the table. ¡°Your mentor isn¡¯t around to bend the rules for you anymore, little girl.¡± He takes a piece of my fish and pops it in his mouth. Idiot. I can see the moment the aether starts to burn his throat by the widening of his eyes. He begins coughing moments later, under the mistaken impression that it¡¯s caught in his throat. Well, it might be, depending on how hard his body is trying to reject it. Then he makes mistake number two by grabbing my drink to try and wash it down.

    I ramped up to a decent tolerance the twelve weeks leading up to my initialization. After being inoculated with a symbiote, my ability to mitigate and use aether jumped significantly. After that, I have near constantly ingested aether to keep my alchemic pursuits going for the last few months. That fish I supplemented my infused meal with tingles a bit for me to eat. I do it for a tolerable¡ªand somewhat wasteful¡ªsurge of aether.

    It might be best if he induced vomiting, but there is a high probability that the look on his face as he tries to hold on to the table intends me harm should he reach me. I pick up my plate and move to another table.

    ¡°Tova, alert on-duty medical that a drug dealer named Carlos has acute aether poisoning, possible mutation incoming.¡±

    You realize you can do that by thinking about switching to messaging yes?

    Yeah, but this way, people can hear me call for medical. With the number of folks that seem to want to take a piece out of my hide, plausible deniability is a friend.

    You¡¯re okay with just letting him squirm there?

    Yes on three accounts. One, I don¡¯t know where to take him. Two, I cannot carry him myself. Three and consistent with my pattern of my behavior: He was being an ass and was trying to steal food. The funny part is that his success is the problem. Are we going to have a moral clash over this?

    Not in this case, as I have done the math and he is unlikely to die, but I want to hear your motivations and for you to voice them to yourself. There¡¯s a dark part of yourself that you keep at bay, but what happens when you stop resisting?

    Blarg, feelings, my one weakness! That question is the exact reason I cling to relationships so fiercely. Feeling a relentless affection for Marcella has been a gift and a curse, but I¡¯m happier and healthier for it.

    Perhaps text Pixie-haired Jamie? You need friends more than you need a girlfriend, but I¡¯m not sure how much it really matters.

    I¡¯m shaken from my musings by a light touch on my shoulder.

    ¡°Are you the one that called in the alert for Mr. Mancia?¡± The man asks, a tired and calm face being held with the remaining scraps of his alertness.

    ¡°I am. I have a heavily infused diet, and this man decided to steal some food and wash it down with infused juice.¡±

    ¡°On a scale from One Earth to Ten Astoria, how dense of aether are we talking?¡±

    ¡°Oof, like a fifteen? The fish is from Elysium.¡± The man immediately takes two steps back and looks at me like I have horns or something.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± I say, taking another bite. ¡°Oh, yah. It tingles and I¡¯m overdoing it a little, but as long as I don¡¯t do this more than two times a week, I should be fine to bleed off the excess aether. I¡¯m a magic crafter. Gotta make up for the void that is Earth.¡±

    ¡°You should get a check-up all the same.¡±

    I wave the man off, ¡°I have an appointment with Doctor Medvedev on Friday. I¡¯ll be fine until then.¡± He nods and types a few things into his interface while giving me a side-eye stare intermittently.

    He asks me for a statement of what happened, and I send him my record. Tova said he wasn¡¯t going to die, but there¡¯s still a chance that the mutation makes him violent enough to be put down. Marcella might be right about saying trouble has a way of following me. On my way out I ping Daniella my meal choice and what happened in case she had advice for them about aether poisoning and left without another word.

 A2: Chapter 11

    Three days later, it¡¯s Friday, and my meeting with Danielle is pending, but also important is the meeting I¡¯m about to have with an interstellar gun manufacturer. My life has gotten a bit too strange lately, and I need my sister back. I¡¯ve told her so half a dozen times and she sent me a video of her drinking whisky, telling me that she loves me and to put my big girl pants on. As ridiculous as it seems, that video helped a lot.

    Kimber, do you want me to project a mental image? Or do you want to work through a comms device?

    Uhh, whichever is as interactive as the other side intends? I don¡¯t know, Tova! It¡¯s a chat thousands of light years away. I have no idea how to do this. Asshole chuckles in my mind.

    Okay, then we¡¯re ordering two charged corundum batteries that will fit inside your nose, and then you¡¯re going to meditate while I connect the meeting.

    Are you sure I don¡¯t have to dance counter spin while praying to the Empress?

    Next time I¡¯ll order a crystal that you have to put in your butt.

    You¡¯re disgusting. I do as she says and spend the money on crystals I can use later, but this time, I get to shove them in my nostrils¡ªyeay! When she says meditate, I only have a rough idea on how to do that, despite the training I went through. Instead, I sit in the pose, I enhance my calm by draining then suppressing my emotions through my talents, and then concentrate on the flow of my symbiotes connecting with the power inside the crystals. Tova, this feels like witchcraft.

    You have tiny aliens attached to your heart that feed you Universe energy that can re-shape your body and lets you manifest objects with your mind. I¡¯m going to punch you in the brain right now and put you in a transitive coma.

    My vision jostles, fades to black for long enough for me to panic, and then fades back to . . . a lab? I near jump out of my simulated skin when I hear a voice behind me.

    ¡°I was so excited when your AI said we could meet in a construct!¡± I turn to find a five-foot nothing pixie with eyes that swirl if you look too long.

    ¡°Oh, uh, Sorry about my face. I legitimately though Fey and Pixies were stories.¡±

    The pixie woman titters like a wind chime. ¡°Best introduction ever: Sorry about my face.¡±

    I bury my face in my hands with extreme mortification. ¡°I¡¯d say it was a fluke, but I am super nervous, and I¡¯m uncomfortable negotiating for myself.¡± I take a few deep breaths that I know are imaginary. ¡°So you wanted to talk about gunpowder.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yes definitely. You see, your method of instilling aether in your alchemic works is inherently unstable until you finish your project with imbuements that counteract each other¡¯s instabilities. It took me a whole week to understand why your smokeless powder was decaying in efficacy so fast! I quite nearly booked a portal to come wring your neck in frustration!¡±

    Tova tells me there is one Astorian portal on this planet, and it takes two weeks on a boat to get to, and a hundred credits to book passage through the portal once you get there.

    ¡°Imagine my surprise when a sack of enchanted crystal dust and a small bale of shredded paper lands on my desk.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, but you promised the draw of piracy to go along with my explosives. How could I deny you the opportunity to make our weeks? I daresay I could not!¡±

    My explosives nerd is vibrating with excitement right now. ¡°You see, I heard that you couldn¡¯t build me a suitable rifle without solving the reaction first. I obviously want that sexy gun.¡±

    The cute pixy sighs and throws herself into a lounge chair that appears right before she hits it. ¡°And there¡¯s where the hitch comes in. I haven¡¯t managed to keep the arcane bronze casings from scarring the breach as the canisters rupture from your powder¡¯s expansion speeds and that nifty bit of Divine aspected aether.¡±

    ¡°Are you saying that after all of this work, the idea doesn¡¯t work? I could alter my ratios or leave some solvent in to bring down the high temperature and expansion rate of the powder, but I don¡¯t know how accurate I can be.¡± I spin a dozen test reactions through my head before I realize the woman is trying to get my attention again.

    ¡°This is why I wanted to meet. You see, I have vessels on the mind, all the time. Enchanting and Elemental smithing, and I can make a lot of cool things. The alchemist I have on staff for another project, doesn¡¯t do explosives. Imagine my excitement, when I see a new gunpowder float across my desk. Anyway, my question is, was there a reason you needed the canister? Do you need it to instill more stability on the mixture?¡±

    ¡°No . . . the only problems I was having with conceptually was the spark of aether necessary to ignite the powder in the first place.¡±

    ¡°Great! I have that part solved. I have the rest of the weapon you want actually, I just need to rebuild the magazine carriage and the breech to fire from a canister-less charge.¡±

    ¡°We talking blow injected, or compacted slug of granules?¡±

    ¡°Blow injected? That¡¯s an interesting idea, but on the ship scale I think. Person scale, I have two options, portal-based injection¡ªlike an Exchange delivery¡ªor a double-action bolt one to seat the round, and a second to mechanically inject the powder from the magazine. The downside of the portals is expense, the downside of the double-action is fouling and powder buildup in the trigger assembly and magazine housing.¡±

    ¡°Like, we talking ten rounds per clean or?¡±

    ¡°No, nothing that terrible. One hundred rounds or so per deep clean, and a blow into the housing between each magazine should keep complications away. It¡¯s not a great solution, but if you¡¯re putting a hundred rounds through a sniper rifle in a sitting, you have other problems.¡±

    That is true, my max sniper rounds on a mission was less than twenty. ¡°You¡¯re saying this like there¡¯s a catch. Did you scoop my product? Is the gun so expensive that I¡¯d have to work a lifetime to make enough credits for it?¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    She laughs at me and flicks a screen over to my side to look at. ¡°The two prices are what the rifle cost to make and what it would retail for on the exchange.¡±

    At four thousand credits, the cost is staggering. The Exchange market price is ten times that. I start crying in shock and frustration.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t do that. It was just a prelude to the rest of the conversation.¡± Her tone changes to one of a curious inventor to a comforting . . . mother? Moments later I feel a touch on my shoulder and something cold touching my hand. ¡°It¡¯s not real water, but it¡¯ll give you something to focus on.¡±

    When I look up, the first thing that hits me is how much smaller he looks up close. ¡°Thanks. I don¡¯t mean to be a mess, but I¡¯m in a weird place emotionally, and my adoptive sister is on a mission for a year, and . . .¡± I sigh, ¡°that¡¯s not relevant really. I don¡¯t suppose you have good news?¡±

    ¡°Andromeda, are you adorable.¡± She looks like she wants to pinch my cheeks but thinks better of it. ¡°I have other news. If you take it well, that¡¯s good I suppose. First, I want to buy this powder we¡¯ve made. Like industrial scale. My preferred deal is for you to commit to an initial buy of ten thousand units and ten years of exclusive distribution rights. You get preferred status for Astoria in the Exchange via Merc Arms, and you get the rifle and a thousand rounds plus one credit per unit in kilograms for compensation.¡±

    That does not sound like a terrible deal. Ten thousand credits worth of rifle, plus ten thousand in credits for the order, and I make it only for her company? How is this not some piracy on my part?¡±

    Rough estimates say she is undercutting the price your accelerant could bring in by forty percent. I don¡¯t have access to ¡®preferred status¡¯ as you are not currently established as a Vendor on the Exchange.

    ¡°Forgive my naivete, but what is preferred status?¡±

    Her head quirks to the side before she buries her face in menus. ¡°Blarg. Paperwork am I right.¡± She says and continues working. I see a flashing pop-up on my inbox but decide to wait until she¡¯s done to check them. ¡°Okay, so Preferred status is both a status and a decision to forego taxes and tariffs to preferred suppliers and vendors. I sent you some other documents that would bring down delivery fees, and finally, I sent the contract. Also I put in a little side deal to incentivize you to work with Merc Arms past our initial agreements.¡±

    Skim, skim, skim; As discussed as far as I can tell, she set up some odd things in contract two, and the third document is an offer for a pistol using my accelerant with a thousand rounds for 300 credits. Yup! Tova sighs in my mind

    I now understand why you verbalize agreements. You just indelicately agreed to the lot.

    ¡°Huh, that was easier than I thought.¡± The gun maker stated.

    ¡°I was mostly agreeing to the pistol purchase, but I¡¯m still new-ish to mental communications.¡±

    ¡°No way I¡¯m letting you off the hook then.¡± She grins, comically wide, exposing her alarmingly sharp teeth.

    The shock and horror must be apparent on my face.

    ¡°Relax, kid. The agreement was slightly better than anything you could have gotten on Earth, and much better than anything Warram Holdings would offer you. Now how long do you think it will take you to make my 10k units?¡±

    Shit, I¡¯d have to build a vacuum chamber, and even then, I don¡¯t have a stirring vat of any size. ¡°Two months if I spend my income smartly, a month or so after that.¡±

    ¡°That long? Do you have space, gear or money issues for getting my order out in a month? I already have a buyer for the pistols.¡±

    ¡°Miss mercer, I¡¯m an intermediate 3, level 8 alchemist. If I spend all my credits on gear, I won¡¯t be able to order the meals to replenish my aether.¡±

    She groans and wipes her hands across her face. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll see about getting you an Imperial exception to Citizenship requirements , and aether rations, if you agree to focus on my project.¡±

    Take that deal. Like now, before she realizes the full spectrum of what that means.

    ¡°Deal.¡± Sparkles flood out of my body and encase the both of us before quickly fading.

    ¡°Oh? System contracted eh? That was a clever move Kimber Novarro. Now before either of us get involved any further, I¡¯ll ask that you keep Merc Arms in mind should you develop any other exciting toys or components.¡±

    ¡°Wait! Please. I forgot to ask your name. I got so excited.¡± Blush and lower my head.

    ¡°Penelope Mercer. Owner of Merc Arms.¡± She says before disappearing from the construct.

    Well, should I look at my messages now or later?

    Time is lightly compressed here, Miss Mercer created the construct.

    /You have signed a contract on behalf of Nova Chem to supply Merc Arms with ten thousand kilos of Thrice Imbued Smokeless Powder and to an exclusive supply contract in exchange for a proprietary sniper rifle, ten thousand credits, and preferred status as an Astorian supplier./

    /You have signed a contract to express delivery in exchange for pending Provisional Citizenship rights of the Astorian Empire./

    /You have purchased an Enhanced Propellant Semi-automatic Pistol for 300 credits./

    You need to put in a manufacturing order. Maybe several.

    Before I collect my thoughts, the construct begins dissolving and I wake up dizzy from the experience, pulling the crystals from my nose immediately. I wash them before putting them in my pocket and start shuffling toward my Lab.

    I spend a few minutes to properly configure the permissions on my lab space for ordering, delivery, and general Exchange access. Moments after that, I start to understand Miss Mercer¡¯s frustration in dealing with me and the scope of the paperwork she filed for me.

    I now have a business menu and research the kind of vat with a stirring implement that can then be pumped into a vacuum chamber to dry partially, then transferred to an extruder to form pellets, then back to the vacuum chamber or a drying apparatus. The vat and the chamber ended up costing me 932 credits, but the vacuum chamber with combination vat and shaper is the coolest thing I¡¯ve ever seen.

    The shaper, which was almost half the bill, was a modified cracker conveyer with roll-cutter that the hired company put hydraulically operated barrier walls that seal to the outer edges of the conveyor to make a water-tight seal. I dump my treated plant pulp and crystal powder colloid into the conveyor pool-thing, then draw a vacuum on Plexi enclosure constructed around it. The 11k liter vat that I bought was fitted with pumping and stirring and all of the valves and lines. It needs to stand up to the nitric acid washes and then be rinsed then pseudo gelatinized in the infused ether alcohol that I can create. Then that slurry is pumped to the 10cu m conveyor setup, a quarter to a third vat at a time to evaporate the excess solvent.

    Luckily Tova had pushed me into asking about industrial production as soon as I figured the recipe out. I¡¯m glad she did as I had a several day head-start to find that the vat was a standard brewing size with a 2-day turnaround on other supply inputs. The conveyor was a spitball that a spacefaring food company bid on as a ration formation and dehydration apparatus, including condensation reclamation units so I can re-use about 55% of the imbued ethanol.

    A day to saturate, three days to dehydrate and a day to process, leaves us with two weeks and change to make 10 tons of powder?

    Ten tons of pre-evaporated slurry. You could meet this order in three weeks if we tweaked some things and sent the first batch to Merc to get more processing funds.

    She sends the changes into my visual imagination¡ªa cool yet creepy form of hallucination¡ªand I can definitely see it. A secondary drying area for pellets to get down to 3% saturation would take a secondary alcohol wash and evap. She imagines a space made for four 200 kilo bins. She also tells me the secondary space can be used for nearly all of my evap needs, such as the balm for heated evap. Plus, the first delivery should get me enough to order another evap conveyor, that I might not have the space for. Buh, I low-key need a factory for this.

    Tova, can you look through Astorian and Exchange records on moving whole apparatus via the Exchange. She chirps in the affirmative. I¡¯ve got a layout and a plan to fill Miss Mercer¡¯s order, the timelines require very little active work from me, and Warram work is barely keeping two days a week busy. I may just get a pass on this transition.

 A2: Chapter 12

    ¡°Kimber, you¡¯re late.¡±

    ¡°Sorry Doctor, I uh, had a big meeting this morning and I got side tracked.¡± I make myself small and pitiful while apologizing.

    ¡°Bigger than your life? Kimber, this is important you know.¡±

    ¡°I do! Please don¡¯t tell Marcella. Got level eight last night, and I haven¡¯t selected a module or anything. I have been jamming aether to help me with production, so I would definitely appreciate a scan.¡±

    She sighs, then asks me to get naked. I swear, maybe all doctors are pervs. I climb into the diagnostic suit and lie still for half an hour while she asks me health questions.

    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t gotten my period, yes, I can feel the disparity between my aether content and the food I¡¯m eating. Yes, I think you and Marcie are ridiculous. Doc! I would never! Don¡¯t make me shoot you!¡± Pervy doc asking pervy questions. I may or may not overreact because her stupid voice is sexy, and my hormones are kicking in.

    ¡°Kimber, you must tell me when you become sexually active. It could impact your partner as well, and after therapy and your initialization, it may be a trigger for your feminine development.¡±

    ¡°Doc, I swear, one of you needs to travel so you two can figure this out. Neither of you can live vicariously through me as I am a workaholic. Oh! Can you start testing my skin durability? I¡¯ve been experiencing explosions lately and I¡¯d like to test exposure immunity.¡±

    She stabs me with a calibrated needle and moves on. ¡°Okay, read your menu and accept your mods.¡±

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td rowspan="4" width="312">

    You have gained 2 module points.

    Please Chose from the following:

    </td>

    <td width="276">

    Alchemic Primer

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="276">

    Gun Fu!

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="276">

    Spell anchors

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="276">

    Enchanting Basics

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    1

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Tova!! Why did I make promises! Spell anchors and Gun fu would be sooooooooo great. She doesn¡¯t answer, so I do as I agreed and pick alchemy this mod juncture. Tova pulls the data upload into the back of my brain and Daniella records the results as she always does.

    The flood of info is more like a tide: The data isn¡¯t coming fast, but it is inevitable and heavy in its approach. Ten minutes of drooling on myself and a few of Tova pestering me, I can finally focus on the knowledge that the module sent me. My virtual Alchemy tome now has two hundred recipes from a corrosive cleaner to wood polish. Funny enough, some of the ingredients are parts of my smokeless powder recipe.

    <You have reached a half Mark in levels. Do you wish to receive your gift? Accept | Defer to 16>

    I¡¯ve been briefed enough that unless I am in dire need of a boost, I should not take the level 8 gift. Since I took some long-term contracts that have given me the boosts I want, I have no good reason to ask for the gift early. ¡°I¡¯m uploading and I deferred doc. I think that¡¯s the end of my options?¡±

    She nods and types into her interface. She stares at the data, manifests a stylus, chews on the end a second then writes a few notes on the side of whatever text she¡¯s looking at. ¡°Fairly standard response, much higher aether flux, but consistent with starting levels. User is at 40% aether saturation, assumably for crafting concerns. Contemplating loaning User research suit for daily monitoring¡±

    She continues making notes as she stares at the readout on the little cart-based monitoring device.  In my boredom, I change out into my civilian clothes and wait until she comes back to reality. Much to my dismay, she wants me to don the suit every week for an aether scan, but honestly, it¡¯s not that big of a hassle, and I like the chills her voice gives me. Marcella, you need to lock that down so I can cozy up between the both of you and purr in my contentment. Just don¡¯t try to pet me, or I¡¯ll bite you. Probably not though.

    ***

    Back in the lab, I have resins running through my brain and it¡¯s starting to bother me. Why would I need to know the recipe for thirty different resins!? One of them is based on the nitrocellulose that I imbue and make for my powder but treated with sulfuric acid and left to set with about 12% moisture content.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    While I¡¯m waiting for my deliveries from Astoria, I order some scrap wood shavings from an aether-average world for a Mark and then create a gallon of sulfuric acid from base components for the steeping. Just like the smokeless powder, ethanol is a solvent for the resultant product, and when I over apply ethanol and strain it, I get this, thick liquid that sets hard given enough time. Looking between my new vacuum chamber and my beaker full of bullshit, my brain decides to see what happens when I finely crush my accelerant granules to powder and mix it with the resin in a slurry. I decide to suspend a glass rod in the center of the can that I put this slurry in, I place it in the corner of the large vacuum chamber, to wait for my large order.

    The order comes in after dinner, and by that time I am frantically trying to occupy my mind while I impatiently wait to start a make or break project. During that time, Tova tells me that Miss Mercer arranged an expense account to start my first batch, which she would take out of my delivery funds. Mighty thoughtful of her, and it also means that she stands to make a ton from the deal she wants me to rush for. I just want the promised guns, and I don¡¯t get them until I start sending my part of the bargain. The wood product I get seems to be a pre-pulped shred in a paper making process. I¡¯m not sure how the natural inclusions are going to act, but the aether content is much higher than rough paper.

    I end up infusing both the resultant guncotton/nitrocellulose before the solvent phase, and then have to prep the hundreds of gallons of ethanol for imbuement. I¡¯m not sure what state the recovered ethanol will be in when I collect from the vacuum chamber, but I hope that a portion of the imbuement lasts so that I don¡¯t have to spend hours imparting aether to it again.

    The alarm I asked Tova to set blazes about one in the morning and it¡¯s time to transfer the slurry to the mold and form the first part of my explosive crackers. I make sure the remaining slurry is pressurized and contained so that it doesn¡¯t dry inside the tank while this first set dries. I drag myself back to my junior suite and crash into my fluffy bed and pass out on top of the covers.

    The next morning, I have a bunch of book-keeping messages from the crafting I engaged in the previous night that I mechanically read through while I slog down to the Canteen and sit down with a coffee and my meal and ask if Tova minded giving me condensed versions while I wake up.

    The biggest item is that you now have Citizen rights and an aether-based ration that you can order, for free, from the Exchange. Second, you didn¡¯t have to pay delivery fees last night and I have no idea why.

    It¡¯s hard to believe I met with Miss Mercer and set up a production line last night. Didn¡¯t we get a message from the System that said a 50% discount was applied to Citizen transfers? Does the preferred vendor thing cover the other 50%?

    I thought you would be more excited by the extra food, but I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s more likely that the fees are being taken from the expense account until we deliver the first batch. Oh, well, we have a new Mission from Medvedev Senior. Yep, we knew this was coming, they want you to create an infusion for Cocaine.

    Hells. ¡®Welcome to the family, start making drugs.¡¯ I return a message that said that Carlos was indelicate in warning me against infringing his market, and that I needed a recipe as it is not included in the Alchemic primer I just uploaded via module.

    ¡°Alright, let us try this ration thing.¡± I walk over to the kiosk in the canteen and order my breakfast ration. Infused omelet and raptor sausage? Alright, looks decent. I dig in and find that the aether content is agreeable and sustaining. The taste is consistent with the Summer Farms products I¡¯ve ordered before, and I know for a fact I have had this sausage that tastes like bacon before.

    After the discoveries of my first day as a business owner and a listed supplier for the Empire, I failed so much I got bored. My gunpowder is in the first stage of drying, I don¡¯t have any standing orders for chews or balm, so I¡¯ve really got research or tinkering left in my day.

    That is of course until one of Medvedev¡¯s assistants send me a two-sided photo of a napkin with a recipe on it. Now, as foolish as I am, I¡¯m not willing to trust pen marks on a disposable sanitation product. I do some research through the satellite network info-banks and find that the recipe I have shouldn¡¯t be hazardous, but also, there¡¯s no solid, maximized recipe for what I¡¯m trying to make, ¡®cause why would there be. Profits would suffer.

    Turns out, the farmer¡¯s recipe for making coke cakes requires more intuitive knowledge than the writer of said recipe conveyed. ¡®Rest in gasoline for a while¡¯ is not specific, nor is gasoline cheap these days. This ¡®recipe¡¯ must be a hundred years old. I¡¯ve read dozens of accounts of coca infusions, residual cocaine effects in those herbal infusions and I¡¯m having trouble reconciling what mechanisms are transferring or dissolving the right chemicals.

    I must have zoned out, because the head of Warram¡¯s Organized Crime wanders into my lab and starts yelling at me.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be that fucking hard, Novarro! People in Columbia do this in huts!¡±

    ¡°Then nab me a Columbian to question, boss! Right now, I can somewhat replicate the gasoline process with a lower efficiency because the precipitate stage isn¡¯t working right. But I can also get a cleaner product with alcohol extraction but at a much lower extraction rate. I can make your drugs, but not at the cost you¡¯re aking! Or at least not yet.¡±

    Medvedev gets closer with his meat mitts clenching near my face. ¡°I¡¯m willing to invest the money, but you need to show me better results next month or there will be consequences.¡±

    ¡°Boss, I¡¯m not pushing back. My solution right now is nab me a Columbian or get a spy to watch the process. I¡¯m missing a step that is crucial to extraction, and my current skill isn¡¯t filling the gaps. I should be getting two to three times the product I¡¯m getting from the kilos of leaves I¡¯ve been experimenting with. I¡¯m not a chemist, boss. I understand infusions more than the various chemical processes that are happening.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m limiting your access to the Canteen until you figure this out.¡± He storms out.

    I want to shout at him and throw my contract in his face, but that¡¯s the wrong way to attack that problem. Instead, I decide to rely on the tingle of wrongness niggling at the base of my brain. I don¡¯t think the system will let him unless I want to breach this contract. Let us see what happens shall we? Worse come, I have those nifty new rations to eat.

 A2: Chapter 13

    The following week, nothing has happened to my meals, but there is a man shackled to a chair in my lab. ¡°Uh, hola senor, habla englais?¡±

    He shakes his head. Well, that makes things more difficult. I¡¯ve been slacking on my Spanish training. What follows is one of the more frustrating pantomime exchanges I¡¯ve ever been through. I leave to get food for the both of us and unchain one of his hands while I stare at my napkin recipe. I hear scarfing and sloppy eating, and then a scooting chair.

    I look up to see the newest member of my staff looking at my napkin and poking at a part that doesn¡¯t translate well to English, or my process.

    ¡°No Creo, no idea what you¡¯re saying.¡± He gestures for a writing implement. I grab him a pencil.

    He draws a scale from one to fourteen, draws a segmented bar at 5, maybe chocolate? He shows the addition of ¡®ground salt¡¯ to push it toward 7 and a wavy liquid symbol.

    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about chocolate, I¡¯m talking about Coca leaves!¡± I shout and pace around my chair. I watch him scribble an arrow from the bar to a ball, or seed? Okay, yah, chocolate comes from a bean like coffee does. He then draws a leaf, then uses arrow to point to a tree.

    ¡°Empress am I dumb. Chocolate and Cocaine come from the same plant.¡± I grab the paper and pencil, draw the leaf at a low PH and then write the poorly translated concept plus a rise in PH and a question mark.¡±

    He grabs my hands and nods his head with vigor. I do a brief bit of looking on the Astorian version of a satellite information network and find that you can raise the PH of chocolate with an alkalization process. Makes the product more soluble in liquids. Son of a bitch.

    I take out some snacks and unshackle his other arm, thanking him in Spanish. I then ask if he has family, to which he shakes his head and replies with some form of dead. I then ask if he would like work and pay and he starts crying while grabbing my hands again and shaking his head and my hands vigorously. His nod is a little all over the place but I mostly think that meant ¡®yes¡¯.

    I make him a little nook with a cot but leave him shackled to the chair so he can¡¯t move without making noise and carrying the chair.  He can lie down and sleep though. He obviously doesn¡¯t trust the change in attitude, but after watching me blend coca leaves with lime in three different solvent attempts: Kerosene, Mineral spirits, and ethanol for the ¡®gasoline¡¯ of the process.  It¡¯s supposed to sit for a day or two, so once my buckets are set and capped I set to run tests on my explosive crackers after I message Medvedev that the Columbian man identified a problem I had with the recipe and that I am now testing the modified process.

    I spend the next half hour nuggetizing the powder wafers into large rolling bins to stay in the next drying chamber while I pour additional slurry into the mold for another 3-day vacuum process. After that, I order a few MRE¡¯s from the exchange along with a pillow and a few blankets. I¡¯ll see about a chest or a trunk . . . or I could get a bank of lockers for people to put guns and flammable materials in when they¡¯re in my lab!! Hells yes. I quickly order a bank of five lockers and one safe put toiletries and a change of clothes for the man in the first one. He can clean up in the emergency shower in the morning.

    I put my tools away and set the room¡¯s security setting to locked up and lock the poor man in my sterile, inhospitable lab.

    ***

    I talked with Paolo about the time frame on ¡®wait a while¡¯ on the solvent process, and he gestured over his head thrice and I assume he means three days. After those days pass I process the mash as I previously had, and my yield on all three test solvents is increased by at least 40%. I¡¯m not quite at the target of our southern hemisphere counterparts, but this jump in yield signifies we¡¯re on the right path. I put samples in bags and schedule a meeting with the boss.

    I talk with Paolo some more and show him to his locker full of toiletries and clothes and discussing with him how security in my lab is going to go after I release him from the actual chains that he¡¯s currently wearing. I agree to only put restraints on his feet at night, and hiring a guard during the day as he goes about some simple tasks I¡¯ve given him. I hate that I feel the need to restrain him, but it¡¯s pretty impossible to trust a stranger who makes drugs after only having met him three days ago.

    I¡¯m poking and prodding my resin-cordite brick when I get a message to report to the lounge after dinner. I look at the time and I have an hour and a half before the Cantina opens for meals, which means a solid three hours before I¡¯m expected on the high-floor lounge the message referenced.

    I start testing shavings and then cored tubes of the block and find that it is definitely flammable but it would make a poor solid fuel as a detonation signal propagates slowly and it¡¯s not porous enough to allow the solid fuel to allow combustion on anything but the resin vapor. It gives me ideas for a wetted cordite RPG propellant, but the experiment is otherwise a bust.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Not having time to start anything new, I cue up some Spanish lessons and wait for dinner.

    My meal was uneventful and most of the people that do make eye contact with me shudder while watching me eat my highly toxic food. I chuckle inside as I realize only a fool would steal food from me now that Carlos is out of commission. Good, it¡¯s mine anyway.

    Before I know it, I¡¯m back on the 40<sup>th</sup> floor and a teenager asks me how I can be of service. ¡°Is Prudence working this evening? I would like her company again.¡± I realize my error as soon as I say it and know that they¡¯ll fetch her even if she¡¯s not supposed to be working. I should have just left it at the question. ¡°In the meantime, I believe I am expected for an audience with the Boss.¡±

    The teen and the waiting attendant whisper to each other and then walk briskly in opposite directions. I sigh at the waiting game, but without the clout of my mentor, I can¡¯t just walk un-escorted to Medvedev¡¯s preferred area¡ªor so Marcella warned me.

    When Prudence arrives she escorts me to Medvedev, Lamar, and . . . a hologram? I can¡¯t tell if it¡¯s being projected in my HUD or in our 3-D space, but it¡¯s an oddity just the same.

    ¡°Greetings Boss, Mister Lamar and guest.¡± Medvedev flicks his fingers at me, a clear gesture to sit. I nod and do so, while sending a text to Prudence for an infused juice and something sweet.

    ¡°Show me your samples.¡± He orders, briefly splitting his attention from his menus.

    I stand and pull three baggies from my coat, one labeled ethanol, one kerosene and the last gas. The boss inspected all three and pulled out a small device that he dipped in each sample of coke.

    ¡°The ethanol seems to be the cleanest based on the different number of impurities, but the amount of product is less. Why?¡± His tone was measured, though curt. I can¡¯t tell if his impatience is malicious or not.

    ¡°This is a proof of concept, sir, my best guess is that the petroleum products are actually different percentages of half a dozen volatile chemicals, and ethanol is one. The petrol products are much harder to imbue with aether because of their non-homogenous natures, however, I think I can bring Ethanol up to a similar yield within a week with some optimization.¡±

    Officer Lamar speaks up, ¡°And would the optimizations for the petrol chemicals increase efficiency as well?¡±

    Well, yes, probably; but I don¡¯t want to say that. I huff, ¡°Yes in product but not in process. If we want infused coke, even if I make 10% less with an ethanol process, we gain it back with it being twenty to forty percent harder to imbue the petrol chemicals. In this case, it¡¯s more about my aether expenditure and throughput than how efficient each chemical is. Well, unless I find a different point in which to imbue the process, but so far, the solvent is the best receiver of my aether.¡±

    Lamar and Medvedev both look to the hologram and wait. The hologram taps his chin and starts sorting through a book and mumbling.

    ¡°She¡¯s most likely correct, gentlemen. The aether recovery on Earth is nonexistent and the medical data says she¡¯s already absorbing as much is safe from her ration and supplemented food stuffs.¡± The hologram turns to me before asking another question. ¡°About how much more potent is the high from the original drug, Miss Novarro?¡±

    ¡°From my five test subjects: from ten to fifty percent more potent?¡±

    ¡°I request a sample to verify this, but otherwise, I think we can do business with Warram.¡± The hologram says with a shallow smile. Medvedev smiles back.

    ¡°Novarro will send them via kiosk once I¡¯m finished talking with her this evening.¡± The Boss says, tasking me and telling me to make myself comfortable for a long discussion. The hologram nods their head and blinks out.

    Jamal and the Boss are occupied for the meantime, so I too get into my menus and look at how much coke I could produce if I stopped making gunpowder and then looked at some costs of mix and matching some gear for drug production specifically.

    I get Prudence¡¯s attention for a glass of something fizzy and fruity and when I look back, eyes are on me again.

    ¡°Now that we have a customer and the capability, let¡¯s talk capacity.¡± Lamar states. ¡°We have a local market for ten kilos a month and now interests for around a hundred kilos a month. What does that look like to you, miss Navarro?¡±

    Ten I could handle, but a hundred? What the hells kind of operation do they think I have?! I make the gestures associated with me navigating menus for their benefit before answering.

    ¡°A commercial facility with like a thousand credits worth of gear if we find an old brewery, maybe three times that if I need to buy everything. This is a scale of equipment and money that I am not familiar with, and I am not the best at doing quick math.¡±

    ¡°Nor am I in the habit of handing new members a fortune, despite your history of sensible purchases. Let¡¯s talk about people. How many does it take for your current process?¡±

    ¡°That I can answer. Rotating shift to monitor the gear and press a few buttons when the next step is ready. So bare minimum would be two if we¡¯re using obscurity as security, four if we want to be more diligent.¡± The Boss¡¯ face is emotionless and calculating, while Lamar drums his fingers on his lounger while sipping his drink.

    Speaking of drinks, Prudence comes back with a tall skinny glass with something pink and fizzy. I sip it and it fruity and the fizz bites the back of my tongue in the way that I was looking for.

    ¡°Prakesh could use it for a punishment detail, and all of us have some manual labor that are trainable with terrible tracks.¡±

    Medvedev nods and sips his whiskey before pulling out a half-smoked cigar. His female attendant is quick with a lighter. He takes a long drag and puffs the smoke into a few rings before exhaling completely.

    ¡°That was your cue to leave, Navarro.¡± The Boss says.

    I nod and stand. ¡°Good evening gentlemen,¡± I say, in an effort to be polite as I¡¯m dismissed. I find a few Marks in my pocket, hand them to Prudence and continue on to the elevator with my fizzy drink. Now I just need to survive whomever they send to manage me.

 A2: Chapter 14

    A few weeks pass as I attempt to dial in my formula while still producing a few kilos a week, and Paolo has been surprisingly willing to help. I¡¯m learning Spanish at an accelerated rate, but I can¡¯t quite have the conversations I want to have with him. The important one, though, was if he wanted to stay in Vegas and work for me.

    ¡°Will I get my own room and pay?¡±

    ¡°Have I not paid you yet? Shit Paolo.¡± I transfer him five credits. ¡°As for the room. My boss wants to move production to a new location, and my idea was to build you a room and an office there, and you¡¯d be the site manager?¡±

    ¡°Paolo in charge of people?¡± He seems to be excited enough to try to ask in English this time.

    ¡°In a month or so after we do a run or two at the new location, I know they¡¯ll bring in more people. First, you will help me set the factory up, then . . . you can use a pistol?¡±

    He makes two gestures that I take for preferring shotgun or rifle. I let him know that I¡¯ll scrounge him up something as long as he signs an employment contract. He says he would sign it today if I would take the shackles off. I shrug, ask Tova to send him a contract that pays two credits a week plus batch bonuses for meeting quotas, food and board. I have her add clauses that he cannot intentionally harm me or my interests and I will provide him the tools to do the job. I set the length for five years with the option to renegotiate at years two and four.

    He asks if he can recommend people to hire and when I say I can¡¯t guarantee they¡¯ll get retrieved he looks a bit crestfallen but signs the contract anyway. I take the restraints off and he jogs around a bit before putting his hands on his hips to take a deep breath.

    ¡°Anything you need before I go off to some meetings?¡± he makes a shooting motion. I shrug and ask Kenneck if I can rent some range time for an employee and see if I can buy an old hunting rifle or something. He replies that he¡¯s got a new kid that needs something to do and it¡¯ll cost me two Marks an hour. Sweet, that¡¯s not half bad. I pass Paolo off to Kenneck¡¯s assistant, who luckily speaks Spanish.

    ¡°Where¡¯d you find this guy?¡±

    ¡°You heard that Carlos put himself in the hospital?¡± He nods, ¡°Well, the Boss decided that since I was involved . . . I guess, that I needed to learn how to make drugs to replace the income the Org. was losing. I was having issues, and when the Boss asked me if money wasn¡¯t an issue, what would I need to make it work. I said a Columbian. A few days later, I got Paolo.¡±

    ¡°They got you pulling double duty now eh? Rumor has it they gave Miss Fontaine a long mission just to separate you two.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a rumor. That¡¯s what happened. I think the Officers are looking to take their frustrations with her out on me, and exploitation seems the method of choice.¡±

    ¡°Yep. I remember my younger days. Gangs did the same shit before Global Initialization, there¡¯s just less brutality now as the System can help people be less useless. Well, don¡¯t let me keep you. We have a group coming through in two hours, so try to be back by then.¡±

    ¡°So, three credits to buy the gun and the Range time?¡±

    He waggles four fingers, ¡°and I throw in a few boxes of bullets.¡± I nod at that and transfer the funds.

    I make my way to the Canteen, apparently that¡¯s where my meeting with my new liaison is. I don¡¯t see anyone, so I get my lunch from the Canteen and have my ration delivered as well.

    ¡°Kimber Novarro, I¡¯m Russel Swain.¡±

    I nod in greeting, when I fail to stand or hold my hand out, Swain sits. ¡°Please excuse my lack of gestures. Hard to tell when I might flick too much aether at someone.¡±

    He stares at my plates and eyes the meat warily. ¡°By now, everyone has heard about Carlos¡¯ unfortunate fate. That said, I will be your distribution liaison. The first thing I wanted to talk with you about is that offsite location. You are to scout and seize a suitable location for large-scale production. Once you have it secure, I want you to move your coca operation to the facility and start producing.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good, who¡¯s paying for the renno of the new space?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? You have the equipment, you move it. Do I need to speak louder and slower?¡±

    Oh fuck you. ¡°You do know that most of the buildings outside a mile don¡¯t have connected services. It takes money, I get paid 5 credits a week, and that¡¯s nowhere near the thousands I¡¯ll need to refit a facility for large-scale production.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Figure it out. You want to be an operator? Start thinking like one.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking about smearing this fish on your face and waiting to talk to your replacement. Instead, I¡¯ll just take a commitment to reimburse my purchases to make this happen.¡±

    ¡°Sure sure. After the first run of product.¡±

    Now I¡¯m almost certain this scab is trying to take advantage of me. Medvedev and Lamar had diligent about not invoking my contract skills, but they had said that Warram funds would be set aside for this. I see a brief tinkle of gold sparkles fall over his head, and then send a note to Marcella about this Russel guy.

    ¡°Interesting approach. I¡¯m starting to think that trying to bully me is a pastime.¡±

    He chuckles at that, ¡°Riding the new Members hard is a tradition. Now stop wasting time and get to work.¡± He gets up and stares at me. It makes me uncomfortable so I get up and move to a different table.

    To my annoyance, he follows me and starts yelling. ¡°I gave you an order, move your ass Novarro!¡±

    ¡°I want to help, but it takes aether for me to do my job and Earth has very little. For me, eating this toxic food is prepping me for work. So the less I have to explain the quicker I can get back to recharging, and moving my ass.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to dock your pay for this you little shit.¡± He growls before storming off.

    There¡¯s no clause for that in my contract, asshole. And you¡¯re not even listed as an officer, so who the fuck do you think you are?! Of course I don¡¯t say this out loud, but it does make me feel that this is getting shady. I have some fun ideas to mitigate this.

    /Do you know anyone named Russel Swain?/

    \Hey Kimber, is this an emergency or can I chat back later?\

    /Later is fine./ I get a chirp and move on with my day.

    After sending a message to Haley at the Health Club, asking if they were interested in a few credits a person for a breach and evacuate job in a few days, I meander back to the range, utterly disappointed in my meetings for the day. When I set up a location myself, I¡¯ll be poor again. On that note, I send a note to Mercer to see how the product was performing and if there would be another order in the next few months.

    When I get to the range, three men are shooting the shit with Kenneck holding the rifle I bought for Paolo. He hands it to me as I walk up.

    ¡°He¡¯s a decent shot, but his discipline is terrible. He shouldn¡¯t be seen carrying it inside the casino.¡± I check the weapon over and lock the bolt back. ¡°You about to run a private mission or something?¡± Obvious interest in his eyes.

    ¡°I owe another team some gratitude, but if they turn me down, I¡¯ll shoot you a message, yeah?¡± He nods and I collect Paolo to head back to the Lab. While we walk, I pick his brain about the kind of place he would seize if he had his preferences. His reply was mostly ¡°lots of ventilation, smell will be terrible.¡± It takes me a while to think of a local brewery or a commercial laundry service.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    The brewery was a thought of convenience. They have gear I want, and the pumps and enclosed mixing tanks would work for this drug process or several of my personal projects. The laundry because it¡¯s a nearly perfect facility for handling heat, moisture, chemicals and vents. Tova finds me three facilities to check out, so I ask Paolo if he wants to go for a walk.

    ***

    It¡¯s rarely the first place you go that you fall in love with, but this monstrous factory floor with chem tanks, pumps, filters and the agitation chamber-like space where so many pipes go is so perfect for what I have in mind it''s as though the System sent me here. Now we just have to fight off the mold and the rodents.

    Paolo clicks his tongue at me and I draw my shiny new pistol.

    ¡°Whoa, pops, no need to sick your kid on us. You¡¯re in our place though, so you should probably leave.¡± When I turn, I see a kid about my age with two older teens with guns flanking the boy.

    ¡°Well, friend. This place is perfect for me and I want to move in. Care to negotiate?¡± I grin in a predatory way, going for intimidation. The boy quirks his head, while one of his toughs steps forward.

    ¡°Calm down Steve. She¡¯s got us out-classed. Rare Track, Magic user, tier two weaponry.¡±

    Oh shit. That kid either has a killer appraisal skill suite or he¡¯s got a mind Track.

    ¡°Mm, a bit of both, actually. You are hard to read unless you¡¯re thinking directly about me. How interesting. You mentioned negotiation? We are interested in stability and a chance to grow in relative safety.¡±

    ¡°I am interested in cleaning and restoring services to this laundry facility. My plans after that are my own, unless you think you could work for me?¡±

    ¡°Mmm, need more assurance. We don¡¯t want to leave.¡± Why the hell would you stay here instead of a smaller, more easily heat-able building? ¡°Yes, it is odd, but with the chemicals here, the containers and the clothing, we can store clean water for a long time, and we have enough warmth through nearly limitless clothing and burnable material.¡± I stare in shock. I thought me and the grubs had it rough.

    Paolo taps me on the shoulder and nods to agree with them.

    ¡°Well, my poverty and hard work consultant agrees that would be a great reason to stay. Counterpoint, would you accept living in an adjacent building if it got connected to facilities and you could take the clothing and linens with you?¡±

    Steve taps the boy¡¯s arm and he brushes it off. ¡°What about compensation?¡±

    I snort at that, ¡°I feel running water and access to the Exchange is pretty good. However, I will likely have regular cleaning and disposal work and I pay 1 credit per person per week.¡± I look around, ¡°Obviously the first job will pay more. Also, if you work four hours or more in a day, I will feed you.¡±

    Ooh, promise of regular food and paying them for the work they do seems doable.

    ¡°We are responsible for twenty kids.¡±

    And there¡¯s the catch. Fuck. ¡°I can only afford to hire ten for this job until I start making product here. But everyone will be able to access the utilities and the Exchange, of course.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll need fifty credits up front.¡±

    ¡°No way. One credit a piece up front, an additional credit each in three days, and a two credit bonus if you do a good job quickly. Two meals a day for the ten workers as well.¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to be offensive? You¡¯re shorting me at least ten credits.¡±

    I grit my teeth at his gumption, but lately I¡¯ve been feeling like I¡¯m being taken advantage of too, so I¡¯ll ask a few questions instead of just being a thug. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bite. How many of your kids are under twelve, and how many are used to prolonged manual labor?¡± I stare hard at the boy. He tries to stare me down, but I know I have restrained violence in my eyes.

    ¡°Listen, I don¡¯t really care how old or how many actual workers you have. You clean this place in ten days or less. You¡¯ll get forty credits no matter how many participate. As long as two of you can help me and Paolo clean once a week, you can stay in an adjacent building with utilities and Exchange access for free. Maybe you don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair, but it¡¯s better than you¡¯ll get from anyone else¡±

    ¡°What if we don¡¯t agree to that?¡± one of the toughs asks.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you an hour to gather your grubs and leave. Then I come after the three of you, pull you apart, and see how the other kids feel about my deal. I¡¯m tired of being fucked with this week, and you all are starting to test my patience.¡±

    The boy slaps the questioner¡¯s arm and says, ¡°We¡¯ll take your deal.¡± I see gold sprinkles to know that it was accepted in good faith, and then I look at my interface to see what this building is about.

    <A claim on this property has been relinquished to you under contract, would you like to claim this property? Yes | No>

    Yes please. ¡°Excellent, if someone can show me the other building, I will make sure to connect the utilities when I rig this place, we can get this started.¡± I look down to the boy and levy my discerning gaze on him.

    [Kyle Cooper. Mentalist-5. Community leader.] Okay, that¡¯s a lot of responsibility. I wire him the twenty credits I promised.

    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be an ass Kyle, I¡¯ve got some shit going on too, but I can respect you trying to take care of your community. If we work well together, we¡¯ll talk about how we can keep the both of us stable, yeah?¡±

    He nods. ¡°I¡¯d like that, Kimber.¡±

    The building they show me is a five story office building that has multiple rooms and bathrooms on each floor. Interesting choice of community housing. After I claim the building and add it to Nova Chem¡¯s portfolio, I spend the 200 hundred credits for a local repeater Exchange Kiosk for the office break room on the first floor. Through that, I decide to look up some utilities options.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="96">

    Basic Utility

    </td>

    <td width="450">

    Water and Electricity for up to 100

    </td>

    <td width="78">

    100cr

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="96">

    Community

    Utility

    </td>

    <td width="450">

    Water, Electricity, and waste disposal for up to 1000.

    </td>

    <td width="78">

    1000cr

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="96">

    Commercial

    Utility

    </td>

    <td width="450">

    Water, Electricity, with waste recycling for up to 5000. Lowest tier for continuous utility use.

    </td>

    <td width="78">

    5000cr

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="96">

    Municipal Utility

    </td>

    <td width="450">

    Water, Electricity, with waste recycling for up to 10000. Lowest tier for reactive management of multiple utility nodes.

    </td>

    <td width="78">

    10000cr.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Tova, what does the Exchange mean by waste recycling?

    /Query: Waste recycling

    \Answer: Waste recycling is a common process in modern utility services. Much of Humanity¡¯s trash and sewage can be used for fuel, and those that can¡¯t can be compacted and taken for raw materials.

    Not only is it the best option, it¡¯s also the most responsible option. Does it have to take the rest of the money I made on my gunpowder job? Blarg. Goodbye 5200 credits.

    The system shows me a wireframe profile of the buildings I¡¯ve claimed and show the depth of piping and other utilities that were previously present. I chose a place directly below the Laundry about fifty feet down for the utility complex and place the access ladder inside one of the industrial dryers. I take note of the trash collection location and read the notices of additional fees for altering the plan after the Utility is installed.

    <You have Established a New Settlement!>

    /Multiple buildings connected to Utility

    /Multiple Family occupants

    /Commercial Enterprise present.

    <The best model that describes your settlement is Work Cooperative. Please name your Settlement>

    Camp Elsewhere. Amusing name, let¡¯s go. Also what¡¯s the difference between settlement models?¡±

    It has to do with government and taxation. You and Kyle are cooperative independent entities, but you¡¯re nominally the head of the Co-op. Settlements get Empire payouts every year and as a Coop, each entity will get a portion of that pay.

    <Your Citizenship is merely provisional, and thus you cannot declare your Settlement for the Empire. Would you like to register any alliances? Yes | No>

    Uh, the settlement was claimed and funded by Nova Chem.

    <Your settlement has been re-classified as Company Town.>

    <Nova Chem has registered an affiliation with Merc Arms>

    Aww, crap, I bet Mercer saw that.

    And you¡¯d be right. She sent you a message saying so and that she wants to meet face to face in the next month. That and you have priority messages from Haley and Marcella.

    \Haley: I got a weird message from Marcella. You didn¡¯t do that job alone did you?\

    \Marcella: Did you die? Or are you accidentally awesome?\

    /Accidentally awesome, I like that. Certainly not dead, and certainly frayed./

    \I got this weird message that ¡®I am no longer the Caretaker for Kimber Novarro.¡¯ Any idea what that¡¯s about?\

    /Hi Marcella, I¡¯m Tova, Kimber¡¯s AI. She started a settlement and leaders of settlements are considered adults throughout the Supercluster./

    \Hey Tova, nice to meet you. Kimber, I love and hate you right now. Love that you¡¯re paving your own path, but I am super jealous that you did what I am trying to do right now. Any advice?\

    I laugh like I¡¯m unstable. /I bet that hurt to admit. How are you feeling?/

    \Much worse now, thanks ass. Divulge the deets brat.\

    /You need an income producing business as a part of the community with the multiple resident groups and the Community Utility. Or at least that¡¯s what my notifications say./

    /That is certainly something we don¡¯t have yet. Thanks squirt! And glad you¡¯re okay./

    /Thanks sis./

    I grin at the feeling of her being proud of me. That¡¯s a solid week¡¯s worth of attention recharge. I text Haley that I¡¯m okay and that I talked to my Mentor.

    As much as the day has tired me, the sun still hangs above the horizon, and there¡¯s work to be done. I message Kyle that all trash, no matter the kind, goes into the Waste Collection Lift that was recently installed¡ªlike ten minutes ago.

    ¡°Este Buena, Quimica,¡± he pats me on the back and he shares his display to point at the soiled linen and general refuse collection item on a ¡®to do list¡¯ and slings his rifle over his back.

    ¡°Is there a way to use linen and resin to blow things up?¡±

    Is that all you think about? Anyway, no, though the concept is a key component to layered, non-metal armors.

    I like consultations. I send a question out to the Astorian crafting forums about textile uses in armors and non-tailor applications.

    The smile that started with a conversation with Marcella continued through the night as a crafting company I own now has an independent base of operation. If only I didn¡¯t suspect the headache that was coming.

 A2: Chapter 15

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you brought any product with you?¡± Russel asks. I ended up texting with Marcella about him and she says he¡¯s a toady and as far as she knows, not an officer.

    ¡°I delivered 100 kilos to my Warram contact days ago. Why don¡¯t I have my reimbursement for the equipment yet?¡±

    ¡°You handed off the delivery!? What part of I¡¯m your liaison don¡¯t you fucking understand?¡±

    ¡°The part where you left me out to dry with no money to buy supplies. I had to take a loan out and so I owe your cut to the people that gave me that loan until you reimburse me for the equipment and I can pay them off.¡±

    ¡°You what!? You took my money to pay someone else?¡± That¡¯s when Russel lost control of the meeting by laying into me. If he doesn¡¯t let up, I¡¯ll burn some mana and take him down with me, however, a person that loses their minds when they apparently haven¡¯t invested any money in the project is super fishy and I want to see where it goes.

    I spit blood on the fancy prick¡¯s shoes.

    He grabs me by the hair and screams in my face. I can¡¯t tell what he¡¯s saying because I¡¯m too engrossed in the idea of what would happen if I bit his nose off.

    ¡°Fuck this and fuck you, I¡¯m taking you in front of the Boss. He¡¯ll put you in your fucking place.¡±

    This is when Russel revealed he has enough personal flaws to not do his homework on me. He does decide to cuff me, which is a point in his column¡ªI don¡¯t have very many good ways to break these. He tripped me repeatedly down the hall, chuckling as my face impacted the ground. The first time he looked to find misery on my face, but when he saw a bloody smile he kept doing it to change my response.

    I¡¯m smiling because the first run in the new facility I did go through him. He took his cut and when I asked about the reimbursement he promised, he kicked it down the road. The second run a few weeks later, I only gave him half a shipment with a note in half of the bricks that the buyers were being cheated, and to contact me. The third run, I put half through Russel and half direct to buyer and continued to complain about the lack of funds and needing that reimbursement. He hadn¡¯t even paid for my supplies yet, so there was a lot going on. The fourth run, completed  a few days ago, I went direct to buyer, got paid on time and in full, all I had to do was pay some thugs and Haley¡¯s team to protect me from ¡®ideas¡¯ the drug dealers on the other side of the bargain might have about dealing with kids.

    After we got out of the elevator, he punched me in the gut, so I hammed it up and made him drag me. He did it backwards by the cuffs, which is a unique kind of pain. By the time he knocks on the door, I¡¯m ready to kill him despite the maneuvering I¡¯m about to reveal. After five minutes of waiting, a deep, yet calm voice tells us to come in.

    Russel drags me in and deposits me on the floor, to bleed on the fine rug that Medvedev¡¯s rug sits on.

    ¡°Now this is an arrangement I never thought I¡¯d see.¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s improper, but . . .¡± Russel stops talking, I assume a gesture from the big man.

    ¡°Kimber, stop pretending and stop bleeding on my rug.¡± I sigh heavily, roll to my knees and stand up proper. And because I¡¯m dramatic and have gorilla arms, I jump through my cuffed arms and roll my wrists in front of me with a grin.

    ¡°You have to have a skill or something for that. I¡¯m not faking getting beaten up if I actually get beat up!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the tension in your limbs. You should be tired from the beating. You weren¡¯t.¡± he nods and continues to write in a large folio.

    ¡°Boss, I . . .¡± Medvedev raises his hand to silence him.

    ¡°Our cocaine sales are almost as profitable as before Carlos was mutated. So imagine my surprise when you walk in with my Alchemist in cuffs. She may be difficult to work with, and her ego could use some tempering, but I have never met a soul that would call her a cheat or a thief.¡±

    ¡°Well, she certainly went behind my back to sell to the buyers and cheated me out of my cut of the last shipment. That and the constant whining about the work, her compensation, and other new member complaints.¡± Slid in a jab to discredit my position by age. Might have worked if my Track wasn¡¯t a hard counter to thieving bullshit.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°Oh, I thought he¡¯d have more to say. I did actually go behind his back, but since his effort and monetary investment in the last shipment was exactly zero, he was not owed.¡±

    ¡°You little shit, you know you have a contract with me and . . .¡±

    ¡°Show me the contract Russel.¡± The boss demands.

    Russel squirms, ¡°It was verbal and not exactly written down.¡±

    Medvedev sighs, ¡°as much as I would normally side with a long-standing member of the Organization, it has been as yet impossible for Kimber Novarro to agree to something and not form a binding contract.¡± He looks at me with a tired glare over his bifocals and a motion to move forward with his hand.

    I proffer the scrolls I¡¯ve been keeping for forty plus days. ¡°Here¡¯s the reimbursement agreement, here¡¯s the agreement where we would work together for mutual profit. Here¡¯s the ledger of incurred expenses after the promise of reimbursement, and here¡¯s the recouped expenses by putting his cut of the last deal toward his debt as by established tradition. By that same tradition, I am empowered to recoup his debt to me as I see fit.¡±

    ¡°This is a sham! There is no way to make a system contract without my express permission!¡± Russel displayed his complete lack of understanding that he was well and truly fucked.

    The boss growls, ¡°you shout at me again and I will pull out your tongue.¡± He then turns his gaze to me. ¡°You¡¯ll never hear me say it again, Kimber, but I appreciate that you¡¯ve brought this to me before resorting to violent action.¡± I nod in acknowledgement. ¡°That being said, I hate to admit that the Organization owes you material costs that we were told had already been handled. I would like our debt to be resolved with reimbursement of those costs.¡± I nod and a new contract forms.

    Oh? A hold harmless while damages are assessed? That¡¯s a new one. Magic is quirky.

    ¡°But that still leaves,¡± Medvedev pushes up his bifocals and leans toward the ledger. ¡°over twelve thousand credits of incurred debt?¡± He looks up at Russel, anger no longer in his eyes, just overwhelming disbelief. ¡°By pre-initialization rules, accumulated debt beyond a million old US dollars is a life debt. She let you double that so that even if you had the money, you could not pay two life debts. She let you lapse your thirty day debt repayment period and cleverly abused the debt accumulation rules. By my own rules, your life is hers, and there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡±

    Russel twitches and I pull on my speed talent to blow holes in both of his feet.

    ¡°He looked like a runner. That and the buyers that think he¡¯s been cheating them offered a grand to turn him over. That and I¡¯m claiming his assets as owed to me for his deceit.¡± He looks at the struggling man and sighs.

    ¡°I hate that you¡¯re causing my Crime Business such trouble.¡± He sighs and pulls a folder out of a drawer in his desk and opens it. ¡°I have an idea that will help cement you in the Organization and also appease my lust for progress. Half of the middleman fee will be paid to the Organization with the transaction tax. The other half of whatever Russel was supposed to take will be put back into the Org in a way that you see fit. Facility upgrade, selectee sponsorship, basically anything that benefits the Org as a whole. If you need a big sum, you can collect it in a holding account for up to a year before applying it.¡±

    ¡°That, I think is an excellent use of a middleman¡¯s fee. Can I ask that future orders come through quests? Even if the reward is two xp one credit? To ensure that the order is official?¡± The boss nods.

    ¡°You see, with Marcella¡¯s efforts with you appearing successful, and Danielle¡¯s experiments with aether and development potential looking promising; It makes sense to me to find a sponsor that has experience in both.¡± He looks at me waiting for a response.

    Even though it¡¯s only a few moments, I¡¯m embarrassed that he was talking about me specifically. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m flattered, sir, but shouldn¡¯t that wait until I¡¯m tier 1?¡± I worry my hands together, uncomfortable with more responsibility in such a short time.

    ¡°That would be Ideal, but our algorithm has suggested a date range for selecting a new class of potential members, and the last date is just before your next birthday. So you¡¯ll have until the last group arrives to come to terms with sponsoring an orphan and training them in the manner that you were trained. We queried our predictive analysts and our newest, Jamie, even suggested three young women that would benefit from . . . you. Not sure what that means, but Marcella seems to think that Bosses collect and trust in their cultivated talent. Yes I have ideas for you. No I¡¯m not ready to tell you. This thing you¡¯ve got going is a good step, but your obvious law magic is  . . . too obvious.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the calm conversation, Boss. Can I convince you to relax at-Warram production?¡±

    ¡°No. You need office hours and Protegees belong in the hotel. I will move your suite to accommodate two occupants when the time comes. I expect you to drive your protegee as Marcella did you. You have the opportunity to cement your version of development with Marcella¡¯s as the Warram standard.¡±

    Old man had to play to my pride for Marcella. Bastard knows people enough to see through me that¡¯s for sure. He dismisses me and I spend the elevator ride to my room thinking about restructuring my life and schedule to accommodate another human that I would be responsible for.

    No problem right? Tova joins in on scoffing at myself as I can barely take care of myself now that Marcella is away on a long-term mission.

 A2: Chapter 16

    ¡°Why did I think that building a business nearly 20 kilometers away was a good idea?¡± I ask myself as I¡¯m still running for my morning workout. At this rate I¡¯ll need to buy a scooter or a car just to save time.

    Well, your laundry and brewery restrictions caused this. You also, subconsciously wanted a location that was less casually spied upon. There are other benefits to the area, but you should explore the area your utility station can cover first.

    Yeah, I should do that and keep in mind that I¡¯ll need housing for my own workers around here if I don¡¯t want to run a shuttle service as well. I¡¯ll hold up on creating a gym area until I find a suitable place for that.

    \Kimber, I¡¯m on planet and I¡¯ll be in your area in two hours. I see a helipad on an old hospital less than a kilometer from you. Meet you there.\ Penelope Mercer messages to me.

    That sounds like an order. And what the hell is she doing on planet?! What kind of business could she possibly have that would be lucrative enough to come to Earth?

    You. You are that business, doofus. She told you she wanted an in-person meet just last month.

    Sonofa. I should remember meetings with the largest customer I have, who¡¯s buying a product I actually like making.

    Marcella is still putting in orders for A-cyanide, and I don¡¯t love making drugs. Sure, I still get orders for my stim chews and the cheap healing balm, but those are batches of less than a hundred units. The best money per kilo is the poison, though, and Marcella keeps reminding me of that so I don¡¯t just give up making it. She also likes the ¡®free money¡¯ of reselling the product.

    I end up having to clean up in the safety shower and order a set of ¡®business clothes¡¯ for my meeting. The walk to the hospital nearby is short, but the building itself is an impressive eight story number with multiple wings apparent from the outside. I navigate to where I see several emergency signs and once I¡¯m inside I get asked if I want to expand my claim to the Nevada Health Services Complex. I obviously say yes.

    My message icon starts flashing, a signal that I have important notices to look at but none of which are urgent. Instead of looking at them, I open up a map to the hospital--that is now a building in my settlement--to find the route to the helicopter pad on the roof. Oh, there¡¯s a seemingly separate building that belongs to the Complex as well. I could see making this complex Nova Chem¡¯s HQ.

    Tova, can you look at how viable it would be to convert the different types of rooms in the hospital to residences and offices? Same with gym space if you can. I already think that any surgery suits would be good for a lab.

    Would you like me to consider workspaces for other employees, or would you like to use other buildings for that?

    I would like to keep the emergency services area available for medical concerns, but I would like work areas in our HQ buildings, yes. She affirms she understands and leaves me to my thoughts and walking up stairs.

    The wider than normal staircase led to the roof after about four floors. The space is open and leads to open air on three sides, and the remaining of the hospital building on the fourth side. As I walk out upon the landing area I look around to see how defensible this building would be. With no direct exit from the freeway nearby, and an open field and low-story buildings nearby, it would be nearly impossible to sneak up on this place with the knowledge I have access to.

    A sleek looking shuttle approaches five to ten minutes later, a staircase descending from near the front of the vessel. The face of a Pixie appears in the opening, smiling at me and waving me to come aboard. Noticing the gun ports on the bottom of ship, I realize there is no point in being wary about going aboard. Plus, she was perfectly nice when we met in her brain space.

    ¡°Welcome Kimber, good to finally see you in person.¡± She offers her hand and I shake it in greeting.

    ¡°Good, touching, wait. Pretty to meet you. Oh no.¡± I can feel the flush rise throughout my body as I was clearly staring at her and caught up on how very pretty she is and the tingle of aether when I touched her hand pushed that dazzle factor through the roof.

    Miss Mercer just starts laughing. ¡°This must be what flabbergasted looks like.¡± The shark tooth grin is still unnerving, but her aura is so warm and cheerful that it¡¯s hard to be scared. Hell, it¡¯s hard to be anything but awed by her presence.

    I¡¯m suddenly reminded that I have a skill for this. I thumb a caramel into my mouth and [Mechanical Calm] accepts my emotions and puts them in a convenient capsule for later use or disposal.

    ¡°Wow, being around you is intense.¡± I pause then look back into her slightly swirling eyes, ¡°Good to see you too miss Mercer.

    ¡°Oh no! So sorry about the aura. I just had a difficult conversation with the security forces around Bikini Atoll and forgot to reign it back in. And please, dispense with the ¡®Miss¡¯, you¡¯ve made me enough money to call me Penny.¡±

    ¡°Have I? I mean, I¡¯ve got a small fortune now because of you, of which I¡¯m super grateful, but I don¡¯t see how that¡¯s ¡®enough money¡¯ for a mogul like you.¡± I recently finished her first batch of ten thousand kilos and though I spent half of it, it¡¯s still a lot of money. Add that to the six thousand in Randal¡¯s account and his random assets, and the thousand I got from turning Randal over to drug dealers, I¡¯m sitting quite pretty.

    ¡°Oh honey, it gave me an excuse to start a new line of weapons featuring your product, now with improved propellant loading, which has led to some impressive sales figures. That is part of why I am here today. I want another fifty thousand units, and I¡¯d wager you are not outfitted to make that much very quickly.¡±

    I open my mouth to say something and then she looks mildly horrified.

    ¡°Oh, crap, I should have started with congratulating you on your settlement! Dang. Sorry about that Kimber. I saw the ¡®allied with Camp Elsewhere¡¯ and became very curious. You were already interesting with the explosives manufacturing, but now? I can¡¯t wait to see what you get up to!¡±

    I snort in amusement as her professional veneer fades. ¡°Thanks, it was an accident like much of my successes lately. You¡¯d be right about the order too. With Warram telling me to work up to 100 kilos of coke a month, I don¡¯t have the extra capacity right now, nor do I have the money to jump up . . . four more gunpowder lines? Oof. I might be able to afford the equipment, but I can¡¯t afford the staff I¡¯d need. Plus it wouldn¡¯t give me time to advance the way I¡¯d want to.¡± By the time I¡¯m finished thinking it through, I¡¯m almost shouting in frustration.

    I feel strong, short arms pull me into a hug and I immediately forget what I was anxious about. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to trigger you. Sorry about that. I was merely trying to make a proposal that would take some burden off of you, not add to it.¡±

    I relax at the statement and decide it would be rude not to hug her back. ¡°you¡¯re a good hugger.¡±

    Her chest wiggles against me as she chuckles. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know it by the faces my kids make when I hug them. Of course, I tend to pick them up like when they were young.¡±

    The thought of a grown person being picked up bodily by this small, curvy woman makes me smile. After a few minutes I let go of my hug and she does the same. ¡°I, uh, thanks. I didn¡¯t realize how tightly wound I was.¡±

    She dismisses the notion with a few flicks of her wrist. ¡°Not an issue. I get it. Do you want something to drink?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± I look at the inside of the shuttle more and it is more suited to the luxury of a few than the transport of many. ¡°What was the idea slash deal you were thinking of?¡±

    ¡°Our previous agreement was for me to buy from you and for you not to sell to others for ten years. I would like to switch that to a ten-year lease agreement for the recipe with a no-compete clause.¡± She hands me a glass of water and then sends me a document.

    While reading, I keep questioning why she would want to lease the recipe instead of buy it. I¡¯m not really up on the difference between leasing and renting, and it takes until I get to the glossary of terms where it explains that the contract considers incremental advancements of the original recipe are considered to be a part of the leased recipe during the ten-year period. She pays more money than renting it, or buying it, but she also gets my ingenuity and R & D as part of the bargain.

    ¡°A lease is a new type of contract to me. This including updates thing is pretty interesting.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s uncommon to lease technology, but I don¡¯t have anyone in the Empire that is working on researching ballistic propellants. Once you get away from Warram, I¡¯ll likely have a job offer for you.¡±

    ¡°Heh, I¡¯m flattered. But as much as I like working on explosives, I like using them in the field more. Aiming for an operative of some kind. Right now I have a quirky divine judgement thing going on, but I hear I might be able to get a shift in Track at tier 1.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Consider getting off Earth whatever you may look to do. Moving to a planet with ambient aether would suit you.¡±

    I know what she¡¯s saying is a good idea, and that for aether users, ten years isn¡¯t much of an issue, but I¡¯m 17 years old and thinking about a time period that is half again my life span is a bit daunting and I tell her so. I may still be anxious.

    ¡°There I go getting ahead of myself again. Hmm, maybe I can talk to some Councilors and get an aether subsidy for Earth-based symbiote users. That¡¯s something for the future though. Do you have any questions for me?¡±

    Why would I have questions for her? She called the meeting.

    Why wouldn¡¯t you have questions? She¡¯s one of the most successful women in the Empire.

    ¡°How did you manage your initial success?¡± That seems like a good question. Solid prompt Tova, even if you were making fun of me.

    ¡°Like you at first. I had two production skills and Human ingenuity into making things that are capable of violence more capable of it. My first commercial success was mining equipment if you can believe it. But what I really invented was a way to cheaply make synthetic aethrite, or Mana Crystals. I had a friend engineer a magitech interface from the crystals to electronics and the first small scale plasma weapons followed after.

    ¡°That didn¡¯t answer your question though. That came from knowing capable people to help me bring my ideas together, and then to find employees that can assemble and or integrate the bits of novelty that I create. What are you trying to use your alchemy for?¡±

    That is an excellent question. To level up is the main answer. Then I guess explosives and enhancements? That resonates as the truth. ¡°Besides leveling, I¡¯m working with tinkering too so that I can make purpose-built explosives. I also like the enhancement parts of alchemy, like some gummies I make that help with concentration and energy.¡±

    ¡°Is that like stat food? Do you get cooking levels with your alchemy? Why pick tinkering?¡±

    I hold my hands up in surrender and chuckle at her rambling interest in me. It¡¯s flattering, really, but also super uncomfortable? ¡°No to the first two. My best guess is that at least one component requires alchemy tools to create? You could call blacksmithing cooking if you wanted to think of it like that.¡± She snorts at that and mumbles something about a steel croissant. ¡°The tinkering came to mind easily. What¡¯s the easiest way to make a weapon stronger? Modifications. What¡¯s the most readily available supply? Junk. Many of my infusion tools were made with tinkering to some degree.¡±

    Penny nods in understanding. ¡°I think your biggest problem with ¡®branching out¡¯ or becoming more successful is the lack of aether and aether-capable crafters that could help you infuse or charge crystals, etcetera. When you get comfortable with your cash levels, I would ditch tinkering in favor of enchanting or something magitech related. Tinkering may even fold into magitech integration, and then you could do something like install infusers on your machines and connect them to an aether battery bank. Steps like that will spare you some of the more boring tasks that don¡¯t require ingenuity.¡±

    ¡°That makes good sense. With the amount of money I¡¯m spending on infrastructure right now, I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m in a place to invest in a brand new talent, but I¡¯ll see what levels 12 and 16 offer for modules. I appreciate the feedback though, and this magitech integration seems promising for sure.¡±

    The arms manufacturer begins emitting a positive tinted aura and she seems happy to have helped. ¡°Oh! Did you finish testing that infusion study with the magitec device verses the sand?¡±

    ¡°What? Yes. I had to switch up my production line at Warram almost immediately after my first test, so I forgot about it. The charged corundum sand infused much faster, but even with the high charge of the sand, it loses its ability to infuse as the concentration of aether in the solution matches that of the sand bed. The magitec infuser doesn¡¯t have that limit, but it is far more likely to explode from localized concentration peaks.¡±

    ¡°But the process works for both?¡± She asks with interest.

    ¡°Sure. Though the infuser was designed for airflow, I think, so I want to attach a circulation loop that would also lower the risk of explosions I think. Both make my production process much faster, though slightly more expensive for charging the mana batteries through an Astorian service.¡± I notice her fingers twitching while she listens and it¡¯s mildly distracting.

    You do something similar when you¡¯re messaging people. She is probably just taking notes.

    I guess we¡¯re both pretty weird.

    ¡°You know, I figured you¡¯d have a lot more questions. You seem pretty inquisitive, is this just an off day for you? Do you have someone you can talk to?¡±

    Is she seriously offering to be my friend right now? ¡°Not really. My mentor got assigned several hundred miles away and she doesn¡¯t have much time anymore, and my other two ¡®friends¡¯ ended up not being a good fit for me. There are millions of kids in a worse situation than me though, so I can manage.¡±

    ¡°Just because people have worse problems, doesn¡¯t mean what you¡¯re going through isn¡¯t hard. Here.¡± She says and then I get a ping in my p2p messages and see a contact card for her office. ¡°If you need to bounce a craft idea off of someone, use the office number and say you want an idiot check for a project. I¡¯ll put Nova Chem on our list of collaborators. If it¡¯s something more personal, use my personal ID and I¡¯ll always get back to you. I won¡¯t always be available, so I¡¯m also sending you my daughter¡¯s ID. Her name¡¯s Zia and she¡¯s better at introspective life management than anyone I know.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean she gives you life advice?¡±

    Her cheeks pink a little, ¡°Well yes. She was raised by my whole friend group for a while so she has a lot of perspectives on life floating in that brain of hers. Wait, why are we talking about me again?¡±

    I snort at that. I doubt there¡¯s a room she walks into that people don¡¯t start asking questions about her. ¡°Okay . . . got any scooter recommendations?¡±

    ¡°Andromeda, no. Hoverbikes are the way to go. Vermencia mk. 5 is my favorite. Or they were before the tier up where my wings became high-speed capable. I like that question. Mmm, my friend David just texted me. I need to head over to Ganymede for a weapon consultation.¡±

    I catch myself taking notes with finger wiggles, a hoverbike sounds awesome. ¡°Okay, thanks for taking the time to meet with me and for taking a little stress off my shoulders.¡±

    ¡°Of course! I like getting out of my lab every now and again. Oh, send me a parts list for your powder setup okay? Give my engineers somewhere to start from. Thanks!¡± She touches the edge of my jaw and suddenly I¡¯m 20m away, watching her shuttle take off from nearby the roof access door. She can teleport other people without going herself? That¡¯s so cool!

    Now that your urgent business and distraction is flying away, I¡¯m going to push your alerts at you.

    <You have added several buildings to your settlement>

    /The added buildings have a higher than normal Utilities requirement.

    /Utilities capacity 1000/5000

    <Your settlement now includes a facility that can host a dedicated professional: Doctor>

    <Your settlement now includes a facility that can host a dedicated professional: Security / Police / Lawman>

    <You qualify for the position: Lawman. Accept? Y | N>

    Yes?

    <You are now the Lawman for Camp Elswhere.>

    That¡¯s a little nutty, but who else in my settlement would be eligible?

    //Query: Who qualifies to perform the duties of lawman in Camp Elsewhere?

    //Answer: Kimber Novarro, Gunner Quinn, Peter DuBois.

    I keep forgetting about that feature. It clearly can answer with information that I don¡¯t know, but as the settlement leader I would have the ability to look that up. Saves me a ton of time though.

    You¡¯re welcome. It¡¯s how I get many of the answers you ask me, but I can¡¯t ask queries that I think of or ask you to think them for me.

    ¡°So that¡¯s why you can only get information I ask about? That makes a ton of sense. On your side, not the System¡¯s side. So what¡¯s next? A big part of me wants to carve out a personal space from this hospital. What do you think about converting the whole top floor into a residence, lab combo.¡±

    You have some tasking messages from Warram that will show up the next time you enter a lab, and Hailey reached out about some internal investigations interviews that she needs your schedule for. Also, the top floor of either large building in this complex is an extremely large space for a single residence and a laboratory.

    ¡°I dunno Tova, what would a rich person put up there? A gym, a garden terrace, or rooftop patio? Can you do all of that? I think I want to have a cafeteria area and a gym on the first floor with the entryway being a lounge and reception for the apartments I want on this side. Keep ten beds or so for patients? And I think most of the workshops and spaces will be in the building across the parking lot.¡±

    If you have enough credits, that is all doable. Since we¡¯re on Earth, and you have no contacts to do the work, we¡¯ll have to have modules delivered that fit within the concrete structure. I would appreciate no further tasks for today.

    Alright. I send a few messages while I walk back to the laundry it is.

    /Hey Zia, I¡¯m Kimber. I talked to your mom today and she said you would be a good person to talk to if I needed it. So instead of poking you while I¡¯m in a crisis, I figure I¡¯d introduce myself./

    \Hi Kimber! Mom spends more time encouraging me not to talk to some people, so you must at least be interesting. So yeah, feel free to message about anything. I like chatting with people who aren¡¯t fight, train, work all the time; or at least are trying to escape those. I should talk though, I¡¯m currently on an Elysium Safari on our yearly culling of beasts around settlements. This place is super insane with aether, you should definitely visit.\

    /I love Elysium seafood! I get a little sushi platter made with fish from there when I need a crafting charge./

    \Yeah, not my department, but the fishmongers do come to the feast at the end of the month. So what¡¯s it like living with no ambient aether?\

    /It¡¯s all I¡¯ve known, so okay? It¡¯s kind of expensive to eat and purchase batteries for aether/

    \Blarg, that sounds tedious. I mean, I do some of that anyway, because I don¡¯t like group projects and I fly to different planets a lot, which I need spare batteries for and all that.\

    /What do group projects have to do with batteries?/

    \Oooh, magic newbie! Earthers call it magic right? Anyway, some workings or diagrams are too large or complex or power hungry to do alone, so most perform cooperative magic or ritual magic. Mom and I usually do the preparation and ritual-like magic because mom doesn¡¯t like sharing, and I can¡¯t stand the feel of Human magic leaking into my body. I¡¯m a Blink Pixy bee tee dubs.\

    /Gods, you two are like walking databanks of useful stuff. Yeah, most people here call it magic, and here, when people talk about ritual magic, it¡¯s covens or cults that are doing it. And run of the mill Human with a symbiote here./

    \You say that, but Mom started out as a human with a symbiote too. They never stay that way though. I haven¡¯t met a single aether-using human that hasn¡¯t developed to a demi-human or a sub-species. It¡¯s created some fun diversity in Aelea. I like working with aliens a lot too, neat perspectives on things.\

    /I like hearing from someone who¡¯s had off world adventures. Could I text you for a story like once a month or something?/

    \Uh, I am not a fan of creating a wall of text. But I can try? Mom has really neat stories too, though. You could always ask your AI to query about missions I¡¯ve done and ask me questions about those.\

    /Is it weird that people read stuff written about you?/

    \Yeah, but only when they start talking to you like they know you. I talk to researchers all the time. Mom is rarely available and my siblings are, so far, all a bit detached from reality. People are waiting for her next kid to develop to see if it¡¯s some Pixy curse of something. Maybe you¡¯ll have some new questions for me since you¡¯re coming from a perspective I¡¯ve never thought of.\

    /Okay. That sounds interesting at least . . ./

    \Crap, beastie. Gotta go!\

    It sounds as though her life has been a rollercoaster of weird. Mine felt like a slope of disappointment until recently. Yeay progress! Now let us see about that hoverbike.

 A2: Chapter 17

    Tova tells me it¡¯ll be around two weeks to a month for the modules for NHC building one to be made and another day to teleport it all in place. I consult Paolo and he seems to think that there needs to be an office and a place to stay overnight at the factory site. With a quick search, I find the equivalent of an office trailer and a single wide residence stacked on top of each other. He seemed quite happy with it. I also dropped in a locker room pod so that our future workers could wash off the sweat and chemicals off before heading home.

    That done, I tell Paolo that I¡¯m going to put two more process lines in and that I¡¯m going to hire more people. He thanks me profusely, as though he expected me to tell him to do twice as much work by himself.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, Paolo. I want you off the lines and want you on as plant manager. Can you do the logistics and scheduling?¡±

    ¡°Scheduling definitely, Quimica, pero, I need you to do the banking for purchases?¡± I sigh, I know he¡¯s speaking English to learn it better, but my Spanish is much better than his English.

    ¡°Amigo, does that mean you want me to set up accounts for you to do the job I am asking you to do?¡±

    He nods, ¡°Also for the Exchange.¡± Ahh, he was looking for a combination word that didn¡¯t exist. Or perhaps just administrative access.

    I set up a plant account that can only be used inside the building for the Exchange, and a general payroll account that he can add names and employment level to new personnel but I still have to authorize paying them. It¡¯s a round-about way of doing things, but I really haven¡¯t known Paolo that long, and he low key has the power to ruin me.

    Time to return a message I¡¯ve been sitting on.

    /Hi Hailey. Sorry for the delay, I had to situate things with my drug factory and the weapons dealer I make explosives for. What day we looking at for the interviews./

    \Those sound like things that could get you dead. I accept your excuse. We need a week, Kimber. There are too many names on these lists to make it through in just a day.\

    /Well, then I have a question germane to me being gone from my factory for a week. Do you have people that might be interested in being a day or night foreman for my factory? They would work with the Plant Manager to keep people moving, make sure security is doing their jobs, etcetera./

    \Most of our people still work part time for Warram, Kimber, but I can certainly ask around.\

    /If you want to tell your bosses that I¡¯ve been authorized a personnel dispensation by Medvedev for this, maybe that would help./

    \Yes, if it checks out, it will definitely help. Back to the interviews, though. The department head¡¯s haven¡¯t agreed to a schedule yet, but it¡¯ll be in the next few weeks so that they can train someone up if they have to sack someone important.\

    /I can make it work. The more notice the better of course./

    \You know I don¡¯t work for you, right?\

    /Yes, and the boss would rather I make drugs than do this. I¡¯m trying to fit everything in. Sorry if I sound like an ass./

    Not sure I know why she snapped like that, but I want to think it¡¯s just stress talking. If she actually thinks I¡¯m trying to boss her around, I¡¯d rather distance myself from the whole thing. It¡¯s hard to imagine what the other department heads will think when I start employing their kids. At least Lamar was there to suggest it as an opportunity for their trouble kids to prove themselves. Of course there¡¯s an even chance they cause trouble or try to steal something. Gods, now I can feel it happening in the future. Damn me for opening my mouth.

    Hailey texts me a few more things but I ignore them. I¡¯ll skim them later, but we said all we needed to. Maybe I¡¯m ruffled from my meeting with Penny, or perhaps I haven¡¯t been working out enough. That¡¯s probably it. I¡¯ve been letting myself be distracted by business and not focusing enough on my advancement.

    I get my compression gear on and run around the perimeter streets of my ¡®Settlement¡¯s¡¯ utility limits. I immediately want to build shit under the freeway as I run beneath it. The barrier road extends a kilometer past the multilane, noise-barriered road, but I¡¯m considering making that my boundary instead. I find a couple of cleared spaces that might have been sports fields or cleared land that never got developed, but it¡¯s flat and open and I flag it for a park or an agricultural complex. I would like to have a place where I can grow components, but many of the ones I¡¯ve used require aether to achieve full potency.

    ¡°When did my life get suddenly consumed by my trade skills? Holy shit this is nuts how everything right now is how do I produce. When I should be asking how do I advance? I think Hailey¡¯s truth-seeking job is going to play a huge role in that, so I need to stop pushing her work and start asking if she needs anything. Look helpful, get work with skills that are hard to train.¡±

    I mumble the rest of my run, commenting on the buildings that I see, especially the small brewery. I stop at it and decide that I want to claim it.

    <There is a conflict with this location. It is currently listed for sale for $100k US. Would you like to buy it? Original exchange rates at time of listing were $160 per credit.>

    //Query: Does the Empire buy back Earth currency?

    //Answer: Only the Astorian Empire buys Earth currency. With your localization, currency is assumed to be US dollars. The last recorded exchange for US dollars was $300 per credit, two years ago.

    I select that I would like to buy it. And pay 334 current market credits.

    <Error, Broker who listed the property is alive, not the buyer. Sending for adjudication.>

    Several minutes later I get an update that a Nevarado Deputy Sherif reviewed the file and approved of the current market payout and sent the money to living next of kin. That¡¯s great for me, but now I feel like I cheated a kid. Nothing for it I guess, it was all done through third parties.

    Let¡¯s see what I bought.

    The microbrewery¡¯s sitting area was trashed, register emptied and taps torn apart long ago. The walk in fridge for the kegs is wedged open and the lines were obviously cut and kegs stolen. The lines are so fouled they look plugged. Gross.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    The industrial part of the building fared much better. The drains stink with a sweet, musky funk, but I bet that goes away when I connect utilities. Before I get too far ahead of myself, what do I want this space for? Brewing my own solvents is a waste of time. Ethanol is cheap and infusing it isn¡¯t hard. I don¡¯t really have a mind to make booze, I could, but why? Okay, money, dingus. Earthen booze is a small market. Does it interest me? Not currently. I make a note about herbal infusions and other fermented products as components, when I start walking around with no particular aim.

    I find all of the requisites for a quality lab space. An experimental space that I could explode without killing dozens of people. That and these tanks have twice the volume of the tanks I was using for gunpowder, but in four tanks. I could do small batch products!!

    We are looking up C4 formula tomorrow.

    Tova, are you finished with your calculation fest?

    It is safe to interrupt me, yes. I recommend you dump or distill the tanks and keep the barrels for private use.

    ¡°Tova! Will the system do something nasty to me if I drink? Warram¡¯s age is 18.¡±

    You are a settlement owner, chief, or whatever you decided the title is. Whenever your age is queried, your age is listed as five years older than the age required or your actual age, whichever is higher. It is a System safeguard to protect against wandering into a different area of influence and losing all of your rights.

    ¡°So I could run for Sheriff, or Sector Senate?¡±

    Technically yes. And your Track is well suited for a Sheriff Position.

    ¡°That sounds like two parts hate, one part glory, and one part fun. Put that on the short list Tova.¡±

    Next to Solo and Penny¡¯s Consort then?

    ¡°Tova! Rude.¡± But not untrue. I was so flustered around her. Until she started asking me questions I could barely function. She¡¯s likely a hundred years old and made of aged tea leaves. If it¡¯s hot tea, does it even matter? Kimber Novarro, stop being a horny teen. Please and thanks. Pfft, I literally went through hormone therapy to make this my new normal. Adjust up, buttercup.

    \Quimica, there are two . . . fuerte mamacitas aqui.\

    Oh gods, Paolo is flustered. I run the kilometer back to the warehouse as fast as I can and see the sturdy and honestly sexy Hailey Martinez. Her accompaniment might as well be a HGH talent show. Girl is two meters and 95 kilos, minimum. She could possibly upend Paolo¡¯s trailer.

    ¡°Hailey?!¡± I gasp, out of breath from sprinting here. ¡°What brings you here?¡±

    ¡°Honestly? I thought back on our exchange and wondered what that would mean if Marcella said it. They were not good thoughts. So I want to apologize and make sure we¡¯re good.¡±

    I fall over, tired from sprinting and laugh as I gasp for air. ¡°I¡¯m much softer and far less experienced than Marcella, Hailey. Plus, I¡¯m not sure whether your muscle there is intimidation or motivation.¡± She flexes her butt and turns for a grin.

    ¡°I can be both, hermanita.¡± She flexes her arms some more, and the giggles just burst out of me because Paolo might as well be visiting a hypnotist.

    ¡°Shit, okay. I was going to talk to you tomorrow, after I cooled off, but this is too funny. I think Paolo wants to climb her like a gym route.¡±

    I get a smile out of that and I¡¯ll take it. ¡°Bev¡¯s game. She likes to be appreciated. She also needs the creds if you¡¯re serious about the foreman gig. She was supposed to get a flight out to Elko this week, but Warram¡¯s shuttles are all down. Do you have lodging yet?¡±

    I make a sucking sound through my teeth in response. ¡°Two weeks is the estimate. Got a remodel of a hospital coming, and they had to make the modules to fit my building.¡±

    Her eyes widen, ¡°Are you serious? You have housing and medical lined up?¡±

    ¡°Not medical, per se, but the facility for sure. I¡¯m about to be running 100k creds worth of drugs through my settlement, Hailey. I need people and I need a place for them to crash. Medvedev¡¯s not giving any leeway for not being 18 yet, so I¡¯ve kept running.¡±

    ¡°No wonder you¡¯ve been so hormonal.¡±

    ¡°Seriously?  You were doing so well too.¡± She slaps her hands across her mouth and her eyes show that the shock is real. ¡°What¡¯s with the cattiness toward me? I thought I understood it, but if you came here to apologize and accept the job, what the hell?"

    She scratches the back of her neck and looks at the ceiling with a sigh. ¡°Marcella getting involved with you, and the Boss separating the two of you has derailed our plans. I was looking forward to helping her setup the work sanctuary, but instead of being with her for that, I¡¯m here looking after you.¡±

    ¡°So now you¡¯re taking your anger out on me because the Boss is untouchable.¡± I start laughing at her. She¡¯s acting like what she accused me of and it¡¯s hilariously stupid. ¡°The only thing I¡¯m guilty of is working my ass off for my sister, and doing the best I can with the pile of shit that¡¯s been dropped in my lap.¡±

    ¡°How about you, Bev? You hear to tear on me too?¡±

    ¡°Nah, kid, I don¡¯t hero worship Marcella. She¡¯s a great woman, and I respect her, but Hailey is in love with her and she¡¯s been a salty twat since her hero left.¡± Bev said over her shoulder then went back to talking with Paolo. I start laughing again.

    ¡°What the fuck Beverly? You¡¯re supposed to have my back!¡±

    ¡°I do! What do you think the most accomplished infiltrator in the country is going to do when she finds out that you haven¡¯t been helping her protegee because you think she¡¯s to blame for your situation? Best case, she drops you in some settlement in Wymonto. So this is me having your back. Settle things with the baby judge, and do your fucking job.¡±

    ¡°Ooh, I like you Bev. Need a job?¡±

    ¡°As a matter of fact, I do. Can I pick day foreman?¡± She looks over to Paolo with a predatory grin, ¡°I have other plans for the night shift.¡±

    Holy shit, okay. Paolo¡¯s going to be buying a new bed every week. ¡°Works for me, but maybe limit the ¡®rough¡¯ part of roughhousing until I get sturdier rooms built.¡± I waggle my eyebrows at the pair. ¡°You want to start today or tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Today¡¯s good. Will this be learning heavy or just walking around and seeing stuff?¡±

    ¡°Note taking on a few setpoints and knowing what I want the shift workers to be doing.¡±

    She nods, grabs the whole side of Paolo¡¯s face as she whispers something to him and then follows me.

    I tell her about the various pieces of equipment, vats, drier, nugget maker, and other drier. I go over the various lights and alarms, and what the readings on the dial readouts should be. I then go into detail about the logs the workers are supposed to take, when they should stir tanks, move product to the driers and the minutiae of their jobs. I don¡¯t teach her how to use everything, but I do teach her the two different fire suppression systems and how to operate them.

    ¡°Are we also responsible for physical security?¡±

    ¡°In charge of the security personnel, yes, but security is not part of the job. Did Hailey tell you my offer is two credits a day plus a hotel room in a complex I¡¯m refurbishing?¡±

    ¡°She did. And I¡¯m game. How much are the workers making?¡±

    ¡°Half that.¡±

    Bev whistles. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of money for unskilled workers. Five credits a week is pretty standard for a security gig, more if the risk is known to be high. Two credits a day and housing is ridiculous too.¡±

    ¡°I thought that might be, since I have no idea what things cost. I do know that the Boss wants me producing 100k credits worth of cocaine a month, so I thought overpaying employees a bit would help keep people from trying to steal from me. Granted, we sell to the distributor for half that, and the brokerage fee has to go back into Warram as the price for not having traditional oversight from an officer, but some of that will go into paying the people I hire from Warram.¡±

    ¡°That sounds convoluted as hell. You know someone¡¯s going to double cross you right?¡±

    I chuckle at that and pull out the yellow contract I have with Beverly¡¯s agreement on it. I wave it a second and hand it to her. I watch her read it as her eyebrows climb higher. ¡°How did this happen without me getting an alert?¡±

    ¡°You called me little judge. This is part of that. My Track talent makes it so anyone that makes an agreement with me, or in my presence, gets a shiny system enforceable contract reflecting the agreement. In this case, it includes the inherent honor contract that your group adheres to. The system collects the consequences automatically, so refusing to pay in coin or penance is nearly impossible.¡±

    Bev whistles again and thinks for a minute before handing the contract back to me. ¡°If I had torn it up just then?¡±

    ¡°Willful dissolution. You hadn¡¯t started your duties, so no harm no contest. If you¡¯d done it after I paid you? Problems for everyone.¡±

 A2: Chapter 18

    ¡°So how do we get your yellow system magic to activate? Since that¡¯s the point of all of this.¡± Hailey asks, seemingly having gotten past¡ªor at least buried¡ªmuch of her resentment toward me.

    ¡°Get them to commit a statement of fact regarding their truthfulness. ¡®Why would I lie to you?¡¯ is not enough. Or, get them to sign something that says they agree to tell the truth as far as they know it. They¡¯re employees, so it should be easier than a criminal interrogation.¡±

    We sit behind a desk in a room in the Warram Casino building, wearing a nice suit with no tie, and Hailey looks like a fucking Mercenary in light body armor strapped with weapons. I have my Merc Arms .38 Hyper-velo in a shoulder holster, a pulse pistol in the same caliber on the other side, and a thigh band full of knives.

    The room we are led to for our ¡®interviews¡¯ has multiple cameras with which the officers in another room can watch without the obvious double mirror installed into the wall. It has the benefit of also creating an illusory expectation of isolation as the cameras are hidden save the one very obvious one in the corner of the ceiling.

    Prakesh and one of his cronies are there to meet us and wait for us to inspect the space before telling us more.

    ¡°There have been many rumors of people trying to subvert Warram¡¯s criminal enterprises, using our resources and personnel to branch out on their own. We are not focused on in-depth information gathering on these questions. We are more interested in who¡¯s lying and who they might be lying for.¡± A man named Barnes explains.

    ¡°Since we are using miss Novaro¡¯s Talent in a way not tested, I would like to test it now, between me and miss Novarro.¡± I nod. It makes sense. ¡°Then I wish to ask a few questions about your offsite business. Would you agree to that?¡±

    Nice phrasing, he¡¯s obviously thought about this. ¡°As long as you¡¯re straight with me, sure.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I postulated miss . . .¡± A flash of gold and a roll of paper appears in my hand. He sighs heavily. ¡°Fine. Hand it over.¡±

    I shake my head. ¡°Just open it up in your contracts tab. We need all the data we can get after all. Miss Martin will be looking at my scroll with me. If she records it, you can watch it after.¡± I watch him consider refusing, but realizes that¡¯s all he really needs and leaves it alone.

    ¡°Alright then. Miss Novarro, is Nova Chem a subsidiary of Warram Criminal Enterprises?¡±

    ¡°It is not, it is a company associated with the Camp Elsewhere Settlement. Why does that matter?¡±

    ¡°Merely trying to get a baseline and assess what kind of recompense you may owe.¡± He brushes off the question. Where I get a cornucopia of information.

    The statement is printed on my scroll and each section is color coded. The assessment of what I may owe is absolutely true with no colors what so ever. ¡®Merely¡¯ is bright red, and baseline is an orangey color. Maybe true but the background is missing a lot of info? Baseline is a bullshit word in this context, so that makes sense. I wonder what I¡¯d be getting if I had used this talent more. Then again, I don¡¯t have an associated skill since I¡¯ve never tried to use it for a truth-telling device before. I wiggle in my seat a little as I like new applications of things.

    ¡°Alright, Have you always been forthwith and straightforward with Warram and it¡¯s employees?¡±

    I snort at that. ¡°Warram is a criminal organization. I doubt I¡¯ve been less straightforward than most of the employees I¡¯ve dealt with. So no, with most of my slantiness and info shielding with Parker and that douche who was supposed to oversee and develop my drug operation but decided to try and fleece me instead. Speaking of Parker, why is that slimy, security risk still an Officer?¡±

    ¡°Kimber, your crass ¡®candor¡¯ is more than is needed for this test. Mr. Parker¡¯s employment details are not your concern.¡±

    ¡°Lieutenant Prakesh, if you think the people we question won¡¯t be belligerent or uncooperative during the interview, then you¡¯re not thinking things through. Unless this is my interview?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in what you think in this matter. This is your interview, so please cooperate.¡±

    ¡°This was not part of the agreed test, nor the terms of my employment today. As far as I¡¯m concerned, this test has concluded.¡± A little green lettered ¡®Complete¡¯ appears at the end of the scroll.

    I¡¯d caught the orange of the word ¡®test¡¯ in his previous statement and decided to see where it went. Highlighted by an omission of the intent behind the truth stated. Good to know. Everything he said about Parker was also orange.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been instructed to put you through the interview, and we will finish it.¡± His features are very well trained and his tone is level and metered. Damn, he must be impossible to do a vibe check on without magic.

    ¡°I understand.¡± I try to meet his tone.

    ¡°How much business have you hidden from Warram using Warram resources?¡±

    ¡°I have hidden zero credits worth of business. I started the gunpowder work in Warram labs using mostly equipment that Marcella bought me, and all of the specialized equipment for the gunpowder production I bought on loan or by myself.¡±

    ¡°Who was the loan from and how much was it for?¡±

    ¡°A weapons manufacturer and none of your business. It has been paid back.¡±

    ¡°Private enterprises that operate within Warram facilities are my business.¡±

    ¡°My contract disagrees with you.¡±

    His composure finally breaks. ¡°Contracts can be changed. And I¡¯ll see to it that the Boss hears that you are attempting to hold the whole organization hostage over a contract.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m doing nothing of the sort. You are stating stipulations of apparent fact that are not present in any agreement I¡¯ve made. I expect the lawyers or the Boss will get a hold of me to fix the misunderstanding, but until then, can we get back to what miss Martin and I were hired for today?¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Not yet. We will review why the contract did not review the last few statements you made and the results of the statements it did review.¡± Prakesh demands.

    I nod at that, not trusting my mouth to respond without a direct question.

    ¡°Well? Why did it stop reporting?¡±

    ¡°When I considered the test ended, the System must have judged your intent as well. Since your reply was it was my interview, I guess that was enough to confirm the test was over.¡±

    ¡°Is your Talent that fickle? That would be of limited usefulness.¡±

    ¡°No, I led you into that. I could see when you talked about the test, you were being dishonest and I coaxed the system into a judgement. The contract stuff is a side benefit to what the Talent actually does, Lieutenant.¡±

    ¡°I will address that later. However, the version of the contract I saw only recorded if your statements were true or false. Yours must have been more detailed.¡±

    Hailey speaks this time. ¡°What I saw was degrees of truth per statement. In your case, each sentence had a code associated with how truthful it was.¡±

    ¡°And you?¡±

    ¡°I get colors instead of codes, so I probably have more . . . shades of truth than she can read, but I haven¡¯t used this version of my Talent enough to know more than red, yellow, orange, green, or nothing.¡±

    ¡°What would the difference between green and nothing be?¡± He asks.

    ¡°No idea, LT. The colors between red and nothing threw me for a loop. Orange, I¡¯m convinced, is context would make this false. Which is why I was needling you, sir. To ¡®test¡¯ a theory. Yellow might be some info gap that the person doesn¡¯t know that might make it wrong? Any case, it would be hard to test, but today I should have more info for the group.¡±

    The officer massages his temples before addressing me again. ¡°Your comportment is troublesome. Let us hope that your talents are beneficial enough to grant you some clemency.¡± He stands up and leaves the room. I wait a few minutes and then go out to the lockers to get a snack and some juice.

    Hailey follows me and then corners me?

    ¡°Look, Kimber. I don¡¯t know what game you are playing, but can you wait until I¡¯m not involved to play it.¡± She seems serious, but she¡¯s not as intimidating as she used to be.

    I snarl at her. ¡°Fuck off, Martin. Besides Marcella, Warram brass have tried to take advantage of me at every turn. People in this company have tried to kill me at least three times, and even the Boss tried to omit a clause in my alchemist contract where they could remit me to a pleasure house when I wasn¡¯t working on drugs.¡± I lean in close to her, ¡°I don¡¯t care what kind of operative you are, or what tier you¡¯ve advanced to. I¡¯m not going to let you tell me how to defend myself.¡±

    I back up and stuff another bar in my mouth. ¡°Now can we finally get to the job I was hired for?¡± I really need to save up for a dimensional storage device. Maybe I can ask Zia for her preference. I like that idea and send her off an email.

    ¡°You can move on? Just like that?¡± Hailey asks, looking down and voice soft.

    ¡°I think moving on is the wrong word. I have a job that I agreed to do. I want to get this over with. We have a longer conversation ahead of us, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a ¡®here¡¯ thing.¡±

    She nods and walks off back to the interview room. I sigh and sit with my snacks and juice, lamenting the loss of a potential friend over some drama bullshit.

    ***

    I am getting very tired of staring at this glowing, technicolor lie detector. I tap Hailey¡¯s leg for another lie as this douche just can¡¯t keep himself from vomiting every conceivable thought in his head.

    ¡°But then I says, Mack, what if, Mack what if eh? But then he says, Denny, don¡¯t be a bitch. We¡¯re just running a truck down to King¡¯s Crossing, who¡¯s gonna know? He says. A few days later I says the roof is melting ¡®cause we did some mad drugs.¡±

    My eyebrows rise at the nugget of truth in that ramble and tap Hailey for her attention.

    ¡°Denny, what else does Mack say?¡±

    ¡°Oh, Macks a right asshole, he is. Shits on the new guys. Washouts if I¡¯m to believe, but they got the drive to do anything for a hit or a cred, you feel? Anys, Mack likes being in charge so he says a lot of things. Denny stays away most times, but Denny collects on the street, you know? So Mack talks once a week and makes sure Denny knows who¡¯s boss. The Face is boss, not Mack, even fool Denny knows that.¡±

    I pinch myself hard and then look at the scroll again. Empress¡¯ bruised kneecaps, nobody notices this cat most of the time! I quickly text a request to Prakesh¡¯s lackey to arrange another room for us and to get someone to just keep this tweaker talking.

    Hailey offers to grab him some food or water and he readily asks for food, and fucking drugs. Much to my chagrin, I have a few sachets of coke on me. I prep a small line for the twitchy bastard and hand him a wrapper from my mood reinforcement candies.

    ¡°Oooh hoo hoo! This is some shit, lady! Much better than what I may or may not have sampled from our shipment to the Kings. YEAH!!! Do you need a street man, lady?¡± Oh gods, I have never seen someone take my product and this dude looks like I cut that coke with caffeine. I need to be elsewhere.

    Hailey comes back with some snacks and another woman in a suit similar to mine. Oh, that¡¯s clever, just hot swap women interviewers and hope he just doesn¡¯t care. I give her the scroll and ask her to tell Denny that she¡¯s standing in for us for a few minutes and to treat her just like us. Should keep the contract running if he nods or otherwise agrees.

    I want lunch so I suggest we take a break to the Cantina and chew some things over.

    ¡°Are the both of you even allowed in the Cantina?¡± Lackey asks. ¡°I have an aether dispensation, and I presume that Lieutenants can invite guests?¡±

    ¡°We can, and it¡¯s not a terrible place for a meeting. Just know, that Novarro¡¯s food is toxic to everyone but her.¡± He turns to me, ¡°Just in case you were planning anything.¡±

    I snort. ¡°I actively discourage people from stealing my food. Arrogance and stupidity have defeated my attempts on multiple occasions. But yes, the aether in my food is not great for anyone else.¡±

    The four of us come back to the table from our Kiosk visits and I by far have the most boxes. They are all looking at me funny.

    ¡°Hah, hah. Look at the girl with the big meal. Fontaine¡¯s convinced that I¡¯ll get more body shaping at tier 1, so I¡¯m still on like 5k calories a day. The extra fish platter is because this contract thing is draining my aether as fast as my alchemy ever does.¡± I stuff some Elysium fish in my face and shudder in delight at the tingle of magic pulsing back into my body.

    ¡°So what had you so excited in there that you wanted more resources to keep that addict talking?¡±

    ¡°Kimber saw that his recount of ¡®Mack¡¯ and ¡®Parker¡¯ had green and no color elements. No context errors, and apparently his brain knows the difference between the drug interactions and reality even if his conscious mind doesn¡¯t.¡± Hailey explains.

    ¡°I can back that. A part of him knows that Mack is a blusterer, but we can double check what others think of this Mack guy. His statement about Parker being the boss was no color. Period. I believe it¡¯s an indication of abject truth in the context of what we¡¯re asking.¡±

    ¡°So, green would be the truth as far as he knows it?¡±

    ¡°Not exactly. I think the System is adding flavor. I think yellow is the basis of truth as he knows it, with orange leading to lies and green leading to truth, but the System knows enough that it might be misleading. No color seems to be the System agreeing with the statement. Then again, since orange was a true statement with a full-story leading to a lie, perhaps yellow is an ¡®as they know it¡¯ truth that leads to a lie and green is the misleading info that is questionable? Yellow seems pretty iffy right now.¡±

    ¡°As you saw, I abandoned trying to ask questions based on my code interpretations. We had a touch code under the table to let me know what to delve into. Denny was the most confusing overall, but that was apparent.¡±

    Prakesh finishes his bite and then talks to his minion, ¡°find out more about Mack. Get him in our investigation room.¡±

    ¡°What about Parker. Denny Named him and it was the truth!¡±

    Prakesh¡¯s face screws up before he mechanically schools his features. ¡°Parker is protected. Beating your head against that roadblock is unwise Miss Novarro.¡±

    My face similarly screws up, and I am unsuccessful in my efforts to calm myself. ¡°I appreciate the advice, sir.¡± I have nothing nice to say, only rants, so I leave them in my brain space and ask Tova to leave a flaming sack of poop in his bed.

    The rest of our lunch devolves into discussion about previous interviews that were much less fruitful, but necessary to cover.

 A2: Chapter 19

    I wake up in my Warram suite with banging on my door. It ended up being a long week having to interview over a hundred people had me not wanting to sleep on a cot in my warehouse. Strike that, with the noise Bev and Paolo have been making, I¡¯d sleep on hospital linoleum any day of the week.

    I grab my pulse pistol and press it against the door while I spy the eyelet. I see a round, barrel shaped thing and punch two pieces of plasma through the door. I open the door, pull the man, the cart and the gun into my room before investigating.

    I see the man isn¡¯t dead and fix that. I see he is wearing gloves and make sure to treat the gun like a nuke. The top part of the cart is a platter of food, while the second shelf is full of cleaning chemicals. Damnit. Another fucking hit? I can¡¯t live here anymore. I scan him for a code, a mosaic, or a chip and find the last one that places him as a Warram operative.

    I file a complaint with my assailant¡¯s Warram ID that the building¡¯s safety is a joke and that I should be refunded the residence as part of my salary or have increased security. I also inform them that anyone that visits my office without an appointment will be shot first. I think of various disposal options and then throw him off the balcony like the last one after I duped that drug asshole.

    /Hey bitch, have you had assassination attempts?/

    \mmmmmmm, it¡¯s too morning for your bullshit. Send me your chews and some coffee.\

    I do, and ensure it lands on her face.

    \Asshole!! Props on the liquid coffee before being punched by a bag of it though. BB in 5\

    That is a common occurrence as the week has warn on and Astorian time does not line up with Earth time.

    \Okay, ready now. There were a few when I was smaller, but Mom¡¯s brutality in response kind of cut all future attempts at the knees. She ended up killing the whole contract service and banished every professional contact they had to Earth. Funny to think you¡¯re living on what she uses as a prison planet.\

    /Well now I feel like an inmate. I¡¯ve heard stories of people getting shivved in prison./

    \What are you going to do about it? You can¡¯t retaliate without a plan and an exit strategy you will absolutely have to use.\

    /Daaaamn, Zia, you sound like you¡¯ve planned an operation or two. Wait, did you say your Mom banished people?/

    There¡¯s a pause in the text. Boo. I look up what this gun would go for on the exchange and post it and the silencer for eight credits. I start rummaging around for the spackle and paint for the holes in the hallway when Zia answers back.

    \You¡¯re kidding me right? Kimber, you met my mother and you think she¡¯s just a quirky arms dealer? Oh, Andromeda. She is going to die laughing when I tell her this.\

    /Ugh, I haaaate being embarrassed because I missed something. Please don¡¯t tell your mom./

    \Hah, no way. Payback for dropping a cup of coffee on my face. But I¡¯ll help you through what¡¯s going on. What was my name on the contact card my Mother gave you?\

    I check really quick as I had never processed her last name. /Uh, Zia Astoria?/

    \Yes, good. Now what name do the home planet of the Empire and the Empire share?\

    /Astoria, oh. Oh. Wait, Penny¡¯s your mom. Penelope Astoria, I am so fucking stupid./

    I cried in front of the Empress and she gave me a hug.

    /I cried in front of the Empress and she gave me a hug!? Gerosakdmfdsasdfuck!/

    \Can you tape the rest of this melt-down? I bet you¡¯re being adorably dopey right now.\

    /How did I not connect the dots? A Pixie named Penelope. Everyone knows the Empress is a Pixie! Sorry Zia, I gotta go let my brain melt out of my ears./

    \Alright, take your time. Talk you ya later, doofus.\

    I can hear her laughing at me. Stupid pixie princess. OMFG, she is a princess. I¡¯ve been rando chatting with a princess for weeks and today I dropped shit on her face. How am I not dead yet?! I look to the cover-up supplies in my hands and it finally hits home that I need to make plans to start fighting back.

    It¡¯s hard to start any kind of plan like that without a place to live, so I guess it¡¯s on the company I hired to make plug and play units to install into my hospital building.

    The residence pods are finished and waiting for you to transfer them in place. The lab spaces have been delayed by up to a month due to the structural changes you desired on the top two floors. The small experiment space on your floor is part of your residence.

    ¡°It¡¯s weird to think that parts of buildings are sitting in a warehouse waiting to be transferred. It is cool that the System can transfer in at nearly the same time they transfer the old materiel out. Did the manufacturer decide if they wanted to take the old parts?¡±

    The up charge for them to take it is not worth the credits. Mining Astoria Inc. has deconstruction tools that are cheaper. It would also be an excellent tool to remove any buildings or rubble that you do not want to keep in your Settlement.

    ¡°Nice. I like this pre-empting my questions thing. I know you¡¯re skimming my thoughts for it, but this is my idea of acceptable intrusion. Plus, I trust you way more now that I used to.¡± That probably sounded super shitty, Kimber. Good work.

    And I would say that I like tasks where you let me work the problem and appreciate that you¡¯ve stopped treating me as your secretary.

    I snort, wondering how often the AI running the bots and the symbiote get relegated to such tasks for life. That would seem a waste of an opportunity.

    I order some triggers and transfer some materials to my room and start working on booby traps and other nasty surprises like contact poisons on my closet handles, and cloud disbursal of my least favorite product. I leave my old phone on the table and mold some explosive putty around it to look like a protective case and program the phone to start a timer if it moves more that 30m from its current location.

    Normally, this would all be way too complicated for me to just come up with, but Zia taught me how to link remotely to Astoria¡¯s satellite info network and it hosts almost anything you can think of, like the rumored Internet of before the Warlord Period.  Now that my room is completely uninhabitable, I head down to my Warram Lab area for my mandatory office hours.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    I¡¯m midway through setting up additional security in my office and lab when a mercenary-looking guy walks in. I draw on him and he holds his hands up, showing me he should be no immediate threat. I lower my .38, but don¡¯t put it away.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have an appointment. Was the prompt at the door not clear enough?¡±

    The man smiles and starts shifting around the side of my desk. He backs up when the auto turret drops from the ceiling. ¡°Don¡¯t get cute. What do you want.¡±

    ¡°Some respect, and some product. Normal things.¡± He¡¯s still trying his smarmy act, and it¡¯s coming across as he hasn¡¯t given up yet.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know you, but you¡¯re off to a terrible start. What product you looking for?¡±

    ¡°Exactly! You don¡¯t know me, or how important I might be, and yet you still talk to me like that?¡±

    I stare at him, taking a page out of Lieutenant Lamar¡¯s book to school my features by using my [Mechanical Calm] Talent with a piece of caramel from my pocket. The seconds tick by and his smile starts falling.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that you make a poison that¡¯s traceless. I need a couple of grams.¡± Ah, someone that has contacts in Reno and suspects the deaths are linked to my mentor.

    ¡°I don¡¯t sell poisons, friend. I have a menu of recipes I make, and if you want something else, you can provide the recipe and I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±

    ¡°Cut the crap. I know you make whatever Fontaine has been using to merc people up north and I want some.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, unless you know what the substance is, I won¡¯t be able to help you. Now, unless you have actual business for me, you should leave.¡±

    The man¡¯s composure breaks, or he decided to switch tactics, and slams his hands down on my desk and opens his mouth to yell something at me. I pull on another Talent and put a bullet in his jaw, where the auto-turret puts about ten in his belly and chest before he staggers back away from me. I would normally leave him to stagger away, but Zia suggested making a statement so I draw my pulse pistol and put two shots into the base of his spine, severing the signal from his brain to his legs.

    \Kimber, I¡¯m hearing gunfire down the hall, are you okay?\

    /Yeah, Doc. Some specialist decided to ignore the warning prompts I put up this morning. You might want to come over and look at him./ She pinged a confirmation and I went to go get some cleaning supplies for the mess he¡¯s making in my entryway. When I get back, the sexy Russian is crouching with an injector in her hand, pouring something from a flask on the wounds on his stomach.

    ¡°With the face wound and the bullets in his torso, why the back Kimber?¡± She looks up at me and raises a well-curated eyebrow.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been getting more violent attention lately and I¡¯m over it. A friend told me to start sending messages. I figure a few wounds that Warram won¡¯t fix out of reflex should be pretty clear how I feel about it.¡±

    She stands and stows the items in her hands into the cute little hip pouch with a red cross on it. ¡°You¡¯re correct in that Warram doesn¡¯t fund regrowing limbs, or in this case nerves. The t-3 injection that would fix most of what¡¯s wrong with him would cost more than a year¡¯s pay. Though honestly, an operator should be able to afford it.¡±

    We stand there for a minute or so, not knowing what to do from here. ¡°Can I offer you a juice or a coffee?¡± I ask, walking behind my desk.

    ¡°Oh, no thank you. How close are you to level 12?¡±

    Tova, how close was I last I checked?

    About two weeks of normal alchemy work. After the day full of contract work, the levels you got in Truth-tasting were very beneficial.

    Which means, there¡¯s a high likelihood that after killing that guy this morning, I¡¯ll probably level when I look at my messages. As much as I hate them coming after me, I must admit, humans that are aggressing me make for good experience gains. This is likely the exact realization that started the Warlord Period in the first place.

    ¡°Now-ish? I don¡¯t check my notifications very often, so if I check them I¡¯ll likely get it. Funny suit time?¡±

    ¡°If you have a moment, I would love the data.¡± I follow the doc while dragging the unconscious merc into the hall.

    Standing in her office in my underwear again, it feels just as uncomfortable as ever but not because she¡¯s a creeper, but that her attention makes my insides wobbly. She makes a few notes on the current state of my physique, and then helps me into the tight sensor suit.

    ¡°Kimber,¡± she says, pausing at a point just below my left clavicle. The hovering touch on the healing scar makes me shiver. ¡°Is this a bullet wound?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, part of why I¡¯m beefing up my security. And why I¡¯m leveling so fast.¡± I quickly pull the collar of the suit up and zip it the rest of the way half in part to swipe her hand off of my shoulder. Gods, what a horrible time for my hormones to show that they still work.

    ¡°Alright, my instruments are ready, please proceed.¡±

    Tova, hit me.

    <Your skill Discerning Gaze has identified a new use for your talent Passing Judgement>

    <You discover Spectrum of Truth>

    /due to the progress of identifying skills and experience before discovery, this skill is advanced to Novice 1.

    <You have advanced Spectrum of Truth> x9

    <You have advanced Discerning gaze> x4

    <You have advanced intimidation>

    <You have advanced Interrogation> x2

    <You have advanced Pistols>

    <You have killed a hostile human> x2

    /ending a hostile System User rewards additional general experience.

    /ending a User with a higher tier rewards additional experience.

    <You have advanced a level> x2

    I have skipped incremental notifications for alchemy and management.

    <You have reached level 12 and gained two module points>

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td rowspan="5" width="208">

    Select from the following or Defer (2 points available):

    </td>

    <td width="380">

    Aether Engraving¡ªenhancing objects with aether.

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="380">

    Body Language¡ªnot all truths are spoken.

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="380">

    Intermediate Tome of Alchemic Recipes

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    3

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="380">

    Magitech Primer¡ªaether can mimic tech and vice versa!

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="380">

    Gun Fu!¡ªMerging small arms tactics and Martial Arts

    </td>

    <td width="36">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Surprisingly, none of these are trash choices. Sure, there¡¯s one I can¡¯t afford, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯m too interested in that kind of breadth of knowledge in alchemy. Advanced techniques? Sure, I¡¯d bite, but not just a collection of recipes. Ideally, I learn all of these eventually, and if I¡¯m interested in wasting money instead of points, I can probably brute force engraving knowledge; but the big shiny in this list is Magitech.

    Penny, who I now know is Empress Astoria (FML), recommended I ditch tinkering for Magitech integration to get to where I want to be with my product lines and alchemy processes. That said, I want this more for delves into electronic timers attached to aetheric triggers leading to big splodeys.

    My selection made, images and information of catalysts, aetheric induction, and a myriad of other concepts flood my brain before Tova diverts most of the flow to my subconscious. I silently thank her for allowing me to think.  I gasp and start breathing quickly in reaction to the stress, opening my eyes to find a concerned doctor hovering over me. A terrible quip about angels flicks across my mind and I squash it before it hits my mouth.

    ¡°Big module that time. Does that get any easier?¡±

    She smiles softly at me, ¡°It lessens after tier advancements. That¡¯s where large modifications can be made in most cases. That includes the structure and capabilities of your brain.¡±

    ¡°Heh, not sure I really need more body modifications.¡± I respond.

    ¡°With your action boost Talent, further changes in musculature would keep you from injuring yourself as much with it.¡±

    I can¡¯t tell if she¡¯s probing or she¡¯s just helping out, but no reason not to share with her. ¡°Triggered Action has gotten easier to use since,¡± I gesture at my body, ¡°this happened. I only feel the strain when I use it to hit someone. Shooting and knife throwing are painless.¡±

    She purses her lips and takes some notes in her HUD. I chuckle at how easily she gets distracted by science. Too bad Marcella doesn¡¯t get to enjoy this cuteness that often.

    I apologize for the sweat I leave inside the suit and put my pants on so that I¡¯m not showing my ass on my way to the shower in my lab. Sports bra is basically clothing anyway. A rinse and some new underwear and I¡¯m ready to sit at my desk for a few hours when Tova tells me to check my professional messages. Twelve new appointments today. Fantastic.

 A2: Chapter 20

    ¡°When did you have time to update the aesthetic?¡±

    I figured your new residential building deserved less beige.

    The eight-story building I¡¯m looking at is a far cry from the bland windowed building of yester week. Arcuate bands of greens and blues twist about a structural outset that itself is an arc leading from the entryway on the ground level to the lower garden terrace on the floor below me. On the top two floors, there is a complimentary, concentric arc with a massive semi-shade over the garden areas.

    The arcs also have defense installations. The upper arc covers your residence and general field of view, where the lower arc is mainly to defend the entrance and the helipad.

    No wonder this was so expensive!! Great work Tova. Solid additions and the building is beautiful. I wonder what other surprises you might have included. She says nothing.

    The entryway looks a bit sterile for my taste but the furniture and the art on the walls lend enough color that I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m in some kind of institution. The gym seems modern enough, with Tova near replicating the equipment from Warram on a smaller scale. My legs and arms immediately get antsy.

    Moving on so I can get to the workout that I suddenly need, I head to the elevators to check out my new place.

    There¡¯s a private elevator through those maintenance doors. Services the top two floors only.

    Okay, that¡¯s cool. You¡¯re making me feel all important, Tova. This is a funny and thrilling feeling! I scan my mosaic and the door to my elevator opens, and there¡¯s another scanner on the elevator. I briefly consider the reason for this and look around to find that this really is the maintenance access area for the other elevators and maybe more. I step inside to find soft music playing in the background while I look at a panel with a handful of buttons. The floor I¡¯m on is labeled ¡®L¡¯ with floors ¡®EX1¡¯ and ¡®EX2¡¯ above, with ¡®SB1¡¯, ¡®SB2¡¯, and ¡®U¡¯ below. Vowing to come back and visit all the private elevator¡¯s floors, I push ¡®EX2¡¯.

    What I see when the doors open brings tears to my eyes. There¡¯s a sunken living room with a semi-circle couch right in front of me and to the left is a half-wall with a large display and a small case with games in it. Past the living room is a dining area next to floor to ceiling windows. To my right is a kitchen and bar area that also looks outside, but also out to the garden terrace. It has the feel of home that the suite I had with Belle did, but different enough that I can tell how much thought Tova had put into this.

    I wander left to see a small bathroom with a shower and the half-wall reveals a small table in a cubby and some coat hooks on the side. I¡¯m about to open the door that should be a window-side bedroom when I see a seam on the far end of the wall and black glass in the wall next to it. I resist the urge to open a floorplan in my HUD and advance on the curious structure.

    I stare at the little glass panel, shrug and swipe my arm. A sucking noise and the feel of a breeze alert me that my code was accepted as the portion of the wall drops back and rolls to the side. An off-white and well-organized lab space with stainless steel tables greets me with taps for my solvents, a storage safe and a storage fridge for projects. Shelves on the wall have nearly the same components as my lab at Warram, and far more detailed stirring instruments and glassware. There¡¯s a large autoclave and a centrifuge! More tears in my eyes.

    Tova, you¡¯ve done this terrifically wonderful thing for me. I don¡¯t have the words to explain how much I appreciate this. Did you get anything for yourself?

    I did, in fact. A private ansible repeater with different access from the one in the cafeteria, and a server room to aid my ability to conduct side projects while still helping you. With your aether able to connect to ansibles, I can effectively split my attention with a separate processing center.

    I chuckle at that. You deserve it, friend. How much were we over your 6k estimate?

    Around 500 credits on the building, then I spent 1700 more on upgrades and furnishings.

    The extra costs surprise me, but what surprises me more is that I think she got a good deal. My AI friend preens in my mind as I shake my head at the turn in my fortune in the last year. People are trying to kill me, but I¡¯m making more money than I thought was possible.

    The drug making gets me a few thousand credits a month and my deal with Merc Arms is 100cr/mo. + 1%/kg sold. The deal with Penny is curious to me, she said the monthly would be lower, in exchange for a higher percentage. Which gets me about 30 credits per 10k kilo? For doing absolutely no work. If she¡¯s planning to supply navies with it, then there was no way I could keep up. Making poison for Marcella is making me a few hundred credits a month as well, but I don¡¯t like to think about that.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Do I gain anything for changing my residence in the system?¡±

    I don¡¯t think this lab would be appropriate to sleep in.

    ¡°No, doofus. The address.¡±

    Nothing save assassins knowing where you live, which would be a silly choice.

    ¡°Yes, because the shiny new buildings aren¡¯t a giveaway.¡± I scoff as rustle through my notes on anything I¡¯ve been wanting to change. Ah, there¡¯s one about messing up my cordite mixtures and creating a gummy, paste-like substance. If I buy a sack of corundum dust from Penny, I could see if that would firm up the gel and perhaps up-augment explosive speed and travel.

    I put in an order for a few liters of the sand and figure I can imbue it and see how thick I can make the gel with my gunpowder and aether-infused sand. I of course will be imbuing the gun cotton, but I will likely leave the nitroglycerine alone as it already has problems with exploding spontaneously.

    After I prep the solvents and set the Astorian wood pulp to soak it in, I set a mental timer and finally leave my sweet new lab space to go check on my room.

    The first thing I notice is the lounger next to the floor to ceiling windows and a door to a patio? The chair has a side table and an ottoman, but there¡¯s a patio? I obviously can¡¯t resist going out there, so I open up the door to see a respectable width patio that I couldn¡¯t see from the ground because my place is a little smaller than the floor and the result is the patio, and with the creative coloring, the transition disappears. Neat.

    The patio slash walkway extends all the way to the Garden with a recessed hot tub in front of the living room windows. The cover doubles as more floor when it¡¯s closed. That¡¯s really waving our wallet at people, Tova.

    Didn¡¯t all drug magnates of old have ¡®sweet pads¡¯?

    I¡¯m about to refute that, but I produce a lot of cocaine and I sell it wholesale. While I make a lot of money, I¡¯m not making cartel money. It really doesn¡¯t surprise me that Medvedev fleeced me on this deal. Now that I think about it, the brokerage fee is more than I make, so no wonder people have it out for me. If I wasn¡¯t paranoid and violent to begin with, I would surely be dead or chained in a hole somewhere already.

    I continue to mull the idea of what to do with the brokerage money in holding as I walk through the garden¡¯s levels, eyeing the various plants that don¡¯t look familiar. Screencap and research later seems a good way to handle this unknown. Plus, if my eyes are correct for the ones I do recognize, Tova ordered a good portion of food and alchemy ingredients. I walk to the end and decide I need a seating area in the greenery and add a bench before looking over the side of the precarious ledge. I bonk my head against something very solid.

    Every bit as funny as I¡¯d hoped. I thought you might want to grow some niche plants, so most of this is enchanted to be transparent, and with the controllable sunshade on the arches with the guns, we have ourselves an aether-capable greenhouse.

    Holyshit! Does that mean I can plug in some aether crystals and raise the ambient in my house?

    You can, but it¡¯s more cost effective to raise one room than the rest of the large floor this place is built from. So the completely sealable Lab is your most cost effective option.

    Meaning, you already had the parts installed and probably have a box of crystals ready in there somewhere. She pings the affirmative. Empress¡¯ sweet patootie, you continue to surprise me today. I¡¯m feeling a little overwhelmed, yep here come the tears.

    While I can¡¯t speak, I draft up a message for Paolo to say that some of our private apartments are available and to let people know that the residences are available. I also say that the dorms won¡¯t be available for about two months. He replies that Beverly and He will look at the building when her shift is up and then talk with the few other workers tomorrow.

    \Kimber, DE Bev. You thinking of expanding to Reno in the near future?\

    /Uh, hi Bev. It is on my long-term plan, but not near, no./

    \What if I told you I want to take him with me?\

    /I wouldn¡¯t be surprised. What if I said it depends on if he has a Columbian friend that knows the process like him?/

    \You pay for the job?\

    /I¡¯ll look at a proposal./

    She sends ¡®copy¡¯ shorthand back to me and I¡¯m not sure I want Paolo to go. Ultimately it¡¯s up to him, but in the last year I¡¯ve grown pretty close to his skinny ass. Although he really is replaceable, and it doesn¡¯t need a Columbian, but I promised to try to get some of his friends out and Bev seems able to motivate others to her cause.

    My alarm for my guncotton project goes off and I wonder where three hours has gone. I continue the process and put it out to dry while I set up the reaction for nitro glycerin. I babysit this process and finish by putting it in my volatile¡¯s safe and wait the four additional hours to dry my guncotton product appropriately. I dump aether periodically into the tub that the corundum dust came in and head to bed for the night as soon as I take the guncotton out of the vacuum chamber.

    /I wish I could hug you right now/ I find myself messaging Zia instead of Marcella. Huh.

    \If I were on planet, I would totally shuttle over. You okay?\

    /Yeah, just I¡¯m pretty sure my plant manager just found his future wife and they are talking about leaving town. He¡¯s like my only local friend./

    \What about that gym boy that likes you?\

    /I don¡¯t like guys like that, Zia./

    \He can still be your friend, doofus. You were saying you got along great.\

    /I¡¯ve had too many attempts on my life recently to be working out there lately. I suppose you¡¯re right though, I could try a little harder to maintain contact./

    \Andromeda save me. I can hear your mopey pout from 3k lightyears away.\

    /Blarg, sorry. I¡¯m doing really well and crying about attempted murder. Pretty lame am I right?/

    \Hah! Totes lame. But when I come visit, we¡¯re def going to put some assholes in the dirt.\

    /You are the coolest person I¡¯ve never met./ If we ever met, I bet my embarrassment shoots through the roof.

    \If you need, we can holo conference.\

    /Nah, it¡¯s not that serious, but if I ever stop being a drug dealing pyromaniac, I¡¯ll take you up on that./

    \If you¡¯re sure. Sleep well doofus.\

    /have a great day Zia./

    Yeah, time differences that aren¡¯t always the same are a fun time. She¡¯s right though, I should get to sleep. Hopefully the next few weeks are less exciting in the death department and more fun in the explodey department.

 A2: Chapter 21

    I spend the next week filling orders for Warram and its employees and I have a big delivery next month¡ªtwo hundred kilos. It¡¯s big enough that Medvedev wants a more experienced person to lead the exchange despite that I¡¯ve handled the last three without issue. Maybe the Boss has a new kid he¡¯s trying out for officer or something. It has to be politics.

    A ping interrupts my thoughts. I send my door camera feed to my display panel in the living room. Paolo¡¯s worried face looks around to find . . . something while he waits. ¡°Hey Paolo, I¡¯m going to click the door, let yourself in. I pull my .38 and point it to the door as he didn¡¯t send me a message before hand.

    ¡°Whoah! Quimica!¡±

    ¡°Close the door Paolo.¡± He pushes it shut and still looks at me with surprise and fear. ¡°Sorry man, still jumpy from last week and I¡¯m not used to people that want to just drop by. I thought maybe you had a gun at your back or something.¡±

    ¡°Que curioso. You live a most interesting life Senora. I just come up to say Beverly wanted to talk to you about the Health Club and something about a mission?¡±

    I respect that my plant manager would deliver a message from his girlfriend that he didn¡¯t understand, and Bev for keeping things close to the chest. ¡°She waiting at the Laundry?¡±

    ¡°Si. Also, a miss Fontaine is waiting in the lobby.¡±

    I jump out of my seat, dash to the coat closet to put on my harness and a coat. ¡°Could have led with that muchacho.¡± I look in the mirror next to the elevator and make sure my hair is appropriately mussed before seeing my Mentor for the first time in months.

    I grab Paolo and shove him ahead of me and irritate the close button in the elevator while also spamming the ¡®L¡¯ button. I¡¯m practically bouncing in my normally fast elevator. Is she here for business? There¡¯s no way she¡¯s just in town to see me. I get the feeling that Medvedev sent her away, so if she¡¯s back it¡¯s because something¡¯s wrong. Oh shit, is it me that¡¯s wrong?

    I can¡¯t get through the maintenance access door fast enough. When I see her in the lobby, she¡¯s got her hip cocked out and sipping from a can like she¡¯s advertising a soda. Her dress shirt is white and her utility belt is barely noticeable. The coat she must have swung over her should when she walked in is carefully draped over a nearby chair.

    I start running and throw myself at her like a feral animal. She steps aside and catches me with one arm in a little spin. While I wrap my arms tightly around her torso and bury my head in her collar.

    ¡°I fucking missed you, jerkface.¡±

    She starts laughing, I missed that too. ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell. Sorry it¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve last seen you. Medvedev has been difficult and I¡¯m not quite ready to kill everyone yet.¡±

    I scoff, ¡°I¡¯m getting close, if you wanna team up.¡±

    ¡°I heard. Two last week and half a dozen last night.¡± She starts petting the buzzed part of my head and it¡¯s almost enough to distract me from what she said.

    I step back and look up at her, still touching her sides, unable to let go yet. ¡°Last night? I bet the idiots tried to abduct me again.¡±

    She nods and keeps petting my head. I lean into it automatically. ¡°That¡¯s in line with what I read. I also read that two died from a necrotizing contact poison, and two others from some inhalant that filled their lungs with fluid.¡±

    ¡°I must have overdone it on the chlorine gas. Or the asbestos aerosol. Not sure I care.¡±

    ¡°Empress¡¯ toe fungus, kid. That¡¯s some gnarly shit. Who gave you that idea?¡± Does she sound impressed?! What the fuck Marcella?

    ¡°A friend I made, daughter of a gun runner I make explosives for, suggested that they don¡¯t respect me and won¡¯t see me as a threat until I go so over the top they wonder if it¡¯s worth taking a contract on me.¡±

    ¡°Not terrible advice. It¡¯s what I did, and what I¡¯ll likely do in the future since people have forgotten why the dark is afraid of me.¡± Her face sours as shadows seem to seep from her pores.

    ¡°Hey, sis? That¡¯s pretty freaky. Could you not in my lobby?¡± It takes a few seconds, but she looks down at me and blinks furiously before shaking her head.

    ¡°Sorry Kimber. I¡¯m really fed up with Warram Criminal Enterprises right now. Care to show me this new upstart Nova Chem Company Town?¡±

    She wants to see what I did!! My smile hit so hard my cheeks are already tired. ¡°Yes! This is my new residence and hospital facility. The building connected with the pedestrian skyway is going to be company dorms. Wanna talk while we head to my Laundry? One of the foremen wants to talk to me about a job.¡±

    ¡°Aww, my little protegee is posting jobs. They grow up so fast.¡± She fake wipes a tear.

    I punch her in the hip, grab her hand and pull her outside.

    ¡°Sooo, about this gun runner, why haven¡¯t I heard about this?¡±

    ¡°Uh, I got a hyper velocity fifty cal sniper from them and a pair of sweet pistols and I make magically enhanced gunpowder for them. Well, I did until last week. She dropped by to discuss letting her facilities make it in higher volumes for a modest fee. Oh, and this all started after I became Warram¡¯s resident alchemist, about the same time you left me and stopped having time to talk.¡± Guilt trip, guilt trip, guilt trip.

    Marcella groans. ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t forget about you, but I forgot what time meant for a few months, and then I thought it had been too long to just reach out.¡± She shakes her head again. ¡°Yeah it¡¯s dumb and I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve missed you too Kimber, and mostly at dinner when we used to bicker.¡±

    ¡°Seriously, who puts catsup on cake, you weirdo.¡± I smirk and hip check her.

    ¡°I thought it was meatloaf!!¡± She shouts to the sky and I can feel the love as she gives me a noogie while dragging me in a headlock. I missed this too, as uncomfortably smashed as my face is.

    ¡°Is what you¡¯re doing in Reno interesting?¡±

    ¡°Not really. I guess it could be if it weren¡¯t so tedious. I¡¯m trying to set up a refuge corporation for women and children who want a different life than being a gang-banger. There¡¯s been some heavy pushback from political entities with a lot of money riding on the Orphan Market up north and while their Orphanages are City funded, the end result is taking advantage of wayward kids and using desperate women to facilitate it all.¡±

    ¡°Making any progress?¡±

    ¡°Some, but every time I remove a corruption cog in their pushback machine, people freak out and push back harder. Apparently I could use your advice on creating a System endorsed entity outside of Reno¡¯s jurisdiction to get a foot in the door.¡±

    ¡°I told you how I did it. Is it not working for you?¡±

    ¡°Something¡¯s not tracking with the professionals.¡±

    I shrug. ¡°My situation is odd. I run an unaffiliated company, but work as a settlement alchemist for Warram. Maybe you need to be a Citizen or at least a provisional Citizen?¡±

    I look up to see if she understands and see her looking at me like a stranger. ¡°What¡¯s that look for?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re 17 and not tier 1 yet. How the hell did you get a Citizenship?¡±

    ¡°My gun runner friend listed me as a preferred vendor and when we met she found out that I was an aether user and petitioned for a government discount for Earth Aether users on my behalf. The Imperial Council¡¯s decision was provisional Citizenship to access the aether rations on the Exchange.¡± Her expression changed only slightly, her mouth dropping open. ¡°So I get some neat discounts on Exchange deliveries and transfers now.¡± She¡¯s not even looking at where she¡¯s going now. ¡°Marci, you look like a fish.¡± I poke her in the face.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°Hey! You shit. And why did your life get interesting after I left, when mine only got more frustrating? What I¡¯m trying to do is important, but the things that are happening to you are outrageous.¡± She pauses for a few minutes before asking. ¡°Can I see your ¡®sweet¡¯ pistols?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely!¡± I draw the ballistic weapon, ¡°This is my hyper-velo .38. Spell bronze rounds with my proprietary smokeless powder.¡± I hand her over and wait expectantly as she inspects it.

    My mentor jostles the grip in her palm and gets a feeling for the weight and the balance. She looks at me expectantly. I nod and she plugs a street sign three times before re-inspecting the weapon. ¡°it¡¯s rare to see compensators on a pistol, but these are exquisite. The wrist torque and target creep are minimal. How much did you pay for this?¡±

    ¡°For that and a thousand rounds, 50 credits. Got it as a part of a deal with the gunpower I sold her. Apparently it doesn¡¯t have a retail model like my pulse pistol does.¡±

    ¡°This is worth way more than that. You gun runner must really like your gunpowder. Do I need to meet her and tell her not to take advantage of my protegee?¡±

    ¡°Sis, I love you, but she would squash you like a bug.¡± She grumbles a lot but doesn¡¯t press the issue.

    ¡°Any other surprises I should know about? Can you read minds? Teleport? Anything?¡±

    ¡°I rediscovered a moldable explosive and modified it so that it can only be ignited via aether burst.¡±

    ¡°You made magic C-4?

    ¡°Something more crude, but yes. More stable than its TnT base because I can use sand that wasn¡¯t available 200 years ago. I¡¯m hoping my friend might want it, but if not, the mercs on the Marketplace will love it. So will I since I¡¯m the only person on Earth making detonators for it.¡± I grin widely.

    ¡°Well shit, maybe I should be taking jobs from you.¡± She chuckles for a moment before I talk again.

    ¡°Want to distribute my magic cocaine to Reno?¡±

    ¡°Fuck no! Wait, what makes it magical?¡± For a second, a brief second, she almost had morals.

    ¡°The high is stronger and the come-down is more mild. The drawback is that the aether content can increase the addiction.¡±

    ¡°Damnit Kimber, that actually seems lucrative. And it¡¯s no wonder half the Health Club is being hired for your delivery. Buyer out of Huston got a taste and wants to see how his market responds.¡±

    ¡°Hells, the whole of Middle and South America is going to come out for me if I start making that much. Maybe I can kill enough of Medvedev¡¯s goons to get him to re-negotiate my contracts.¡±

    She grunts in agreement. ¡°How much control do you have over those contracts?¡±

    ¡°Depends on the reliability of the person, really. A person with a strict code? Less room to negotiate. Medvedev? His contracts might as well be written on toilet paper. Not literally, they¡¯re still contracts, but I could break the two that I have from the threats that he¡¯s levied.¡±

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you yet? With the murder attempts, I figured you¡¯d be harder to find.¡±

    Big sister is fishing for info. ¡°I don¡¯t have an escape plan. Zia recommended against brash action without one.¡±

    ¡°Smart. I honestly hadn¡¯t pegged you for being that in control of your emotions. That¡¯s impressive.¡±

    ¡°Alright Marci. Why are you actually in Vegas?¡± I accuse after the awkwardness of the last exchange.

    ¡°I saw your name come across a couple of lists last week. Then last night I get a summons with orders to bring you in this afternoon? You¡¯ve pissed off some people Kimber.¡±

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be spending our time until the meeting trapping my warehouse then.¡±

    ¡°I should technically be discouraging you from this approach, but anticipatory vengeance is a good call. Maybe vengeance in waiting? Either way, kudos.¡±

    ¡°So nix on the security for the delivery then?¡±

    ¡°Nah, that was a line I was fed. They¡¯re moving to take over drug production.¡±

    ¡°That would be fun and interesting to see. I don¡¯t have any good ways to disappear, Marcella, are you leading me into a tough spot?¡±

    ¡°Accompanying you. Even odds on them trying to pin me to the wall as well. I don¡¯t know how we get out of this without fighting, but I¡¯m game.¡±

    ¡°Same. I¡¯m glad you didn¡¯t bail on me.¡± I ram her with a hug right in front of my laundry building. ¡°I spend so much time trying to be a bad-ass capable person, but half the time I just want someone I trust to tell me what to do.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s your problem. Trust. What if I betrayed you?¡±

    ¡°With your hardon for betrayal vengeance? Our System contract would kill you, full stop.¡±

    ¡°That strong, eh?¡± She pauses a few seconds, ¡°can you see contract strength?¡±

    ¡°Only if it¡¯s in front of me, and even then it depends on the two parties involved. And even that is conjecture as it¡¯s only come up twice. If you¡¯re fucking with me, this isn¡¯t an amusing line of questions.¡±

    She sighs heavily before responding, ¡°Kimber, I love you like my dead sister and that¡¯s hard to think about. I¡¯m struggling with the idea that I would burn the fucking city down to get you free of this shit. Realizing I¡¯m game to merc people I¡¯ve known longer than you¡¯ve been alive is a sobering revelation.¡±

    I monkey hug that beautiful woman for a few moments before straightening my shirt and walking into the warehouse and whispering ¡°love you too.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Oh shit, hey boss.¡± Bev says at both of us. ¡°I mean, Miss Fontaine.¡±

    ¡°Bev, seriously?  Where¡¯s Haley?¡±

    ¡°Haley¡¯s been a jealous asshat and doesn¡¯t get to work for me. It backfired a little as the Health Club doesn¡¯t want to play anymore.¡± I shrug, ¡°The price was worth it not to hear her naysay me constantly.¡±

    ¡°I apologized and Hailey tried, but . . .¡± Marcella holds her hand up to interrupt Beverly.

    ¡°I trust Kimber more than someone who wouldn¡¯t do the job I tasked her with. I was paying people to pay attention Bev. I¡¯m not going to black list her or anything, but it¡¯s a red mark on her record.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯ll ruin her, Fontaine.¡±

    My mentor shrugs, ¡°She let emotions get in the way. Not just for a moment, but for months. I should have strung her up by her entrails when Kimber got shot, and only the fact that she ended up killing the man that did it saved her life.¡±

    Beverly searches the tall black-haired woman for any sign of sympathy, finding none, she sighed. ¡°Does my reputation suffer for backing her?¡±

    ¡°I probably wouldn¡¯t ask you to lead a mission, but your ability to follow orders has never been in doubt.¡± Marcella walks over to my Ansible repeater and orders another soda.

    ¡°Good, I¡¯d hate to have any misunderstandings.¡± The muscled behemoth looked at me the whole time she said it.

    ¡°Message heard Bev. What did you want to talk to me about?¡± I also skim the Exchange menu, but I don¡¯t get beyond the ¡®Past Favorites¡¯ area before selecting a plate of sushi and a more recent choice, Sake.

    ¡°I, I found the area one of Paolo¡¯s friends is in Venezuela, and it¡¯s fucking trouble. That on top of the Reno offer and the timeframes, I don¡¯t know if I can get a job organized on time.¡±

    ¡°You want a Venezuelan this time?¡± My mentor asks.

    ¡°Bev wants to take my Plant Manager with her. I asked what it would take to get one of his friends here.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah, hate to tell you this, but permanent positions up north are off the table until we can get a settlement or a corporation set up.¡± Marcella volunteered and I watched the hope fall from Beverly.

    I suddenly feel very inadequate for the place I¡¯ve tried to give my team. Sure, the muscle mama has plans for her life that are her own, but damn, is my place so bad? You know what? This is not a situation I created, and for them, not one I can solve if they want to move. But it feels like failure!

    ¡°Crap. Does that mean I planned a Job for nothing?¡± Bev asks.

    I shake my head, ¡°I promised Paolo that I¡¯d try to get his friends. This is a step in that direction. I still need whomever he selects to work when they get here, but talk to Paolo about it. He rarely tells me the truth of what he¡¯s feeling.¡±

    She pauses a few moments before nodding at my recommendation. She whispers something to Marcella before continuing out of our area and into the office.

    ¡°I literally pay her, what the fuck?¡±

    ¡°Kimber. Lay off a little. She¡¯s been tied to Hailey a long time. I just gave her a lot more work to do if she wants to keep rising in the Health Club.¡±

    ¡°I guess I get it. I keep wanting to tie myself to someone. You, maybe-kinda Zia, and maybe-kinda the boss of Merc Arms.¡±

    ¡°MERC ARMS!?!¡± No chance no one heard Marcella yell that. ¡°You¡¯re close with the CEO of Merc Arms? I swear on the Empress¡¯ next child, that you¡¯ll be the death of me. I have so many questions, but maybe I¡¯ll just hit the ¡®I believe¡¯ button and let it go.¡±

    ¡°Probably safer.¡±

    She breaths heavy, then sighs before addressing me, ¡°We still have business later. We¡¯ll talk about friends and any girl interests you may have after okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes please? I def want an evening of sister time. Speaking of interests, have you talked to Danielle?¡±

    She grins like a predator, ¡°She has been appropriately scandalized for my taste. Perhaps we can carve out some time this evening.¡±

    ¡°Blarg. Sister, having sex. SO GROSS.¡±

    She smiles at me and squashes me with her arms. ¡°You¡¯re adorable.¡±

    Normal Kimber from two years ago would have run from this feeling. Today Kimber wants to roll it up in parchment and save it in the freezer for whenever I¡¯m desperate for love. Sometimes this new level of hormones is awesome, much of the time it is pure crap. From what I¡¯ve read on the Astorian Sat Net, this is perfectly normal for an enhanced teenager.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you already went to see her. Like, I look too much like you for that not to be weird.¡±

    ¡°Did my girlfriend eyeball my teenage sister? The Scandal!¡±

    ¡°Waaaait. You¡¯re dating?!¡±

    ¡°You fucking think she¡¯d wait a year for my dumb ass? No chance. I¡¯ve been engaging and dedicated I¡¯ll have you know.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh. Sex greater than sister, I see how it is.¡±

    ¡°Now wait just a minute you waffling little turd. I¡¯m done with this conversation. We need you ready for your trial in two hours.¡±

    ¡°Trial!? You said it was a meeting!¡± I gasp and shout.

    She shrugs, ¡°It¡¯s a type of meeting.¡±

 A2: Chapter 22

    /Zia, you¡¯re a lifesaver! Maybe literally./

    \It¡¯s whatever. Mom gave it to me when I was training up to tier one, so I¡¯m only lending it to you.\

    /I¡¯m saving up for one, so I won¡¯t be tempted to keep it./

    \Good luck at your meeting, Doofus. Don¡¯t die.\

    I send the feeling of a hug and look down at the precious item she sent me. It¡¯s a ring, heavy with engraving and enchantments, that I can feel grasping for aether around us. Made for a smaller hand, I take off my boots and slip it over my middle toe. Sorry Zia, it may be gross, but I can¡¯t risk them taking it. It feels funny while I walk, but I¡¯ll gladly suffer for access to my weapons.

    I store my babies in my borrowed dimensional storage Item along with some meds and explosives, and order an extra pistol to mirror the pistol that Marcella issued me more than a year ago to slide into my shoulder holsters. At Marcella¡¯s insistence, I¡¯m wearing a vest underneath my dress shirt and had to order a new jacket and adjust my holster to accommodate the bulk. The jacket won¡¯t be a waste in the future as my old jacket was getting pretty snug. Made my arms look good though.

    I pull the collapsable motorbike that Penny recommended out of the warehouse office and start the process of it transforming. The bike has been great for moving back and forth to Warram in the last few weeks, but I¡¯m still getting a handle on the elevation controls for avoiding obstacles.

    ¡°It feels like you¡¯re one-upping me left and right. Nice ride, bee tee dub, your friend recommend it too?¡± Marcella¡¯s gaze runs across my bike and I feel a little filthy from the lust I can see in her eyes.

    ¡°Yep! Arms dealer approved conveyance. Transforms into a suitcase when I turn it off.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be insufferable if you thought higher of yourself. Oh wait,¡± she quipped before putting on her helmet.

    /The only person at Warram that I hold in higher esteem left town./ If she¡¯s going to keep making comments about how I¡¯ve changed, she can take some ownership. Her response is to kick her bike forward with a squeak of rubber and some dust.

    I take position right behind her, though my ride is more stable and undoubtedly faster, but she¡¯s supposed to be taking me in and I see no reason to cause more problems . . . yet. I have some contract points in my back pocket I plan to leverage if things get weird and they try to force me to do stuff. Not sure what Marcella¡¯s plan is, but I have to believe she has one.

    We get in the building with no trouble or additional escort, but to my surprise, we take a detour to my office. She asks me to open the hazards safe and when I turn around to ask what she wants out of it, my sister is half naked. I turn back around quickly and she chuckles at me.

    ¡°You are almost a mini version of me. What¡¯s the problem Kimber?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an ass.¡± She chuckles again and in a minute or two of me busying myself in menus, Marcella squeezes past and pulls some poison out.

    I look over to see my Mentor in a padded leather jacket, pants with thick thigh insets and supple leather boots. On top of all that, I feel a minor aura radiating off her with the telltale signs of enchantment.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you show up looking this intimidating?¡±

    ¡°The lookouts and guards are supposed to tell Vasily when I show up ¡®ready for war¡¯, so why would I give them advanced notice?¡±

    It¡¯s oddly comforting that she¡¯s prepared to commit to a slaughter for me. ¡°Should I change?¡±

    ¡°Not worth it. If you¡¯re wearing something that could conceal weapons, they¡¯d ask you to take it off. I¡¯m still a Lieutenant, so if they touch me I¡¯ll remove the offending part of their bodies.¡±

    We take the executive elevator to a conference room surrounded by offices on floor thirty-eight. As soon as we get off the elevator we are greeted by a squad of six goons. They ask me to take off my jacket and hand over any weapons I may have. I hand them two pistols and a few knives in my belt. A woman pats me down and moves to do the same to Marcella.

    She shakes her head and says, ¡°No¡± before continuing down the hall toward the meeting room. I follow her and change my gait to her confident commanding one as an attendant opens the door for us.

    Officers are seated around the table and half a dozen armed men line the walls, an obvious sign that Medvedev expects some violence at this meeting.

    ¡°Marci, good to see you can still follow orders.¡± Medvedev smirks.

    ¡°Vasily, your opinion of yourself hasn¡¯t changed since I left, I see. Why have you summoned us?¡± She remarks, deliberately stealing some of his thunder. He clearly does not like being called by his first name.

    Regaining his composure ¡°Your ward has been accused of mismanaging resources and murder.¡±

    She snorts, loudly? ¡°Murder? In this organization? That¡¯s like charging naked ambition as a crime in this place. I would love to hear how any of their deaths are remotely unreasonable.¡±

    Mr. Prakesh chimes in. ¡°We have evidence that miss Novarro used chemical weapons that are considered war crimes.¡±

    ¡°Warram Organized Crime hasn¡¯t ruled against any action as a war crime in its history, nor does the Boss consider any path to victory as a war crime.¡± I add. ¡°I can literally check if any action I¡¯m about to do is against a covenant I agreed to.¡±

    Marcella elbows me. ¡°What? I figured I¡¯d cut to the chase. My contracts regarding dealing with Warram members in good faith and courtesy don¡¯t have a problem with the actions I took.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Kimber. I¡¯m aware. But you are missing the politics of the matter. Mister Lamar is losing trained killers, and I assume one of Parker¡¯s friends or colleagues was lost in your little room full of traps. A few of the other officers think you¡¯re a liability, and Vasily doesn¡¯t like that he has to follow the rules when you¡¯re involved.¡± She looks around the room. ¡°How did I do gentlemen? I honestly don¡¯t know about the mismanagement of resources accusation, she¡¯s made Warram tens of thousands of credits and hasn¡¯t attempted to skim off the top like every other drug pusher you¡¯ve ever had. I¡¯d be appalled at her honesty if she wasn¡¯t working other angles.¡±

    ¡°She has undisclosed income, and she¡¯s been working in an alchemic capacity.¡± The head administrator states, I forget her name.

    ¡°So does everyone else in this room. And before you argue that her Alchemy time is company time, which is false, I should also mention her requirement to work at least 30% non-alchemy work or be paid for the extra time. Has she been paid extra yet?¡±

    ¡°We have estimated what amount of time it would take for her to make her other products and have determined that she chose alchemic time and is not owed.¡± The administrator replies.

    ¡°Which is it then, is it chosen, alchemy personal time, or mandated alchemy time where you both owe each other money?   Before you answer, I have seen the correspondence denying her field work every time she¡¯s asked.¡±

    I am suddenly concerned at the granularity of information that she has on my whole life. Or maybe I¡¯m confused and heartwarmed that she cares?

    Medvedev is turning red.

    ¡°I was going to wait two weeks and enforce the contract, but Marcella¡¯s right. I haven¡¯t elected to work additional alchemy hours for the organization.¡±

    ¡°Novarro. You will speak only when spoken to.¡± The boss warns. ¡°And Marci, it appears your actions are attempting to subvert my efforts in Reno.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t tell me what you have planned so how the fuck would I know? You sent me up there to kill people and to keep your operatives as safe as they can be. I have my own agenda up there as well, but without more info, how can I deconflict?¡±

    ¡°You will only be in Reno during jobs.¡±

    ¡°No. You don¡¯t get to dictate my personal time.¡±

    ¡°You owe me.¡±

    ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll take that as a paid favor.¡±

    Medvedev¡¯s features blank but before he can open his mouth to refute a golden scroll appears in my hand, much to my surprise. I open it.

    ¡°I Marcella Francesca Fontaine, owe a single favor for a single task to Vasily Medvedev for as long as he remains honorable.¡±

    There is a ¡®fulfilled¡¯ print at the end, but I note the orange lettering on the honorable clause.

    /Marcella, the scroll suggests that he has not remained honorable, but merely honorable in his dealings with you./

    She quirks an eyebrow but says nothing.

    ¡°That is not the intent of a favor and you know it.¡± The boss growls.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t make demands you are not entitled to make.¡± My mentor said, with steel in her voice.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Medvedev lost the war with his emotions and slams his hands down on the table, forcing himself out of his seat. ¡°You dare tell me what I can and cannot do?! It is by my grace that your little experiment proceeded at all! With the promises you¡¯ve made, you¡¯re lucky I tolerate you. Period!¡±

    ¡°You promised we would run this company together. You promised to never directly or indirectly cause harm to my family, among others. You have already violated those two agreements, Vasily. It would be terrible if I decided that you were too unreliable to run the Organization.¡±

    ¡°How dare you!¡± He reaches for something, but a dagger the length of my arm appears in the table just before his crotch.

    ¡°SIT DOWN.¡± Everyone sits, the guards and I sit on the floor. The concentration on my sister¡¯s face shows that she¡¯s using a Talent or Skill to do it, but hells, words of command are powerful. ¡°You will ensure Kimber¡¯s safety while working in this building, or I will have her void her contracts immediately. And as a favor to me, you will instruct Everyone at Warram, that Alchemist Navarro is not to be harmed.¡±

    ¡°I will do no such thing.¡±

    Marcella shudders and then smiles in the most disturbing way I have ever seen. Malicious glee emanates from her eyes as the room fills with shadow. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d say that.¡±

    \Kimber, trigger the most debilitating clause in your contracts as you can.\

    I search the three I¡¯ve signed and they all rely on the alchemist contract. As the Settlement owner, he agreed to have me as a settlement Alchemist. Part of that agreement is to ensure my safety from inside and outside actors. I force the contract to acknowledge the red in those words and my professional binding to Warram breaks. The agreement Marcella made for me to be a part of the Criminal Organization is still intact, however.

    The darkened room is haunting and as I concentrate to fight an aura of fear, I see Marcella flicker about the room. I instinctively scurry to a corner of the room and hide as best I can¡ªI¡¯m not sure if Marcella is entirely herself. In seconds, she¡¯s back by my side, with a depiction of calm control on her face.

    \Kimber, stand and come to my side. We need to present and image of strength for the three I¡¯m letting live.\

    Her command shook me hard. My legs are wobbly as I stand and amble to her side as the smoke clears. I hold her hand for strength.

    ¡°Honorable officers, and those about to die. I have paralyzed Medvedev from the neck down and cut out his tongue for the liar that he is. The knife in his chest will cause clotting that will eventually kill him, and pulling it out will definitely kill him. Admin, Intel, and Supply. As far as I found, you three have never fucked with me or Kimber, so I didn¡¯t poison you. The rest of you probably have an hour or so to live.¡±

    The irony is, I¡¯m confident that I made the poison she used to kill them. The eyes of the damned look to me, the alchemist and start a cacophony of pleas. I hold up a hand and to my surprise, they quiet.

    ¡°Law and Justice. Did you try to fleece me because you were told to.¡± The lawyer shakes his head, while justice shrugs.

    ¡°I was bribed and leveraged into inaction.¡± He sighs long and hard in defeat.

    ¡°Come here, then, and be judged.¡± I¡¯m surprised that he obeys and stands before me. I offer a hand and he puts his in mine

    ¡°[Pass Judgement]¡± I say and his aura glows yellow-green. Yellow is a mischievous color and does not intrinsically mean lies, where the prominent green tinge makes me believe he was in fact coerced and leveraged. ¡°You have been judged wanting, but not irredeemable.¡± I put a vial in his palm and tell him to leave.

    ¡°Training and acquisitions. Have you ever taken favors, sexual or otherwise, for recruit retention?¡± He lowers his head. Well, that¡¯s obvious. Anyone else?

    ¡°Programs and Planning? What do you actually do?¡±

    ¡°We allocate and assign work from Warram and various paid requestors, as well as create a roadmap for our organization¡¯s future.¡± The nervous woman says.

    I look up at Marcella. She shrugs.

    ¡°We dated for a few months and cheated on me with like half of her team.¡±

    ¡°Huh, I guess you never know.¡±

    ¡°But she was never around!!¡± The programs lady protested. I shrug and ignore her further protest.

    It isn¡¯t until the cacophony of pleas starts again as people start standing to mob me for the antidote that I see Medvidev chuckling in his seat.

    <<Obligated Service>>

    /A User of a higher tier has attempted to use your obligation to control you

    <An attempt to make you harm yourself has caused backlash in your contract with Warram Criminal Organization. The agreement has been voided.>

    <This contract holder has been branded: Dishonorable. Sanctions Pending.>

    <You have advanced Mental Resistance> x5

    I gain awareness from the resistance bump to activate mechanical calm and push a caramel in my mouth. My emotions and fear get pushed into a utility resource. I drop to the ground to avoid a knife from one of the controlled officers and roll across Marcella¡¯s feet. I look up to see her gritting her teeth with a sneer on her face.

    I will my specialty pistols to my hands and use bursts of [Triggered Action] to end my closest assailants. The smell of gunsmoke and scorched flesh fill the room as my choppy bursts of motion eliminate the Poisoned officers. The non-poisoned seemed to be fighting it, but they are still advancing on me at a shambling speed.

    I block knives with my pistols, duck behind people for cover, and generally try to be a hard target. It¡¯s working swimmingly until I get an angle on Vasily and a guard across the room shoots me in the chest. I¡¯m kicked into an outside window, which I slide down, and focus on breathing and the potential damage. My instincts have me shoot anyone that comes near me until I eventually find the strength to push myself back up the window.

    <The Matrix will not deliver offense oriented items while actively engaged in combat.>

    Fuck!! I continuously fire my pulse pistol until the table in front of me is a smoking ruin and finally, the people that I am forced to shoot slump in whatever position they¡¯re in. Marcella sags to the back wall, panting as though she had just overcome a herculean effort.

    I stand and shoot Medvedev until his head no longer exists, then survey the room. Two of the people Marcella had pardoned had been shot, but it doesn¡¯t seem life threatening. I walk over to Marcella, hook an arm around her back and walk her to the elevator.  The guards attempt to protest, but Marcella has enough gas to use a pistol and so do I.

    As soon as we get in the elevator I regain the ability to speak. ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°I have a ride organized to get us to Camp Elswhere. Danielle¡¯s already on her way and I need you to put her on the list before she gets there. I sent a job request for security to the Health Club as well.¡±

    ¡°Why Daniella? Are you hurt?¡±

    ¡°Kid, at least two people shot you, and you shot me. That fucking .38 beat my armor for fuck¡¯s sake. I¡¯m a little mad that your Merc Arms bestie makes such a quality product.¡± She coughs wetly and I start getting antsy.

    I¡¯m amazed that the other people we encounter have the good sense to leave off, but I suppose that the officers of Warram have other problems right now and won¡¯t be ordering an execution for us. At least I hope.

    When Hailey rolls up I almost don¡¯t get in the car. Marcella¡¯s appearance convinces me to just get in the car, but I keep my .38 hypervol pointed at her back just in case.

    We get to my buildings in a handful of minutes and Hailey pulls into the ambulance bay. Danielle has a gurney ready for us that we help Marcella onto. Hailey helps push the cart in through the doors as the doc beckons me forward as well.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been shot as well. I need to do an exam to make sure that you don¡¯t have shrapnel in your abdomen. I sigh, but follow her anyway.

    She leads us to the ER and tells me to hop up on a cart, telling Hailey to strip her top and use scissors if necessary.

    ¡°You want me to do that too?¡± I can¡¯t hide the fear in my voice.

    ¡°Unless you want to risk having tiny pieces in your body with no signs until near death, sure.¡± She starts pulling at my clothes and I obviously let her finish. As awkward as I was, the exam she did was the least sexual naked time I¡¯ve ever experienced.

    Danielle squashed each of my boobs in an attempt to stretch the skin beneath them to check for something. She then pulled my pants low around my hips and stretched my skin again and marked up my hips, including the clotted shot that is probably still inside me.

    Danielle moves to Marci and does the same process, but this time marked each of the wounds on her chest and under her boobs, circling several more places and a few in the creases of her chest.

    ¡°Kimber, some of that balm or a regenerative will keep you until I finish with Marci.¡±

    ¡°Yes my love?¡± My mentor stammers groggily. I think it¡¯s adorable.

    ¡°Hush now, baby. I have to work on you, and I can¡¯t have you distracting me¡±

    ¡°Mmm the angels look like my girlfriend. That¡¯s awesome.¡± Marcella murmurs and I can¡¯t help but grin. What a fool.

    When Hailey walks over to me with a can of balm and a rag, I stare at it a moment before taking it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I misjudged the situation.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t my story to tell,¡± I should be better than this, but I¡¯m not, ¡°and you had a job to do.¡±

    ¡°I get it, Okay? I fucked up. Do you want me to swear an oath to you or whatever? ¡®Cause I will.¡±

    I sigh, ¡°I hate to say it, Hailey, but oaths made in desperation aren¡¯t worth what you think. Persistent effort without obligation is your only chance with Marcella. I make no promises for me. But I¡¯m not the favor you¡¯re looking for.¡±

    ¡°People make mistakes you know.¡± She says quietly.

    ¡°A mistake that almost got both of us killed.¡± I huff again. ¡°I guess much of my anger is misplaced. I felt that I could trust you and then this all happened. Marcella would say it¡¯s my fault for trusting, and I suppose part of it is.¡±

    She sets the tin and rag on the corner of the cart and walks back to watch over Marcella. I take the cover off my chest and inspect my torso. I rub balm over the bruises that are already forming and a few cuts on my arms that I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d taken. I did hit my head pretty hard on the window, maybe I have a mild concussion? I have a recovery talent so by the time Danielle gets to me, it might be tough to tell. That Talent is also why I¡¯m not going to put balm on my bullet wound. I summon a compression top that should be easy to roll up when it¡¯s time to dig out the bullet.

    To pass the time, I look up the consequences of our contract breaking rampage.

    <You identified a breach of contract and enforced the breach>

    /Settlement owners suffer higher consequences for breaking covenants.

    <You have discovered Adjudication!>

    /Your experience in various contracts and legal determinations convey the skill of Beginner 7

    <Do you wish to remain as Settlement Alchemist for Warram Criminal Enterprises?>

    No way.

    <Do you wish to be listed as the Settlement Alchemist for Camp Elsewhere?>

    I do.

    <You have eliminated a hostile human!>x4

    /eliminating entities of higher tiers than you yield extra experience.

    <You have eliminated a settlement leader>

    /Some active human societies claim rights of conquest.

    <Will you claim rights of conquest? Rule | Loot | People | Other>

    Oh yes, loot please.

    <Do you wish to negotiate for demands or settle for what you could have reasonably carried?>

    Settle.

    <You have relinquished your claim on Warram Criminal Enterprises¡¯ Settlement>

    /40k credits have been transferred and your dimensional storage has been filled.

    <You have advanced Pistols>

    <You have advanced Pain mitigation>

    <You have successfully negotiated melee combat while actively using a gun. Do you wish to convert Pistols and Hand to Hand into Gun-fu?>

    Oh hells yes. No module needed for the low low price of individual skills.

    <You have discovered Gun-fu>

    /Your experience in Pistols, Hand to Hand, and MMA convey the rank of Intermediate 1

    <You have gained a level!>x3

    That seems like a pretty good haul. I¡¯m surprised that the System offered me loot after we ran away. I probably would have stayed to loot if Marcella wasn¡¯t injured. Especially after I shot her. I¡¯ll definitely apologize after she wakes up.

    May as well lay down and see if I can catch a nap too. I doubt digging out the bullet shrapnel is going to be a quick thing. I send my Mentor an apology via message before I drift off to sleep.

 A2: Chapter 23

    A painful pinch in the arm has me shoot off my cart and crouch for a fight. I see Danielle scowling at me.

    ¡°You¡¯re the one who shot her?¡±

    Hearing that icy tone, I want to run away. Instead I try to hide my embarrassment with my hands. I nod.

    ¡°It took me four hours to find all of the fragments, Kimber. What do you have to say for yourself?¡±

    ¡°Your dad used a skill to have everyone kill me and midway through she started moving toward me and I thought she lost her fight resisting it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a pretty good reason, but I¡¯m still mad at both of you.¡± She pouts and sneers at the same time, somehow.

    ¡°Why? What did Marcella do?¡±

    ¡°She killed my dad!¡±

    I snort, ¡°No, she really didn¡¯t. I melted his head so that mind control shit would stop. So be mad at me, not her.¡±

    She doesn¡¯t look appeased.

    ¡°Fine. Pull up your shirt and get on the table.¡± I do so. ¡°Medicate however you want to, I won¡¯t do it for you today.¡±

    While she gathers her tools I see if I have any stores of Pain-B-Gone. Finding a case in my storage ring, I take out three pens and jab them around the wound site. I also find some ancient bottles of scotch and a case of boozy fruit drinks. I pull out a six-pack of the fruity ones and offer one to Danielle.

    ¡°Should you really offer your Doctor alcohol?¡±

    ¡°If you take long enough to get drunk, I have other problems.¡± She quirks her head to the side in thought then takes the can and probably drinks half of it in one go.

    ¡°I have stronger stuff on hand for after you finish.¡±

    She waves a scalpel like a wand at me. ¡°Just, stop talking. Please.¡±

    The injections worked their magic and all I can feel is tugging on the surrounding tissue that can feel stuff. In less than ten minutes, Danielle has extracted the bullet and some other debris and stapled the wound closed.

    ¡°Wait several hours before you slather that goop on it.¡± She holds her hand out and I put a bottle of not scotch in her hand. It says Gin? No idea what that is. She takes it as payment and swigs from the bottle before. ¡°You got a kiosk in here?¡±

    ¡°Better, what do you want?¡±

    ¡°Some large glasses, tonic water and limes.¡±

    I summon the items one at a time and hand them to her while her surprised expression gets bigger and bigger.

    ¡°It¡¯s a side benny of having a symbiote and developing magic. If I have the aether stores, I can access the Exchange if I¡¯m within 1000 kilometers of a settlement ansible.¡±

    ¡°That sounds really convenient.¡±

    ¡°And currently un-traceable. Officers couldn¡¯t figure out where I was getting my supplies so they thought I was stealing. Funny that so many of them hated me because I could do stuff they didn¡¯t understand.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re trying hard not to talk about my dad, aren¡¯t you.¡± She says, taking a hearty sip from her glass. ¡°You don¡¯t have to, you know. He was never a good man. I just always hoped I could help him get better. Then he sent me away because of Marci, and well, you know what happened.¡±

    ¡°Yeah. I think my Judgement magic made him realize that he was chafing at the constraints his job put him in. I wasn¡¯t very tactful about it, but every senior member of that organization started out by trying to lie to me and trick me. Well, not Marcella, but that¡¯s a different matter. So I got tired of people starting with trickery and trying to shed the consequences, so I beat them over the head with System contracts. Literally made it so they couldn¡¯t cheat me, and they tried to string me up for it.¡±

    ¡°Neither you nor the other members were right for how you went about it. I¡¯m grateful I don¡¯t have to deal with drama much as a doctor. Though, talking with Rupert, you are a demon spawn.¡±

    ¡°I almost vented him with his own pen because he¡¯s an impatient pervert. I probably would only punch him in the face these days. I¡¯ve grown! Wee!¡±

    ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s still really weird that you look like Marci. Even her sister didn¡¯t look as much like family as you do. Marci loves you so much though.¡±

    I am uncomfortable with this emotional talk about me. ¡°I know. It took a few months to get used to, but I really like it. It reminds me when I¡¯m feeling low, that I have family who cares.¡±

    ¡°Can I get in on that too?¡± Danielle asks with the smallest voice I¡¯ve heard from her.

    I can¡¯t help but smile at the implication of what she said. ¡°Sure. All you have to do is marry my sister and you get a little sister too!¡± Haha! Your turn to blush, jerk!

    ¡°Has she said anything?¡± the doc whispers.

    ¡°Pfft, does she have to? She tried to get you to date her for two and a half years, and she gushes about you. I think she might be trying not to scare you off.¡±

    ¡°That, is unlikely. I¡¯ve liked her since before I got the System. I got so mad at her for how she treated you when I first met you. I thought that¡¯s how she would treat our kids and it messed with my head.¡±

    ¡°Is there a way to do that? For you two to have kids besides adoption?¡±

    ¡°Once I got Exchange access, I looked that up immediately. It¡¯s an expensive t-3 device, but the Empress, gay as she is reported to be, has a discounted service if you can travel to Astoria. Bought it for one of her partners, or so the rumors say.¡±

    I snort, yeah that tracks. I crack open another fruit drink and take a sip.

    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®that tracks¡¯¡±

    Aw fuck. Inside thoughts went outside. ¡°The lady who buys my gunpowder introduced me to one of the Empress¡¯ daughters and we get along. The Empress¡¯ shenanigans come up from time to time.¡±

    ¡°Ohhh, you like the daughter don¡¯t you.¡±

    ¡°Maybe!¡± I say as I hide my face and curl up into a ball. ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ve never seen each other, but she¡¯s my best friend? She acts really cute sometimes, she¡¯s not phased by the work I do, and it sounds like she cares about me?¡±

    ¡°That, is more deeply rooted issues than I feel capable of advising. Especially since I denied that Marci liked me for years, because I thought she was to cool for me.¡±

    I snort, ¡°You¡¯ve got to be the prettiest person on the planet. What¡¯s not to like? Oh, and you¡¯re nice, caring, and a doctor. I can¡¯t imagine what someone would see in you.¡±

    ¡°Asshole.¡± She shoves me, making me squirt fizz out of my nose. ¡°I¡¯m more than just a face.¡±

    ¡°Also a doctor,¡± I cough out. ¡°Does her heart stop every morning she wakes up next to you? Does it take mouth to mouth resuscitation to get her going again, or do you just break out the paddles?¡± I waggle my eyebrows.

    ¡°Kimber!¡± She flushes, probably because she¡¯s picturing it in her filthy, filthy mind.

    ¡°No? Skip straight to putting something with a battery inside her?¡± This time she¡¯s coughing up a drink. Take that Doc!Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    She flips me off, then we sit in silence for a while. Hailey looks like a sad kicked puppy in the corner, so I throw her a drink, but don¡¯t say anything.

    I start to wonder if Marcella is really going to come back to Vegas or pick up where she left off in Reno. I would ask Danielle if she knows anything, but it¡¯s not really fair if Marcella is unconscious for the conversation.

    A few hours pass and my mentor sneaks out from her cart and hugs the Doc from behind. ¡°I know we should talk about stuff, but I¡¯m tired and want to engage in some life affirming activities before I go to bed. Do you have a room set up for us, sister of mine?¡±

    I nod, ¡°The garden suite should be furnished. The fridge doubles as a console so you shouldn¡¯t need to leave the place until you want to talk.¡±

    ¡°What about Hailey?¡± Marcella asks.

    ¡°Plenty of beds in the hospital, and there¡¯s a Kiosk in the cafeteria next door.¡± My sister levels a judgmental stare at me. ¡°What? I don¡¯t know the ward very well. I paid for linens and blankets, I just don¡¯t know where they are.¡± She continues to stare at me. ¡°A well defended place to stay, with modern utilities is a lot of compassion. More compassion than I ever had growing up, so let it go, Sis.¡± I toss Hailey a drink I don¡¯t want anymore and walk angrily to my elevator.

    I don¡¯t feel in the wrong here, but since Marcella thinks I should budge some more, I don¡¯t feel like talking with her about it. I don¡¯t necessarily need to vent, but I do want to talk to Zia. I could use an uninvolved conversation right now.

    /Hey Z, wanted to thank you for the ring. Saved my ass today./

    \Oh! I was wondering how your meeting went.\

    /Shitshow. They wanted to punish me for stealing that they had no proof of and killing people who were trying to merc me./

    \Wait, you have a Justice-based Track and they thought they could lie to you? Man. Magic must boggle Earther minds.\

    /Pfft. I wish it were only that. In the end, I called the settlement owner out, my Mentor coerced him into a breach of contract, and the sanctions drove the man to mind-fuck the people in the room to kill me./

    \Let me guess, they took the weapons you were wearing and then during the mind-fuck, you resisted of course, I don¡¯t befriend the weak minded; you summoned weapons from the ring and mowed the assholes down?\

    /I obliterated the settlement owners head and the others slumped to the floor. I had to merc some folk to get to him, but I didn¡¯t kill the whole room. My mentor poisoned the rest of the shady fuckers though./

    \Your mentor seems pretty cool. She hot?\

    /Zia! She¡¯s basically my sister. But her girlfriend is a smokeshow./

    \Pictures. Kimber.\

    I send her a picture of me making kissy faces to my security camera.

    \Damn, she is hot.\

    Happiness, hope, and a fucking mess of butterflies erupt inside me. I curl into a ball to keep all the feels inside.

    /That¡¯s me, Z/

    She doesn¡¯t respond for a while, and I wonder why she¡¯s acting like this. Then I realize we¡¯ve never seen each other¡¯s faces.

    /uh, Z? I¡¯m a little worried. You okay?/

    \No? Can we meet in a mind-space?\

    /Sure. You better be okay though. I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do if you stopped talking to me./

    \No! You will not convince me to explain before meeting. Get your crystals, doofus, and tell Tova to message me.\

    I¡¯m starting to freak out. She called me hot, but was she joking? Is she not into girls? No, she definitely is. Do I look too young? Oh gods, my brain is going to melt before the meld.

    Take deep breaths and stick those crystals up your nose. Or in your mouth.

    I don¡¯t need a choking risk, so up my nose it is.

    Since you don¡¯t have the skill, I¡¯m going to induce a meditative brain pattern. Try to think of white noise, but don¡¯t focus on anything.

    I do as she says, and if feels like slipping into a dream narrative. This one I¡¯m not familiar with, however.

    I see a grass yard with hedges and a bench by a water feature and a house a short ways down a path. With no motion, no other person around, I walk over to the bench and sit. Minutes pass and I don¡¯t see a soul, when finally, I hear a voice behind me, as though she walked out of the shrub itself.

    ¡°I expected you to come to the house.¡± Her voice is even, low, and a bit too smooth for me not to react to it.

    ¡°And I expected to see you when I arrived.¡± I stand and turn to face the voice and every moving part of my body pauses to absorb the image before me.

    A tall woman, maybe 1.8 m, saunters toward me in a hip-swinging gait. Her eyes are a vibrant, piercing emerald, and her hair is pulled back into a soft lavender pony tail. Her clothes are form-fitting and un-remarkable from the lines of the athletic body they accentuate. That halter-top and capris combo is doing fucking WORK though. The thing that surprises me the most are the long, knife-shaped hears that hug the sides of her head.

    ¡°You¡¯re a fucking gigantic pixie.¡± Oh shit, word vomit. Oh no, oh no. She stopped. No! please come closer.

    She shakes her head, swishing her lavender tail, and a melodious laughter peels from her radiant smile. ¡°If I had reservations of whether you are Kimber or not, I don¡¯t now.¡± The smile stays and she starts toward me again. ¡°Yes, I am tall, and no, I am not currently a pixie.¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t focused on it, but I¡¯m a shapeshifter, Kimber. I don¡¯t like being called small or cute, so I picked an Elf approximation as a permanent form.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve made excellent choices.¡± What is my mouth doing!? Traitorous bastard.

    ¡°Thank you.¡± She looks away and tucks an invisible strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Is this weird?¡±

    ¡°I mean, a little. Via messages, you have a different speech pattern. The sultry tones were a surprise. Along with the purple hair, captivating eyes, and . . . oh my god, that was out loud.¡±

    ¡°Nice to see I¡¯m not the only nervous one.¡± She glances up at me with a smile, ¡°Come to the house with me?¡± She offers her hand.

    I nod and take her hand in mine and it feels like I belong there. She leads me to the house and to a sofa in the living room. She hands me some liquid-filled glass to hold and then sits right next to me, long legs curled under her, our thighs touching.

    ¡°So you¡¯re still going to talk to me and stuff?¡± I manage to get out, still nervous.

    ¡°Why would you think I wouldn¡¯t? I invited you here.¡±

    I fiddle with the rim of the glass while I shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t know. You took a long time to reply after I told you the picture was me.¡± If this place was real, I would have stopped breathing to wait for her response.

    She waits this time too. Too long I think so I look up to check what her face is doing. She¡¯s set her glass down and is searching my face for something. She huffs and shakes her head before planting her forehead on my shoulder.

    ¡°I thought I¡¯d messed everything up and I was panicking, okay?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± In what world would this magnificent woman have a reason to panic about me?

    She chuckles into my shoulder before I feel her hand cup my chin and direct me to face her. ¡°Kimber, we get along, I called you hot, and I am very, very gay. What could I possibly panic about?¡±

    Waaaait. She gets gay panic too! Holyshit. ¡°Holyshit!¡±

    ¡°Thank Andromeda. It was going to be super awkward for me if you still didn¡¯t get it.¡± She slumps against me, and it feels like I never want to move again.

    ¡°So, just so I can hear it. You know, as a figment of a desperate dream, you like me too, Yah?¡±

    ¡°Ugh! Are you serious? Kimber! Are you trying to torture me?¡± She proceeds to tickle the shit out of me, and I didn¡¯t think I was ticklish.

    After a few minutes, she¡¯s holding me captive, our breath mingling as we pant. I could swear she¡¯s about to kiss me, but just as I extend my neck to close the distance, she lowers herself to fit against me on the couch. I snake an arm around her and use my other to swipe the hair out of her face, so I can look at it.

    ¡°Is it bad that I want to stare at you for hours?¡± I ask.

    ¡°If you only stare, absolutely. If you talk with me and hold me, then not at all.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a deal to me.¡± I chuckle, then laugh much harder as a golden scroll appears in my hand.

    ¡°What the hell is that? And why did I just get a message from the Matrix?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s my judgement magic, Z. You have apparently agreed to let me stare at you in exchange for ¡®conversation and cuddles¡¯.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re fucking with me. Let me see.¡± She props herself up and rolls the scroll out on my stomach, which I don¡¯t mind at all. ¡°Yep, there it is. No wonder people don¡¯t like it: I didn¡¯t even get a prompt!¡±

    That hurts a little, but I get it. ¡°Do you want to absolve it?¡±

    ¡°Well yeah, not cause I don¡¯t like your attention, but the contract makes it weird?¡±

    Oh thank the gods. She doesn¡¯t hate me for it. I tear up the scroll into a million points of glitter. I look back to her and see that I have an excellent view of her front as she¡¯s propped up.

    ¡°You really like what you see, don¡¯t you?¡±

    She caught me! Shit, do anything! My brain makes me nod. Idiot.

    ¡°Good, so do I.¡± She rubs her thumb across my belly and I feel the need to purr.  ¡°However, I don¡¯t want to engage in more in the mind-scape. Is that okay?¡±

    She could tell me she wanted to lick catsup off my feet and I¡¯d be fine with it. Gross, Kimber. True, but gross.

    ¡°Perfectly fine. I¡¯m still tripping over the fact that you like me back. I was just talking to my Mentor¡¯s girlfriend about this.¡±

    ¡°The absurdly hot doctor?¡± Wait, that¡¯s a loaded question.

    ¡°I¡¯m not admitting to a hotness scale. That is the least fair thing to even insinuate. Z.¡±

    ¡°I suppose. But can you blame me for wanting to see how I compare?¡±

    ¡°I guess not. My appearance changed a lot during my initialization, so I¡¯ve only had this appearance for a little over a year?¡±

    Zia stills, and I¡¯m freaking out all over again.

    ¡°Kimber, how old are you?¡±

    ¡°Almost eighteen, how old are you? I swear I¡¯ve told you before.¡±

    ¡°The ages of system initialization are different on Astoria, and it also depends on parents and Race. Royal Pixies have a hereditary memory, so at a year old, I remembered forty years of my mother¡¯s life. I have had fifteen years to build on that memory.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re giving me shit and you¡¯re only sixteen!? What the hell? Can¡¯t you just, like me and not worry about that?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know? I mean, I wasn¡¯t considered an adult until I achieved tier one. Would you be mad if I didn¡¯t want to be physical until you reach tier one?¡±

    I exhale. ¡°No, that¡¯s perfectly fine. Can we still chat and mind-cuddle sometimes?¡±

    She slumps back into me and the relief is systematic.

    ¡°Sure, little nova. We can do that.¡±

 A3: Chapter 1

    ¡°Why can¡¯t we just disband the company to avoid the sanctions?¡± Says the administrator that survived the meeting massacre by using an expensive tier 3 aether-based medicine that ended up giving her some reptilian features. Better a cosmetic mutation than dying I suppose.

    ¡°Kimber, since you have been a Settlement owner longer, and your AI can read system subtext, please explain.¡± Marcella, the lady who trained me and adopted me as her sister, is punting the subject to me.

    ¡°The System isn¡¯t that easy to fool. When I looked at the ¡®sanctions¡¯, they apply to the location and all Settlement-attributed items. Everything here save cash, and maybe professional items that people were using not for Warram, carries the taint of these sanctions. The massively expensive predictive AI and hosts? Use those to do business, and that transaction gets penalties and the person you do business with will see warnings about ¡®a Settlement of Oathbreakers¡¯.¡±

    ¡°How do get around it then? Do your customers not care about the notification?¡± The administrator asks.

    ¡°You¡¯re asking me if drug dealers care about honesty? Of course they do. It¡¯s why the Houston deal almost went south. My operations are fine because the Settlement my company is in, has a clean record.¡±

    ¡°Before anyone asks, we are not going to migrate everything and everyone to Camp Elsewhere. We are here to discuss if we want to try to continue with the sanctions, or pair down our businesses into areas where it doesn¡¯t matter. For example, developing kids into useful adults. The folks we develop aren¡¯t going to be branded oath breakers.¡±

    A guy I¡¯ve never met before, representing thugs and protection services, speaks ¡°You want us to operate as contractors? Like outsource the responsibility?¡±

    ¡°I do. The Health Club still has a good reputation, and so does Camp Elsewhere. The big issue being that if we try to branch out immediately after Warram falls, it¡¯s going to look fishy. That leaves VIP protection and our regional policing in a tough spot, and the ¡®comfort¡¯ portion of our Hospitality department is probably going away for a while until we can restructure the service.¡±

    ¡°Here I¡¯d thought you¡¯d try to eliminate it altogether.¡± A very well made-up woman smirks as she clearly knows something I don¡¯t.

    ¡°It¡¯s a legitimate way to make a living, if it¡¯s your choice. That was not always the case for Warram, and if this settlement tried to keep it going the workers would most likely see more abuse. As for the street dealers and low-level enforcers, we¡¯ll need someone to keep that going. Nova Chem and Elsewhere have no interest in managing drugs at that level and street buyers don¡¯t care about company reputations.

    ¡°What I want, and both of our company¡¯s need, is for recruitment and training to continue. That means we need analytics to stay on top of the algorithm, our face and confidence folk to stay abreast of each orphanage we can, and our physical security folk to branch out to additional facilities. The hotel services portion of Hospitality will also be needed as Camp Elsewhere develops further. These groups will all be acting on behalf of the other organizations, and not Warram, which is how we dodge the sanctions when interacting with our customers.¡± Marcella takes a sip from her glass of water and looks at the rest of the gathered staff to pose more questions.

    ¡°How do we deal with these conflicting rumors? Half the people say the kid killed the old boss, and some say you did. We should be solidifying your reputation, not supporting the fantasies of a pretentious girl.¡± The Face representative asks. Fucking great, what is it with that department.

    ¡°My reputation¡¯s fine. Floating both rumors works for me as now that my assistant has a business of her own, she can afford the reputation of barely restrained psychopath. Seeing that she¡¯s an explosives manufacturer, and known for booby-trapping with horrendous effects, I don¡¯t see any reason to invite uncertainty into the mix.¡±

    The meeting of the new officer corps of Warram Criminal Enterprises devolves into the nitty gritty of pay and trying to maintain the old way with the new boss and Marcella was having none of it. The things I found useful came after the meeting when Hospitality and physical security sent me messages to get on my schedule, and a note from Marcella asking me to meet with some of Danielle¡¯s candidates that want to know what to expect or want to learn alchemy.

    \Hey cutie. Got a minute?\

    /For you Z? Always./

    \Well, I wanted to invite you to Astoria for a few days? And while Mom wants to talk business, I thought, maybe, we could spend some time together?\

    /Are you nervous about seeing me in person? How is that even possible?/

    \Hey! Don¡¯t be mean. I¡¯m being all vulnerable, and you¡¯re supposed to think it¡¯s cute, or something.\

    /I do. And I would love to go. I assume you have the logistics handled?/

    \Well, yeah. Mom is going to come get you, and you¡¯ll have your meeting, then after that I¡¯ll pick you up in Aelea.\

    /Are you going to take me on a date?!/

    \What? No. Of course not. Don¡¯t be silly!\

    /Sure, gotcha. Can¡¯t be seen with a non-tier one girl on your arm./

    \Can¡¯t you just, level up already?\

    /Yeah, hold on while I go take care of the aether beasts roaming around Earth./Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    \Ooh! I could pick you up early, take you to a hunting area and get you to 16, then make out with you for a week straight.\

    I snort at the horny elf. /For someone who¡¯s not supposed to think of me like that, you spend a lot of time wanting to kiss me./

    \Ugh, Mom will be by next week. See you soon, doofus.\

    Heh, I am so getting smooches while I¡¯m on Astoria. This week is looking up.

    ***

    Today is the worst.

    ¡°For the last time, Donna, I am not setting up a brothel under the guise of a hotel. My current project is a dormitory for my company workers and I need hotel services to keep them clean, man the front, and manage the grounds.¡±

    ¡°But Marcella said that we could resume comfort work.¡±

    ¡°She also said the service would probably die for a while to keep the workers safe.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense, just hire more security and it will be fine.¡±

    ¡°Why can¡¯t you operate out of Warram? There¡¯s already places there.¡± I ask, for the third time.

    ¡°We¡¯re being monitored, okay? And the sanctions take a cut of our profits.¡± Donna finally gives me a straight answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s still no. If you want to pool your money and start your own business at my Settlement? I¡¯m all for it. But I won¡¯t be funding such an endeavor.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t have the money for that!¡±

    I sigh at the greed and hubris. ¡°Tell you what, you bring me a new labor contract for your workers that supports them and tries to keep them safe and I¡¯ll look into it.¡±

    ¡°A contract? Is that really necessary?¡±

    ¡°In Camp Elsewhere? Absolutely. I have another meeting in half an hour, so please let me escort you out.¡± I stand up and walk to her and offer a hand of assistance. She scoffs and rises on her own.

    Saying nothing else, she storms off and mutters under her breath about me being a stuck up bitch.

    Your young appearance is doing you zero favors. Perhaps you should blow up a few more buildings.

    I do have some more demo to do near the Laundry. I want to put up some more apartments, as I kind of want the ones in my building to be for my resident crafts people. Tova walks me through another design that takes up nine square blocks with the middle block being a green space.

    ¡°Would that include a barter space? Like a weekend market kind of thing?¡±

    It certainly could, as any space that large could pose as a community events space as well. The original idea was for a fortress residence, which it can still do, but this version would support a self-contained micro settlement. I would also like to build a high-rise with floating parks in the center, inner terraces, etcetera. I took the basic flow of the Imperial Castle and made it more Earth-federal.

    If we do that, I should probably buy the next step up on utilities and isolate the smaller one for my personal projects. Like the laundry and the hospital with crafting Labs.

    ¡°Did we find a smith or a tailor?¡±

    You need to hire a secretary. Seriously. You need to talk to Paolo and Beverly anyway.

    ¡°You¡¯re right, Tova. Sorry about that. I¡¯ve been trying not to do that.¡±

    It shows, but it¡¯s still chafes.

    That reminds me that I need to talk to Kenneck about Venezuela. Bev doesn¡¯t want to go, and I need someone who will be there to help me put the plan together. Not that Paolo has had enough time to worry about his palls with as busy as my business and Bev keep him.

    ¡°Kimber, I¡¯m here for the Security meeting.¡± The voice seems oddly familiar. I look through the camera and see a beefy black man in a casual-looking cop outfit.

    ¡°Leave the belt and guns in the locker safes and I¡¯ll let you in.¡± As quick as I am, no reason not to be safe when Marcus is around.

    He does as I ask and minutes later, we¡¯re in the office behind the concierge desk in the resident side of my hospital.

    ¡°Good to see you Marcus. You get a promotion or is this a familiar foot in the door?¡±

    ¡°Both. The Warram LT offered me the roll of team coordinator and Novarro liaison.¡±

    Hah! I need a liaison in their eyes. Nice. ¡°Have you looked at the proposed work I need done?¡±

    He nods, ¡°And your recommendations aren¡¯t bad, but they lacked a coordinating HQ?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, did I not list the Hospital Security spaces with the proposal?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no room for a motor pool or bunks.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll be using suped up scooters, and I can convert the adjacent utility building into a bunk and armory combo.¡± I share my HUD and show him the building I¡¯m talking about. ¡°Before you ask, the Laundry has bunk spaces for security and foreman roles. Though clearly not intended for residence use. The laundry has showers, and the gym in the hospital also has showers.¡±

    Marcus nods at the portions of two buildings I highlight. ¡°The proposal also said that the dorms would need an additional few months?¡±

    ¡°Long estimate. Short estimate was a few weeks. I didn¡¯t know how much money I would have left over or how much a project like this would cost. See the money, time, quality triangle.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I get it. In the meantime, you would hire a van-pool driver to and from Elswhere, three times a day. This seems doable, and our opening assessment is twenty people for rotation, and two permanent staff.¡±

    I nod at that. ¡°The permanent staff would have to share an apartment. I won¡¯t budge on that until I get more housing. I¡¯ll need an equipment proposal: three package options and what benefits/drawbacks they would have. Once I get the lodging and gear arranged, I will expect the permanent staff to transfer their work contracts to Camp Elsewhere and would prefer the remaining workers to do the same. I¡¯ll send the pro¡¯s and con¡¯s if we agree this is happening.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I can agree this arrangement will happen, all that¡¯s left is the gritty details.¡± He smiles and offers his hand. I stare at it and smirk.

    ¡°Sounds great. Get me the names and I¡¯ll make sure they can come by and take a look without risking their lives with the turrets.¡± I have his interest. Even though the meeting¡¯s over, he sticks around.

    ¡°Will we get to play with any of the fun toys?¡±

    ¡°Fun consultant is a very trust intensive role. I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ll have to spend some time with the company before you¡¯ll be eligible for the position.¡±

    I see him chuckle at the complete non-answer. ¡°This meeting was a lot easier than I expected.¡±

    I shrug at that. ¡°Thanks for not trying to play games, and for your thought out and reasonable responses. Are you headed to the Health Club after this?¡±

    ¡°No. Your old department is looking at dealing with them. Though I heard the minor gang that deals for us wanted to meet with you.¡±

    Empress save me from people that tase the merchandise. ¡°Pfft, Warram needs a middle management drug dealer before I will even entertain that. I¡¯m not going Cartel to street on this, I want a buffer, and Warram can be it.¡±

    ¡°Eh, that may not be a soon thing, we¡¯re having guys shiv each other almost daily for the job.¡±

    ¡°Fucking idiots,¡± I shake my head. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send a message to Face and Admin to see if I can¡¯t wring something useful into existence. Until then, thanks for coming Marcus, and I hope we can work as sincerely with each other in the future.¡±

    ¡°That is my hope as well. Be well Kimber.¡± He waves as he walks off, collects his pistol and belt from the outdoor locker and walks off.

 A3: Chapter 2

    ¡°Kimber, I need a loan.¡±

    ¡°Whah?¡± I look up to find Marcella in my room, with zero alarms going off. I hate how much sense it makes to my groggy brain that my infiltrator mentor can do such things.

    ¡°Gods, Marcella. Did you at least order me coffee?¡± She hands me a cup and sits on the edge of the bed.

    ¡°And I could use your brokerage fund from the drugs.¡±

    Last I checked there was more than 10k in that account. She needs that kind of grease on top of a loan.

    ¡°I love you sis, but we¡¯re going to the garden for whatever this is about to be.¡± I get up, not bothering to put on more than my underwear. I take a sip of the coffee to find she¡¯d spied my order to an Astorian place Zia recommended.

    I take a seat next to my favorite berry bush and clear my aether-deficient head with a few.

    ¡°Okay, why do you need a loan and how much?¡±

    ¡°Vasily was running a rolling debt to keep some of the bigger players interested in us. Now that we have sanctions, they¡¯re all coming due. And 35 grand would take care of most of it.¡±

    It feels like I¡¯ve been punched with as hard as that price tag hits me. ¡°Marci, I don¡¯t have that much un-obligated, even with the brokerage fund.

    ¡°I can give you twenty, and with the brokerage, you should be up to thirty. I should let you know, that my plans would need ten of that to come back to me.¡± I got 40k credits in spoils for firing the killing shot on the old Boss of Warram Criminal Enterprises, and a shitload of things (a handful were people?!!).

    ¡°Fuck, really? That¡¯s great Kimber! I can sell off some of the professional gear that our crafter¡¯s call cursed, and then I should be able to clear everyone of note that I can¡¯t defer!¡±

    I stare at her with an eyebrow raised.

    ¡°Fiine, what do you want in return?¡±

    ¡°Convince the crafters to talk with me. I could use a few positions, but I can¡¯t accommodate all of them in a week.¡±

    ¡°I can definitely do that. You¡¯re really saving a lot of people¡¯s asses here, Kimber.¡±

    ¡°Oh! And you can look after my Settlement for a week while I go off planet.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?! Kimber! Are you meeting with that arms dealer again? I want to have a few words with her.¡±

    I chuckle at her protective sister behavior and love every word of it. So much so that I shift over for a hug. ¡°I¡¯m really excited to see Zia.¡±

    She mimics me in a lovey, over dramatized way. ¡°You¡¯re infatuated with an Elf. Be careful, okay?¡±

    ¡°Do you know a way for me to get two levels in a week?¡±

    ¡°Kill people or go off-planet. Best xp I know. Other than that, get skill ups in as many areas as possible. I have a few jobs you could take that I don¡¯t have time for?¡±

    ¡°I guess it depends on how much travel it requires.¡±

    ¡°Not much. The team you were with in Wembly needs--surprise surprise--a long gun. You¡¯re also the only person I can think of that has a weapon that can do an infiltration/assassinate job without getting close.¡±

    ¡°I probably shouldn¡¯t, but if they¡¯re dirtbags, I¡¯m in.¡±

    ¡°Stonewalling community bills for a padded purse.¡± My mentor says succinctly.

    I ask her to sign me up for the job.

    ***

    ¡°Tennison, you Grizzled bear, how are ya?¡± I see the steely vet cutting an apple with a field knife while staring me down.

    ¡°You looking healthy and hale. You still using that heavy .308?¡±

    ¡°Nah, I have a Merc Arms fifty hypervol, using a new gunpowder.¡±

    The bastards whistles with respect. ¡°You take out the others?¡±

    ¡°Just Denning, the others can¡¯t penetrate my armor at this range.¡± He nods at me again then his adam¡¯s apple bobs twice: an obvious signal.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    I draw my weapons and leap away before the vet can finish blinking.

    ¡°Still fast as I remember. Seems like you, kid. Welcome to our staging base.¡± He gestures to an abandoned bus.

    He seems content to wait on the others, so I pull out a collapsable stool, hand the bastard a sandwich and sit with a monster burrito and a bucket of hot sauce and tuck in. He nods in appreciation and digs into the deli sandwich.

    When Harlow walks up, he seems peeved and a bit put out. ¡°She bribed you with food?!¡±

    ¡°Nah, Grizzly and I have an understanding. He doesn¡¯t shoot me, I don¡¯t mutate his old ass, and we eat in treaty afterward.¡± We cheers our food in a surprise move of off-the-cuff synergy. ¡°Admin douche still on the team?¡±

    The team leader frowns, ¡°Traded him in for some logistics twat. Fearless though.¡±

    ¡°Like me?¡±

    ¡°He said fearless, not reckless.¡± Tennison grunts.

    ¡°Hey!¡± I protest and the three get a laugh out of me.

    Waller walks up with a grin on her face, and a pixie-cut blond under arm.

    ¡°Are you fucking kidding me.¡± I state, understanding that I was owed this pain for how I never kept in touch with her.

    ¡°KIMBER!¡± Bitch leaps at me an goes full monkey hug.

    ¡°Hi Jamie.¡± I pat her head. ¡°I¡¯m honestly surprised any of you recognize me.¡±

    ¡°Marcella sent your data, and Tennison saw the change first-hand. It was enough for us.¡± Harlow volunteers.

    I point to the girl wrapping both my arms, ¡°Restraints or overexcited supply twat?¡±

    Three voices say in unison, ¡°Twat.¡±

    Waller adds, ¡°I still fucking hate that word.¡±

    ¡°Any case. We moving on for a brief? Or is this a show and tell?¡± I tap Jamie¡¯s legs in hopes that she takes it as a release sign, and to my surprise it works. Well, she lets go with her legs anyway.

    ¡°Both. We have a mark that¡¯s supposed to be driving from The Springs to L.A., and there¡¯s nothing but open desert for two kilometers over the nearest two hundred kilometers.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s my setup?¡±

    ¡°A van in a diner parking lot.¡±

    ¡°Lead time?¡±

    ¡°Twelve to thirty minutes. We suspect they have a spotter in the diner.¡± Harlow shoots me a data sheet for the itinerary.

    I look and see that the Man is being driven, and that they seem to be treating it as a checkpoint offroad race. That, works to my advantage. If they aren¡¯t going to deviate from the schedule more than a minute or two, than I can keep my rifle from wrecking too much.

    ¡°Alright, so head¡¯s up, you need to be in the van or behind the diner if you don¡¯t want to walk around with massive hearing protection. I recommend some muffs anyway. Or a t-1 helmet.¡±

    They lead me to the van and show me the platform while we drive to the diner.

    ¡°So,¡± Waller asks, ¡°How do you know Jamie?¡± Hidden motive? Are you fond of Jamie? I think maybe she is.

    ¡°I interrogated her for her enforcer practical. She did well.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all you have to say after punching me in the boob for ten minutes?¡± She says, lazily tracing an invisible image on my leg. I should probably stop her, but I like the attention.

    ¡°I was told to consider what would happen if it were not an exam. Plus, you looked sad that I took food from you, so I figured I¡¯d give you something to be sad about.¡±

    ¡°Daaaaamn. And you still talk to her?¡± Denning asks Jamie.

    ¡°Well, sure. She never injured me, she gave me the promised food after the interrogation. It was her job at the time and she wasn¡¯t cruel. None of the instructors save Parker were.¡±

    The name makes me look into her eyes. ¡°Did he proctor your final?¡± She shakes her head. ¡°Good. He has a coercion skill, and he¡¯s a sadistic fuck.¡±

    ¡°So, little pyro, what have you been up to since Barstow?¡± Denning asks.

    ¡°Were we not in Adelanto, ass? Anyway, I became an Alchemist, my Track deals with Judgement, and I make a lot of drugs.¡± I look around and see confusion, ¡°And I deal with contracts a lot. My track is confusing okay!?¡±

    ¡°Your track doesn¡¯t deal with shooting?¡± Waller asks, suspiciously.

    ¡°No, but I want that in the tier up. Something like ¡®The long gun of the law¡¯ or some campy sheriff stuff. I like the idea of being the monster in the dark that works to protect.¡±

    The rest of the van ride was filled with idle chatter and I am grateful that nothing of depth and import was discussed. Jaime made a point to stay in physical contact with me the whole ride and I could tell Waller did not like that, despite Jamie¡¯s efforts to keep her engaged.

    When we park opposite the lamp post at the diner, I tell the crew, ¡°I need seven minutes to fully energize the shields and the enchantments on the rifle.¡± Two of them curse, but it was hard to discern direction.

    Fifteen minutes out, we pull in and only Jamie stays with me. Twelve minutes, She¡¯s thumbing a soothing motion on my calf and I start to calibrate my weapon.

    Two minutes remaining, my shields are turned to energize and my max combat potential is engaged. While I settle in for ¡®GO¡¯, Jamie pulls my chin to the side and kisses me.

    ¡°For luck.¡± She says.

    While it felt good, it also felt like a betrayal to Zia. I like kissing, and she doesn¡¯t like that I¡¯m not T-1. While Jamie would be a fun distraction, you¡¯re going to be seeing your crush in a week. A week! For now, though, I take the sentiment for what it¡¯s worth and let the endorphins sooth my nerves and relax into the trigger pull. Less than thirty seconds to go, and the car begins to change speed and position, seemingly random.

    It''s a loose pattern. I¡¯ll load it¡¯s driving personality, and it should fix the issue. If you focus, you can probably do it too.

    A feeling at the bottom of my neck shoots through my extremities and I pull the trigger as if my limbs are connected by strings. The shield holds, the earplugs are overloaded and my head hurts, but my eye is glued to my scope, watching the car move into the freeway space in front of me. The front of the vehicle crumples and the round turns the whole vehicle before the front breaks off, the middle twists back, hits the road again without tires and bucks as the steel of the frame digs into the asphalt of the road. When the remaining vehicle pancakes into the road and then tumbles off. I can guarantee those two are dead unless they¡¯re wearing armor.

    /Do we confirm?/ I ask.

    \Confirm what? That you made that up-armored vehicle a fortune cookie? No. We fucking leave.\

    /Nah, I¡¯ll take my bike. I¡¯ll bug out and contact you tomorrow./ I stow my sexy rifle into my soon to be girlfriend¡¯s toe ring and break out my bike. Ten seconds later the van is twenty paces away and my bike is ready. Jamie looks betrayed and Waller looks . . . turned on? Gods, I¡¯m not the heroic dyke type of gay, sheesh.

    Five minutes later, I¡¯m glad I came to confirm: VIP is wearing T-2 anti-ballistic armor. It seems perfect for earth as energy weapons are not popular here. I push some plasma bolts through both the driver and the VIP and ride my sweet-ass bike into the sunset.

 A3: Chapter 3

    <You have advanced Rifles>

    <You have gained a level>

    Blarg. I was hoping I¡¯d get a bigger bump from that, but I¡¯d committed to a few jobs with the team anyway. Since I actually like Grizzly, and Harlow¡¯s not the bad sort, it¡¯s not that much a hassle. That and it¡¯s been nice not to think about business and drugs for a day.

    What has been plaguing my mind is Jamie¡¯s kiss ¡®for luck¡¯. I feel a lot of guilt for it, and it¡¯s undoubtedly because I didn¡¯t check her touching behavior immediately. I feel like I should tell Zia, but I¡¯m like super afraid to? Maybe I wait until I resolve the situation with Jamie, then explain the whole thing? I nod to myself. It seems reasonable not to want to hear about some other girl in repeated messages.

    That decision made for the day, I look around the shack I¡¯m squatting in and muse at how used to having basic utilities I¡¯d gotten. After confirming my kills I took precautions to not go home, and since Harlow mentioned we had a follow-on job ¡®up north¡¯, so I decided to test the offroad capabilities of this hoverbike and cut over to the next North-South highway and ended up at some pieced-together hut with a water tank on top fifty kilometers outside of Crystal Springs.

    /Bearded Papa, DE Flying Squirrel, checking in/ I text in the group chat.

    No one replies right away, making me think that they¡¯re asleep. I shrug and bring up some plans that Tova has been making four our neighborhood.

    She wants to build a total of eight five-story buildings that double as watchtower installations, and a more centralized community fortress. I look at the layout of the watchtowers and see a skinny building with 4 apartments per floor with a central elevator, a pair of suites at the top, and turret installations on the roof. The roof also has an equipment vault for extra ammo. The bottom floor is a lobby for the main building, and a security extension for the team that would be responsible for that sector. Since my HQ building is close enough to the edge of my area and is well enough equipped to serve as a security installation, only seven of the buildings need to be built. That would give us more than 150 residences before the dorm is finished, then we should be able to hit village population easy.

    The fortress is a whole other beast. Tova assures me that we can build it in sections, but each section is like fifty thousand credits a pop to build. That¡¯s a pretty nutso amount of money, but it should fill the needs of five thousand people and offer a secure place to hole up indefinitely if we keep exchange access.

    \Flying Squirrel, DE Grizzly, wheel team is doing recon of our next location. We could use your portable exchange repeater. Send me your location.\

    I ask Tova to handshake with the veteran¡¯s AI.

    \You¡¯re just down the road. Convenient. Meet in an hour to go over the mission.\

    /Copy that Grizz./

    He sends a pin and I figure I¡¯ll head that way, find some building to scurry up and have lunch with a good view of the desert. Twenty minutes later, I end up on top of a water tower with a platter of tacos and some fizzy juice sourced from Astorian vendors. When I see a familiar Jeep pull off the highway, I climb down to meet the crew. Jamie waves at me as I¡¯m walking to the motel and they conveniently show me which room I¡¯m supposed to be going to.

    Harlow and Denning are discussing a map that one of them is sharing with the group as Tennison sits nearby, listening in.

    ¡°Oh good, you found the stray. Did your caution pay off?¡± Harlow asks me.

    I nod, ¡°the target was still alive. His armor must have cost a fortune and was specifically tailored to stop ballistic assaults. Was not effective against energy weapons.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you salvage it then?¡± Denning asks.

    ¡°Time and hassle. None of you gave a shit, so don¡¯t hassle me about loot.¡±

    ¡°Easy, Kid,¡± Grizzly interrupts my train of anger before it can leave the station. ¡°The big man is a treasure goblin. He¡¯s also jealous of your toys, we all are.¡±

    I shrug, ¡°Sucks. I worked my ass off while I was gone. Made some deals, made some money, and made some enemies.¡±

    ¡°While I would like to hear the story,¡± Harlow says, raising his hand, ¡°We need to get on the same page for this grab and go.¡± He motions for everyone to gather around.

    Our target is a geological research station at Crystal springs. Some nutty researcher has managed to re-start the station and presumably re-started their research. Few guards are expected, but there will be a dozen other workers plus the research director. The mission is to abduct the director, or obtain his research by any means necessary.

    ¡°Smash and grab?¡± I ask.

    ¡°I would prefer a stealth intrusion. Only Tennison is Tracked for it. Salcedo Most recently got out of CQB training. Kimber, how¡¯s your training measure up?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fast, I lived through a conference room full of mobsters trying to Kill me, and I have recently converted pistols and mixed martial arts into a combined skill.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Survivor and a scrapper. Alright, you¡¯re coming inside. Give Waller your .308, if you still have it, and Salcedo can have wheel duty this time.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit soon to be trusting Novarro inside? I know the girl¡¯s good, but we don¡¯t know how she is.¡± Denning asks.

    ¡°I want teams of two to search this place. Your choices are between a girl that has been in a fight for her life four times, and two women who haven¡¯t. On second thought, Waller, you¡¯re back on wheels, Salcedo, you¡¯ve got the .308 and a rooftop.¡± The big man grumps at the team lead¡¯s logic, and the vet smirks at all of us.

    ¡°If no one else wants to belly ache, the other reason Novarro comes in handy, is the portable relay. We need some data recovery gear and some breaching explosives, just in case.¡±

    ¡°Breaching, cutting, shaped, or plain murder. I know explosives pretty well and can find it for you.¡± I get a lot of eye quirks in response. ¡°What? My alchemy focus so far has been explosives. I discovered a new form of gunpowder and some moldable stuff using my enhanced formula. My scatter grenades are also pretty popular.¡±

    Griz grunts, ¡°good bunker and vehicle grenade.¡±

    The grenade in question triggers a mechanical disassembly after a certain number of tumbles, flinging grenade pieces in many directions. When acceleration approaches zero, the pieces explode via aether-charged explosives that I¡¯ve designed¡ªbasically charged cordite.

    Harlow purchases some ammo and some of my products from the Exchange, a few sticky cameras that hook up to our team feed, and of course the data acquisition pack. That¡¯s a little nebulous, black box device as far as I¡¯m concerned, but it¡¯s not my mission.

    ***

    Waller is a very good driver. We come in hot, packed in like sardines, and the plan is to tack into a controlled spin and exit the vehicle through the back hatch that we took off for the mission. I¡¯m sitting in Denning¡¯s lap, with his big body securing me to the vehicle while I hold my .308 aiming out the back. Waller initiates a drift in one direction then shifts the wheel to spin us in the other. Denning clinches his powerful muscles and I begin to breath out slowly.

    This is up there on the most unstable I¡¯ve been while shooting, but heads are pretty big at 40m. The first shot is nigh perfect, dropping the man with pink mist and a snap back of his head. The second catches a man at the edge of an eye socket and blows out the side of his skull. That wound is messy and effing gross, but it still kills him.

    I hand the weapon over to Jamie as Denning shifts to get his feet angled out the back. Seconds later, as we¡¯re skidding to a jogging pace, the big man gives me a light shove out of the vehicle, following close behind me. I¡¯m at the door first, jamming a high explosive putty rope into the seams of the door with the handle of a knife, both of which I summoned from Zia¡¯s ring. Denning jams a sliver of a crystal with an antenna mounted over it into the rope and hugs the wall a meter away from the door, I mirror him on the other side. Three fingers, two fingers, clenched fist and a bang with a small rolling plume of smoke rolls out of the doorway into the desert. Griz comes charging past, I tuck in behind him and Denning behind me with Harlow bringing a cutting torch and a breaching shotgun.

    I make my pistols appear in my hands as we dash roll-walk through the halls, expecting someone to come check the noise. As we enter, the vet points out cameras and I blast them with plasma, which is much quieter than my hyper velocity pistol. Griz and I peel off at the first right while Harlow and Denning continue on forward.

    \Don¡¯t stop at doors unless they¡¯re open, kid.\

    I click in affirmation as we continue to almost run down the hallway. The poor bastard that peaks out of his office while we were approaching caught a bullet for his trouble. We get to another security door and I bust out more putty rope, but this time the burst is physically uncomfortable in the enclosed space.

    Griz pies right, I pie left and then he rushes the way his gun is pointing and I do the same after he clears the frame. Loud pops streak through the room and I see my battle buddy stagger a step. I start unloading into the room. Anything that even remotely looks like it¡¯s moving gets a bullet or a pulse shot. I hear Griz¡¯s assault rifle back in the fight and take the moment to reload my .38 and slide a new crystal into my pulse pistol.

    /Should be two behind the consoles. You injured?/

    \Third behind the servers. Looks like my armor held.\

    He directs me to follow him in a sweep that should reveal all three people. They don¡¯t stand much of a chance as two were already wounded and fumbling.

    /Why are we executing everyone? If this were ¡®just a grab¡¯ we¡¯d be leaving non-combatants alive./

    \Not my place to say, kid.\

    /Fuck that, old man. You don¡¯t trust me enough to tell me why it looks like we¡¯re killing civilians, and I don¡¯t trust you to watch my back./

    \That¡¯s uncalled for.\

    I shrug, then move over to the console to plug in the Data extracting box into the security station.

    \That is also not where we were supposed to use that.\ He frowns.

    /If this is as far as we go, why does it matter? Now, before you think of saying anything just to placate me, I have an ability to ensure I know if you¡¯re lying. I didn¡¯t use it for the mission brief, because I trusted you guys./

    \This was supposed to be Fontaine¡¯s job. She has looser morals than the rest of us.\ Statement rings true.

    \None of us care about justice as much as you do\ Also true.

    \Everyone that works here is a bad person.\ Yellow. There¡¯s more to that statement, but he believes it.

    One thing that I know for sure: Tennison knows about my Talent.

    /And you¡¯re still giving me the runaround. Un-fucking-beleivable./

    How dare they lie to me about such a crucial point on this mission! If they¡¯re lying to me then they knew I might object.

    A growling burble of indignation rises from the depths me. A slight tug on my aether stores is noticeable about the same time I see a hint of fear in Tennison¡¯s eyes.

    \They¡¯re experimenting on people they abducted.\ Yellow again. \That¡¯s all I can say\ green.

    He honestly believes something life ending would happen if he should talk about it. Ugh, green statements feel bad, but yellows are just confusing. Stupid flip floppy magic.

    /I hate this. I don¡¯t want to leave you on your own, but how can I fucking trust you Griz?/

    His turn to shrug. \You can¡¯t. You can trust that I¡¯ll act in my own interest. You should honestly hope that Harlow doesn¡¯t crawl up your ass about insubordination in the field.\

    /We¡¯ll certainly be having a talk. Let¡¯s get this done with so I can yell at some old men and tell them how it works in my day./

    Once the data-extraction device finishes its scan, I stow it and we move back to where we split with Harlow and Denning to take the stairs down to the labs where our target is known to hang out. We pass by several bodies. At this point, there can¡¯t be too many people left to shoot.

 A3: Chapter 4

    It takes a few minutes to back track and a few more to get down to the basement where a modern geothermal station has been installed, and our intel says a data center has also been placed. A part of me wants to see a room full of people in tanks just to justify the murder I¡¯ve been doing today.

    We get to the room where the data center is supposed to be and I see Harlow tuning up a woman in a lab coat tied to a chair. My anger instantly flares and reach in my pocket for a caramel. Griz checks my hand by grabbing my elbow. Wrong time to touch me, buddy.

    [Triggered Action] activates and I draw my .38 and jab it into his neck with enough force to bruise. He coughs when my perception and speed begin to slow.

    /I was reaching for caramels to calm down, jackass. Let. Go./

    He does and I slip a candy in my mouth, allowing the emotion slip away from me with [Mechanical Calm]. With the pair of Talents, I lose a significant chunk of stamina nearly at once and I can feel the warning of not trying to do that again for a while. I take a few steps back but keep my pistol trained on the veteran and draw my other one just in case.

    After an hour of watching Harlow torture the woman, I jam another data recovery device into the fancy-looking computer, then hit the woman over the back of the head with a gun.

    ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± Harlow growls.

    ¡°Ending whatever this was? This was supposed to be an abduction, right? So lets get out of here. We¡¯ve been here too long.¡±

    Harlow looks pissed and his hands are twitching as though he¡¯s about to draw. I hover my own pistols, waiting to see what he does.

    ¡°Not the place for this, Harlow.¡± Tennison warns.

    Harlow curses under his breath, then starts cutting the researcher from the chair. He hands her off to Denning and storms out of the room, Denning follows after.

    ¡°That was not the smartest thing you could have done, Novarro.¡±

    ¡°Says they guy who couldn¡¯t trust me with a pack of caramels. Did you think I was going to turn on you guys? Do you know how fucked that feels when I¡¯m trying to find reasons to trust you, to see you¡¯ve completely abandoned your trust in me?¡± At least he looks guilty for making me feel like that.

    The device beeps, I stow it in my ring and march back toward the door we entered through. No one says anything as we load back up, Jamie and Waller look at us all a few times then shrug. When we get a couple of hundred meters away, explosions rock the building and it collapses into a cloud of concrete dust.

    There was so much that I wasn¡¯t told about this mission and it has cemented that I¡¯ll never work with Harlow or Tennison again. A shame for sure, since I was starting to like the scarred veteran. We get back to the Motel room and I can tell Harlow is fuming. I summon both data extractors and place them on the cheap table.

    ¡°Griz told me you used the extractor early.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and then I bought another one, and used it on the servers while you were torturing that woman.¡±

    ¡°I was interrogating her, you should know the difference.¡± Harlow barked, ¡°just like you should follow orders!¡±

    ¡°You looked like you were punishing her, like you were enjoying yourself. And my orders were never to kill everyone and ask no questions. There are so many fishy things about this mission, that I wondered for a second if you¡¯d briefed us on the wrong mission. Seems like you just fucking lied.¡±

    ¡°Why do you even care, you¡¯re here for the level. You¡¯re not part of the team, you¡¯re just a gun for hire. You don¡¯t ¡®deserve¡¯ to know more than you¡¯re told.¡± He sneers.

    I look around the room, and only Tennison meets my eyes. I look back to Harlow and see the bastard smirk. It must have chafed him awful to have Marcella force this on him, but it¡¯s still no excuse to be acting this petty and to risk me bugging out mid mission.

    I take a deep breath. ¡°You¡¯re right, I should have kept my eye on why I¡¯m here. And since you all agree I¡¯m not a part of the team.¡± Three men reach for their weapons, but I growl out ¡°[Pass Judgement]¡± before they can.

    A flash of yellow fills the room and all of us freeze in motion, but I can see eyes flicking about as message fill my view.

    <You are Judging Brent Harlow¡¯s Field team for dishonest business practices, killing for personal gain, and betrayal.>

    <Searching for Standards Code>

    /No Settlement nearby.

    /Job commission Entity and on-site Adjudicator Standards will be used for issue resolution.

    <Assessing behavior and motive>

    /Dishonest practice confirmed. Misleading and/or omission of mission details present.

    /Killing for personal gain possible, but unconfirmed. Follow-on missions would need to be resolved before a conclusion can be reached.

    /Betrayal partially confirmed. Only two team members were in a position of trust, information, and responsibility.

    <Tallying sentencing>

    /Dishonest practice is viewed as a minor crime in the region. A fine, would be appropriate.

    /Killing for personal gain was not confirmed and will not be tallied.

    /Betrayal is a capitol crime in the eyes of the contractor. Death would be appropriate. As the victim and Judge, you may commute the sentence as prescribed by the law of the land.

    Can¡¯t we just put a personal mark of dishonor on them, then limit their Exchange access and dock their stats for a few months?

    /Mark of Betrayal ¨C you have abused the trust of someone that you held responsibility for, in the interest of personal gain.

    /Exchange access limited to rations and foodstuffs only for 1 year.

    /Reduce physical and mental stats by one grade for 6 months.

    /This punishment is in lieu of death and may set a precedent in the region. Do you wish to continue with sentencing?

    <Issue Proposed Sentence? Yes | no>The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Sounds good. That¡¯ll cross them up for at least six months but if their team sticks together, they should still be able to manage.

    The room flashes yellow again and I sink to my knees as a massive amount of aether disappears from my body. I look up to find that Harlow is lying face first in the short carpet, Jamie and Waller are dazed and breathing heavily, but awake. Tennison is also passed out on the floor.

    ¡°What the fuck was that?!¡± Jamie shouts.

    ¡°Judgement Magic. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.¡± I grab the edge of the table and wobble to my feet while searching for my suitcase-bike. I stumble to the case and drag it and myself to the door.

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer not to deal with any of you for a while.¡± I see Dennings head poke up from behind the bed when I look back. I scoot through the door as quickly as I¡¯m able in case the big man decides to start shooting at me.

    On my race back home I¡¯m tempted to check the results of my last two days, but I have a feeling I¡¯m close to level 16.

    If you wanted to confirm it, you should have killed the researcher. Although, using your judgement Talent on five people at the same time should have done the trick.

    Alright, guess the plan is to go home, message Danielle and clean myself up.

    ***

    As soon as I get to my suite, the waterworks begin. Now that I finally feel like I¡¯m in a safe place I let the hurt of Tennison¡¯s actions, and Jamie¡¯s silence, bubble up to the surface. I feel shame and anger, loss and envy. Did I do something wrong? Did I contribute to why Grizzly didn¡¯t trust me enough to be strait with me? He seemed scared when my magic manifested, that¡¯s when he came as clean as he thought he could. Maybe it¡¯s magic he doesn¡¯t trust?

    Who the fuck does Harlow think he is to take his frustrations with Marcella out on me? The bastard is lucky I didn¡¯t just kill the researcher and leave him to fucking spin in his lies. Jamie, some show of affection there, bitch. You looked guilty as fuck when Harlow admitted to keeping me in the dark on purpose.

    The loss of a person I thought could be a friend hits me again. Not as bad as when I lost Belle, as the relationship was different, but it sucks that these so-called friends of mine seem to be trying to teach me not to trust anyone. I feel like my whole life has been living like that and, and I don¡¯t want that for myself.

    I scream into the hot spray of water, the volume overwhelming in the stone-tiled enclosure, but it drowns out my other emotions for a moment, so physical pain is almost welcome. I continue that until I¡¯m tired and my throat hurts, until I don¡¯t need mechanical calm to help drain my emotions.

    \You okay up there Kimber? You¡¯re yelling loud enough for it to carry.\

    /Sorry, Marci, it¡¯s been a fucking day. Does Daniella have her sensing suit here or back at her clinic at Warram? I¡¯m ready to ascend to t-1./

    \That¡¯s fantastic! Dani does have a suit here, we bought one and billed it to the settlement. For the hospital to keep of course.\

    /That¡¯s fine. Tell her I have some funds to replace what¡¯s gone missing, but nothing frivolous please./

    \Alright, cool. She says she can do tonight or the morning, which do you prefer?\

    /Morning. I need to decompress from the last mission./

    \I can come up and talk if you want.\

    /Thanks, sis, but maybe tomorrow./

    I want to feel healthy and steady for my tier up, but rested might be as good as I get this time. I think this calls for a nice meal in the garden, and maybe a drink in the hot-tub until I get all prune-y. That sounds great. I order up penne with vodka sauce that sounds delightful, and some aether infused stuffed mushrooms. Oh, that reminds me, I need to check my saturation percentage.

    <Estimated tissue saturation is 78%>

    Hmm, I can probably get to one hundred percent safely by midmorning tomorrow. Some ciders from Summer Stills, and a breakfast platter from Summer Farms in the morning, all aether-rich Astorian products that are only slightly above ration prices. Not that it matters that much when I¡¯m making thousands of credits a month.

    It¡¯s funny to think that I didn¡¯t think much about niceties when I was at the orphanage, I was too busy trying to find stuff to sell so I could feed the little grubs that Belle took care of. Not sure I¡¯ll ever forget the blessing that a hot shower is, but now I have more than enough food at my disposal and often bemoan the amount I have to eat to get the body shape I want to progress into for my ascension tomorrow.

    I pull on some board shorts, order some ciders and slide my half naked self into the hot tub. Normally I would still put something on top, but I¡¯m drained and can¡¯t be assed to effort more. The moment I set my drink back on the deck, I get a call from Zia.

    \You have time for a holochat?\

    /For you I do./

    <Do you wish to share your current state via Holochat?>

    I agree and a picture of Zia lying on her bed in a lion onesie is absolutely charming. Some feeling leaks back into my chest, causing me to smile as she twirls the fuzzy tail in her long fingers.

    ¡°Hey Zee, cute onesie. Do you have a collection?¡±

    She smiles at me and my belly flutters, ¡°Maaaaybe. Mom started it when I started getting frustrated with shapeshifting, and I never grew out of the habit.¡±

    ¡°Did that result into your first shift as a fluffy unicorn plush or something.¡± Even through the desaturated image, I can see that she¡¯s blushing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be mean, or I¡¯ll hang up.¡±

    She is so cute, Empress help me find the strength. ¡°Not making fun, I would cuddle the hell of a plushie Zia.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see what happens if you¡¯re tier 1 before you get here.¡± She spins back at me with some sass on it.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, I should get tier 1 tomorrow. And when I see your Mom, I¡¯ll just ask for my provisional citizenship to be upgraded.¡±

    The elven woman pulls the lion mane over her face and squeals while kicking her feet. ¡°That¡¯s so exciting!!¡±

    ¡°How is it that you¡¯re almost as excited as I am?¡± I chuckle.

    ¡°Kimber, are you making fun of me again?¡±

    ¡°Maybe a little. You¡¯re being such a goof about this.¡± I chuckle and sip my cider.

    ¡°It¡¯s just, I had some issues with . . . us, and you basically took care of it before your visit. Feels kind of like you did that for me, and well, it feels really nice.¡± She peeks out of her hood to see my reaction, and I¡¯m grinning ear to ear.

    ¡°I may have taken a few missions on top of my projects. The motivation of kisses was too hard to pass up.¡±

    She rolls up to her knees and plants her puffy paws on her hips with a frown on her face¡ªlion ears bouncing as she settles into the pose. ¡°Kimber Novarro, if you are only focused on my looks, this is not going to work for me.¡±

    ¡°Now who¡¯s being a doofus? I wanted to cuddle and kiss you well before we started Holochatting. It may just be my messed up brain thinking that¡¯s what supposed to happen with the person you¡¯re closest with. The fact that I know the shape of the pouty lip I want to nibble is just a bonus.¡±

    That gets her smile back, I¡¯m sure it was false indignation in the first place, but I don¡¯t mind telling her that I like our banter more than her noble cheekbones and her spade-shaped ears.

    ¡°You are incorrigible!¡± She protests with a beaming smile. She quirks her head and stares at me. ¡°What are you doing right now?¡±

    ¡°Uhh, chatting with you and having a cider?¡±

    ¡°Mmhmm, and where are you doing that?¡±

    ¡°In my terrace hot tub, why?¡±

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t see any straps, young lady.¡±

    ¡°Oh my god, I live alone, you prude. If it was tomorrow evening, would you still be protesting or wishing I would stand up?¡± I quirk an eyebrow. She hides her face. Thought so.

    ¡°I¡¯m hoping to get a few minor physical changes, and a Track shift, but I hear the latter is pretty rare.¡±

    ¡°Shifts and Focuses are more common than a full track change. Significant changes of any kind require an inciting incident of some kind. My Track is more Ranger-like than it used to be as I spend so much time with the culling of hordes on Elysium. You told me about the meeting where you killed a settlement owner, has there been something else?¡±

    I nod, empty my current drink and slide a hand over my head. ¡°Some team-members on the mission I was on basically fooled me into doing stuff I would have refused to do if I was properly briefed. Then, the team lead had the audacity to berate me from going off-plan. Effectively told me to collect my xp and go home. So I used my Talent [Pass Judgement] on the lot of them. I got more xp, they got a sentence enforced by the System. As bad as it sounds, it felt good to punish those guys for their actions.¡±

    ¡°Being able to act on behalf of the Matrix is rare and powerful, Kimber. I¡¯d be reluctant to shift away from that.¡±

    ¡°I kinda figured that, but I¡¯d been mostly involved with contract work before that moment and did not care much for it. So if the Judgement magic could focus more on a trial of behaviors and code, I would like that much more than being a lie detector that shuffles paper all day.¡±

    ¡°That sounds an awful like you want to be a fancy cop with Matrix magic.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t hate that idea. Get justice and closure for people that have been abused or taken advantage of? I would definitely do that. Also crucify all the perverts.¡±

    ¡°You had me until the last part. Is it time for fussy Kimber to go beddy bye?¡±

    ¡°Says the girl lying on her bed in PJs.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I should have been asleep hours ago, but I¡¯m too excited to see you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re adorable. But you¡¯re right. I should head to bed. G¡¯night Zee, I¡¯ll see you in a few days.¡±

    ¡°Night Little Nova.¡± She cut the feed and I smile at the dopey look I¡¯m going to have when I see her in person.

 A3: Chapter 5

    Danielle invited me over to discuss some equipment she needed before she could move over to Camp Elsewhere and decide the best way to do this was to own the pain of setting up a professional hierarchy for the Settlement as I have with Nova Chem. I invite the Doctor to be the Hospital Director, which would give her access to a box of funds I was working to set up.

    ¡°Wait, Kimber, I just want to be a Doctor and do research, I don¡¯t want to be the head administrator.¡± She protests.

    ¡°Largely moot when there are no other doctors or nurses working around here, but I see your point.¡± It¡¯s one of the reasons I didn¡¯t offer Marcella a position yet. I know she doesn¡¯t care for the responsibility, and she¡¯s currently holding Warram Criminal Enterprises together. ¡°Where is Marcella anyway?¡±

    ¡°She said she had to finish a job. Seemed upset at the situation. I¡¯d wager she¡¯ll want to talk with you when she gets back.¡± She says, moving another fold of omelet to her mouth.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound ominous at all. I wanted to talk with her before she left, but can¡¯t turn back time at this point.¡± I sigh and nibble on another piece of bacon. ¡°Can we get down to the exam room soon? I¡¯m starting to get jumpy and my aether saturation is creeping toward 100.¡±

    The scowl she sends me while she scoots back her chair does nothing to detract from the beauty of that face. ¡°Damnit Kimber! Now we have to hurry.¡± She turns, taking long strides toward the door to the elevator, and puts on her smock.

    I jump up and scurry after her. ¡°What did I do?¡±

    She glares at me again, pushes the button or the lobby and crosses her arms. This is going swell. Marcella leaves early, is mad. Danielle invites me to breakfast, I make her mad. She¡¯s probably going to tell me I¡¯m messing up her study by being too reckless, but I see it as trying to maximize the changes I get in my ascension.

    Her long legs and her dismay with me have her outpacing me by several strides by the time we reach the Hospital area. When we get to a room that seems to be an expanded version of her office at Warram, she tosses the suit on an exam table and walks off through another door. Time to strip at the doctor¡¯s office again. After I get suited up, I hop on the exam table and start snacking again. At 101% saturation, I need to keep it creeping until I hit my messages.

    ¡°Kimber, the suit is reading that you are at 102 percent saturation and climbing. Is that correct.¡±

    ¡°It matches with what my AI has displayed, yes.¡±

    ¡°Okay, tell me what your goals have been since your initialization, and we¡¯ll see what you realize afterward.¡± Her tone is even and interested, her frustration shedding as she switches to research mode.

    I cover my desire to be more active in an enforcer-type role and less a paperwork role, emphasizing how my Track seems to go in either direction with the System contract side and the [Pass Judgement] sentencing that I performed yesterday. I then explain my physical goals, to include filling out this figure with slightly broader musculature than Marcella¡¯s more delicate frame design.

    ¡°You seem to have also focused on crafting during this period. I would be surprised if your modules and gifts didn¡¯t feature Alchemy related options.¡±

    I can see that. I¡¯ve been getting Alchemy related modules since level four.

    ¡°Alright Kimber, I¡¯m ready to take your ascension data.¡±

    Hit me Tova.

 A3: Chapter 6

    I wake to find myself on the same table in the same constricting suit as I was spirited away from. My messages icon, my person icon, and the machine next to me are all flashing red. The machine has the added penalty of being loud, beepy, and almost overwhelming after the isolation of the white space with the Avatar in it. I sit up to see if I can stop the noise.

    Danielle dashes around the corner before I can visit violence to the machine, gasps when she sees me and turns off the alarm of the machine, but the flashing red stays. Small victories, I suppose. The good doctor then scrutinizes me and a full body blush floods me with embarrassment.

    ¡°Something wrong, doc?¡±

    ¡°The machine is reading you at a 150 percent saturation, which happened suddenly. Could you check your reading?¡±

    My HUD reads approximately one percent, with additional data needed for a new baseline. I tell her what Tova tells me and she types furiously in what I assume is her digital notepad.

    ¡°I was offered a Track change, so perhaps it has integrated my penchant for keeping too much aether. Also, I haven¡¯t chosen any modules.¡±

    ¡°With what I¡¯ve recorded from you so far, you have surpassed my other participants. I¡¯m starting to think that you¡¯re an unusual case, and one that showcases that each participant needs something different to get the most out of their aether development.

    ¡°That said, your method of crafting yourself dry and restocking with aether rich food has proven beneficial to all participants. So thank you for that.¡± She smiles softly at me before returning to her notes.

    ¡°Does that mean the program is over?¡± I don¡¯t have to get naked for doctors anymore!

    ¡°For you, yes. I still have more data to collect, though I would still like your help in advising the hopeful alchemists in my program.¡± She looks up in askance, a slight pout of manipulation evident.

    ¡°As soon as I set up community workspaces, I¡¯m game. Though I guess I could use the lab at Warram as a training lab in the meantime?¡± She nods at that and doesn¡¯t comment further.

    I struggle to get the suit off, the damned thing seems more difficult each time I put it on. I get it down to my hips when I hear a soft ¡°oh, wow.¡± From nearby. I smirk and raise an eyebrow at Danielle, who still has a surprised look on her face.

    ¡°Is there a mirror nearby or do I need to take this off and head to the lobby.¡±

    She nods, confirms ¡°off¡± and I snort that I¡¯ve got her flustered for once. I then start cursing at the suit again as it resists pulling around my thighs. I put my shorts back on and walk out to find a mirror.

    The young woman staring back at me still looks like me, but much sturdier, stronger. That twelve kilos I¡¯d been looking for before? Found ¡®em. My legs are thick as watermelons and my arms hang toned from broader shoulders. My face looks sturdier too, stronger jaw, longer face, and a slightly narrower set to my eyes. My features are oddly fuller than before, despite my lean physique, and I no longer sport the haunting cheek bones that my mentor has. I guess I¡¯ve gone from pretty to handsome? Pretty women like handsome women, right? Oh gods, what if Zia doesn¡¯t like the changes?! I should call her.

    Take a breath, maybe ten, then realize you should check your modules before you call her, in case you have questions.

    Uh, no. Modules can wait. So can the gift thing or whatever an Ordinal Being is supposed to give me. I need to call her.

    /Zia, tier 1, chat me./

    I get a holochat request in less than a minute.

    ¡°Congratulations Kimber, how . . . are you showing off right now?¡±

    ¡°No! My doctor mentioned there were physical changes, so I went to find a mirror.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m certainly not complaining. You look good, Kimber. I¡¯m really looking forward to seeing you in a few days.¡±

    ¡°Same Zee!¡± I say, bouncing with my calves in excited nervousness.

    ¡°Did you get anything fun with the tier bonus?¡± She fiddles with her ponytail while she talks to me. It¡¯s mesmerizing.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t checked yet. I just wanted to make sure you still wanted to see me after the changes.¡± I worry my lip in nervousness, even though she said she was excited to see me.

    ¡°You are such a doofus, doofus. Oh! Don¡¯t forget to send a message to the immigration office to update your citizenship. You can even get discounted gate travel if your business is interplanetary. AKA, you can use meetings with Mom as an excuse to visit me on Astoria.¡±

    ¡°Have you switched to full on we and us Zia?¡± I ask, hoping and fearing she says yes.

    ¡°Were you nervous? I thought I conveyed that I wanted you to be tier 1 first, then I was in. You want to go on a date with me Kimber?¡± Her smirk sends shivers to the right places.

    ¡°I¡¯d love to, Zia.¡± I hear a noise over my shoulder and I sigh at the interruption. ¡°I gotta go, standing half naked in the Hospital waiting room is apparently distasteful, even when I own the Hospital.¡±

    She snorts in amusement, ¡°Okay, fine. I can wait a few days to occupy all of your time.¡± She hangs up and I turn to see Marcella waiting for me to finish.

    ¡°Now that I see it, it¡¯s obvious that this is the physique you were training for. Good work, Kimber.¡± She smiles, though it doesn¡¯t quite reach her eyes.

    I want to go hug her, but her mood is telling me to keep the space but be here for her. ¡°Thanks, sis. I could not have done any of this without your help. Want to tell me why you look tired and haunted?¡±

    She sighs and shakes her thoughts out. ¡°I need to, but I don¡¯t want to.¡±

    ¡°I could use a beer and a change of clothes, want to come up?¡± She nods and follows me to our private elevator. We¡¯re silent the whole way and once we step foot in my house, I kick off my shoes, open the fridge for a drink and take a swig before even identifying what it is. Berry fizz, delicious.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be two minutes. The fridge has some beverages in it, but it¡¯s also connected to the Exchange.¡± I turn to see if she heard me, but she¡¯s leaning into the fridge as I mention it. I chuckle my way to the closet, flick off my current clothes and wrap myself in a sarong and a tank top.

    Marcella obviously has the same idea as she¡¯s sitting in my living room in pants and a bra, with a travel cooler full of drinks and ice. Her jacket and shirt are slung over a hook in the entry nook.

    ¡°Kimber. I need to ask you a few questions before this turns into the casual visit I want it to be.¡±

    I raise an eyebrow at her state of undress but say nothing as I sit next to her.

    ¡°How many jobs were you told about?¡± That¡¯s her question?

    ¡°Just the one at first. Harlow mentioned another job up north while we were waiting for our mark to show. The info brief on the second job was more false than true.¡± I sit next to her and turn to put my feet on her lap while I rest against the arm of the sofa. She flops her free hand over my legs and pats them.

    ¡°The second job was supposed to be a catch and release in Tonopah. I should have told you about both jobs before you left, but, I foolishly believed Harlow would act in your best interests.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re saying he owned up to what happened?¡± I stare her in the face.

    She turns to look at me. ¡°He tried to avoid it, and then he tried to lie, but whatever whammy you put on them made it easy to tell he was lying, and then it made it easier for Tennison tell me about the whole debacle.¡±

    I sigh and sink into the couch. ¡°I¡¯ve been afraid that you¡¯re mad at me.¡±

    ¡°I mean, a little. For not telling me about your whammy powers.¡± I smack her middle with my foot. ¡°What? That is some important shit, Kimber. Those two were worse at EVERYTHING. They wouldn¡¯t tell me the specifics, but it was bad enough to start begging me to fix it.¡±

    ¡°Hah! No way, no how. I don¡¯t even know if there¡¯s a pardon procedure for that.¡±

    ¡°Nah, no point in that. I used Harlow to send a message and told old Grizzly to move out of Nevahrado.¡± She takes a long pull off the drink and sets it on the table to grab a new one. ¡°I don¡¯t take kindly to people abusing my protegee, or sister. Cornering you into killing civilians is a dick move.¡±

    ¡°Buh, I don¡¯t want to think about it. What I want to think about is my new Track, maybe look at my modules, then start prepping for my trip to Astoria.¡±

    ¡°You going to meet with that gun runner while you¡¯re there?¡± Marcella narrows her eyes as she says it.

    ¡°Empress, save me, my sister wants to give the owner of Merc Arms a shovel talk.¡±

    ¡°No! I¡¯m just worried you¡¯ll fall in with the wrong crowd.¡± My mouth drops at her wildly uncharacteristic statement.

    ¡°Marci. I make drugs on an industrial level, make explosives for several mercenary groups, and the largest gun manufacturer in the Empire uses my gunpowder. I¡¯m also trying to date her daughter.¡±

    ¡°Date?¡± Oh crap, way to go Kimber, big mouth opened. ¡°Do I need to have a shovel talk for real?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fairly certain that Zia would find it hilarious before making an innuendo about idle hands or something.¡± I scoff at memories of Zia¡¯s bravado while reveling in the warmth it sends through me. Luckily, Marcella leaves her response to a frown before changing the subject.

    ¡°How¡¯re things going here at the Camp?¡±

    ¡°Mm, my AI Tova has some interesting plans, but they¡¯re going to take a hundred or more people to support and a boat load of credits. I hate to say it, but I could use the Orphan Market to keep going, and further, I¡¯d be interested in interviewing the dropouts after Warram recruiting efforts. I also want to start an orphanage in the camp to give some kids support and something to do with their time. I¡¯ve got so much I want to do.¡±

    ¡°Cheers to that, sister. Cheers to that.¡±

    ***

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td rowspan="6" width="216">

    Please Select from the Following:

    (8 points remaining)

    </td>

    <td width="336">

    Intermediate Alchemic Techniques

    </td>

    <td width="60">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="336">

    Magi-tech bio synergies

    </td>

    <td width="60">

    4

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="336">

    Adaptable Spellforms and runic triggers

    </td>

    <td width="60">

    5

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="336">

    Basic Runic

    </td>

    <td width="60">

    1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="336">

    Introduction to Spellforms

    </td>

    <td width="60">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="336">

    Advanced Memory and Recall Installation

    </td>

    <td width="60">

    2

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    It can¡¯t be a coincidence that the middle three modules add up to the points that I have, and synergize with each other. Also, for the sake of curiosity, do you think it is worth it to spend imbalance for modules?

    In most cases, levels are Empress and trump everything. However, advancement is the real win-all. Some modules will do more for your advancement than a single level. The trouble starts when you use it as a replacement for leveling properly to achieve the next tier.

    You must have gotten an access upgrade as well. You normally aren¡¯t so forward with advice. Solid plus Tova, for both of us I think. I still have so many damned questions, but I do want to wait to get advice from Penny or Zia on the modules. I want the Magitech and Alchemy mods, but the rune and spells mods seem tailored to my situation. Reading into the tooltips reinforces that these mods are the precursors to engraving, sorcery, and ritual magics. Sounds effing versatile.

    I told myself to wait, I¡¯m going to wait. Next is the gift thingy right? I get a chirp from Tova.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td rowspan="3" width="240">

    Choose from the following:

    </td>

    <td width="384">

    Aetheric Fabricator: 1.5m x 1.5m material limit.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="384">

    Custom Tailored Police Shuttle

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="384">

    Advanced Municipal Utility Complex

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    How in hells am I supposed to choose between these three?

    Unfortunately, now that you¡¯ve looked, you have to chose within the next Astorian day, or about 20 hours.

    I feel that the shuttle is just a trap. Damned thing is probably cool, but between a magic fabricator and a free utility that would service up to 50k residents? Damnit! Somehow, I bet that the last two options are valued at approximately the same price, as the regular municipal utility is somewhere around 10-30k credits. I¡¯m estimating both near 100k. An absolute fortune for either. But my fingers are twitching.

    When I read the tooltips, I spam thoughts about the fabricator as fast as I can. It will print ANYTHING I have the power and the design for within the 1.5m^2 area by the conveyor length. I could make my own shells for my .38, I could custom make parts for Magitech integration!! Empress be praised at my luck. I set the delivery point to the empty wall of my personal lab and dance a little circle before a brief puff of aether replaces the regular air of my home.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been swearing my title a lot lately, Kimber. Something I should know?¡± She smiles at me as though she knows more than she¡¯s letting on.

    After jumping back half a meter in surprise, I steady my voice and reply ¡°New Track, something about the Empire and Justicars.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Are you wanting to join my exploratory independent enforcement team?¡± she smiles and walks a few steps away.

    ¡°Penny! Stop with the runaround please. I was pulled into a construct with a System avatar, that told me about Ordinal Beings and . . .¡±

    ¡°Not here, Kimber.¡± Penny blips in front of me and already has her hand on my mouth as I wonder why. ¡°You don¡¯t mind having our business meeting a couple days early right? Good!¡±

    One moment I¡¯m in my house, the next I¡¯m standing next to a concrete river inside of a terraced cave dwelling? The nausea hits me a few seconds later and the trash bin nearby gets violated.

    ¡°Whyyyyyyy!¡± I whine as I pause from our travel and its consequences.

    ¡°You were about to say sensitive stuff on Earth. It¡¯s hard to protect secrets there.¡± She waves her hand around as part of her explanation.

    ¡°And here is safer?¡± I scoff at the pixie.

    ¡°This is my condo, so I fucking hope so. Oh wait, I¡¯m a time-space oriented aether user. Hard to get past my wards and booby traps. Near guarantee, especially from internal actors.¡±

    ¡°You took me home? I thought we were having a work meeting.¡±

    ¡°Work, lunch, play. We can mix them. First, congrats on your tier up, as well as your Ordinal status.¡±

    ¡°You knew?!¡± I accuse.

    ¡°I assumed. I saw the previous Tertius die, and I lost my Human Primus status after you were born.¡± She says as though it were common knowledge.

    I hiss at her, ¡°What about the restrictions?¡±

    She laughs at me. ¡°If Ordinals talk to each other, we get a lot of leniency. Ordinal to mundane, however carries heavy penalties. Mostly via people trying to kill you and take our power. I didn¡¯t know there was a name for this stuff when Humanity was first introduced to the Matrix. I got very lucky, as did you. You must not waste the opportunity, and always choose power.¡±

    ¡°As much as I appreciate the nebulous advice, are there any details available?¡±

    ¡°What fun would that be? Ask your AI about your token, and they¡¯ll give you enough information to make a decision. Other than that, lunch?¡±

    At this point, I should get used to people saying ¡®figure it out¡¯, so I nod, ¡°How do you feel about sushi?¡± I ask. Penny¡¯s eyes light up and her wings flutter dust into the air.

    ¡°I¡¯m getting a boat! Put your suits on, bitches!!¡± The arms manufacturer yells then paper-dolls a different outfit onto herself. It¡¯s a surprisingly tasteful two-piece.

    I order a nice board short and top combo, deciding to go with the Empire whilst in Rome. ¡°So, is this sushi boat big enough to ride in?¡±

    The Empress of Humanity snorts loudly as she laughs at me. ¡°You¡¯re hilarious Kimber, I expect you around for holidays to keep me entertained.¡± She takes a few deep breaths before continuing. ¡°No, we get in the innertubes, and we trail a little boat full of food behind us. Like civilized wenches.¡±

    I chuckle at that and follow her lead. She ties a small rope between our two tubes, and we both get a boat full of sushi and long wooden tongs to grab it with. This is silly, and kind of awesome.

    ¡°Now that we¡¯re half naked and eating fish in a lazy river, let¡¯s talk business.¡± I choke on some rice trying not to laugh too hard. ¡°I want Nova Chem in my portfolio.¡±

    ¡°Penny, you already leased my most notable product. What else is there?¡±

    ¡°The magic coke, Kimber. It may sound odd to you, but your naivete with aether and the aspect of your power, you can¡¯t willfully taint the product with bad intent. Clean drugs would go far to protect my Citizens, and there are few things I care more about than the stability of the Empire.¡±

    I burst out laughing. I¡¯ve been smiling a lot since my ascension. ¡°Apologies, its surreal to be having a chat about drugs with the most important person in the Empire.¡±

    ¡°I favor tolerating ¡®Organized¡¯ crime. Like Andromeda, I feel that as long as you¡¯re not killing my Citizens, there is room to negotiate. To that end, I know that squashing drugs does not work, so I can subsidize to reduce the price of the safe stuff.¡± She daintily secures a severely red piece of fish and eats it with some smiles and a wink. Nothing truly provocative.

    ¡°That all makes a sort of sense, I guess. But how does that ¡®add¡¯ to your ¡®portfolio¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Okay, fine. No nuance, no flirtation. I want to build a factory for you to oversee and produce from, but closer to my supply lines. I also want that investment to count as purchasing a part of your company.¡±

    ¡°Geeze, you really just reach out for what you want don¡¯t you? How much control were you looking for?¡±

    ¡°25%¡± She answers.

    ¡°Sheesh!! For 25% . . . you build the factory, I get five of that percent as credits, and I get ten rescues from a hotspot in south America to work our plants.¡±

    ¡°Done.¡± A little yellow scroll drops in my hand as she agrees.

    ¡°I have no eye for business do I?¡±

    She shrugs. ¡°It¡¯s not terrible. But the scale I operate on is hard to comprehend. I just sent the credits.¡±

    I check out of reflex and there are six fucking zeroes behind that ¡®2¡¯. ¡°What the fuck Penny!?¡±

    She slaps my wrist with her tongs. ¡°Language, Kimber. I will not have my daughter dating a foul mouthed Sailor.¡±

    My blush is deep and omnipresent. ¡°I, just, thanks for your quixotic generosity?¡±

    ¡°Hah, you¡¯re welcome. You remind me of me, but way before I discovered FTL travel. I was an intolerable harpy after that. Now, well, I¡¯m more an absent parent of millions than anything else. I still can¡¯t take myself away from research, development, and prototyping.¡±

    Gods, maybe we are really alike. Thank the Empress she likes me.

    ¡°Of course I do. Also, I can hear it when you use my name or title in effigy. So don¡¯t go using it during sex or anything. That gets old fast.¡±

    I basically laugh for the next hour as Penny is quite funny after business is concluded. I would be a liar if I said I hadn¡¯t snuck a peak or two at her curvy pixy form and those fluttery wings that drop shimmering dust in the water.

    When we finish our sushi, she dismisses the boats and slides out of her float before climbing the stairs. I¡¯m ashamed that I watched for a moment. I almost missed my own debarkation. She points at a room that I can shower and change in. I¡¯m un-lacing my shorts as I see another body across the room.

    The tall, lavender-haired woman poses before a mirror in a pair of very lacy things and I automatically turn and hide my face in embarrassment and arousal. I must have made noise, because seconds later I hear:

    ¡°Who the fuck are you?!¡± the sound of metal sliding against something hard issues from the figure behind me.

    I turn around to try and defend myself, but before I know it, a familiar set of emerald eyes are focused in a sneer while the blades in her hand are ready to bisect my neck. Realization dawns on her face as she teleports away as her daggers swipe an area that would have been my neck.

    ¡°Kimber?! What the hell hon?¡±

    Did she just call me . . . do I faint or respond. Fainting sounds pretty good right now. I shake out my feels. It doesn¡¯t work, but the pain of my headache will help.

    ¡°Hi Zee! Penny abducted me early. We had a meeting in the river, then she suggested I clean up in . . . your room?¡±

    ¡°Oh? Did you want me to wash you? I can be . . . very diligent.¡±

    ¡°No! No need, Zee. I¡¯m gross and well, I¡¯m super nervous! Bye!¡± I run past her into what looks like her bathroom. I am right about the bedroom, but there is nothing here that reminds me of a bath, so I search for another door and find it soon after.

    ¡°Kimber, I¡¯m coming in okay?¡± I scream, I¡¯m not proud of it, but I do. ¡°Do you not want to see me?¡±

    ¡°Zia, it¡¯s not that, but I¡¯m naked and we haven¡¯t been together that long?¡±

    ¡°Boo. I can be respectful. Either case, I thought you were taking a bath. I wanted to come in and wash your back or hold your hand or something. I don¡¯t . . . it¡¯s stupid. Never mind.¡±

    ¡°Zee, no. What were you thinking?¡±

    ¡°I was jealous, okay? You were having fun with mom and I just couldn¡¯t wait to see you.¡±

    Much of my anxiety melts at her concession and I feel a small sense of wanting to walk out of the shower and hug her. I am super wet and naked though, so not happening . . . well at least not yet. ¡°Can you let me dry off and change, then we can lie on each other and chat if you want.¡±

    She squeaks with happiness and bounces off. She seems like pretty high maintenance, but I think maybe it¡¯s been a while since she had a same-age friend to hang-out (make out?) with. Plus, I want to spend the attention on her instead of only getting lost in projects and drama. I could go without the drama too, but that¡¯s not my life, apparently.

    Dried and dressed in terry cloth shorts and a tank, I see Zia in a half-buttoned, flowy shirt and billowing capris. I really like the vision of a flat tummy she is showing me. She¡¯s standing and shifting as though she hasn¡¯t quite figured out the pose she wants to strike. I smirk and take long strides and pull her into a fierce hug.

    Zia¡¯s surprise relaxes and she wraps her arms around my waist and back. I didn¡¯t realize that the elf would be taller than me, but her breath is warming my ear and the little hairs there send shivers throughout my body.

    ¡°It¡¯s so nice to finally be able to do this.¡± I say. She nods and I appreciate the feel of her cheek against mine. Time doesn¡¯t matter as I feel her breath against me both as her chest flexes and her breath caresses, saturating my brain with feel-good chemicals that make the rest of my thoughts hazy.

    ¡°Kimber,¡± she whispers, ¡°I really want to kiss you.¡± I nod lazily, not fully processing the request, but some part of my brain knows I want it.

    Zia¡¯s cheek slides slowly back, her lips brush mine for a moment before she presses them back against me softly. A sense of rightness fills my chest as a piece of comfort that I didn¡¯t know was missing slides into place. Our hands start tracing slow circles on each other

    as our lips move.

    Feelings of the moment change drastically when Zia¡¯s tongue reaches out to caress the bottom of my top lip. A tingle of thrill lights the furnace in my middles and both the electricity and the heat build with every flick until the charge in my brain begs for action or for mercy.

    I pull back and rest my head on her shoulder, breathing heavily while holding her close.

    ¡°Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?¡± There¡¯s a warble in her voice that tell me that she took my breath of air as refusal.

    ¡°No Zee, I just. It¡¯s just. I¡¯m a little overwhelmed is all.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t be the first person you¡¯ve kissed, Kimber.¡± She pushes her arms out to see my response, but doesn¡¯t bring herself to let go of my hips.

    I did hurt her, crap. Way to go Kimber. ¡°It¡¯s not that, Zia. I haven¡¯t kissed someone I like as much as you, and the feeling of those little tongue flicks with the emotion of being with you, and here.¡± I take another few breaths, ¡°It¡¯s a lot.¡±

    She sighs and pulls me back in for a hug. ¡°And my mind went straight to thinking I messed up. Ugh, how can you be so cute while being this sexy.¡±

    ¡°Says the girl who wanted to hold my hand in the bath and danced around her room when I got my tier up.¡± She pinches my side and scoffs in indignation.

    ¡°I am strong, dignified, and elegant. I will not tolerate this slanderous accusation.¡± She puts her hands on her hips and looks up and away in mock disgust.

    ¡°Oh, my apologies, princess. How may I serve to remedy this grave insult.¡± I step back and bow deeply, unable to stifle my giggles.

    ¡°Mmm, your penance will be to dine with me this evening and worship me with kisses as often as your constitution is able.¡±

    I look up to see her smiling at me, so I stand kiss her smile briefly and reply. ¡°Thanks for being so understanding, Zee.¡±

    ¡°What kind of person would I be if I didn¡¯t understand that you were overwhelmed? I can¡¯t promise I won¡¯t jump to conclusions, but I will always try if you can explain it to me.¡±

    This tender moment is suddenly interrupted by Penny teleporting into the doorway. ¡°You want me to message Guiseppe?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s kind of a lot for a first date, mom. Do you still have a chair at that Russian fusion place?¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t really like us there, Zia. They don¡¯t dare offend me, but yeah, no fixed reserved table anymore. There¡¯s a French place in the Heights or that Mediterranean place in Cotton Bay that keep tables for me.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯re you in the mood for,¡± Zia asks me.

    ¡°I¡¯m always in the mood for fish.¡± I shrug. Even though I had a large sushi lunch, I could still have some more.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Penny claps. ¡°I¡¯ll message Phillipe and tell him.¡± She takes a step away then peeks back. ¡°Don¡¯t have too much fun, Kimber. We have a site tour mid-morning tomorrow and you need to talk to my engineers about the factories.¡±

    ¡°Moooom, what are you dragging her into?¡± Zia accuses.

    ¡°Just business dear. I did agree to fetch her because of business did I not? Anyway, it¡¯s just a few hours a day for several days.¡±

    Zia huffs, but I have a question for her mom. ¡°Can I ask you about modules when we¡¯re out? Rumor has it you¡¯re pretty good with runes and spellforms.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± She snorts, ¡°I know them pretty well. More on that tomorrow, your modules won¡¯t disappear until you decide or defer.¡± She waves and disappears.

    ¡°Does it annoy you that you can¡¯t get a last word in when she does that?¡± I ask.

    ¡°More often than I¡¯d like to admit.¡± Zia says, resting her chin on my shoulder from behind.

 A3: Chapter 7

    ¡°Kimberrruh, you promised you¡¯d show me,¡± Zia whines.

    ¡°But your stats sheet was so full and high level. I¡¯m embarrassed.¡± She¡¯s level 50 and I¡¯m super intimidated and realizing she is way too good for me.

    ¡°Do you think I would make fun of you? I know you just reached 16, and I want to learn more about you. Specifically because I want to take you on a hunt and I don¡¯t know how safe it is to do that with you.¡± She leans over onto my side, bringing the hand that was petting my stomach up to my face. ¡°I guess we don¡¯t have to go. I thought it would be a fun bonding activity though.¡±

    Her concern shifts to sadness and, though she might be playing it up, it is super effective.

    ¡°Fiiine.¡± I groan in defeat.

    <table width="636">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Name: Kimber Novarro

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Race: Human (T)

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Andromeda Code: T-S

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Imbalance (none)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Class: @t-3

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Subrace: N/A

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Track: Justicar Acolyte

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    (t-1, lvl. 16)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Mind>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Intelligence: C

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Clever: B

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Awareness: A

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Social>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Beauty: B

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Charm: D

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Presence: C

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Strength: C->B

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Agility: A

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Fitness: B

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Aether>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Capacity: D->C

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Refinement: S

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Power: C

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="4" width="636">

    Skills

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Gun-fu: Intermediate 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Rifles: Intermediate 8

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Ballistics: Beginner 4

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Adjudication: Novice 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Endurance: Intermediate 2

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Cooking: Beginner 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    First Aid: Beginner 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Interrogation: Novice 8

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Urban Assault: Novice 8

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Blades: Advanced 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Manipulation: Novice 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Intimidation: Novice 3

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Mental resistance: Intermediate 1

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Aether Sense: Novice 4

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Alchemy: Intermediate 8

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Divine Aether: Novice 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Discerning Gaze: Novice 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Sense Motive (psi): Beginner 3

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Smelting: Beginner 5

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Pain Mitigation: Beginner 3

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Imbuement: Intermediate 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Tinkering: Novice 5

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Management: Novice 8

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Spectrum of Truth: Intermediate 4

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325"> </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="4" width="636">

    Talents

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Body of Power I->II

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Aether Dependence I->II

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Enhanced Recovery I->II

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Triggered Action

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Mechanical Calm

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Pass Judgement

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Energy Conversion I

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Inneficient Digestion

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    ¡°Huh, for level 16, this is pretty impressive.¡± Zia comments idly as she scrutinizes my shared panel. ¡°Two attributes went up at the same time? How? Oh. You have an imbalance section. You have that funky thing mom has don¡¯t you?¡±

    I shrug and try to hide my face. ¡°So I¡¯m told.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. She doesn¡¯t talk too much about it, save that it helped her throughout her advancement. Your Talents area is also unusually full.¡± She leans in close, as though she¡¯s about to kiss me, but stops and stares me in the eyes. ¡°I want your secrets.¡±

    I feel both threatened and aroused? How is this even a feeling I can be having? ¡°I got more than half during my initialization. I guess you couldn¡¯t have done that, as you were born initialized.¡±

    ¡°That better not be pity I hear in your voice.¡±

    ¡°What? No way. You¡¯re level 50, and you were born after me. Age is weird to talk with you with your memory.¡±

    She sighs and pulls me close. ¡°I know I harped on you being tier 1, but with my mother¡¯s mindset when I grew up, tier 1 is all that ever mattered. If you¡¯re a Citizen, your rights are protected. I mostly didn¡¯t want to commit to something with you until you were legally your own person and couldn¡¯t be stolen away from me.¡±

    Hearing that, I¡¯m conflicted on how to feel. Her sense of duty to the law, and her mother, is laudable, but she never seemed as into me as she does now. Is this an indication that she¡¯ll be mercurial about other things? Or is this just a particular thing that grinds against her mind? Or I could be doing the most Kimber thing around and overthinking something because it seems too good to be true.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    ¡°Zee, I¡¯m all for talking about us, but let us get a few days together before picking out a plot for our house.¡±

    She blushes furiously and hides her face in my shoulder. ¡°Okay, I know I can be  . . . intense at times. I¡¯m so excited you¡¯re here though.¡±

    The rest of our afternoon fades in and out in a cozy nap, not seeing the sun on my first visit to Astoria before it set for the evening.

    ***

    ¡°How long does it take to get used to the gravity changes when you travel?¡± I ask, as I tossed myself into the air as I try to walk on Asphodel, a Tech bastion in the Hades system.

    ¡°I usually fly on the moons, my aether control is instinctive and delicate.¡± Penny replies, ¡°It¡¯ll only take a few minutes for you to adjust, about the same time it will take you to get to the first warehouse space on our tour.¡±

    I do some test pacing, and true to her estimate, I stop falling on my face as she comes back out to grab me. Holding the door open, Penny smiles and introduces me to a large cat person.

    ¡°Holy fuck, you¡¯re a large cat.¡± My first interaction with an alien species is swearing at it and not knowing whether to run screaming or to try and pet it.

    ¡°Please forgive her, Dzartha, she¡¯s never left Earth before. A promising mind in Alchemy, but brand new to the Supercluster community.¡±

    The large cat purr-chuckles. ¡°Our younglings are the same when they leave the Kepler system. No forgiveness is needed, Empress.¡± He turns to me and offers a clawless paw. ¡°I am Dzartha, Lead Process Engineer for Astorian Chemical.¡±

    Did she just drop a stack of company names to hold ¡®Astorian¡¯ for her businesses?

    ¡°I¡¯m Kimber, I make aether-rich coke and gunpowder.¡± I cup and squeeze the bottom of his paw as he envelops my hand in a shake.

    ¡°Well met, youngling. Now, let us discuss what floor area you need and see what utilities are required.

    ¡°Okay, I can talk floor area if I get an idea of what kind of throughput we¡¯re looking at.¡±

    We both look at the floating Pixie.

    ¡°Three, four hundred kilos a month and see where we¡¯re at?¡±

    ¡°Hmm, first, consider starting your own orchard. Couple hectares at least if you¡¯re planning long term production. The volatility in South America right now is seeing some unsustainable harvesting practices.¡± Dzartha waits and the Empress raises an eyebrow. ¡°Not the question you asked, got it. Several large hoppers with water and Kerosene, or water and Aether-ethanol that can mash the leaves like a wine pulp. The mashers need to produce a strained effluent to moderate-sized processing tanks to which water and anhydrous acid can be added, or a prepared acid solution. These need to be stirred tanks with fine effluent filters to a drain. This tank is then re-used for another step with more acid and additives, where the effluent is taken to a third set of tanks to add Acetone and Hydrochloric acid to get the final product to precipitate out. The final precipitate then needs to be sent to drying tables, or as I prefer, a moderate heat, low atmosphere shield enclosure.

    ¡°I should note, that higher extraction efficiency could be obtained in each precipitate stage with pumping the slurry to filter tables that can be filled with the new solute and then the final stage a shield can be erected for drying.¡± Tired of talking, I open the Exchange and have a juice delivered to my hand.

    Penny and Dzartha chat about a few things for half an hour or so while I walk outside to appreciate the fact I¡¯m on a foreign planet, or moon I suppose. I climb to the top of the building and just sit and stare at the sky. When the door below me opens up, I drop down and walk back inside.

    ¡°Sorry, wanted to appreciate the views while I was waiting.¡± I say, not sorry in the least.

    ¡°I have a few questions for you on the build.¡± I nod at him. And he expands his screen to share a wireframe layout with me. ¡°With exception of the mash, it seems the tanks can be substituted with the filter tables as tanks?¡±

    I see two stacks of six large tables a lot like the combo conveyor I have for gunpowder production. Probably the same base cracker table. ¡°I see two issues so far? You¡¯ll need an intermediate process tank to uniformly add the additives and introduce the new mixtures to the table-tanks evenly. The second, is that two of the processes need rest time to convert, and they would benefit from mixing, so maybe a recirc pump on each table, or a cascading cross-connect on each tower that allows you to use two pumps instead of twelve.¡±

    The furry engineer makes some quick swaps, does some function tests and nods his agreement to the Pixie in charge.

    ¡°My turn. Kimber, what stages are appropriate for imbuing the solutes for processing?¡±

    ¡°This goes back to my plantation/orchard comment. I imbue my diffuse mash before I strain it, to a low level so that the resultant slurry is low-level enchanted. Aether-rich leaves would remove that messy step. Otherwise, I recommend large holding tanks for the liquid chemicals that you want to imbue with your coarse sand since you said you have a lot of it. If you want a continuous process, a separate tank for the 60% saturation product you want to end with. If you use Kerosene as the first solute, I recommend against a high saturation of aether. It always explodes on me.¡±

    Penny chuckles at that, as though she knows exactly the pain of projects exploding in your face. We chat around the layout and talk about how to always have product rolling. I post the time requirements for the shared equipment and leave it to the Process Engineer to optimize said process. While he fiddled with some placements and querying vendors, Penny asked me about the drying enclosure design for the final process.

    I learn more about shield design than I ever thought was possible, and that if you have the space and aether, you can be as specific as you need to be such as allowing water and water vapor out, but not in, so a regular dehumidifier isn¡¯t necessary.

    ¡°Hey, speaking of enchanting and engraving, do you have time to talk about some modules I had questions about? The tooltips aren¡¯t being very helpful,¡± I ask the famed engraver.

    ¡°Sure, but over lunch yes? With inefficient digestion, you really should be careful to eat more snacks than you have been.¡±

    I groan at the admonishment, but am more than happy to have lunch with her. She flies us in her shuttle to the other side of Atropos, to City of Industry where she swears there is a prime restaurant at the top of the agricultural tower.

    I end up getting a fried burrito the size of my head. It¡¯s meaty, spicy, and I¡¯m in love with the crunch of it all.

    ¡°So, I was hoping to get your advice on a Module called Adaptive spellforms and rune work. It¡¯s paired with two other options for introductory modules on runic and spellforms, adding up to the points I have left.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± she mumbles, shuffling some menus while she sips her drink. ¡°The description of your class talks about personal empowerment. Adaptive spellforms are the kind that are woven into clothing, or that create set pieces. Cooperative power is how I would explain it. The reason spellforms and runic are separated like this, is that runic is akin to the letters of the spellform language, but the runes are ideas in and of themselves. Small rune groupings can cause powerful effects, but they are static. Spellforms use runic as symbols in an overall coding language, applying simple logic and conditions to direct the aether.

    ¡°If Andromeda is offering all of that together, they are telling you something. I¡¯ve never been interested in placing permanent enchantments on a body, but I am extremely familiar with engraving items to cooperate with each other and my symbiotes.¡±

    ¡°Okay, smartie, what¡¯s the easiest way to fly as a normie?¡±

    ¡°Buy a shuttle.¡± She smirks. I frown. ¡°It really is. Become familiar with piloting a shuttle, and then the simplest spellforms will be a neutral gravity spell and a thrust spell. Sure, you could get away with just thrust, but it¡¯s terribly unsafe. I should know, I used it in my first combat suits. Once I developed Ripple Drive tech, flight is both easy and safe, but requires a master level in three skills to even attempt to complete.¡±

    I slump. ¡°I wanted a shuttle anyway, I suppose. I have to be able to get from Vegas to Bikini Atoll somehow. I heard there are discounts for Gateway travel for Astorian Businesses?¡±

    ¡°There are! Are you planning extra trips to see my daughter already?¡± She leans forward and grins at me.

    I blush and look away. ¡°Well, yeah. I really like her.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m happy you do. Zia needs a partner in crime and a goal other than ¡®get stronger¡¯. You need something to focus on besides work. It doesn¡¯t help that Alchemy is likely also your hobby.¡±

    ¡°It is! I like creating new explosives. I made a moldable high explosive recently. Aether detonated. It¡¯s fun stuff. The main formula is great for breaching, and the other is more useful for welding large things quickly¡ªlike concrete and railroad tracks.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Can you send me fifty kilos of the welding stuff? If I can get it to weld hull plates, this could help my Navy with one of our big worries in space fights.¡±

    ¡°You need quick welds in space fights? Aren¡¯t you just dead if the hull is breached?¡±

    ¡°Common misconception, and with modern space suits, decompression won¡¯t kill you. But having the next missile reach the middle of your ship almost certainly will.¡±

    Thinking about being sucked out into the void of space in a functioning space suit, just waiting to die in the inky black makes my whole body shudder in horror. ¡°I think I¡¯ll stick with terrestrial work, thank you.¡±

    She chuckles at me. Thinking for a second then pointing her fork at me. ¡°You know, Justicars are responsible for whole systems, not just a single planet.¡±

    I perk up at her mention of my Track ¡°Is there one I can talk to? I would love to pick their brain about how it all works.¡±

    She sighs and lowers her fork. ¡°Not yet. The Consuls and Governors haven¡¯t bought off on the idea, and the time I promised to wait for them to establish a Justice Department hasn¡¯t lapsed yet.

    ¡°How I want it to work, is that there will be a Justicar per incorporated system and they will act as an arbitrator of disputes between two or more governments. If both parties and the planetary Governor disagree with a Justicar¡¯s ruling, they can appeal to the Astorian Supreme Court. If the Council of Governors disagree, they can propose an appeal to me that would need at least two sponsors from my Forum of Consuls.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a pretty long road to get you to look at a case.¡± I muse.

    ¡°Right now I review all of them, and there is no appellate court. Disputes will have a chance to have bad judgements reversed, which should make people happy, and the Supreme Court and I shouldn¡¯t be too flooded to review an issue within a month or two. Also, it gives people a chance to have a panel of judges instead of just a series of single people making decisions.¡±

    ¡°Why not do the jury thing?¡± I ask, only considering the audacity of asking the Empress about her choices.

    ¡°A few reasons. Most issues aren¡¯t crimes by an individual, but business disputes. I have access to people who can hear or see the truth as well as you or better, and most importantly, the Imperial justice system should not be the first time a case is heard. A jury of peers can only be fielded locally, and if the local Government doesn¡¯t value jury trials, I¡¯m not taking that responsibility.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Penny, I wasn¡¯t intending to second guess your wisdom.¡±

    She scoffs and waves her hand in dismissal. ¡°It comes up at least every other year, so it¡¯s not a new imposition. Plus, if you are to be a part of the Justice system, it¡¯s important to understand it. Are you interested in reading cases that make it to me?¡±

    ¡°I am, but how long until this system starts?¡±

    She taps a few menus, which I assume will auto-forward her rulings on legal disputes to me. ¡°My governing bodies have two and a half Astorian years to figure it out. Since none of them can get a simple majority let alone the two thirds needed to send the proposal to the next body after ten years of arguing, I don¡¯t see it happening.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Empress,¡±

    ¡°Kimber, I don¡¯t like titles from my friends.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Miss Astoria.¡± I stick out my tongue and she flicks a bean at my face and calls me a brat. ¡°Earth doesn¡¯t have a Governor, or representation in the House.¡±

    ¡°Pfft, believe it or not, I forgot about that. I have new systems that are controlled by prospectors, that are in the process of becoming protectorates as well. I should probably fix that global responsibility thing.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but laugh with her and how absurd this situation is.

    ¡°You know, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s weirder: Setting up a drug factory with a head of government or dating a princess.¡±

    Her giggle fills me with a pleased buzz in that the Empress of Humanity thinks I¡¯m funny.

 A3: Chapter 8

    ¡°My girlfriend is trying to kill me.¡± I say before using my fear and anxiety for [Triggered Action] as I dive out of the way while shooting my pistols into a tusked horse thing.

    Zia slams the head of the beast with a microburst of air before blinking behind it and slashing at the backs of its knees. ¡°I like it when you call me that, and I am not trying to kill you.¡± The horse thing bucks around in pain while trying to gore Zia. I pump more rounds into its body and finally my pulse pistol creates a wound that penetrates its tough hide.

    ¡°One of our guides is dying! An experienced guide!¡±

    ¡°Chill, Kimber.¡± She blinks again and stabs her daggers to the sides of the beast¡¯s spine, just forward of the hind legs. ¡°They¡¯re Academy guides, this is just a wandering, high-level monster.¡± She explains before summoning a swirling column of hot air around her daggers before jumping off.

    The swirl dissipates after a few moments and a blinding crack of lightning knocks me down. Once I can see again, watch the horse thing completely crippled from the lightning, trying to crawl away into the forest. I grab my sniper rifle from my storage, hunker down, and fire at the beast¡¯s head. It disappears as the gun kicks me to my butt and is easily as loud as the lightning. Too bad it takes seven minutes to get the enchantments up.

    ¡°Ow.¡± I groan. I wonder how bad it would have broken me if I¡¯d have tried that before I tiered up.

    Zia comes over to drag me to my feet, inspects me briefly before going over to our guide to see if he is alive enough to save. She bends low and stabs him in the neck with an ampule, so he must be alive enough. My hearing starts fading back in before Zia walks back, and I know my second rank in Enhanced Recovery is doing work.

    My girlfriend hugs me tightly, and we kiss in our triumph for a few moments before she saunters over to the animal and starts dressing it for storage. I stow my rifle and search for the pistols I dropped. By the time I find them in our little clearing, Zia¡¯s done with her work and is asking me to help carry our unconscious guide back to camp.

    I work hard on my fitness, so with the new strength upgrade, have no issue slinging the man over my shoulder and hiking back with Zia leading us.

    ¡°I knew that Talent would let you compete above your level.¡±

    ¡°Zia, you were playing with it while I was trying to stay alive.¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah, I wanted you to have the chance to meaningfully wound it before it died. Otherwise you would barely get any experience. Then you turned its head into paste, which was a very loud by the way.¡±

    ¡°And the lightning wasn¡¯t?!¡± I realize I¡¯m shouting, but I can¡¯t help it.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re fine you big baby.¡± She boops me on the nose and grins at me. Stupid cute girl and her stupid cute face. I huff, pout and stick my tongue out at her. She giggles and takes my hand while we walk beneath the thick jungle canopy of Elysium.

    The hunting camp is a simple thing: semi-permanent open stick structures with cured hide covers slathered with waterproofing from the forest. Zia tells me it¡¯s positioned at the very edge of the claimed Academy land, so they could have buildings and modern crafting stations, but the vole-like hunting tribe that have made a home slash business here prefer the more tribal furnishings. Zia greats the voles with a series of chirps and one of the guards go running. Tova tells me she asked for a healer.

    ¡°What¡¯d you run into that Haunts the Grass was injured so gravely?¡± a greying vole man asks.

    ¡°Tusquine Mare. Thirty five. Haunts tried to parry a charge headed for my companion that partially worked. I was scouting at the time and found the stallion but did not make it back in time to save him from injury,¡± She reports.

    The man scrutinizes me before replying. ¡°That is uncommonly high level for your hunting area. Especially this soon after a Great Hunt. He will be praised for his courage. I am relieved your companion was unhurt.¡±

    Zia nods in agreement, walks over to the prep table behind the man, and lays about twenty pounds of meat on the table as well as the skin. ¡°To aid in his recovery and to busy him while he does so.¡±

    The vole smiles and nods. ¡°Thank you, Princess. May the Hunt favor you with good fortune.¡±

    ¡°Good Fortune, Tailor of the Hunt.¡± Even mussed from flipping to and fro, Zia still looks amazing, and when she¡¯s being all professional I feel all the more warm and gooey.

    She takes my hand again and we head to our shuttle parked next to the cave that leads up to the valley that the Academy is nestled in.

    ¡°That was kind of you.¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°It is customary when hunters are injured doing their job. If I had offered nothing, it would imply that he was injured doing something foolish.¡±

    Guilt is a funny thing. Even though I know that I didn¡¯t encourage him to guard me, even though I know I was out of the way with my talent before the Mare would have reached me, I feel guilty that our guide likely decided to take the hit for me because I¡¯m level 16. If we¡¯d taken time to explain my Talents, would he have done the same?

    Lets see if it was worth it.

    <You have advanced Gun Fu>x2

    <You have advanced Endurance>x2

    <You have killed a Tusquine Mare¡ª35>

    /Increased experience is awarded for returning the aether of an animal a tier above you.

    /Decreased experience is awarded for being in a party.

    <You have gained a level>

    <You have gained symbiote imbalance>x2

    I guess that¡¯s not terrible for one kill.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t seem to surprised to see the Yinda Hunters, are you used to the idea of aliens already?¡± Zia asks as she lifts us skyward.

    Is that it? After seeing a real live Pixie and a giant ass Tiger man, is that all the exposure I needed? ¡°It¡¯s not like that. I¡¯m used to being on the back foot, a little unsteady. After meeting a Herrati Engineer yesterday, the vole men didn¡¯t have such a visceral effect on my psyche. I might gush about how neat it is later, or ask if any other races look like things from Earth. But for now, I¡¯m still coming down from the horse thing, and that our guide isn¡¯t dying.¡±

    She nods, staring through the view screen at the front of the craft as she takes us into orbit on our way back to Penny¡¯s castle in Aelea.

    ***

    Zia prepared a nice picknick for her mother¡¯s private garden, and she¡¯s pacing at the edge of the blanket, picking at her nails. She doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m watching, so lost in her thoughts, so I cough to announce my presence. She looks startled and a little frightened.

    ¡°Zee, what¡¯s got you so nervous? It¡¯s just me. Even if you have something important to say, it¡¯s just me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just it, you¡¯re not just anything. You¡¯re important to me and, well, I¡¯ve been hiding stuff.¡±

    ¡°Are you keeping a girl on the side?¡± she shakes her head. Whew, a little bit of the stress that ramped up leaves with my sigh. ¡°Are you using me and our relationship for personal gain.¡±

    ¡°Only if snuggles are currency.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll accept that.¡± I smile a confident smile that I want her to feel. ¡°Then we can probably talk through whatever it is, okay.¡± I walk over to her and give her a quick kiss and hold her firmly on her hips. ¡°What hidden thing are you trying to tell me?¡±

    She sighs and thumps her head on my shoulder. ¡°You know how I said I¡¯m a shapeshifter?¡± I hum the affirmative. ¡°Well, I have another permanent form, and I feel like it¡¯s more me. I know you like my elf form, but staying in it this long has me itching a little to change back.¡±

    I push her hips to arms length, ¡°Zia! I don¡¯t want you to torture yourself just because I think this version of you is pretty. Whatever form you take, it¡¯s still you right? And with how much you look in the mirror, it¡¯s gotta be at least passable to look at.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± she pushes me away in protest. ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to notice. I think I¡¯m prettier in that form? Mostly because I feel the most comfortable in it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in for a more comfortable you.¡±

    She takes a step back, nods a little and then shows me a defiant, regal chin of confidence before erupting into a cloud of smoke. The smoke blows at and over me for a few seconds, but when it clears I see a sparkling vision in a ray of sunlight.

    A figure of purple and pink with swirls of tourmaline cascade down the scales of her side and arms, leading to elongated fingers whose claws are retracted like a raptor¡¯s. Her snout? Maw? Toothy-boop? Is mostly smooth scales like a western dragon, but more humanized muscles that are currently telling me she¡¯s nervous. She also has a tail that¡¯s nearly her torso length and a set of wings that slightly brush the ground.

    ¡°You are the coolest thing I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± The shimmer of her scales lull me into a trance and before I know it, my hand is hovering beside her jaw, feeling the warmth radiating off of it. ¡°Is it okay if I touch you?¡± Her snout bobs and my palm contacts the multitude of small rigid surfaces that are smooth to touch as I drag my fingers down to her collar.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe my girlfriend¡¯s a dragon.¡±

    Her giggle is still cute, but has a raspy undertone? Bi-tonal vocals is a new one for me.

    ¡°Draconid. There are several stories in Earthen fantasy that had mixes of human and dragon that really appealed to me. Being able to fly and have natural weapons was a big draw. That and the scale pattern makes me feel really pretty.¡±

    ¡°I agree, you are a very beautiful creature, Zia.¡± I grab her snoot and kiss her little scaly lips. A very odd sensation, but not unpleasant. I grin back at her and I can tell she¡¯s flustered, but she can¡¯t blush in scales, so that¡¯s kind of a bummer.

    ¡°Really? You¡¯re not grossed out or think I¡¯m weird for identifying as a Draconid?¡±

    ¡°Really, really. Is this why you were asking how I was dealing with the other aliens?¡± she nods. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, we¡¯re going to have odd moments if you try to get frisky with me in this form, and the only adverse reaction I¡¯m getting from this vision of you is a little wing envy.¡±

    A big toothy, slightly intimidating, grin breaks out across her maw and she reaches out with her wings to pull me into arm¡¯s length to pull me in closer. She is now much taller than me and is resting her snout on my head.

    ¡°I like this very much.¡± The warmth she is radiating permeates the surroundings and is almost too hot on this sunny day.

    We embrace for a while and I pet her back rhythmically for which I¡¯m rewarded with a rumbling purr. That is until I find her tail and give the joint a good squeeze, causing her to squawk. She bonks me on the head with her jaw.

    ¡°Pfft, like you could have a tail and I wouldn¡¯t touch it. Is it really sensitive?¡±

    ¡°N-not as such, just alarming. You are grabbing my spine after all.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t think I can promise I won¡¯t do it again, but I can certainly be more gentle. Can you become a larger version and take me for a flight?¡±

    She chuckles and shakes her head. ¡°I can size up, but not so quickly after a change. I like that you¡¯re curious more than afraid though.¡±

    I ask her questions throughout lunch and she seems to relax as our picnic progresses and she finally believes that I like her Draconid form, or at least find it fascinating. She uses her retractable claws to spear food and I geek out over how neat that is. Afterword, we lounge with some refreshing beverages while I snuggle a toasty dragon belly and nap in the sun.

 A3: Chapter 9

    ¡°Girls! I have a guest coming over in an hour!¡± Penny shouts from the kitchen.

    I have no idea why that¡¯s important to shout, but Zia groans and wipes her snout and eyes for imaginary eye sleep.

    ¡°I bet it¡¯s the cat diplomat. It¡¯s fine to join them for lunch, but sticking around afterward would be a mistake.¡±

    ¡°I thought you said she was nice?¡±

    ¡°She is, but that¡¯s not the point. They don¡¯t see each other often, and they . . . try to make up for lost time.¡±

    Ah, loud sex. I could see how that would be awkward. ¡°Does that mean I get to walk around Lake Street today?¡± Zia groans again. ¡°Are you banned there or something?¡±

    ¡°No, I just don¡¯t like being a spectacle. Yes, I¡¯m a Draconid, but I still don¡¯t like it.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s okay, I can come back on another visit to see it.¡± I pout a bit, but I do want to do stuff with my girlfriend. I understand, of course, but we¡¯re going to have to come up with solutions, especially since I refuse to have any kind of sex behavior while she¡¯s scaly and talon-ey.

    ¡°No, no. I want to take you, but I don¡¯t want to feel pressured to be an Elf when I do stuff with you.¡± She nuzzles her heavy muzzle into my chest before she pauses. ¡°We could do some flight training this morning. I could fly while you pilot a shuttle. And after that, I can shift and then we can spend the evening on Lake street, then go home and make out a lot.¡±

    ¡°That, my scaly beauty, sounds like a great day.¡± I roll away, squeeze the base of her tail on my way off the bed and giggle at her undignified squawk as I dash to the bathroom.

    I¡¯ve been trying to be a good girlfriend about it, making sure she knows I appreciate her draconid self with casual touches and what I think is playful teasing. It¡¯s still guess work though, being only a few days since she showed me, and I want to cement in her mind that I like her for who she is and not the Elf wrapper that was a substitute for the Pixie wrapper she was born with.

    I can¡¯t criticize much, as I look completely different than I did when Marcella met me outside the Orphanage, but self-identity has to be even more of an issue for shapeshifters as I would probably lose myself in the personas and forget who I am. Hells, I still don¡¯t really know who I am without someone to protect or work for, so I¡¯m a bit adrift now, where Zia figured her shit out.

    I think more about the nature of motivation and duty while I brush my teeth and wash my face. When I go back into the bedroom, Zia is missing so I wander out into the living room and spy my purple princess talking with her mom in the kitchen up a half-level from here.

    ¡°Kimber, my daughter is talking about the many adventures you two are planning. Are you delaying your departure tomorrow?¡± The hopeful look in Zia¡¯s eyes punches my heart.

    ¡°Sorry, Zee. With the early abduction, and my new business responsibilities, I need to get back. I also have an idea for a project my mentor has, but I need to be present for it.¡± Her pout is crushing. ¡°But hey,¡± I walk up and pull her into a hug, ¡°I have the money for a shuttle, and with the fee reduction for the Gateway that I qualify for, I should be able to visit regularly.¡±

    ¡°If mom wasn¡¯t so stingy about her long-range shuttles, you could visit whenever you wanted.¡± She glares at her mother.

    ¡°The girl has less than ten shuttle hours. No way I let her buy one that could destroy Earth¡¯s atmosphere.¡± The fact that is possible drains the blood from my face.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with a local shuttle then, thanks though.¡± Zia pulls back from me, looking betrayed, or ready to bite my face¡ªhard to tell when she has a dragon snout.

    ¡°If that makes you pout Zizi, the four of us are going to Guiseppi¡¯s tonight for dinner.¡±

    ¡°But moooom, I wanted it to be a nice date about us.¡±

    ¡°Psh, you two can get handsy after dinner. Lashadi and I will be going to the Spa for the night.¡±

    I have no idea what the Spa is, but I take it to mean that they¡¯ll be gone for the evening. Penny is clearly done with the conversation and on her way by she hands me something and continues on mumbling to herself.

    Any idea what she handed me Tova?

    I believe it is an access fob. Presumably to the suite or to a shuttle for you to practice with.

    That¡¯s right, Zia wanted to fly with me. I ask my pouty Draconid if she wants to bail on family lunch and go flying now. She nods and leads me out to the vehicle area of the castle. With a pink key fob, I should have known that the shuttle would be garish.

    ¡°Did you choose this color?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Yeah, it matches nothing at the castle and I wanted to annoy my mother.¡±

    Oh my gods, she is such a teen princess. I happen to like the color, but it¡¯s funny that she chose it as an act of rebellion.

    Zia coaches me through the liftoff procedure and inputs a waypoint to the harbor outside of Cottonton. During Founder¡¯s week, there¡¯s a demarcated air racecourse starting at the harbor, as well as a sea course, but few are willing to risk the sea monsters. I scoff at the idea of them, but Zia reinforces that the average level of monster found is between fifty and sixty, and the unreported highest is over a hundred. Even thinking of a monster near the same level as the Empress gives me the willies.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    She coaches me through the controls, telling me that this is a traditional thruster shuttle with two on the bottom for loft and two in the back for speed. She reminds me again that the wings on the sides are stabilizers, not lift-producing wings. I tell her that I get the idea and that I would like a couple of times around the track before she starts racing me.

    The control with the ailerons is instinctive. Left goes left, back tilts up and forward tilts down. At higher speeds, though, the traditional controls are laggy and it makes me wonder how this shuttle would handle space flight.

    I check the manual and Tova confirms that the shuttle is space capable. We dive into how the shuttle turns in space and I find the fun extra thruster nuggets. I turn on the pressure override for space flight mode and I fall out of the sky. Tova reminds me that the bottom thruster controls are the foot pedals on the floor and the switch on the switch on the left joystick allows independent stereo control of the thrusters.

    Since I¡¯m already tipped forward, I flare the aft, bottom thruster until the shuttle rotates nose up and then I jam the rear thrusters to full with my thumb throttles. I start arcing around and before I tip over again, Tova instructs me to put the aft bottom thrust to low and the fore bottom thrust to medium to stabilize and then rely on the tilt of the propulsion thrusters for aft lift.

    We have a turn coming up, as our airspeed has more than doubled since using atmospheric control, and Tova has a suggested maneuver using all four thrusters. Rotate top to turn, flare bottom thusters to start reversing course while the tilt of the propulsion turns us. As soon as the altitude drops significantly, twist again, lift thrusters down, heavy burn on all four thrusters.

    All goes well until I start losing altitude quickly. I panic and tilt the propulsion thrusters for lift instead of flaring the bottom thrusters, spinning me end over end into the sea. The threat of sea monsters spikes my adrenaline over my spike less than a minute ago so I slam the autopilot function and find a sack to purge my feelings and fear into. What the hell was I thinking trying to be so fancy?

    \ARE YOU OKAY!?\

    /I¡¯m fine, Zia. Feeling stupid, but fine. I¡¯m headed back to the port for a breather./

    I¡¯ve calmed by the time the shuttle lands outside of town. Zia opens up the rear hatch and barges in to make sure. She picks me up and cradles me, I protest weakly, but definitely enjoy it. We snack and have refreshments as I recover from my foolishness.

    Zia convinces me to go for at least one race lap, and Tova convinces me to try the complete acceleration turn again by having me practice the parts in a twisting slalom. Once I get the hang of using the bottom thrusters to turn on the slalom, and the propulsion thruster tilt to twist the aircraft, I agree to Zia¡¯s race.

    The Draconid is faster on takeoff than the shuttle, but I am faster on a straight away. The turn comes and I see Zia flex her wings to catch the air and use a flurry of wind magic to help her turn. I overshoot the first turn by half a kilometer because I am slow to execute and was distracted by the majestic purple lizard.

    Pull the overdrive triggers on the joysticks after you straighten on the way out of the turn.

    I shrug at the thought, focusing on the twist, arcing through the turn instead of flat stopping like the first time, twist back to level, re-stabilize the lift thrust, and pull triggers. Aether meters appear in my HUD and they start draining rapidly as I am pressed flat into my seat. Clenching my teeth and flexing everything I can flex, I manage to stay awake through the acceleration. As soon as we pass Zia, I release the triggers and coast on regular thrust as I hyperventilate after surviving the ridiculous boost the overdrive gave us.

    I stumble out of the shuttle and lay on the ground to try and make my vision more stable and to make sure my heart doesn¡¯t have to work any harder than it has to, the poor bastard has been through enough. Seconds later a frustrated purple girlfriend lands next to me and puffs smoke in my face.

    It¡¯s cool that she can probably breathe fire. Super petty to blow smoke at me while I¡¯m recovering. I cough and curse my way to tolerably clear lungs. ¡°That was uncalled for.¡±

    Zia roared and spit fire into the sky. ¡°Uncalled for? Did you get private lessons or something from my mom just to beat me?¡±

    Oh fuck, mommy issues. Is this because of the cancelled plans?

    ¡°When would I have the time!? I was either with you or at business meetings. I asked if I could fly and the pilot and Penny both laughed me!¡±

    Zia paces for a moment, the thump thump of her sturdy dragon toes hitting the grassy ground reverberates through my body.

    ¡°You say you¡¯re a novice, but you fly like she does, Kimber.¡±

    ¡°She crashed into the sea and almost got eaten by a sea monster?¡±

    Zia shakes her snout, ¡°No, it was the desert and the shuttle disassembled around her. You were not almost eaten.¡±

    ¡°See? Totally different. If anything my AI coached me through some of the hard parts. Blame Tova.¡±

    Zia spouts another gout of flame and stomps around some more before flying to the nearest tree to claw the crap out of.  My girl has some rage issues surrounding her mother. Good to know. Perhaps competitive in an unhealthy way. I briefly think that this may be the only benefit of not having a mother and my heart hurts immediately, but the ridiculousness of the thought makes me laugh.

    ¡°Am I funny to you? Are my feelings a joke?¡±

    ¡°Nah, babe. I was just thinking that at least my ongoing parental trauma doesn¡¯t reinvent itself because my parents are dead.¡± Shock and a little horror suffuse her face. She slumps down next to me and lies down.

    ¡°And here I am complaining about a loving mom that is too good at everything.¡±

    I grab her hand in comfort, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Zee. I¡¯ve come to terms with it, even though I¡¯m not over it. I get triggered from phantom offenses I don¡¯t even remember, so I won¡¯t begrudge you a little envy.¡±

    We lay there silently, holding hands and just being there for each other for half an hour before resuming flight practice.

    For a few more hours, I exercise some more standard flight maneuvers and practice takeoff and landing¡ªapparently the most hazardous maneuvers.  After all of that time, Zia finally tires and spends the last of her energy shifting into an Elf for the rest of my stay. Her shift reinforces how much I adore her, willing to shift into a form she doesn¡¯t love so she can be intimate with me.

    I spend the remaining time before dinner feeding her aether and making out with my girlfriend. Since she¡¯s been so good, and so understanding, I give her permission to wander with her hands and she does the same. I shamelessly hook an arm around her body, sneaking a hand around her waist to grab her butt. She rolls half on top of me and lazily massages my breast while we kiss.

    At some point, her hand stills, merely resting on my boob, and as my arousal dies down to weighted comfort, I drift off to sleep under the Astorian sky.

 A3: Chapter 10

    ¡°Was I too rough? Is that why¡¯re you¡¯re so quiet.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, honey. I came so hard I fell asleep. I literally asked you to be rough with me. What¡¯s bringing this doubt on?¡±

    I can¡¯t have sex without guilt? I went in thinking I owed it to you and then completely forgot and just growled and bit and scratched my way to an orgasm? I don¡¯t know Zia. What possible reason could I have?!

    ¡°I just feel that I took, and took, and didn¡¯t offer much back.¡± Zia grabs my face and pulls my chin up towards her.

    Staring into my eyes with her fierce green and yellow irises she lets me stew in her stare. ¡°Honey, you need to let go of what you felt with other partners. I am vocal and I will tell you what I need. I told you what I needed and you delivered. Getting what you want too is just part of how this is supposed to work, Kimber. You don¡¯t need to feel guilty for having needs.¡±

    I curl up in shame and try to burrow into the mattress. She did notice.

    ¡°If you need more after care, I can work on staying awake to care for you if that¡¯s what you need.¡± She slowly pulls me on top of her, enveloping me in an all-consuming hug.

    ¡°Can you run your fingers through my hair until I fall asleep?¡±

    She smiles sweetly at me, before doing as I ask. I nuzzle my head into her chest and tuck my hands into her waistband before dozing off into oblivion.

    ***

    Ten days seems so fast when looking at it from the end. I look into those entrancing eyes and glance at those supple pink lips and know I¡¯m going to miss them. Zia and I spend maybe ten minutes alternating between staring at each other and kissing before someone shouts behind us.

    ¡°For fucks sake, kids. You have comms that traverse the three thousand plus lightyears you¡¯ll be apart, and it¡¯s a single gateway away. If you two don¡¯t cut this shit out, I¡¯ll give Kimber a series of quests to finish before she can see you again!¡±

    My brow furrows in disbelief. I turn to Zia, ¡°Could she do that?¡±

    My girl nods, ¡°Can and will. She¡¯d somehow figure out how to make it take three weeks longer than whatever plans you have and make it just a little worse.¡± She turns me and shoves me forward with a pat that cupped my butt. I shoot a scandalous look at Zia who just waggles her eyebrows at me.

    ¡°Smart decision.¡± Penny says before grabbing my hand and sending us through the vomit inducing space between for a moment before we re-appear at my Hospital.

    Penny seems fine when we arrive, but I puke, as I apparently do. Luckily the Empress speaks to fill the air.

    ¡°Kimber, I appreciate that you and my daughter are happy, but you can¡¯t get consumed by it. You¡¯ll lose a part of yourself in the adjustment and again if you suffocate her.¡± She sighs, injects meds into my neck and props me up against the half-wall.

    ¡°I just see how fast you two are going and it reminds me of my first wife. I¡¯m still a bit in love with that bitch, but she and I were toxic levels of infatuation with each other. Don¡¯t make each other everything.¡±

    ¡°I respect you Penny, but why tell me instead of your daughter?¡±

    She snorts at that, ¡°She¡¯s too much like me and has a hefty helping of defiance in her. You have more self awareness than I did at your age, so I¡¯m giving this burden to you.¡±

    I hear the sincerity, but it¡¯s hard to believe that someone so powerful would admit to having flaws. Whether it¡¯s true or not, I know Zia compares herself to a goddess amongst humans.

    ¡°Just, just know that she loves you Penny, and you make her feel inadequate with all of the things you excel at.¡±

    The Pixie laughs at my analysis before reigning it in. ¡°That¡¯s the thing, Kimber, she doesn¡¯t realize that the task of catching up to me is improbable. I am for all intents, immortal. I will progress until I tire of it and Zia is bound by being an ordinary symbiote user. You and I don¡¯t have those boundaries as Ordinal Beings. My advice to you is to keep advancing, but never outpace your perception of yourself. Once you lose confidence in your ability to dominate, you will stagger, and you may fall.¡±

    I stare at the most powerful person in the Human sphere and try not to let my jaw drop. ¡°I¡¯ll try, Your Eminence, may your reign be eternal.¡±

    ¡°You little shit.¡± She reaches for me and I dance away with a giggle. She cheats with a teleport and tickles me into oblivion.

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty cool, Penny. I¡¯ll send you, or the head of Astoria Chem a visa request when those Venezuelans come in. Do you need me to find factory staff too?¡±

    She shakes her head. ¡°I need you to provide a lead chemist, and preferably a plant manager.¡±

    ¡°Copy that partner.¡± That gets a laugh out of the Pixie.

    ¡°Okay, partner. Remember you owe me some explosive recipes.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I don¡¯t have the process diagramed. I¡¯ll have it to you in a few days. Might be faster if I get a Shuttle recommendation from an expert.¡± I grin at the VIP that teleported me to my lobby.

    ¡°Now there¡¯s a proper negotiation.¡± She smiles her shark grin at me and Tova confirms she sent me a list.

    ¡°Is this the mysterious arms dealer you¡¯ve been keeping from me?¡± My Sapphic assassin mentor says as she traverses the lobby from the elevators. ¡°Kimber has talked a lot about you.¡±

    Penny scans her from head to toe, then back again. ¡°You have the energy of my ex.¡± She turns back to me, ¡°Stay in touch, partner.¡± She disappears into nothing but air.

    ¡°Oh damn, Marci, that was not a compliment.¡±

    ¡°Ya think? Squirt.¡± She rushes and picks me up in a hug, and very creepily smells my hair? ¡°Sorry, you disappeared and I couldn¡¯t quite trust the messages.¡±

    ¡°I missed you too, and I¡¯m sorry I disappeared, but as you can see, my business partner can teleport.¡± I shrug and she¡¯s still holding me off the ground. How strong is my adoptive sister? ¡°I tiered up and got a girlfriend!¡±

    She snorts at that and sets me down. ¡°Heard about the tier up from Dani. Things are kind of all over the place and it¡¯s been hard to keep my shit together after you disappearing. I know, I know. You messaged me. But Paolo was not appeased and Bev is flipping out about the Venezuela missions.¡±

    ¡°Did you at least get your debts deferred?¡±

    She sighs and tugs at her lapels to ¡®straighten¡¯ them. ¡°Yeah. The LA gangs are off our back. A Reno crew and a Sacramento crew are still on our asses, but appeased for the moment.¡±

    ¡°Okay, well I won¡¯t fix those, but I can help with your settlement efforts up north if you¡¯re still trying. I also have a new venture off-planet if you have capable people that need to disappear for a while.¡±

    Marcella grabs my face suddenly, studies my face and stares into my eyes for a whole minute before letting go. ¡°You¡¯re saying some off-the wall stuff for someone who didn¡¯t have a plan ten days ago.¡±

    ¡°An Astorian Chem company wanted in on my company Nova Chem. Built me a factory for a stake in my operation, and I agreed for some upfront cash and a rescue operation of some . . . people with first hand experience with the process.¡±

    My mentor sneers, blanks her face, then laughs hysterically. Is she drugged?

    ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± she waves, ¡°it¡¯s just you¡¯ve addressed two of my problems by just being you. Any chance you¡¯d be willing to give Hailey a job off-planet.¡±

    ¡°Not even a little. She can prove herself here before I offer her a job with less oversight.¡±

    Marcella nods, ¡°Bev has been bugging me, but you¡¯ve got most of the opportunities right now. Side note, I would love to show you my ideas in Fallon, but that¡¯s after I find a way to stabilize this Warram garbage. I¡¯m not a real executive, Kimber. Managing masses of people and resources is not me.¡±

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°Heh, it wasn¡¯t me until last week. Nova Chem is now an inter-system company. I¡¯m a Citizen and Camp Elsewhere will shortly be an Imperial allied settlement. Speaking of, I have settlement stuff to do before I find other uses for this money.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, when you said you¡¯d help me setup a settlement, is there any chance you would run it?¡±

    I tap my face in thought. There is one way, but would she be into it? ¡°Sure. But it would be under an overarching alliance of settlements. I¡¯m not stopping here, Marci. You¡¯d have to find someone that would be willing to administrate or manage the settlement itself.¡±

    The relief in her face is almost comical. ¡°That I can do. The Health Club has a few people that are interested, and they would be thrilled to make the club a whole settlement up north.¡±

    ¡°Alright. We need at least one business, and a professional at least at Intermediate level.¡± I sigh, there¡¯s so much to do right now. ¡°Was there anything else? I should talk to Paolo and whomever the recruitment goon at Warram is.¡±

    ¡°The next batch is a little over a month away, I¡¯ll let them know you¡¯ll be looking, but it¡¯s not tomorrow.¡±

    We devolve into the business of meetings and logistics, topics which I am begrudgingly getting better at. Maybe I need an assistant, as Tova has clearly protested the position in an effort to be a collaborative partner¡ªwhich she has been doing well at.

    Speaking of whom, Tova reminds me of my desire to separate HQ and the factory and ancillary residences via a different utility. I buy another community utility with full services, including recycling of waste, to connect to our security services and HQ. Tova manages the re-routing of services in such a close space, while also planning for our fortress complex.

    I order the first wave of the fortress, ensuring that the green space is added to the plans for first build. I don¡¯t care how bad it¡¯ll get messed up in future builds, I want it to be available. The watchtower plans also go through and the builder asks if we want standard, modular delivery, or full translocation services. I sign the contract for translocation services for the buildings of the watchtowers to be built and then placed via sector host.

    ¡°Tova, why am I spending this much on a Vegas settlement when I could put this anywhere?¡±

    Nostalgia, duty, and autonomy I¡¯d think. Imperial incorporation comes with additional rules. Not many, but Earth is essentially a lawless zone. You can establish your sense of Law and Order here, and then apply it to your class once you get to the next step after ¡®self empowerment¡¯.

    Gods, thanks for the reminder. With Imperial buy in to my company, getting a girlfriend, and worrying about Marcella, I push my goal of being a sheriff-like person into the corner. Maybe I should reach out to the Sheriff¡¯s office and let them know I¡¯m interested in being a deputy. I look up the office contact, based out of Reno of course, and send off a note that I have a justice-based track and have some experience with it in Vegas.

    Satisfied that I actually did something about it this time, I say goodbye to my mentor and walk toward the Laundromat. Though the walk is short, I see that Tova¡¯s deconstruction drones are using the mining equipment we purchased to clear unusable or unwanted buildings. Tova assures me that the recovered materials can be fed to my new fancy fabricator to make some fun things. Now that I think of it, I¡¯m a little cross I didn¡¯t start any projects.

    When we get to the laundromat, I can tell something¡¯s off. The loading door in the back is pried up in a spot and there are no guards outside of the building. Tova, can you connect me to the security system we installed?

    Most of the Cameras are shot out, but the authentication system on your production run can see infra-red and high contrast black and white.

    I see a side-by-side display of the two and the blown-out figures coupled with the heat signatures tell me there are entirely too many kids in my manufacturing plant. I search the exchange for the self-adjusting combat suits that one could order if I didn¡¯t want to pay for a custom fit and buy one immediately. I pay the transfer fee and put that bastard on. It comes with a shield emitting headband and slots in the belt and back to insert battery connections for the suit¡¯s aux functions. I fill them with crystals and ensure that I have an aetheric shield to cover the ballistic material. My pistols snap to magnetic holders on my thighs and I¡¯m ready to go.

    I enter the building and a dozen teens with guns turn to point their guns at me. I see one of my security staff holding a wound, Paolo looks like he¡¯s been beaten up, and Bev¡¯s been tied to a support pillar with murder in her eyes.

    ¡°Kimber finally returns.¡± A boy I haven¡¯t seen in at least a year comes forward.

    I¡¯ve seen some of his kids and teens, they clean the manufacturing area, but never him. He looks as smug and confident as I remember his face. Couldn¡¯t tell you his name though.

    ¡°It looks like you¡¯re having a party without me, Billy. Doesn¡¯t look you¡¯re being very nice with the guests, though.¡±

    ¡°What the hell are you talking about. They¡¯re hostages. And my name¡¯s not Billy, its . . .¡±

    ¡°What the fuck do you want Billy?¡± I interrupt him.

    ¡°MY NAME IS JUAQUINE!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re name¡¯s going to be meat if you don¡¯t cut to the chase.¡± Tova, why aren¡¯t my turrets on?

    It seems that as settlement members, they are not immediately flagged as hostile. Should I flag all of the current trespassers as hostile?

    Please do. Wait to activate.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t taken very good care of us, Kimber. And we can only take so much destitution and hunger before we have to act.¡±

    ¡°How are you fucking hungry? I gave every resident of this settlement a daily ration allowance. Three fucking rations a day. What the hell have you been doing with that food? Not only that, your ten kids that clean my place get two credits a piece per week. Now, if they¡¯re not seeing the money, I get that, as you insisted it be paid to you, but they should be able to access their rations . . . unless you didn¡¯t tell them about it.¡±

    He smiles and chuckles, ¡°Look at the lies she spins to try and gain control. Are we going to accept these lies?¡± no one answers. ¡°No we are not.¡±

    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll entertain this lunacy for a moment. So, you say I am responsible for taking care of your kids, and now you. If that is the case, what would you like the care to look like?¡± Take the bait you arrogant asshole. Admit that you expect me to take care of you and your kids, to do the job you swore to do as a part of the Cooperative.

    ¡°We want a weekly stipend. All of us, not just the ten that work here. You will arrange training for the work that the initialization-age residents desire, and you will unlock the Exchange console for more than food.¡±

    ¡°I accept the responsibility, but not your demands.¡± A golden scroll drops into my hand and my lips curl into a wicked smile. I test a few settlement menu items and it allows me to downgrade ¡®Billy¡¯s access to the same as the rest of his kids. Fantastic. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could modify the exchange permissions in your building. Rest assured that error has been fixed.¡±

    ¡°As for your other, requests. I will pay anyone that wants to work and I will train them in that work that they do for me. They can use the funds they earn to pay for instruction in a trade of their choice. Not all trades are available at the moment, but I am working on it.

    ¡°Lastly, if you want an unrestricted kiosk, there are several in the city, I can tell you where they are. You are currently showing me that you are not responsible enough for easier access to weapons and technology.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not fucking around, Kimber. You will succumb to my demands.¡± He stares at me intently with a dual tone to his words.

    I feel a spectral hand worm its way around my skull, searching for access to my brain. The Empress should come down hard on this mind-fuckery business. Billy¡¯s no match for Vasily, however, and I shot that fuck while he was trying to dominate my mind.

    I growl at him, ¡°Cut that shit out. Your mind bullshit is no good here.¡±

    ¡°Do as I command!¡± He shouts, and blood starts seeping into the whites of his eyes.

    A stab of pain near my motor cortex almost makes me drop to my knees. It takes no effort at all to take offense at the foreign presence under my skin and my hand snaps up, pistol in hand and pull the trigger on the way up. If he¡¯s lucky, it¡¯s my .38 that I pulled. I order a pain relieving pen and summon a stim chew from Zia¡¯s ring. My heart rate slows from [Mechanical Calm], even though the chew isn¡¯t a caramel, they still taste good. As my headache clears, I realize I¡¯m on my back, bullet fragments surrounding me and my suit¡¯s energy down fifteen percent. I sit up with both pistols in my hands.

    ¡°You have one last chance to drop your weapons before I tell the turrets to target all intruders. Even the ones without guns.¡± All but the closest teen with a gun drop their weapons. I put a bullet in his head as I stand. ¡°Alright. Thanks for not making that messier. Now all of you please, go back to your building, visit the kiosk and withdraw your rations, and you should have access to up to three days of back rations. Tomorrow, we can speak about jobs, training, and other community things.¡±

    None of them move. Most of them are looking at the two teens I killed instead of moving.

    I touch each of their bodies and send them to storage. ¡°Okay, now, I¡¯m still very angry that you shot and roughed up my staff. You don¡¯t have to go home, but you can¡¯t stay here.¡± Almost on cue, the turrets descend and start whirring up to speed. Little shits scurry through the doors as fast as the traffic jam will let them.

    Good timing Tova. She chuckles in my head.

    I cut Bev loose and jam a few t-1 meds into the fallen guard¡¯s neck in hopes he¡¯s not too gone to recover. Bev won¡¯t let me close to Paolo at all, so I slam a can of rejuvenation paste into her hand and scream in her stupid face.

    I chat up the other guard, okay, in my mood it¡¯s mostly an interrogation; and find out the kids got the drop on him and took his gun from him. I explained to him that I can hear and see lies and ask if he wants to revise his statement. He stutters and shakes his head. I tell him to find a different job.

    ¡°Did you have to be so hard on the guy?¡± Bev opens her mouth without thinking.

    ¡°Bev, the man just lied to my face about how he was surprised and made weaponless.¡±

    ¡°He just saw you execute two kids.¡±

    ¡°One, fuck you. One was trying to mind rape me and the other already shot me. And two, if the guy I pay to perpetrate violence on intruders because I make an assload of drugs can¡¯t handle seeing a few gunshot victims, then he doesn¡¯t belong here anyway.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, this isn¡¯t the way to . . .¡±

    ¡°Bev! I swear by the Empress¡¯ pregnancy cankles,¡±

    \My fucking what?!\ Penny intrudes.

    ¡°That if you try to instruct me right now, we¡¯re going to have a different conversation than either of us intended. Tend to Paolo, do some life affirming activities, and get some sleep. We can talk tomorrow when things calm down a little.¡±

    /Just a harmless swear, Penny./

    \Harmless? I invite you into my home, and introduce you to my daughter, and you thank me with slander?!\

    /Jeeze, you¡¯re super hot, okay? Though sexy panther lady would probably still sex you if you had cankles/ I can¡¯t help but snicker.

    \I¡¯m putting a skunk¡¯s ass gland in your lab for that. Brat.\

    I am tempted to give a snarky response, but it would take her zero time to do it.

    /You¡¯re a lovely person, and a good mother, and I¡¯m sorry I insinuated you have cankles./

    \Better. Zia misses you already.\

    /Same./

 A3: Chapter 11

    My girlfriend is amazing and came through for me in a big way. She convinced her Mom to let me buy a decommissioned surface to space shuttle that was one of a dozen that had been cleared to be turned into civilian leisure craft. Fortune further smiled on me in that the craft was at Ganymede Shipyard and was scheduled to be delivered within a twelve-hour window. Good fortune ended up costing me 23k credits, but Zia said that it was the shuttle she drove, so it was safe, reliable, and mod-able. Marcella immediately asked to hitch a ride with some Health Club members once she heard I bought it.

    I get a ping on my Settlement ¡®radar¡¯ and it shows a slow-moving aircraft heading for headquarters. I immediately rush for the fourth floor and the helo deck to appreciate my new ride as it arrives.

    The vehicle looks like a door stop with an irregular hexagonal cross section: a soft angle trapezoid on top, and a thinner, sharp angle trapezoid on bottom. Two thin fins extend down from the upper trapezoid walls and end with tapered diamond-shaped thrusters. There seems to be another thruster mounted on a boxy shape above the rear hatch, and as the craft slows for landing, the three thrusters mounted within the lower trapezoid come to life.

    This thing was definitely designed by an Earther.

    The vessel slowly spins, to land with the rear hatch facing me. As the shuttle lands on the fins, the rear hatch opens and a ramp descends. I jog up the ramp and past the hatch to see a small cargo hold.

    ¡°User, please link with console to accept delivery of the vehicle.¡± I turn around looking for a console and a blinking light indicates a hidden console? Tova, can¡¯t you just handshake with this thing?

    It is disabled until after ownership has changed to you. Push in the panel and slide it to the side.

    I do as Tova suggests and a screen with a biometric scanner is revealed. I place my hand on the scanner as the screen suggests and a light scans it. I jerk my hand back as something stabs my ring finger. I¡¯m about to start cursing when the message on the screen changes.

    //Aetheric Signature matches User Kimber Novarro. Delivery confirmed.  Would you like to register this location for Auto-return?

    Why yes, I would.

    After I establish the ownership profile for the shuttle, Tova gets full access to its systems and a giddy excitement floods from her into my mind before she thinks to throttle our connection. Don¡¯t worry about it Tova, I like that you¡¯re excited. It¡¯s nice to feel that you enjoy something.

    This craft is installed with a proto-intelligence matrix. It could host me in my entirety or become imprinted with another AI that can exist autonomously. This is not just a standard decommissioned shuttle, Kimber.

    Seems I have some people to thank. I tell Zia that my shuttle just arrived and that I absolutely love it. She tries to play the gesture off as nothing, but I can tell she didn¡¯t like asking her mother for a favor.

    Even though Penny never interacted with me on this transaction, I know she had her hands all over it.

    /Thanks for helping me connect with Ganymede Shipyard, Penny. This shuttle is beyond my expectations./

    \I was about to toss it into Solastra, I hate that damn shuttle. It¡¯s better that you have it though, and before you ask, the 20k was to replace components that were irrevocably tainted and the Andromeda damned transfer fee. You owe me drinks the next time I see you.\

    /Shit, with how nice this thing is, I will brew you a drink for the next time we meet./

    \Deal!\ A golden scroll drops into my hand and I curse that Pixie asshole.

    /Fucking Pixie bullshit/ I feel an echo of laughter in my mind coming from her connection. What an absolute turd. Hilarious and inconvenient. There is definitely a backstory to my new ride.

    Tova, your mission, should you choose to accept it.

    I do.

    I didn¡¯t even finish the request.

    If it has anything to do with the shuttle, I accept.

    Oh my, you¡¯re in love with the hardware. Good for you Tova. And yes, I want you to scope out the quirks and non-standard ¡®easter eggs¡¯ that came with our purchase. She chirps her agreement.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    I smile as I leave the craft, feeling truly independent with long-distance travel options. Granted, with my bike and a storage ring, I could be in Reno in six or seven hours. With Tova¡¯s new girlfriend, it¡¯ll be max two hours, maybe 40 minutes if I don¡¯t care who I piss off. Then again, flying over a portion of Nevada that has a history of being mostly empty.

    I go to my condo? Suite? Doesn¡¯t matter. I head back home to pack for a few days and stuff some materials for rune practice. I also buy a fillable fountain pen and some low-bleed paper. My ¡®leaving town¡¯ checklist also reminds me to send a list to my chemistry students and marching orders for the Warram crew that¡¯s helping me clear the settlement and identify the assets I have.

    I take the elevator down to Marci and Danielle¡¯s place and knock on the door. Marci opens up, today¡¯s lounge attire being a basketball tank and some poofy capris, checking behind me for a second before inviting me in. I spy the Doc sitting on the porch in a beach lounger in a bikini top and some sort of floral bottom wrap. I could see either of them going out looking like this, if I didn¡¯t know them better.

    ¡°The delivery go okay?¡± my mentor asks.

    ¡°Went great. Tova wanted some alone time with the pretty new machine, and I wanted to review my checklists. One of them is talking to you. You want to leave tonight, or ass early in the morning?¡±

    ¡°How early is that to you?¡± She asks with an eyebrow query.

    ¡°Four-ish.¡±

    ¡°Fuck that noise. I¡¯ll call the team, they should be ready by eleven.¡± Her eyes shift focus into her menus while I ponder what they could possibly be doing that would take five hours of prep. Not that I mind. I didn¡¯t plan anything for this evening because I was far too nervous about the timeframes involved.

    I did some research on Sheriff Benson Winchester. Not only is the man the proud owner of the sturdiest name I¡¯ve ever heard, he lives the lifestyle of an Old West Sheriff. He rises before dawn, drinks his coffee thick and black, carries a modern pistol and a backup six shooter. The sun rises around five thirty tomorrow in Reno, so I¡¯ll be there at five. Think that weirds me out, is that the Sheriff¡¯s office is in the main City Center government complex, instead of being some centralized territory thing. The Colorado Springs metroplex is the other large city in the territory, but governance concerns on the far side of the Rockies are different than politics on this side despite being part of the same Territory.

    Also in my looking things up in settlement interfaces and Nevahrado public records, I found that Wymonto and Nevahrado are banded together in the Old West Alliance. I would have thought that the Dakotas would group with Kansas and Nebraska, but the Dakotas went tribal, leaving the two plains states to be loosely managed by OWA. Washington, Oregon, and Northern California also have a group, but they try very hard to be separate and self-sufficient.

    There¡¯s no way to anticipate what Winchester is going to ask me about and there¡¯s a small chance that he¡¯s just asking me up there to mess with me. He doesn''t seem like that kind of man, at the same time, however, he didn¡¯t seem too thrilled to be talking to me. I was surprised that the Sheriff called me instead of a local deputy, can¡¯t wait to see what that¡¯s all about. Ugh, I want to like people sometimes, but most seem disappointing after learning more about them.

    In an attempt to shake some of the nerves from my mind, I start practicing runes and my general artistic ability. If it weren¡¯t for my dexterity, this would look like a toddler with finger paints. Instead, it looks what I imagine would be the result of using unsharpened colored pencils on a rollercoaster.

    ¡°Does the figure have to be drawn in a continuous stroke?¡± A voice over my shoulder questions.

    I look back to see Danielle leaning over the back of the couch at my ¡®work¡¯. I blush heavily at the proximity of her chest with my face and turn back to my ¡®art¡¯ before she catches me staring.

    ¡°Not that I know? It would be silly to expect someone to chisel stone in a continuous stroke.¡±

    ¡°That does seem silly, so maybe think about forming the shape with discrete strokes? Steps or instructions you can follow instead of trying to do the whole thing in one go?¡±

    It says something about my artistic ability and how far out of my comfort zone this is, that I couldn¡¯t think of something as simple as breaking the problem down. This would be so much easier if I was using a knife. Wait . . . is there anything keeping me from using a knife? I dip a throwing knife tip in ink and try it again with noticeable improvement. Is this just a difference in my skill with blades versus my skill in art or Runes? Yeah, beginner 5 versus advanced 1 is a huge gap in ¡®tool¡¯ control. Does the tip of a fountain pen count as a blade? I take out the one I bought, ensure the ink is being fed to the bifurcated blade, and try the rune again. Survey says yes, I can consider it a blade! I do a little dance in my seat, and I hear a musical giggle behind me.

    ¡°Good work Kimber.¡±

    The praise floods dopamine into my brain and all is right in the moment. Then Marcella ruins it.

    ¡°You going to be okay seeing Hailey again? I want her on the team coming with me.¡±

    I sigh, ¡°Did she have the stick removed from her ass? Maybe now that I¡¯m not occupying all of your attention, she¡¯ll stop acting like a jealous ex.¡±

    ¡°Really? Kimber, it¡¯s been months.¡±

    That is not the supportive sister I wanted to hear. ¡°Sure, but I got shot again recently by people that were supposed to be allies, so I guess the vibe is a little fresh.¡±

    Marcella¡¯s features darken and the room gets a degree or two colder.

    ¡°Chill, sis. I was wearing combat armor at the time. Just a few bruises that have already healed.¡±

    She sighs and slumps next to me, flopping her head in my lap. ¡°I forget sometimes that you¡¯re becoming this awesome, independent human and not the orphan that I thought I could help.¡±

    The praise fuzzies are back! I briefly entertain the idea of drawing on her forehead, then decide to pull out her ponytail and mess with her hair. ¡°Love you too, goober. You gonna tell me what mission I¡¯m playing taxi driver for?¡±

    ¡°Settlement stuff. I¡¯m hoping you can help when you¡¯re finished at the sheriff¡¯s office.¡± I nod while continuing to marvel at the silky mass of hair in my lap. I shift a little to set my head against the back pillows on the couch, my body convincing me that a nap is a good idea.

 A3: Chapter 12

    Tova grumbles at me as I insist on piloting my new craft north to what I hope is a job interview. I reassure her that she will get time in when Marci inevitably asks her for rides during our stay and that she can pilot during errands to her heart¡¯s content.

    The shuttle I drove on Astoria might as well have been a go cart compared to this vehicle. The power and responsiveness are intense, and I feel if I had an interface to plug into the ship, the responsiveness would be even more insane. Lost in thought, the box that appears in my HUD startles me.

    //Would you like to engage aerodynamic shield shaping?

    Uh, yes, absolutely. The shuttle responds by showing me a representation of our vessel and a round shield, then the image¡¯s shield snaps into a swept spade-like shape. The hull lurches as our speed surges to well over a thousand kph as the acceleration presses me into my chair. This is insane.

    We even out at 2212 kph, riding just under the bow wave of Mach 2, and I marvel at the device I was gifted and the soundproofing that was likely doing some work as the people in my cargo bay do not have such robust seating arrangements. Twenty minutes later, I start decelerating our approach into Reno airspace.

    ¡°Reno Air Traffic Control, this is Shuttle Novaria, request airspace clearance and itinerary approval.¡±

    ¡°Copy Novaria, review airspeed limits in the metro area and follow Eastward approach vectors into the City Center traffic plan.¡±

    ¡°Wilco, Traffic Control.¡± I submit our tentative schedule and within a few minutes of aligning for an Eastward approach, I receive instructions to park in the government visitor skyrise. Once we get into the City Center pattern, I get passed over to a local controller who sends me a form on visas, itinerary, and cargo declarations.

    I wonder briefly why I¡¯m getting such an international treatment when Tova reminds me the vessel is still registered as an Astorian VIP transport. I quickly re-register Novaria to Nova Chem as a utility transport vehicle and inform the local controller of my recent purchase.

    They send me two different forms, including a Nevahrado declaration of assets for businesses and an acknowledgement of the code of conduct expected while visiting City Center. The city police feature heavily in the code of conduct. Though my review of regional power structures touched on the city police, Reno is also home to the Territory Council, which the Sherrif¡¯s office serves directly under. Not that I plan on getting in trouble, but it¡¯s interesting to know that the Sheriff and Deputies are a higher authority than the police.

    As we dock, I release the lock on the cargo area and walk through the door to find some messy looking, upset members of Marcella¡¯s crew. Marci seems amused while strapped into a jump seat. She sees me and takes the harness off.

    ¡°This our drop point?¡± She asks.

    ¡°Nope, this is City Center. I figured that if I drop first, Tova can drive y¡¯all around today. She wants some piloting experience, and you all could probably use the lift and cargo capability.¡±

    Sister nods, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to ask, but if you¡¯re offering. It will be a big help. You going to be okay?¡±

    ¡°I have my bike in dimensional storage. It should be enough to get around if I¡¯m sent on errands.¡±

    Surprising me and a few of her crew, Marcella pulls me into a fierce hug and kisses me on the head. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you. Show them how amazing you are.¡±

    The flood of emotions hits me right in the eyes. ¡°No fair making me cry before an interview, jerk.¡± I whisper into her shoulder. She chuckles before stepping back and mussing my hair. UGH! What a butt-face!

    I have to take out my braid now. I grump on my way back to the cockpit, brushing out the shoulder-length hair that I was gifted with during my tier-up until the hair on top is back under control. Uncomfortable with my hair down and un-styled without a hat on, I summon a grey cowboy number that matches my slacks and vest. I check the cuffed ends of my shirt, see if my shoes are appropriately boot-ish, then open the hatch in the cockpit to debark.

    ¡°Take care of her Tova.¡± She beams with excitement and duty in my mind.

    Dawn can be seen behind the hills to the east as the elevator opens at street level. Foot and vehicle traffic are almost non-existent, but a secretary here, and a paralegal there can be seen holding a travel mug while deep in menus on their way to work. I open my waypoint program and input the Sheriff¡¯s office as my destination.

    The building my waypoints say to enter does not look like a place to detain criminals and or try them for their crimes. This place looks like a touch-point for civilians to wave at important people, and for politicians to glad hand constituents and kiss babies. It feels fake as hell.

    I walk toward the back of the building, as much of a back office where they hide bodies or the dirty deeds of the elite. This makes more sense for the Sheriff¡¯s office, the shady part of a civics building. At five after five, I knock on the door that reads ¡°Nevahrado Sheriff: Benson Winchester.¡± Several heavy boot falls tell me the man is in, and when the door opens I have to look up to meet the man¡¯s eyes. He looks me over, makes a motion to check his watch and grunts.

    Winchester steps aside, a clear signal for me to enter. I step in and make enough space for him to close the door he¡¯s holding. He walks back to his desk and points at a chair on the other side of the desk. Before I sit, I thank the man for agreeing to see me.

    ¡°As far as first impressions go, you¡¯re doing alright. You looked me up, found out when I worked, but weren¡¯t so eager as to show up hours before dawn to wait for me. You¡¯re polite enough for business, but you¡¯re not looking to make friends. How long you had those boots.¡±

    ¡°Little over a day. I prefer a combat boot with more weight to them.¡±

    ¡°It shows. Enough about pretense and niceties. I called you here to screen you for a job.¡± That was an exchange of niceties to this man? Daang. I stay quiet until he continues. ¡°You¡¯re the only magic user that I¡¯ve heard of with a law enforcement Track. I¡¯m interested to see what kind of benefit magic might bring to the Territory instead of the destruction we see from those that seek that kind of power.¡±

    The Sheriff opens a drawer in his desk and pulls out an honest to goodness file folder that he opens and peruses. ¡°Vegas has usually been a self-patrolled area that Warram Enterprises has taken the reigns of. Since you¡¯ve upset the balance of the area, I¡¯m going to give you a chance to reign Vegas in, as well as some of the more lawless areas of southern Utah.¡±

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Sounds almost too good to be true, Sheriff. What¡¯s the catch?¡±

    He smiles for the first time, and it¡¯s SCARY. ¡°You fuck this up, I crucify you and magic stays out of law enforcement until I die.¡±

    Ahh, axe to grind. Gods damned it. I school my features and smile right back. ¡°Sounds like fun. When do I start?¡±

    He hands me a stack of papers lining out the hoops I have to jump through in order to get my tin star. I briefly skim the stack, then get up to leave.

    ¡°Leaving so soon?¡±

    ¡°Seemed like a dismissal. Haven¡¯t been handed a stack of paper and expected the process to be fast. Sorry if I¡¯m mistaken, sir.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve got range time and other assessments today. Just because I don¡¯t like magic, Novarro, doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t give you a fair shake.¡±

    I sit back down and take out my engraving pen. I spend a minute switching it out to regular ink and start working. I better get some kind of skill up for this paperwork.

    ***

    ¡°Novarro, that a thirty eight special?¡± The Sheriff asks.

    ¡°Yes and no. It¡¯s a .38 hypervelocity pistol. It is not safe for range use. Neither of my pistols are.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s alright. Cosgrove has a variety of weapons you can qualify on. Start with the special. Standard issue 9mm after that. What¡¯s your rifle of choice?¡±

    ¡°Most of my field work is with a Winchester 308 sniper. Recently switched to a fifty hypervelocity. Needs magic to use properly.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Cosgrove, you heard the lady. Throw in an M-16 E for good measure.¡±

    Ugh, I dislike that assault rifle. I dislike assault rifles in general, let¡¯s be fair. I¡¯m nowhere near as nervous as I was when I first qualified, but new ranges are strange.

    To my great fortune, it¡¯s not a moving qualification, pure target shooting. The action on the rifle is smooth and well-worn, responding beautifully to my finger flicks to load the next round into the chamber. I like this gun better than my own, but the benefit of mine is that it¡¯ll get here, to this beauty of movement, if I treat it right.

    Pistols are inherently less stable, so I predictably do worse, bit still good.

    The assault rifle drill is stupid and I hate the damned gun.

    ¡°291 on the rifle, 234 on the pistol, and a graceless 148 on the assault rifle.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we should give you a shotgun instead of an M-16.¡±

    I shrug. ¡°I can open doors with a shotgun, I can¡¯t even open an argument with that other thing.¡± I get the ghost of a smirk from the serious man. I may not have gotten the best first impression, but I think I¡¯m wearing on the leathery bastard.

    Cosgrove comes over and instructs me to draw my pistols a few times so he can get used to my fit. He seems surprised that I prefer an armpit mount to a thigh mount, but he accommodates me all the same. Straight up hands me a 308 Winchester, and now I have state issued gear.

    The Sheriff leads me to yet another room, has me read a stack of agreements. I have never tried to read the veracity of a document without having witnessed the agreement. This is a solid test. Everything seems muted, a haze of grey, or sepia covering the whole thing. Green and Red show up well enough, but the Oranges and Yellows, the parts where the System insinuates more information, is difficult to tell. I sort the pages and do my best.

    It takes me hours to get through the stack of contracts, and I¡¯m well into my third coffee before Winchester has someone check on me. I guess he¡¯s a clerk or an assistant as the man takes the papers, and my notes, away while leading me to yet another room. An interrogation room.

    Instead of a criminal to question, he brings in one of his Deputies, which I assume is to get both sides of the truth story from the one spinning tales to the one trying to unravel them. I get all the shades of truth this time, seeing a gamut of yellows, some profuse with red, others with a hint of green. I¡¯m going to nail this one. I convince Tova to take a break from canoodling with my shuttle to thought dictate for me, obviously taking out the swearing and the mental mincing, but Tova seems in a mood with me right now, so who knows what she¡¯s actually writing.

    My final test before lunch seems to be my contract skill.

    ¡°So you¡¯re saying, if I do this one last thing, manifest a contract, You¡¯ll get me a Deputy badge.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m saying that this is the last test I have for you, whether you get the badge or not is based on your performance today.¡±

    Little bit of yellow in that statement, curious. ¡°All right, who and what is the contract for?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s for you. Do you, Kimber Navarro, swear to uphold the law of Nevahrado as the Territory government as it is proscribed to you by me?¡±

    ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t interfere with Imperial Law, yes.¡±

    ¡°No, no. None of that. That¡¯s not what I said.

    ¡°Are slavery and sexual assault legal in the Territory?¡±

    ¡°Slavery is not explicitly illegal in unincorporated Territory land. Is that going to be a problem?¡±

    I quirk my head at the man. ¡°Well, yes, it is, Sheriff. If you tell me to overlook certain matters of slavery for a politician¡¯s pride, I¡¯d have some sharp, unprofessional words for you.¡±

    ¡°You accuse me of pandering to politicians!?¡± He gets large, angry and emits a prelude to violence. Ah, something he cares about more than the law. Disappointing.

    ¡°No, no. None of that. That¡¯s not what I said. I was merely bringing to light that if the differences of what I said, and what you said are merely academic, then what¡¯s the issue of throwing a nod at the Empire¡¯s laws?¡±

    He growls, ¡°You are walking a fine line. I¡¯m not sure if I want a lawyer in my department.¡±

    I snort at that. ¡°Are you a Citizen, Sheriff?¡±

    He quirks his head sideways, ¡°Yes. Most people that know about the benefits are.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a Citizen as well, Sheriff. As long as you get what that means, I¡¯ll sign your contract.¡± The man looks confused but hands me the papers. As soon as he sees me reading through the pages and initialing each page, his smirk grows.

    I pick up the stack and lean back into the chair to finish up the work. I of course edit the portions that would be illegal for a Citizen to fully execute, since handing me the contract was implicit agreement that he knew that a Citizen could not execute all portions of this contract as written. With a little bit of system bullshittery, I get a golden scroll as I finish the final date and signature on the document.

    ¡°You get a contract for signing a contract?¡±

    ¡°Yes sir. Backed and enforced by the System. It holds the powers that be responsible for the promises they made to me as well as the promises I made to them. It¡¯s alarming how often those offering a deal break it.¡±

    He growls again. ¡°Time for you to leave. One of my deputies will send you a location to report to tomorrow.¡± I put my hat back on and tip it at him. He appreciates the gesture by the nod he gives me, but he apparently also has a notification filter, or he would have chased me out of the office with his side arm. Heh.

    I don¡¯t love fleecing honest people, it feels dirty; and I would have said the same about the Sheriff until he balked about by Imperial clause, and went irate about the political pocket comment. I suspect that he is in someone¡¯s pocket and it chafes intolerably.

    Despite the fact that he shuts the door behind me, giving me nothing involved with the contract that I signed; the System is lovely and sends them to my mail storage, which I transfer to my girlfriend¡¯s ring.

    The first item I take out is the tin star. Winchester said I would get one after producing a contract¡ªwhich I did¡ªso the proof of said agreement is now sitting in my hand. The upper wreath says Deputy Sheriff. The bottom wreath says Southern Nevahrado. The middle says Sevitium populum, iustitiam, veritas.

    I smile as Tova translates the Latin. It¡¯s an Americanism of people, justice, and truth. It says nothing about being loyal or serving the government. This is an oath I can get behind.

    I pin the star to my vest and keep walking my way out of the building. While I walk, I peruse the limitations of a deputy sheriff, and I see a suped up version of a police officer that can operate outside of city limits. Fuck yeah.

    Tova alerts me to a ¡®police scanner¡¯ or the multi-jurisdiction response network, which could be interesting, but when I realize how few local issues are actually responded to, I kick out my bike briefcase and wait until it is ready to kick as much ass as I am.

    I wait after the first call I hear, until it turns into a ¡®possible¡¯ murder on 29<sup>th</sup>. Time to see what the city is like, Kimber baby. I tick some new priorities to Tova and ask if she¡¯s willing to support on some newly official crime-fighting. She responds with a cowboy enthusiasm call. Alright Reno, lets fight some fucking crime.

 A3: Chapter 13

    I try not to be discouraged at the response that my enthusiasm earns me. Hope is a devious and dangerous emotion, however, and I held it for the briefest moments when I got that tin star. Only to find that the Reno Police do not like the Sheriff¡¯s department, and had choice words for me after handing over a suspect for a call on the alert system. After three attempts to help, the Police had enough and asked their boss to call my boss.

    Sheriff Winchester sent the regional deputy to come talk to me.

    ¡°You Novarro?¡± A mid-height, lean man with salt and pepper hair asks as he approaches me sitting on the back of a bench in professional time-out.

    ¡°Kimber, Kimber Novarro. Sorry they called you to come out.¡± The man snorts.

    ¡°James Kincade,¡± he holds his hand out for a greeting, so I take it and pulse my grip as most people do in a handshake. ¡°This is my part of the territory you¡¯re causing trouble in. The boys in blue do not like us folks in tan and tin, and I bet the enthusiasm and being . . . wait, let me get the cop¡¯s words correct, ¡®a Perky pain in my ass¡¯, didn¡¯t help matters.¡±

    ¡°Bah, true enough, I suppose. I was excited to start helping people, but this is teaching me that throwing effort at something isn¡¯t necessarily helpful.¡± Kincade steps up on the bench and sits on the other side, keeping a respectable distance while we both look on at the crime scene across the street.

    ¡°Not always, but in this case, you lit a fire under Winchester¡¯s ass, and that is a good thing. With all lawmen and women, the process gets to us. Some of us find ways to deal, some force excitement when they can, some turn to the vigilante do-gooder type. The saddest result is where the good Sheriff was headed: Lifeless Automaton.

    ¡°That said, continuing to step on people¡¯s toes is not a good idea, so you¡¯re going to have to learn the dance.¡± Kincade pulls a small case out of his breast pocket, retrieving what looks suspiciously like a cigarette from it. He takes a brief puff, igniting an enchantment?! And then a much longer draw.

    ¡°Is that like a vape or something?¡±

    ¡°Aether cig. Some of us dip our toes in magic and need the boost from time to time. According to your file, you jumped in the damned lake. Not important at the moment. Since Winchester doesn¡¯t seem ready to fire you, I was thinking of bringing you up to speed. There¡¯s a handbook, of course, but that mostly covers regulations, not doing the job.¡±

    I look over to study the man. Seems earnest and genuine, no red flags that I¡¯ve heard, and he¡¯s got a sturdy presence, one that¡¯s not necessarily comforting, but an assurance that he can be relied upon.

    ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡±

    We walk over to his car, he offers to give me a lift, but I decline in favor of following him on my bike. I summon the suitcase, my armor jacket and helmet. Kincade is still standing, looking at me with disbelief.

    ¡°Keep staring at me like that, Deputy, and I¡¯ll get the wrong idea.¡± I say with no menace intended. He comically shakes his head to clear his thoughts.

    ¡°Not many people openly use items like that. Or can afford storage items with that much space.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s not the biker vibe then?¡±

    ¡°Definitely not. That thing hovering?¡± he asks as he slumps into the seat of his cruiser.

    ¡°Indeed. It can lift as high as three meters without much complication.¡±

    ¡°Range?¡±

    ¡°Three to five hundred kilometers depending on how I drive. I have a spare battery should I need it.¡± He whistles and shuts the door.

    He pulls out of the lot and I follow, trying to keep track of the layout of the city on our way out of town.

    A Deputy Kincade is trying to contact you.

    Thanks Tova, new co-worker.

    \Novarro, you need to register your vehicle if you don¡¯t want to get slapped with toll fees left and right. Since you have a ZEV, shouldn¡¯t be much issue. Also, we¡¯re headed about 50km out to Fallon for a response that got called in. Learning on the job today, rookie\

    I double click into his comms to confirm I heard him.

    The name of the town we¡¯re headed for seems suspect in my mind, as though I¡¯d heard it recently. This seems odd to me as the only research I did on the actual areas of the Reno metropolitan area was the basic layout and the areas of City Center around the Sheriff¡¯s office and the Truckee River. The only other people I talk to about this place are Marcella and Bev. The same Marcella that brought a team to prep some settlement stuff. I swear by the Empress¡¯ fiery vengeance that hey better not be involved in my first call with the Sheriff¡¯s department.

    I try to register my bike and find all the necessary paperwork, the department form for the Sheriff, yadda yadda. Seems as though it¡¯s going to be a few days while they check my employment and other . . . stuff? The response message was not very informative.

    I force myself to focus as our transit lane descends below river level and then rises several stories above ground as the speed of traffic accelerates to expressway speeds. Kincade starts to speed up, but I easily pace him on the magi-tech motorbike. He pops his lights and goes faster. I narrow my eyes at his antics, but connecting with my bike¡¯s interface, I have it adopt a law-enforcement lighting scheme with ¡®alert¡¯ as red and blue flashing, three flash bursts. As soon as I notice the lights I gun it to catch up.

    In less than half an hour, the deputy I¡¯m following pulls off the expressway and starts slowing down. We weave through the sprawl of a town that is more of a suburb than its own city, before slowing at a non-descript home, well past any warehouse or storage facility. Kincade stops his cruiser, so I pass and turn down the next street to park the bike. Sure I could take it with me as a suitcase, but it doesn¡¯t fold and unfold that quickly.

    I walk in front of his car and hop in the passenger door.

    ¡°Three houses back on the opposite side of the street. Looks like we got a cell operating from here selling tainted drugs. Led to a few deaths here in the city.¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Yeah, this is looking like less of a coincidence and more like a bunch of idiots are trying to get in on the drug game without knowing their product. ¡°Do they know the mechanism? Blood thinning, rupture? Organ failure?¡±

    ¡°Looks a lot like aether poisoning. The bad cases of OD are mutating.¡±

    Who would try making my drugs more magical? A normal dose should be fine to use, but if people are chasing it too far, then that¡¯s some serious trouble.

    ¡°We waiting for backup, or staking out?¡± I ask him as I study the house.

    ¡°You got full armor?¡± he asks, I nod. ¡°good, I was planning on launching gas through the windows, and shoot whomever comes out.¡± He pauses a moment before looking at me. ¡°You know how to use a canister launcher.¡±

    I snort, ¡°I modified one to shoot plasma dervishes. I immediately delisted the things when I saw what they could do.¡±

    ¡°The hell is a plasma dervish?¡±

    ¡°Canister that has three plasma jets that make it spin at extreme speeds, and a small thruster on each side that causes it to shoot into the air while shooting plasma in a two meter radius.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck? Why would you do that?¡±

    I shrug, ¡°Pure science is a bad idea. I¡¯m an alchemist that specializes in explosives. I can make a moldable substance that can fuse concrete, and a powder that¡¯s several times more explosive than gunpowder.¡±

    ¡°No wonder you have such fun toys, you¡¯re rich.¡±

    ¡°Eh, getting there. They¡¯re not my Track, so they¡¯re just hobbies that I do to level and pay the bills.¡±

    ¡°Sure, you got anything fun for the occasion that doesn¡¯t count as a war crime?¡±

    I tap my chin, I haven¡¯t tested them on a real building before, but why not. ¡°I¡¯ve got some gas canisters that also spew and aerosol explosive that acts as a compound thermobaric. A regular flashbang after the fact should ignite the aerosol.¡±

    ¡°Should? Navarro, maybes don¡¯t cut it.¡±

    ¡°Then put a fucking flair in there or something. The flash-bangs I make are more powerful than the mundane versions. So sue me for not thinking of the under-powered techies.¡±

    ¡°Them¡¯s fighting words, Kid. Do the canisters fit in 40mm MGL¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°Yep, got a bandolier too if you want to go nuts.¡± I see the gleam in his eyes, but he stuffs the glee down before responding.

    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take four dual gas and two super FB¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a ten credit order, buddy. The dual gasses are restricted items, and I need a license I don¡¯t have to make them.¡±

    ¡°How can you be this complicated?! You¡¯re fucking 18 and I feel like I need to sign an NDA to talk to you. I¡¯ll sign a discovery and use waiver, then we can talk about it after.¡±

    James Kincade has offered to pay 10cr for ¡®Munitions¡¯. I thought we stopped making these?

    We did, but I kept everything I made.

    I summon the canisters put them in the footwell and transfer my old m16 with m203 attachment. Kincade whistles.

    ¡°That, is an antique madam. Where¡¯d you get it?¡±

    ¡°I worked for Warram before the hostile takeover of their Crime division. They had loads they stole from a nearby National Guard stockpile. I was issued this one when I was working as a gunner for a crew near Barstow and Adelanto. Hit a few cars with rockets on that job. Good times.¡±

    I look over to my salt and pepper partner and see him gaping at my casual use of explosives? I really don¡¯t know, but I clap his jaw up just the same.

    ¡°Well shit. And here I thought you¡¯d be another green recruit. You just don¡¯t know the surface, non-combat stuff.¡± He slaps his cheeks and shakes out his face. I pull a pack of stim chews out of my pocket and hand him a stack. ¡°Hell yeah, I love these things. Thanks Novarro . . . handing me Nova Chem products. I¡¯m an idiot.¡±

    ¡°I was wondering, I even stenciled the company name on the grenades.¡± I can¡¯t help but laugh at him. He looks so flustered and very un-oldman right now.

    ¡°I will not fangirl over my teenage protegee¡¯s products. I was buying from the Vegas Health Club, does that mean I can shortcut the middle man?¡±

    ¡°Tell you what, James. Since I don¡¯t deal with private clients in general, I¡¯ll sign you up as the Sheriff¡¯s department liaison, and we can work together, while we work together?¡±

    ¡°Kimber, you got yourself a deal.¡± A golden scroll plops into my lap and I laugh in a roar.

    ¡°Yes we do!¡±

    As the sun starts dipping behind the finger mountains in the distance, Kincade falls back not work mode and starts donning his vest and a solid helmet with a filter and a re-breather. I should get a helmet that does that.

    Your head¡¯s shield is configurable to prevent foreign substances from leaking through.

    Nice, thanks for the heads up Tova.

    \Tell me when you get into position.\

    Double click.

    I slink over to the neighboring house, skim along their fence and pop thrusters on my boots to get a little extra on my jump to get over it. I land with a touch and roll, crouching as I dash behind their barbeque.

    /In position./

    \Go in 5\

    As the timer hits zero, I pump a grenade in through the kitchen window, and another canister into the office/guest room window before ducking back behind cover. I expect another countdown to prep me for the explosion, but the only warning I get is busting glass before the grill is pushed over on top of me. Fucking amateur.

    I push the damned thing off me and dash at the back door and kick it in. The door folds easier than any other door I¡¯ve kicked in, and my pistols are ready in my hands as I enter the building.

    /Stairs down in the kitchen. Throwing canisters in ten, unless otherwise ordered./

    I sit at the corner of staircase and kitchen door for a nervous ten seconds. I throw full gas grenades down the stairs, three just to be sure, and slam the door shut. I order some long ass nails and drive them into the frame through the door just incase someone is struggling with the gas, they can struggle with the door.

    /I nailed the basement shut, coming forward./

    I flick my helmet to an IR-visual spectrum split on my HUD to see where I should be careful. Three people are unconscious, bleeding from ears, nose and eyes. I inject a rejuvenation pod in each while I cuff them. One is moving, reaching for something. I shoot their extremity and they swear and his to roll over and aim at me. I slide over and get the fucker in a triangle choke before he can find his weapon. I put a heavy sedative in that one, with a rejuv. When I crawl over to the next person, I see that a round or three cracked the deputy¡¯s visor, and he¡¯s out from the knockout part of the gas. I drag his big dumb ass outside, pull his helmet all the way off, then heft him up and walk to the car to deposit him.

    What I should be doing is driving him home. What I am doing, is going back into the house to see if the sleepy bitches are Health Club members. On my way back to the basement, I make sure that the upstairs kids have bracelets. I pop the nails out of the door with the hammer I put them in with and put a nail back in to stick it open.

    Slinking down the stairs, I turn up my shields and make sure I have a replacement pack for the crystals in my girlfriend¡¯s ring¡ªnot dying to what I suspect is friendly fire. When I get to the bottom, I see more bodies. I check pulses and order more cuffs. I start going through the operation mechanically, checking, cuffing, until I round another corner and my conscious brain is on holiday while Tova and my peripheral reactions force my emotions to trigger and use my first instance of complex action of [Triggered Action].

    I roll and pull my pistols, firing in a return vector, as my assailant does the same in this soupy air. The problem is, the person opposite me is as fast as I am using my talent, or nearly so that it makes little difference. I fire another salvo, drop a grenade out of my inventory and kick it toward them as I strafe across the room, hoping to draw their vector off the grenade.

    I may have pulled them off the grenade vector, but that bastard has me dead to rights with that pistol. A shot in the arm, a shot in the chest and a ricochet off my helmet disarm me from my plasma pistol and stun me for a second as the helmet hit jostled my brains.

    The grenade pops and I hear a feral roar as a forearm length dagger looks to split me from chin to cerebrum. The explosion and the shrapnel throw the swipe off, splitting the composite of my faceplate in a clean cut until the tip nicks my forehead.

    I roll on the ground, blood from my face cut burning my right eye. I fire another salvo into my attacker¡¯s back, hoping to incapacitate them, cuff them, and medicate them before the gas makes me pass out. A shield flares on their armor, saving them from a plasma bolt, but the .38 follows a piece of shrapnel into their back, eliciting a cry of pain from my adversary.

    They kick off a wall and turn toward me, still shouting through the pain. They rip the remainder of my helmet off, before a knife halts against my ribs and another a half a millimeter from my uncovered eye.

    ¡°Kimber!? WHAT THE FUCK!?¡± A familiar voice shouts at me as I fade to black.

 A3: Chapter 14

    I wake up in my room. Four hundred miles away from where I thought I was going to die, I wake up¡ªmiracle one¡ªand two I wake up in my bed?

    ¡°Kimber, glad you¡¯re alive, we need to talk.¡± I roll over and peak at the voice, which belongs to a tired-looking Marcella and also an angry one.

    ¡°Can we talk over coffee and food?¡± She nods, stands up and leaves the room.

    Well, shit. Guess that means now. I order a rejuv ampule and stab myself. I order a pack of ground coffee and walk out to stuff it into my coffee maker. While it brews, I pull out eggs and ingredients for pancakes and make breakfast.

    ¡°Is this your apology, Kimber?¡± I look at her sideways as I jam a fluffy pancake in my maw.

    ¡°Apology for what? Raiding a house of drug dealers that have been hurting people? Or not murdering everyone in the building but you?¡±

    ¡°I was surprised that no one died, but not the point. You helped people raid us Kimber.¡±

    I scoff. ¡°Pfft, you kept me so far out of the loop I couldn¡¯t help defend you. If I¡¯d have known, I could have crafted something to say, as the Deputy in charge got himself gassed.¡±

    ¡°I almost killed you!!¡±

    ¡°Then clue me in fuckface!! I could have gone in HARD, but when I found out that some drug dealers were mutating people, I suspected some fucking idiots from Vegas were misusing my shit. So I went in soft.¡±

    ¡°You call that fucking soft? Half of my team needed tier 2 meds!¡±

    ¡°After the rejuv meds I gave them. So think about that, I went in, all polite like, and half your team almost died. Fuck, Marci! Why won¡¯t you let me into your plans!?¡±

    ¡°ENOUGH!!¡± A third voice shouts with some sort of command or aura attached. It tries to stick to me, but my resistance is easily a match for Danielle.

    ¡°Good timing, but fuck off with your commands. My sister is locking me out of shit, and it seems like it¡¯s for dumbass reasons.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s jealous of your success, Kimber. Can you give us all a break and spare us your tantrum?¡±

    This bitch. She may be hot as fuck, but no fucking way she talks to me like that in my building. ¡°Doctor, don¡¯t make this personal. I think maybe Marcella Fontaine forgot that she¡¯s my sister, and that I would do anything for her. She needs to un-forget that shit so I don¡¯t have to kill people that will ruin my fucking life to kill. I¡¯m not filling either of your orders until you fix whatever bullshit this is.¡±

    ¡°We have a contract.¡± Marcella protests.

    ¡°There¡¯s a buyout clause if you want to protest. I won¡¯t allow you to use my drugs to kill people just because you don¡¯t know better.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, wait.¡±

    I put my hand on the elevator door.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay?¡± There are so many things she just did, and if it were anyone else punching me in the heart like this, I would be running away.

    ¡°For what, Marcella? I feel like you betrayed me and a part of me would rather be dead that think that of you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing okay? I¡¯m supposed to be this big badass figure that terrorizes the entire southwest, but I need help from my sister because I can¡¯t run a business? What the fuck does that make me?¡±

    ¡°My idiot sister, obviously. My help doesn¡¯t have strings, asshole. You don¡¯t like running things? You don¡¯t have to. Let it die or agree to be someone else¡¯s boogeyman! Just don¡¯t put me in a position to fight your people because I don¡¯t know something.¡± I start crying because it about so much more than that. I thought my last moments were going to be one of the people I love the most betraying me.

    Marcella rushes up to wrap me in her arms and I pound my fists on her shoulders a few times before crying some more. ¡°I¡¯m never going to get that image out of my head, jerk.¡±

    ¡°You know, I was both shocked and stupid impressed that it was you who took down my whole team and put those fiery shards of wrath in my back. You¡¯re just barely eighteen, tier one, and you injured me. You¡¯re damned impressive, baby girl.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t praise me while I¡¯m crying sad! Not in the mood to cry glad!¡± In a completely opposite reaction, I jump up and koala hug her.

    ¡°You¡¯re both insane.¡± Daniella says before walking back to her room.

    ¡°Sooo,¡± I say awkwardly. ¡°Don¡¯t be a drug dealer, you¡¯re not good at it.¡±

    She swears at me and starts prying me off her. ¡°If you need settlement help, please ask in earnest. Whatever this was going to be seemed unsustainable.¡±

    She pinches and twists my ear, then I bite her arm. We swear a little more and call a temporary truce.

    ¡°Our community got listed as a criminal enterprise. What do we do?¡±

    ¡°You can still make that a business if you like. Or you can do a foothills thing just outside of the incorporated Reno area. I didn¡¯t have to build, but it works just as well. Are you out of cash?¡±

    ¡°I mean, I was never rich, rich. Between you, the Health Club and the Reno relocation, I¡¯ve got maybe ten grand left?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s not a ton. Enough to start a settlement, but just barely. If you have buildings already. I mean, if you want something substantial, you have two options: Borrow from me, or I start another settlement, we form an alliance and you run it for me.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t come up?¡± she asks as she starts fiddling with my hair.

    ¡°Marci, my Deputy district is southern Nevahrado and the borderlands of the Texas-Mexico conflict region. I have to stay.¡± When I say it like that, I sound important. It also makes me sound like I know what I¡¯m doing. That is some wild speculation, in my opinion.

    ¡°Yeah, shit. Kimber, I need help. I¡¯m not made for running stuff. I¡¯m okay with money, but I spent my brilliance on investing in you.¡±

    Shit, Marci. That was super, sniffle, emotional, sniffle, and empowering. Sniffle. I sob in her shoulder. After the scare, after the indignation, and after the exhausted pride of my adoptive sister, I feel the damned love and I can¡¯t absorb it fast enough.

    ¡°For a ruthless assassin, you make a really good person.¡±

    ¡°I was being nice, no need for insults.¡±

    I reach down to tickle her while in a monkey-hug and my Mentor-sister-friend squeals like a freaking mating possum before throwing me at the couch. I hit it hard, it flips over and the cushions hit me in the face. We both start laughing before it devolves into a cushion fight, and another wrestling match before she pins me with her lanky ass legs. I agree to order her a beer if she lets me up. We drink that beer sprawled out on the floor.

    ¡°I like this part of being sisters. I don¡¯t want to do the shooting and stabbing again, though.¡± I say, my shoulders across her legs and my head cocked, resting against the floor.

    ¡°Yeah, me too. Forgive me?¡±

    ¡°Just don¡¯t cut me out again, okay? How do we protect each other that way?¡±

    ¡°I can try, Kimber, but sharing secrets isn¡¯t natural for me.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t do trust or touching.¡± I start poking her face with my feet to prove a point.

    ¡°Jesus, you¡¯re practically feral.¡± She shoves my legs away and I giggle. I can¡¯t help it. I love this. We rarely get these moments, and I suddenly know I can¡¯t live without them.

    After a few moments and another beer, I break a hard topic. ¡°You and Danielle doing okay?¡±

    ¡°I guess. Chemistry, we¡¯re fine. But after we . . . upset the region, she wants to emigrate to Astoria.

    ¡°I just set up a plant on Asphodel, a moon in the Hades system. I need security and workers. It¡¯s also a tech-research hub. So if your girl want¡¯s to get on a ground-breaking study, that¡¯s the best place in the Empire.¡±

    ¡°You want me to run a satellite company for you?¡± Marcella asks.

    ¡°Hell no. I want Paolo and Bev to run it for me. I want you to be my regional security chief.¡±

    ¡°You want me, to work for you?¡± I look over to my mentor¡¯s disbelieving eyebrow and pull it down with my non-beer hand.

    ¡°Are you too good to work for credits? You do what you know, and I rely on people that want to run things, instead of people that feel forced to.¡±

    ¡°I hate you sometimes.¡±

    ¡°Nah, you love me.¡±

    ¡°I can do both.¡±

    ***

    A week later I get a notice that my bike and shuttle are both registered with the territory as Deputy Novarro¡¯s personal vehicles, which arrive with a note from Sheriff Winchester to not ¡®screw the pooch¡¯ with the southern Nevahrado border.¡¯

    Thanks boss. Real athletic supporter on that. I can¡¯t tell if he hates me or wants me to stick around.

    That can also be both things. Many people in your life have thought you are a pain in the ass that is good for the company, or other relevant relationship.

    I mean, that doesn¡¯t feel great. I get it kinda, though. Not really.

    I¡¯ll explain it better when you¡¯re not hurtling across the desert at a thousand kph.

    Hey, lady. I¡¯m behaving. Your bestie can go almost three and a half Mach in atmo. I want to be getting places in the time it takes to take a shower, not whatever lame speed this is. I say that, but after an exciting trip to the Springs to relay an important meeting to the sheriff there, I haven¡¯t recovered from the thrill. Maneuvering that fast is intoxicating and I¡¯m twitching to hug the ocean and fly as fast as possible.

    Much to Tova¡¯s dismay, I decided to install an AI on the shuttle instead of letting her inhabit it. The AI, whom Tova has decided to woo, has decided to go by Aria, and I fully support that.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Aria, any hits on the Americium traces on the border?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Kimber, two on the Texas border, and a few on the contested Territory, but the Texas warnings are the only ones that seem capable of concentrating Plutonium from diffuse Uranium fuel.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Aria, I don¡¯t know the depths of Nuclear Power, but I take that¡¯s bad?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a small chance they are researching a tier III reactor, but in the history of exploration of this power, approximately 62% end up trying to weaponizing radioactive material.¡±

    I don¡¯t know if she meant to make her voice appealing, but I occasionally want to have her teach me stuff just to listen. You have a girlfriend, Kimber, whom you love and she is crazy about you. Your shuttle is your basically your kid sister.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just save up the credits to get one of the reactor¡¯s I have?¡± Granted, five hundred credits for the base model of water and electricity for a family or two doesn¡¯t support much.

    ¡°On most Empire spheroids, yes. Here, the aether density is so low, that without the ability to reclaim energy through waste, augmenting power via crystals can become cost prohibitive.¡±

    You will have to start using significant amounts of aether crystals once the trash in your neighborhood is cleaned up. I¡¯ll keep an eye on it.

    Thanks Tova.

    ¡°Better go check it out then before bombing it into oblivion. See what we can find before calling in a team or something.¡±

    Aria chirps confirmation as Tova cues up data on the terrain and ingress routes and places to land. Tova has been trying extra hard since Aria came online, but I don¡¯t know if Aria feels the same as she does? I bought this drama, I suppose, I asked Zia about ship AI¡¯s and she told me they were almost always swimming in nascent AI¡¯s that needed identity to progress.

    Fuck I miss Zia. She got MAD when I didn¡¯t tell her about my real birthday. Like so mad that I had to get her aunt¡¯s contact from Penny just to be reassured that she likes me but I messed up.

    /Baby, are you sure I need to keep your visit secret? I really want to gush about you. Like, embarrassing amounts./

    \You could always visit sooner and we can talk about it.\

    That¡¯s a definite, for sure, come visit or I¡¯ll resent you kind of request. I open up my interface and book the portal for next month. /Booked a ticket on next month¡¯s opening. Two weeks and some paltry days!/

    She squees at a volume and frequency that I shouldn¡¯t have heard. It¡¯s empowering to know someone is that excited to kiss you. I would make out with her dragon at this point. I would rather tackle her and sex her until she can¡¯t remember her family, but that¡¯s a two person activity, and Zia gets a say in who she remembers.

    ¡°Alright, time to shake off the cobwebs and scope this place. Aria, do you have the ability to stealth optically?¡±

    ¡°For maybe an hour. My optical camouflage only works from above. Flying upside down is very aether intensive.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll leave the crystal pack in your engine bay. Drop me off 3km out and then do inverted data collection until you can¡¯t and retreat to a safe place.¡±

    ¡°Yes Commander.¡±

    ¡°Aria,¡± I say in a chastising tone.

    ¡°I understand Miss Novarro, but I was trained by Alaris, and not one of the Fey ships. I request, you bear with me.¡±

    How is an AI so freaking cute? No wonder Tova re-invigorated her crush on this ship.

    ¡°Call me whatever you¡¯re comfortable with. Within reason.¡± If she calls me buttercup or something cutesy, Zia would murder her. My bae is jealous and I¡¯m kinda here for it.

    She drops me off on a building to scope things out. I wish she¡¯d picked a less crumbly one, but beggars in the dark and all that. I get a small window when the outer guards aren¡¯t in line of sight with each other, and I plug them both with my pulse rifle. Much quieter, but infinitely brighter. I get no alarms or curious patrols to affect my newly created bodies, so I slink down and pull them to the side as I pull my .38 hypervol to support my plasma weapon.

    /How¡¯s your weapon cache Aria?/

    \Fifty caliber and pulse cannons are loaded.\

    This bitch. I love her. As a ship of course.

    ¡°If you can park on something high after your scan, and still cover me, please do so.¡± Double click.

    I get to the front of the facility and immediately know that I can¡¯t breach their security. Even if Zia and I were face streaming, I¡¯d be in trouble. I try to brute force it, but I listen when Tova tells me that causing a security breach at a nuclear facility might be dangerous.

    Plus, there¡¯s a call button and a speaker.

    Sure, why not? I press the call button.

    ¡°We are not expecting any deliveries today. Leave the premises immediately.¡± The voice on the speaker says.

    ¡°Yeah, Deputy Novarro here. You¡¯re operating on land that Nevahrado claims, and I don¡¯t see the site plans or safety protocols filed with the Territory. If you can forward those to me, I can get out of your hair as you appear to be operating withing acceptable radiation limits.¡±

    ¡°We filed our intent with Warram ages ago.¡± The voice continues, exasperated instead of dismissive.

    ¡°That may well be, but Warram can no longer maintain security in the area, so the Sheriff hired another Deputy. If you just send the info packet you already sent, to me we can wrap this up.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll need fifteen minutes.¡±

    ¡°Copy.¡± I ask Aria if she would cover all apparent openings for someone trying to surprise us. I hear her chirp in my ear, and for the last few days I¡¯ve noticed that she talks as often as she can. With Aria in overwatch, if feels less important to remain vigilant, and that seems dangerous. I¡¯m also reasonably certain that Tova can bypass my HUD and use my visual input to analyze separately.

    As my mind does, I drift into thinking about alchemy, and how much I¡¯ve been relying on injectors lately. I should probably look into buying a recipe for actual healing capsules instead of the enhanced regenerative that I don¡¯t really need anymore. Well, I haven¡¯t seen much benefit from taking one since I developed [Enhanced Regeneration II]. Hmm, maybe I should look into why hey? Which would naturally lead to studying the material differences between regen capsules and the t-1 healing capsules. I like this idea, as it will keep my alchemy progressing while I am being frustrated with my limited knowledge of chemistry.

    Tova adds an audio component to my blinking message alert to get my attention. I see a handful of files and a folder labeled ¡®Warram Submission¡¯. I look at what was submitted to Warram, schematics, safety protocols, external response protocols, and  . . . a protection payment record? The files outside of the folders are changes to the schematics and response plans, but no update to the payment schedules, and no mention of Utility tax and use forms.

    I download the appropriate forms and perform a brief query of independent utilities and what is needed to appease the territory Government. I walk up and push the intercom again.

    ¡°I sent you the files. What else could you want?¡± Rude little shit.

    ¡°I got them, I saw the payment form and wanted to tell you that that will have to be changed to a Territory Independent Utility form. You should only have to pay money to the Territory if you are mining the fuel from local land, and the use tax on the land should be less that what you¡¯ve been paying to Warram.¡±

    ¡°If I fill out that form, will we get access to Territory resources such as Emergency Response Services?¡±

    ¡°Unless it¡¯s a full-on meltdown, me and whomever I can rustle-up will be the response. Possible Meltdown response will be answered by Reno or Colorado Springs.¡±

    ¡°Inspections?¡±

    ¡°I flyby and take readings once a year. You submit your incident reports . . . quarterly? Sure. They¡¯re spelled out in the first form. If any of that is weird, a qualified nuclear power technician is supposed to do an eyes-on inspection. I don¡¯t know what that means, but that¡¯s not my job. Is the message address that sent me those files good for a return?¡±

    ¡°It can be.¡±

    Okay, you dodgy rodent, I¡¯m trying to leave and you want me gone. Play along!  ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send the form in five minutes. When I check up on this in a few months, I better see that form on file.¡±

    I sigh at the idea that this is the kind of ¡®serving the people¡¯ I have to look forward to. Then again, I don¡¯t suppose it was much different for old US police, just the scale was a little smaller and there was a national commission looking after things like this.

    I step onboard the shuttle and Aria closes and opens hatches for me as I make my way from rear cargo to the cockpit. I suppose it¡¯s a lot roomier than a fighter cockpit though.

    ¡°Aria, do we have any commitments before tomorrow afternoon?¡± I asked, and Aria likes managing any schedule where I might need her support. With as much as Tova hates it, I still feel a little guilty, but I do need the help.

    ¡°The deputy for Northern Nevada wants to meet with you before you leave, so we are due in Battle Mountain at 0700 local. Then, we have a sub-orbital flight to Bikini Atoll, where you promised me I could test our limits in the upper atmosphere.¡±

    I chuckle at her. What I actually said is ¡®as long as we¡¯re over 25 kilometers, you can do whatever you want. I¡¯m a little nervous, but she¡¯s been polite and obedient without any coercion, so I think she deserves a little freedom.

    ¡°I remember Aria. Just try to remember my pitiful human acceleration limits.¡±

    ¡°I have talked to Alaris on that very subject! She remembers every limit change reported to her, especially those with the Body of Power Talent.¡± Oh gods, she does plan to frolic.

    ¡°And the low orbit debris? Have you synched with the latest data?¡±

    ¡°I synch every morning.¡± I can practically hear the expectation in her voice.

    ¡°Then I will put my life in your capable hands. As I have been for the last week.¡± She chirps happily in my auditory implant. I chuckle almost every time I hear her happy trill. Probably why she does it.

    When we get to the second site, Aria signals that the radiation coming from the building is 5% above standard limits. Not high enough to flood and then cover with sand, but enough to worry. I briefly look at the response plan that was not filed, and the plans that should not be giving elevated external radiation at all, as underpowered as Aria tells me it should be. I¡¯ll come back and look at it after I get back from Astoria.

    ¡°Zia, could you look into what it would take to have a tank in the cargo bay to spray at an external object. And pencil us in for a return visit to that reactor site. Medium priority.¡± She insisted on a priority system, she claims that if we don¡¯t start in now, it won¡¯t work when it becomes important.

    I think her training AI had a stressful time managing things. As the fledgling housing fortress comes into view, I think on the group project that I assigned Tova and Aria.

    ¡°How¡¯s the group project coming, Tova?¡±

    Tova connects through the external speaker on my suit. ¡°There are no explicit limits to the distance a resident can be placed from a utility and still be connected, though the data from Astoria Public Works leads me to believe that the functional limit is a few thousand kilometers, requiring several relay stations to shape the energy fluctuations over long distances. With the energy, or occupant number tax that seems to correlate with distance, I recommend less than 30km.¡±

    ¡°With your stated desired radius of ¡®no further than Warram for now¡¯,¡± Aria adds, ¡°there are several promising expansion locations within twelve kilometers. I particularly like the old Las Vegas municipal and government offices. It would tie into our Territory purposes and add some weight to your assumed authority in the region.¡±

    Teacher¡¯s pet. Can you believe her?

    She is very eager. I¡¯m not sure you were ever that cute.

    Rude. You didn¡¯t need cute, you needed a partner in crime.

    Fair. Well, if Zia is any indication, after my partner in crime, I needed cute with a side of violence.

    Oh no. Do you think I¡¯m that much like You?

    You¡¯re doomed, chica. Doooooomed.

    Tova fake sobs in my mind and Aria sends me a question trill.

    ¡°Tova¡¯s afraid of becoming a sappy, clueless, and reluctant authority figure.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Alaris did not cover long term effects of closely associating with humans. More study is needed.¡± She sounds way to excited about that. I may have to ask Penny who Alaris learned to AI from, or at least if it¡¯s natural to feel that your ship has a crush on you. May just be adoration, which I hope for, but might as well prepare for the uncomfortable and hope for the best.

    I tell Paolo and Bev that I¡¯d want to take at least Paolo next time, and I tell Marcella the same and also ask Danielle if she¡¯s coming with me this trip. To my surprise, they are both coming. My mentor tells me that she¡¯s found someone to be a provisional head of Warram Asset Development, a new division Marcella arranged, that would be nominally in charge of the whole former criminal organization. Good that she¡¯s realized that she should pass that shit on to someone who wants to do it, and super glad she didn¡¯t shovel it on me. I¡¯m not even together enough to make gunpowder and drugs at the same time.

    You do both in two systems. You really should see things from a perspective that isn¡¯t yours. Love or hate, people are passionate about knowing you and there¡¯s a quality to that.

    Shit, Tova. That¡¯s . . . thanks. That¡¯s really cool of you to say.

    I spend the rest of the afternoon bumming around with Marcella and Danielle while they ask me questions about Asphodel and I try to research alchemic medical supplies. I don¡¯t want to be a multi-spectrum drug dealer, but a bunch of people around me have been needing healing lately and that¡¯s an issue.

    ¡°Marcie, can you have like two hours of work to do in Reno tomorrow?¡±

    ¡°Uh, I¡¯d rather not. I¡¯m still hoping things calm down.¡± There goes Aria¡¯s optimized plan. I text her and also recommend researching a small drone that can land and hover for meetings. I don¡¯t have a good track record for advocating for AI independence, but my shuttle seems like a good kid.

    Kimber, I can hear you.

    That¡¯s on you chica. I love you, but you¡¯ve been having a bigger teen phase than I had. I don¡¯t know if I can process what I feel is rebellion coming from your end right now, but I would like to know what¡¯s going on with you.

    Typical. No time for Tova.

    So much for not knowing. But considering that I don¡¯t know what Tova time would be like, I don¡¯t know how to fix it.

    ¡°Fine, but remember that when I call you, I¡¯m only a half hour out.¡± She nods and flops onto my legs as Dani pulls up between hers for a snuggle. I wiggle a little to move her pony tale¡¯s poking into my hip, then ask. ¡°So, we watched a Danielle movie last time. What we doing this time?¡±

    ¡°Crafting show?¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t season three of Aether-forged in Fire mostly women?¡± Marcella asks.

    ¡°Coming right up.¡± I pilot the remote to the reality TV channel and order up their latest episode for the show we want to watch and we bask in the messy, sweaty, soot-covered ladies making bladed weapons.

 A3: Chapter 15

    ¡°[Dzartha, Friend. How is work?]¡± I ask in my best Herrati accent.

    ¡°Kimber, it is nice that you show interest, but using your translator or allowing me to speak Astorian is much preferred.¡± The large cat raps his fist against his chest in greeting, his ears flick back briefly in deference to my relationship with the Empress. Politics with the Herrati suffuse their whole culture.

    ¡°That is a kind way to say my attempt was offensive. Thank you. Aside from that, I have brought a sister and her mate to determine if they will be moving here and working on Atropos.¡±

    ¡°Is the frowning one your security chief?¡± I look back to see that Marcella is indeed at maximum frown and Danielle is loving this exchange.

    ¡°Indeed. She would be the best to know what to expect a black market organization would do to steal my drugs.¡± Marcella almost sneers at me. Daang she has some severe independence insecurities.

    /Jesus, Marcie, you¡¯re only thinking about working for Family, calm the hell down. That cat works with me, not for me./

    My mentor immediately corrects her posture and fixes the sneer on her face. Maybe she was offended for me? Interesting reaction I suppose.

    ¡°My apologies Dzarath, I though you were being a very disrespectful employee instead of a convivial co-worker.¡±

    ¡°Ah! This makes sense! Thank you for explaining, as I would have been honor-bound to challenge you if you continued. Haha! Relations with other cultures can be a challenge greater than this Alchemist¡¯s build list!¡± He grabs me on the shoulder and gives me a shake that is jarring due to our weight differences.

    ¡°Now that we have gotten some culture out of the way, to business!¡± I give a warning smile to Dzarath and Marcella, hoping she understands. ¡°You have structures to discuss for personnel and armament? Also, if you could recommend a booking service for accommodations, I would appreciate it.¡±

    ¡°Ah, business, always pressing. The service has already been arranged, and they will be sending their allocation as soon as their Swarm ID¡¯s are registered. The agencies interested in the Doctor¡¯s research will also reach out as her ID synchs with the Imperial Data Network.¡± He turns back to me, ¡°Have your concerns been met?¡±

    ¡°I was wondering if the security slash emergency network is connected to an independent backup utility?¡±

    ¡°That is usually handled per company, Kimber.¡± I nod at that.

    ¡°I¡¯ll authorize an alternate power plan should my security chief want one.¡± He nods. I tap my fist to my chest and he returns the gesture as I depart. I really like that guy. Competence and respect? He¡¯s the kind that you want to keep around and keep happy.

    Walking back to my shuttle, I consider how uncomfortable Marcella must be, but she¡¯ll be talking to a professional with Danielle by her side, should be fine.

    ¡°Our next stop is to see your girlfriend. She stays at the Imperial Castle?¡± Aria asks.

    ¡°Aria, you shouldn¡¯t share this, but Zia is the Empress¡¯ daughter.¡±

    ¡°I now see why Tova thinks your feelings of inadequacy are ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°Aria, not you too!!¡± I squawk. They¡¯re conspiring against me!

    ¡°Face it, you have a lot going for you. For whatever reason you¡¯re not seeing it, but the rest of us do. Please, just trust us.¡±

    I wipe my face with my hands and then run them through my hair in an attempt to collect myself. ¡°I¡¯m trying Aria. I don¡¯t fully know why I feel this way, but I¡¯m trying.¡± A comforting ¡®brrip¡¯ comes through my audio implant. ¡°Thanks Aria. You too Tova.¡±

    Aria takes us out of atmo as I relay with Supiter Traffic Control¡ªthe gas giant that Asphodel and Elysium orbit in the Hades system. We travel perpendicular to Supiter¡¯s elliptic and warp out when apparent gravity decreases to one quarter. This is apparently a rule to prevent atmospheric interactions with old Antimatter Jump Drives that are equipped on some civilian vessels¡ªand the Dreadnaught Galilei.

    The Galilei was the ship that Penny and its crew originally arrived on Astoria in. The very atmospheric interference we avoid was the reason that Galilei jumped more than ten times the programmed distance on their first test of the Jump drive on a ship scale. It has since been repurposed as an energy cannon using the old accelerator as a massive laser focusing array. Reading about the Herrat War with Astoria, I see how completely outclassed my explosives are on the Macro level, and how needed better, more focused explosives are in CQB situations where uncalibrated destruction was more dangerous than doing nothing at all.

    ¡°Kimber, I would like to form a sensor map of the area around Aelea, and synch with the details of this planet.¡± She states as we appear in a loose Mercy orbit, the large moon that is tidally locked to Astoria planet.

    ¡°Sounds good, Aria. Get within a few hundred meters above the Garden Castle and I¡¯ll pilot my suit. Make sure you connect with the various flight controllers in the area, cities here are more sensitive about airspace than in Nevahrado.¡±

    She chirps at me and tells Astorian flight control that she intends to teleport into low Astorian Orbit and pilot to the Castle. My Nova Chem credentials get us through and the transit from the outer orbit of Mercy to the terrestrial Castle, takes about twenty minutes. Aria opens up her rear hatch and I do one of my favorite things¡ªFly.

    I low-key wish she¡¯d dropped me off at 10km, but at 600m, I have to pilot myself almost immediately instead of letting gravity and aerodynamics take control. Perhaps I need to spend more time actively piloting in space. I find that kind of barely controlled flight freeing.

    I land on the garden ramp and walk up to the upper Shop Entrance of the mall at the base of the Castle before finding the elevator to the upper floors.  I am lucky that Penny keyed me in, which is questionable as I¡¯ve only known her for . . . years. Holyshit. Am I old?  I¡¯m 18, practically ancient. Back to how stupidly trusting the Empress has been, why would she give me a key?

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    The elevator opens to the habitation level of Penny¡¯s suite and an Elf-shaped missile slams me into the back of the elevator. Her lips hit mine with a furious disregard for location or propriety. I smirk as I bite her lip. The moan and the nails in my back almost make me collapse, but I keep my feet and push the button for the upper terrace with the hot tub, and Oren the Bartender.

    ¡°Nice to see you too Zi.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, how can you think enough to talk right now?!¡±

    I pin her to the bar and she moans at me again. Oren makes to go back in his cubby, but I wave him forward as I nibble down her neck and she digs her hands into the back of my vest. To my surprise, he remembers our preferred drinks and though I am appreciative and text him so, I want something more adventurous.

    I pour a local berry liquor into her mouth and share it with her while pushing my thigh between her legs. I hear a few buttons pop on my vest and shirt as she desperately grabs at my body.

    ¡°Kimber, what are you doing. You¡¯re confusing me about what you want.¡±

    That is not what I want. I was questing for the answer of what she wants. ¡°Tell me how to make you happy.¡±

    ¡°Share, Kimber. We can¡¯t both be in control all the time.¡± She sighs as she shoves my hand down her pants. ¡°Now stop teasing me and fuck me.¡±

    ***

    ¡°If you two are going to be that loud every time, you need your own place, like today.¡± Penny says while I¡¯m sipping and subsequently choking on coffee. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t get it, but I don¡¯t want to be forced to think of my kid doing that stuff.¡±

    My blush is furious and I attempt to tuck my whole face in my coffee cup. Well, Penny¡¯s cup. Gods, I just got comfortable having sex again, but very much still don¡¯t want to talk about it with my girlfriend¡¯s mom.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± She¡¯s serious, but still laughing at me.

    ¡°And now that we¡¯re done talking about disturbing the peace, I¡¯d like you to meet Alphea.¡± She looks down behind her. ¡°Come out dear.¡±

    A tiny blue pixie girl shuffles out from behind Penny¡¯s legs and looks up with big eyes and reluctance in her posture. I immediately smile.

    ¡°Hi there Alphea. I¡¯m a friend of your mom¡¯s and a special friend of your sister Zia.¡± I give her a little wave. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know you¡¯d been pregnant.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, not long after I met you in person, actually. I don¡¯t really show when I¡¯m pregnant, as the growth is just in aether-capacity until there¡¯s enough to manifest their first form. Phea is only a few weeks old.¡±

    Dang, weeks old and looking like a three-year-old. ¡°Do you have parts of your mother¡¯s memory Alphea?¡± She nods. ¡°Good. Means you¡¯re going to grow up a smart and capable woman. Just like everyone else in your family.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re going to be so sweet, I know who I¡¯ll look to for a sitter.¡±

    ¡°Interesting test for our viability to be parents down the line.¡± I say it jokingly, but the idea of having a family with Zia puts a little flutter in my belly.

    ¡°Not funny, Kimber. I couldn¡¯t handle another one of my kids disappearing on me.¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking of kidnapping her, weirdo! But yeah, I wouldn¡¯t mind looking after her sometimes.¡± I smile at Alphea again, and her frown seems to lessen. Might be my imagination though.

    ¡°Trying to replace me already, Mom?¡± Zia blinks in, hugs her Mom and picks up Alphea to raspberry her belly. The little blue pixie¡¯s giggles are musical just like Penny and Zia¡¯s. Must be a pixie thing.

    ¡°Of course not, but if Kimber¡¯s okay with it too, then Phea won¡¯t feel like she¡¯s interrupting your together time.¡± Her smile of adoration shifts to displeased Empress in a flash. ¡°You¡¯re also moving out. Some of the two-story condos on the 40<sup>th</sup> floor are available.¡±

    Zia¡¯s eyes go wide at her mother¡¯s assertion. She changes her gaze to me, narrowing her eyes before sending \What did you do?\

    /We. Very loud sex and an awkward conversation with the Empress of Humanity about not wanting her newest daughter traumatized by her oldest one./

    Zia starts laughing. \Serves her right. I don¡¯t hate the idea of having a place for us at the Castle, but I¡¯d still like to hang out here a lot. Especially with little Phea being such a cutie.\ I watch as she pokes and plays with the toddler¡¯s face while Alphea tries to bat her fingers away.

    Seeing her play with her little sister makes my feelings all mushy and reminds me of why I want to be in law enforcement, or more importantly for me, carrying out justice. The Empire itself doesn¡¯t have a ton of Laws: the Empress¡¯ Edicts and a Vassal agreement for foreign powers being the most prominent.

    Like the Bill of Rights from the old US Constitution, she delineated that people have free speech, press, establish religion and assemble; except in cases that endanger public safety or foment the violent overthrow of the Empire. She also keeps protections from search and seizure except warranted by the Imperial Court. The way it differs, is she levies the trial and due process requirements to city-states and vassalages. That, and there is no inherent right to bear arms, and leaves it to the component governments to regulate their own militia.

    The most punishable, and first of her Edicts, is that every Citizen has the right to Life, the pursuit of progress, and freedom from enslavement. It is further mentioned by the Draft of Consuls that life is considered sustenance and shelter, progress is considered to be access to the Matrix and to the Exchange; and the enslavement part gets a bit wordy when it comes to punishments by law.

    Local governments are where all the nitty gritty and petty bullshit comes in, but that¡¯s a topic for when my girlfriend isn¡¯t being adorable with her sister.

    ¡°What¡¯s your day looking like Zi?¡±

    ¡°Ugh, studying. Mom thinks I should get familiar with Earth and modern North American culture before I come stay with you.¡± She groans, turning Alphea around and setting her up with a coloring activity.

    ¡°It¡¯s a good idea. Getting offended and going vigilante would get you a bunch of attention. It also depends on why else you might be studying. I also need to study and practice. I was hoping that your mom had a workspace I could occupy for most of the day.¡±

    ¡°I do!¡± she says from across the room as she fusses with the coffee maker. ¡°If it¡¯s not too messy or dangerous, you can use any of my workspaces here. I¡¯ll be focusing on contracts today. A bunch of resource access stuff is up for renegotiation in the next two months.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a Consul for Trade?¡±

    Penny snorts, ¡°I do indeed, but he and the Consul of Foreign Affairs don¡¯t get along, so I go to the meeting to mediate their disputes. Plus, it¡¯s the easiest way for me to know what¡¯s new and profitable on the fringes of my space.¡±

    ¡°It is the oddest part of my existence when I hear you casually discuss running the Empire I live in.¡± Penny smiles at me.

    ¡°And yet my daughters take it for granted. Well, Zia does. Alphea is too young to care, and the other three are off doing their jobs for the Universe, or whatever.¡±

    ¡°Begin the pouting that her kids have important jobs and are too busy to visit.¡±

    That sheds some light on why Penny doesn¡¯t want me to treat Alphea like a daughter. Getting some heavy abandonment trauma vibes from her. Funny that she should teach them such powerful independence if she wanted to keep them around. Then again, with hereditary memory, it¡¯s not like she could hide her history from them.

    I expect a scowl from Penny, but I see eyebrows pinched upward and the corners of her lips turned down. It¡¯s probably not wise for me to get up and walk over to the short woman, the confusion on her face showing it¡¯s at least unexpected.

    I pull the powerful woman into a hug, ¡°No one I¡¯ve loved has stuck around either. I don¡¯t know how long Marcella is going to want to keep in touch once she moves out.¡±  She wraps her arms around me in response.

    ¡°You¡¯re a pretty nice person for a drug dealer.¡± Penny sniffs. I chuckle at her quip and think about making one back, but my filter finally catches an outburst before I say it.

    ¡°You took a chance on me when I really needed the support. I want to help you too, if I can.¡±

 A3: Chapter 16

    My stay in Aelea was only a few days this time, much to Zia¡¯s and my dismay. Zia says she should be out in a week or so to start her practical studies of Earth and would like to use my Settlement and Penny¡¯s place on Bikini Atoll as bases of operation for her roaming. I tell her she¡¯s welcome at my place any time, but I¡¯d be a terrible tour guide.

    Danielle, to my great surprise, stays behind. She takes over the rental the Dzartha arranged for her, and has a few interviews for medical research associates and a company that¡¯s interested in purchasing her research. She seems happy at the available opportunities, but I worry about how Marcella is going to fare¡ªshe doesn¡¯t seem stable with this much uncertainty.

    ¡°Paolo! Have you thought about whether you¡¯re willing to move to Asphodel yet?¡±

    ¡°Yes Quimica, Beverly and I would like the opportunity. But what of my compatriots from the south? Who am I to train?¡± It¡¯s been a common question and I can tell he¡¯s getting frustrated with me.

    This time I greet him with a smile. ¡°A team from Astoria just picked them up. They¡¯re being taken to Empire medical facilities for assessment and treatment and they¡¯ll be here tomorrow.¡±

    My Columbian friend suffers a brief expression of confusion before I see joy flood his features. ¡°This is real? They are coming¡± I nod. He rushes toward me and grabs my hands, shaking them furiously. ¡°This is such wonderful news!¡±

    He then starts asking me rapid-fire questions about lodging, workspace availability and other training for personal development. I assure him that I have thought of the logistics and have money available for development programs. I also tell him that since the facility in Asphodel is larger and more technical, he¡¯ll be taking most of them with him. I reinforce that with telling him to train two for my plant here, and the remaining eight can get additional training on-site with their new plant. I wish I could give him more time, but he swears that six weeks will be plenty.

    I stop by Marcella¡¯s place to check up on her, she swears she¡¯s fine, and she declines to have dinner with me. Apparently she¡¯s prepping for a job, but won¡¯t tell me what it is. I wish she¡¯d talk to me.

    Resigning myself to a lonely night, I check the dispatch boards that the Sheriff¡¯s office maintains and see a few territory disputes around the Grand Canyon, a resource misuse claim near Durango, and an ongoing gang war in Santa Fe. I send a message to the Deputy out in Colorado Springs to see if they care, saying it¡¯s too far for it to affect them.

    ¡°Aria, what do you think, do a drive by survey of Durango before going to Santa Fe, or drop me off and you head back for a detailed search in Durango?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer you not go alone into a situation described as a war.¡±

    She gets us to the outskirts of in an hour or so, flying high so we don¡¯t disturb too many people, and someone was kind enough to set a few buildings on fire to let me know where to investigate first. Time to suit up Kimber. I message Zia that I¡¯m headed into a fight as Aria drops me off at the first fire. I tell her to pick a firefighting foam tank that will fit in her hold. She shows me a short list and I purchase the lot for her. A few minutes later, while I¡¯m jogging around the streets, I see white foam fall out of the sky onto the flames.

    I sigh as I see that she is preventing the fire from spreading and dampening the flames. I growl as I hear gunshots and see the shield on Aria react to deflect them. I run to the sources of the gunshots and taze and cuff two of them, while the third switches to a higher caliber weapon. A brief fight ensues as I try to dodge his shots, but I end up catching the man with a plasma shot, making him drop his weapon. I¡¯m about to put the man out of his misery when something kicks my chest off-center, twisting me and pushing me over. The crack of a rifle follows after.

    /Aria, rooftop assailant, sending a cone of likelihood based off the impact trajectory./ She chirps at me in response, cutting off her firefighting foam to search for the rifleman.

    Get up Kimber, you¡¯re just asking to get rolled up on and shot again. I scramble up and sprint behind some rubble. I hear another crack, noting that I did not get hit that time. Taking a moment to assess my environment, I see that dashing into the smoldering building is my quickest escape route in an otherwise debris riddled open lot. I jump out, engage my thrusters and fly toward the building a lot faster than I really should. I hear another crack, but this time it¡¯s answered by the ¡®burrrt burrrt¡¯ of Aria¡¯s chain-fed automatic weaponry.

    Aria confirms the kill, so I exit the deathtrap and ask her to come by to pick up my prisoners and me, then to head to the next burning building. ¡°Thanks for taking care of that guy, Aria.¡±

    ¡°This is why I think you should have a team-mate.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re my team-mate, doofus. My flying, firefighting gunner teammate.¡± She chirps at me in reply, though I can somehow tell that she enjoys the sentiment.

    An hour and a half later, I¡¯ve rounded up a pair of guys from each location, bind and gag them in the passenger area while trying to think of a place to interrogate them. Aria reminds me that if I pay the transfer fee to Camp Elsewhere, I could use the cargo area. Well, good thing I hired someone smarter than me to watch my ass.

    I buy a steel chair and anchor it to the deck and start asking questions one person at a time.

    ¡°What gang are you with?¡±

    ¡°The Adobe Dominion. They will come for me.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re welcome to have you back as long as you answer a few questions. I¡¯m not here to kill more people than I have to.¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    He chuckles, ¡°My people have no such limitations.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but scoff at his confidence. ¡°Who are you fighting and why are you at war?¡±

    He spits and swears at me. I kick him in the chest. I ask him again, he tells me to go fuck myself. I punch him in the face until it looks bruised and cut and then gag him again.

    I then install another chair, this one facing the beaten man and bring in another guy with a similar mark on his face.

    ¡°So, your buddy here says you are from the Adobe Dominion. I want to know who you¡¯re fighting and why you¡¯re fighting.¡±

    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t tell you, why the fuck would I?¡±

    ¡°Because if you don¡¯t answer, I hurt your friend. You don¡¯t answer again, I do the same to you. You get a preview of what¡¯s coming for you.¡±

    He replies with an expletive equivalent of ¡®do your worst¡¯. I start with a few gut punches, and get some more swearing, but no actual information. Why the hell won¡¯t they tell me who they¡¯re fighting. I summon a baseball bat and start poking it aggressively into their balls.

    The man is sobbing profusely now, but I finally get ¡°The locals.¡± Not a wordy answer, but he gave it to me. I wipe the blood off of his face and give him a chance to have some water and a bite of food. I do the same for the first man as he also gave me one answer.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to go see what I can find out from the locals, then I¡¯ll be back.¡±

    Unsurprisingly, the locals were hard to find and were actively hiding from shady shit like a high-tech shuttle and a flying woman in body armor. It takes me a few hours, learning some new things about my interface involving assigned patrol areas. I¡¯m prompted to assign myself as responding to the ¡®call¡¯ from dispatch, and suddenly I can see system users in the area. No details, but nearby locations.

    ¡°Santa Fe residents,¡± I announce through Aria, ¡°I¡¯m Deputy Novarro responding to a dispatch and would like to talk to some residents about recent violence.¡± I circle an occupied area once before someone shouts at me from on top of an old restaurant building.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t Nevahrado, Deputy.¡±

    ¡°According to Reno and Colorado Springs it is.¡± I shrug, though he probably can¡¯t see it. ¡°Seems like you could use some help with the Adobe Dominion in either case.¡±

    ¡°You want to help us fight a gang? That¡¯s not believable, Deputy.¡±

    That¡¯s understandable. ¡®I just want to help¡¯ is not something that rang true in Vegas either. ¡°Yeah, that wouldn¡¯t fly in Vegas either, but what I do want is to keep Users, and thus viable Territory revenue from needlessly disappearing. If I have to rearrange a few organizations to make things stable, then so be it.¡±

    ¡°That at least sounds like the truth. I¡¯m coming down with some armed friends.¡± I give them a thumbs up and wait some more.

    Five minutes later, a team of five in police riot gear comes out of the building. That is a good sign that this group would constitute ¡®Locals¡¯.

    ¡°No attack squad of thugs around the corner?¡± a serious-looking gym rat with a mustache asks.

    ¡°Gunship in the sky.¡± His squadmates look up and around, but the mouthpiece keeps staring at me, nodding after a few seconds.

    ¡°Alright, now what kind of help you offering, Novarro?¡±

    I smirk at the name use, an acknowledgement that I¡¯m not completely full of shit? ¡°Destabilize the gang, mostly. I wanted to confirm that the ¡®intel¡¯ from one of the gangbangers I captured was true. If the A-D gang is really preying on and killing residents instead of a rival gang.¡±

    ¡°You captured some? Any chance you¡¯d give us a turn at them?¡±

    I shake my head, ¡°Not this time. So, are you a rival gang or a representative of the locals?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re the Santa Fe militia. Legacy cops and some trained local business people that served. The Adobe gang rolled in about a month ago to test the waters. They¡¯ve become surprisingly well funded since then. You saw the buildings burning?¡± I nod, ¡°we did that to smoke out their cells and pick off the rats as they scurry to safety.¡±

    ¡°That is not a sustainable practice. How about you give me intel on the locations you didn¡¯t burn, and I go find out who can negotiate with me.¡± He has no reason to trust me, but here¡¯s hoping that they¡¯re not trigger happy xp chasers.

    ¡°I¡¯ll send you some locations, just remember, flushing them out doesn¡¯t help, they¡¯ll just re-establish a week or so later.¡± I nod as I get an info packet with intel on their ¡®command¡¯ cell.

    I ask Aria to hover near the parking lot so I can fly up to the hold. Once aboard I sigh in relief as none of the locals decided to be idiots.

    ¡°Aria, I think this is going to be a long chase. Find us a place to set down and we¡¯ll re-attack this in a few hours.¡±

    ¡°Would it not be better if I surveyed the area before hand?¡± She asks.

    I shrug, ¡°Maybe, but if in the odd chance one of them has the tech to see you flying around in the dark, I want to be able to descend upon them before word can travel too far.¡± My ship friend chirps in understanding before I recline in my pilot chair and lock the cockpit doors for a nap.

    ***

    The Adobe Dominion was not interested in parlay at all. In every cell that Militia Man identified, they shot first, I kept shooting until I found a person that looked like they were leading the cell and captured them. I interrogated the cell leaders, who were also impressively tight lipped until I started doing group consequence questioning and brought out the two women I had captured.

    Macho protectors have an idealistic need to protect women and children. The children thing I get, but being a woman, I have a lot less sympathy for female criminals. Since I had purposefully kept this move in my pocket, I¡¯d been restraining myself from tuning up the women until now.

    I work them until my near exhaustion, and they all hold out admirably, but two sobbing, pleading women were too much for Mr. Crew Cut.

    ¡°Stop it you sick fuck!¡± His body slumps in defeat as he continues to sneer at me. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you where Marco is if agree to let all of us go.¡±

    ¡°After I conclude business with this, ¡®Marco¡¯, I¡¯ll be happy to relocate and free all of the people I¡¯ve captured.¡± I golden scroll falls into my hand. I give it a quick once-over and show it to the man.

    He nods an looks at the floor. ¡°They¡¯re holed up in an old power station twenty kilometers southwest of here.¡±

    I don¡¯t thank the man, but I treat a few of them with regen capsules and transfer the lot to a holding area where I feed and water the now dozen captives I have tied up in my ship. This is the part I feel bad about, honestly. Uncertain captivity is the worst.

    I was confident in taking out a cell of under-geared gang-bangers, taking on a secure building with dozens of armed assholes is a different matter however. I order two surveillance drones, synch them with Aria and have her pilot them toward the power station while I head back to my settlement to see if I can put a team together. I send messages to Kenneck and the Health Club to see if they are interested in a hundred credits a piece for a clear and capture job.

    Tova, any recommendation on what area in our HQ that would make the best holding facility?

    We have a secure ward in the hospital, and actual cells installed beneath the security station.

    That sounds good, make it security¡¯s problem for a day.

 A3: Chapter 17

    ¡°Got a second to talk about Warram?¡± Kenneck asks me while he and two squads from Warram¡¯s old security team check their packs and comms.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be on scene in about an hour, so sure.¡± Intel from the drones and analysis by Aria inform me that the power station had been reinforced for weeks before this war even started, and that a perimeter of trapdoor bunkers are installed and manned around the clock. Anti-air turrets will keep us from coming in high, so we have a deck-hugging maneuver incoming.

    ¡°There are three people trying to lead Warram Crime right now, but this kind of thing isn¡¯t really the run by committee type of organization. Marcella has basically checked out, and you are far too young and inexperienced for the other, older members to buy into your leadership.¡±

    ¡°Probably doesn¡¯t help that the Warram name and location have been sanctioned by the System.¡±

    ¡°No one has the money or influence to move everything.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not the kind of girl that¡¯s interested in running things behind the scenes, especially not the cesspool that Warram still is.¡± I know that¡¯s not what he¡¯s gearing up to ask, but he needs to get to it already.

    ¡°Not what I¡¯m asking ki . . . Kimber.¡± Nice recovery, calling me kid during a sales pitch is not the move. ¡°you employ quite a few of the security and hospitality staff from Warram, so some of field operators and our analysts got together and decided we¡¯d like to come over to Camp Elsewhere.¡±

    Hearing the experienced range officer practically beg for a job was not what I was expecting. Throw some work their way, sure, but wanting to move to my settlement? That is a definite surprise.

    ¡°I am onboard for you all moving in, there are barracks rooms and apartments available, but I¡¯m not sure what kind of regular work I might have for operators going forward.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re expanding, and the clean-up teams you have tearing down the rubble are going to meet resistance sooner than later. That, and your work as Deputy, you¡¯ll have jobs like this from time to time.¡±

    ¡°Mmm, you¡¯re not wrong about the resistance. Clearance teams, maybe a few cop-type roles for my settlement, and a rapid response team for jobs like this. I can see that. If those same folk wouldn¡¯t be opposed to setting up my new training facility, I have about a year¡¯s worth of work to keep fifty or so people busy. Should be enough time to find or create supplemental employment?¡±

    ¡°So you really are trying to set this up as a community and not just a corporate settlement? We had some questions about that. Do you have low-rent housing for the periodic employment folk?¡±

    ¡°Yep!¡± I beam, having waited to talk about this with someone. ¡°As an Empire affiliated settlement, we support free lodging options and free daily rations for residents of my settlement. Granted, it¡¯s a barracks room and whatever the Empire has on que for rations for that day, but it¡¯s free. I only have fifty barracks rooms available right now, but if you have that many coming, I can have a new building put up in a few weeks.¡±

    Kenneck whistles. ¡°Mind me asking where all of that money is coming from?¡±

    ¡°A little. I get a big discount by transferring the reclaimed materials I¡¯m getting from old buildings to the construction company that makes my building pods. Other than that, I have two businesses that are doing better than I expected and I feel that putting the money into my settlement is a good investment.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of someone coming in and trying to take it?¡±

    I snort and start laughing. ¡°Kenneck, I¡¯m going to choose to believe that you¡¯re simply playing devil¡¯s advocate. And if anyone is reckless enough to try me without knowing who my businesses are in bed with, they deserve what¡¯s coming to them.¡±

    ¡°That sounds a lot like Hubris, Kimber.¡± Dangerously close to sounding like he¡¯s fixing to set a disrespectful tone.

    ¡°This must be why Marcella says don¡¯t be too friendly.¡± I take a deep breath and exhale before staring at the ceiling. ¡°It¡¯s funny that you would start by asking for a favor, ask me something that sounds vaguely threatening and then try to give me a lesson about my response. Whatever your message was supposed to be, it got muffled by your head being up your ass.¡± I get up, turn my back on the man and head to the cockpit, locking the door behind me.

    Aria, set permissions to the cockpit doors to only me. She chirps as I fume.

    An hour later, my plan for the facility solidifies into a two-pronged approach in three stages. Right after the bunker team checks in, the two drones I have will emit a localized jamming field on a fifty-minute timer or until I manually turn them off. The fields will be over bunker in separate, but adjacent quadrants where two teams will assault the entrance, and Kimber plus two will make a lot of noise. Stage three is clearly search the facility.

    Once the drones are in place, Aria drops me and the missiles off first before strafing to her quadrant to let the two teams off inside the bunker ring. I hit the airstream with full thrusters in an Iron-Man style flight across the desert and as soon as I pass the bunker ring a few minutes later the missiles scream past me from their holding pattern and tear into the side of the concrete facility.

    I see the flare of white and red lights and feel the sound blaring against my suit just before I speed into the dust and debris plume that the missiles left in their destructive wake. Flipping to full stop before the building¡¯s former walls, I touch down in the mess of rubble and rebar then energize the mining tool that deconstructs buildings to clear my path. I dash down the first area that seems to be a mess of piping, pumps and heat exchangers and find a massive pair of pump bodies to hide behind.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    /Knock, this is Ram. In place./

    \Copy Ram. Knock knocking. Tweedles on the move.\

    I click my understanding and wait for the resistance to arrive. My threat locator shows at least twenty users on this floor of the building. With a pistol and a stun baton in hand, I wait for the Tweedles to arrive in my area. I see some low red lights coming from the direction I breached from. I click my mic twice to let them know they¡¯re coming up on me and when their toes point my way I flash my red light.

    I come out from my hiding spot, and with some friends to watch my sides, I pull out in front and lead the team through the rest of the facility. As one might expect there is a lot of large machinery in a powerplant, and it seems that some of it is even running. Normally, clearing something like this would take forever, but clearing isn¡¯t our mission today and I don¡¯t mind killing gang members. That and my armor is easily better than the weapons these folks should have.

    Every branch, we pause to pie the opening, same with open doors, and proceed to the most likely rooms to hide these people. If this were my settlement, I would just know where they were, but things aren¡¯t so easy when it¡¯s just my patrol area.

    I notice some light pollution up ahead, and tell the boys. One comes up and slowly tries the handle but indicates that it¡¯s locked he stays in position to open the door as my other team-mate pulls out a pulse rifle that they got from my shuttle. I put a hand on his shoulder to stop the action, indicating I have another idea.

    It takes a bunch of aether to run, but I put new crystals in before we started the mission, so I summon a scorched-looking saber and energize the blade. It glows a blazing white moments before I jam the blade in the lock, metal oozing away from the intense heat source. I pull away, de-energize and stow the blade while door guy jerks open the door, trailing guy rushes in, and I follow after. Plasma pulses flash into the room as my pistols rise to turn left to his right. I alternate shots as I see as many as six people in front of me amongst the dials, buttons and lights. I should be careful not to put kinetic rounds into the sensitive machinery, but six is too many not to use both guns. Who knows how many are on the right side, but I have to trust that he¡¯s capable, or we all get shot by the goons on my side. That trust is quickly lost when I take a round to my right shoulder that spins me around and then another round to the face shield that knocks me over. After bouncing my helmet off the deck, I grit my teeth, clench my stomach muscles and look up at the bastard that shot me.

    A dirty man with a few scars on his face is frowning at me¡ªprobably because I¡¯m still alive. I shoot as I raise my arms, clipping a leg, his next shot on me misses, but my next puts a fast .38 into his center of mass. It very much looks like his vest stopped it. The plasma pulse to his neck made it through, my two shots to one of his really paying off.

    Our third teammate comes in to shoot a few that are still twitching, and then jams a capsule into his buddy¡¯s neck.

    \You injured, Ram?\

    /Just a bit dazed T.dum. How¡¯s T.dee?/

    \Bullet didn¡¯t go through, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be stuck in anything vital. T-1 med is working, but he¡¯ll need a surgeon or a T-2 capsule to fix.\

    /Well, we either stuff him in a corner with some guns, or we try to get him ambulatory./

    \I¡¯m sporting five bullets, Ram. Leave me two more guns and some grenades, and I¡¯ll figure it out.\

    /Face toward enemy kind or throw and hide?/

    \Why chose?\ I snort at that reply, because I totally agree. I glue some wedge-shaped shape charges to the door, hand him a few stickies, a few rollers, and a few tossers.

    \Fuck me, at least one of us showed up to play.\

    /Pull through, and I¡¯ll let you take a satchel-full from my collection./

    \Shit, T.dee, now you gotta live.\

    I give the man my old Warram pistols and a kinetic carbine and we call the arming of Tweedle Dee as a done deal.

    \Why didn¡¯t you give him t-2 meds right then?\

    /The kind of pain that some of the ¡®repairs¡¯ would cause could damage a psyche. They put people to sleep. I don¡¯t personally have access to t-3 Exchange services, so I chose the option that lets him be somewhat alert while in a hostile environment, knowing that t-2¡¯s should work on him for a few hours yet./

    The confusion on his face tells me that the computation in his mind isn¡¯t adding up correctly. I sigh, /there is no play where putting the mission on hold for wounds that were assessed as ¡®livable¡¯. Sorry T.dum./

    He doesn¡¯t look happy but he makes a ¡®move out¡¯ gesture to let me know he thinks I¡¯m wasting time. Copy that grumpy pants. I ask Aria if she¡¯s connected to the network in the building, but she responds that her capabilities do not include electronic warfare. I shake my head at the thought that movie hacking could fix this issue. I have to resort to looking at the CCTV-like security screens that are being displayed on a side console.

    To my great fortune, as the feed switches to different views, location labels appear in the corner of the screen.

    There are places on the design layout that correspond to the labels on the screen.

    Excellent news Tova.

    T.dum becomes much more efficient in his frustration and I¡¯m thankful for it. Our pace improves, and before I know it, we¡¯re ready to bail out the front door forces with a pinching maneuver. I choose explosives of course.

    The carbine that had my grenade launcher is with T.dee, leaving me with some explosives that fit in slings, and some hand-held jobbers. I¡¯ve been testing some two-stage grenades and I¡¯ve had some interesting results. My gas plus thermobaric grenade is very successful, but bad for organics of all kinds.

    /Support is here. Close your eyes./

    I feel the boom in my chest as the light blares through my eyelids and my hand. I lob a frag as close to the same distance as I can by feel alone. I hit the deck just in case. I can tell that if I didn¡¯t have a helmet on, my ears would be bleeding, maybe my eyes too. Explosives and Armor are so cool.

    I rush forward, hoping that T.dum follows, but not relying on it as I get within range of spotting folk in this smoke. The people I see are mostly dead anyway, but I have no issue finishing the job, and neither does T.dum, as far as I can tell, he feels the same.

    The end of the operation nears as the front assault teams enter the building clear it as operatives do. They have way more training in this than I do, I only have cool toys and super durable armor.

    Kenneck wings a whole room of people that look important, then tazes the ones that don¡¯t look in charge. His crew bag the leaders and drag them back to the shuttle for my further interrogation. My current captives opt to leave my hospitality, so we dump them all off the shuttle and untie one of their hands, knowing they¡¯ll figure it out. I dropped off fifteen, only to pick up four. Not a bad op, but T.dee is in bad shape.

 A3: Chapter 18

    ¡°Kenneck. Honest review, pre-op, your demeanor left to be desired. During the op though? Could not have asked for more professional people. I¡¯mma give you a pass and say that you and your folks are welcome in my settlement. I still want work visas for six months, but that doesn''t look like an issue.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I didn¡¯t see you as a leader until Prosser told me about what you said to him about Gonzales. That mindset wins wars. I won¡¯t lie, it¡¯ll chafe working for someone of your age, but your list of experiences and accomplishments is solid.¡±

    ¡°You do know that ¡®pretty cool for a kid,¡¯ is still insulting, right?¡±

    ¡°Kimber, I¡¯m like three times your age and stuck in several ruts, same as my guys. Give us some time to adjust.¡±

    ¡°Blah blah, reasonable expectations, blah.¡± I roll my eyes and let my snarky teenager behavior drop. ¡°I have a secretary for housing, so talk to him for lodging.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure one is enough?¡±  He pauses, I raise an eyebrow to express that it was not a very diplomatic statement. ¡°The secretary, I mean . . . Hells, never mind. I¡¯ll have one of my guys talk to you from now on.¡± I have a chuckle at that, enjoying a small mote of hubris being captured in the ether.

    My morning went a lot like this between Interrogations. I talk to an operator, tenderize a goon. I talk to Paolo and Bev, Bev gives me pointers on softening up a boss¡ªthey have egos that need pampering apparently.

    ¡°What is this? Baby¡¯s first interrogation?¡± Mr. Bossman asks.

    Anger rises in me, especially after dealing with Kenneck calling me kid. Then I remember Parker, and the advice that the other teachers gave me while I was training in interrogation: It¡¯s okay to have pride in a job well done, but you¡¯ve lost the plot if you enjoy the violence.

    I draw my side arm slowly and let him watch me check for a round in the chamber. I take the safety off slowly and take aim for a kidney. The bastard is still smiling when I pull the trigger. When he laughs, I shoot him again but in the liver.

    ¡°What the fuck!?¡± he screams, ¡°This isn¡¯t how interrogations work?¡± He¡¯s looking at Bev, expecting her to stop me, but her raised eyebrow in looking at me shows the power in this situation.

    ¡°You seem to think you know how things are ¡®supposed¡¯ to go. What do you think is coming next? I want information, I don¡¯t need it.¡±

    I wait for him to talk, but he remains silent.

    \You know he¡¯s going to die with those wounds, right?\

    /I do, and so does he./

    ¡°If you¡¯re willing to talk, I have meds for you and I¡¯ll drop you and your boys back in Texico Badlands. Your life is in your hands now.¡± I walk over to the seat in the corner and sit and let Bev take over the interrogation. She knows more about what information he might have.

    Bev leaves and comes back with a medical kit. She takes out forceps, douses them in alcohol and starts digging for the bullet. That sets the man to screaming. Having had this done to me with local anesthetic, I can confirm that it is very uncomfortable, but I can¡¯t imagine what it¡¯s like without pain killers.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t relax, it¡¯ll be harder to take out.¡± Bev says calmly, looking into his eyes.

    ¡°Relax?! Are you fucking kidding me?¡±

    ¡°Pain killers and meds are just a conversation away.¡± She works through another minute of screams before dropping a mish-shapen lump to the floor with a thud. ¡°Ready for the second one?¡±

    He folds as soon as the pointy metal tool touches his organ meat in the second hole. He talks about troop numbers, locations, plans for northern Arizona and New Mexico. After he talks about plans,  take a Pain-b-gone and inject both wound sites and give him a regenerative and a healing capsule. Bev helps me drag him back to the shuttle.

    ¡°Not going to give them a break?¡± Bev asks.

    ¡°I¡¯ll drop them off with food, water and their weapons. Otherwise, I don¡¯t care. The alternative is putting them in cells and keeping them overnight.¡±

    ¡°What if the other former prisoners are ready for you?¡±

    I snort at that, ¡°I¡¯m not dropping them off in the same spot. I said I¡¯d give them a chance not the advantage.¡± I laugh as I return to the cockpit and I¡¯m pretty sure Bev calls me a bitch under her breath. I mean, I am being a bit of one, yes, but the Health Club folks in general don¡¯t respect me very much. That started with Hailey and has progressively poisoned the waters since. It¡¯s possible she said that because she thought my shooting the detainee was juvenile or petty and I laugh at her face for checking on my plans, but can¡¯t take it back now. I make a note to work on talking before and after to set expectations.

    I guess it¡¯s the same idea as the troubles I¡¯m having with Kenneck. The ¡®adults¡¯ are used to having to slog through and earn their positions within Warram and strive harder to move on from Warram. They didn¡¯t have the support to upset the apple cart, and the Health Club only had Marcella¡¯s support to move on, not escape. Sure, some of the animosity probably stems from my sponsorship, but they also don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve had to put in any work. It doesn''t help that I react like any teenager would when my age causes people to question my capability. My hackles have been easier to raise since I started helping Marcella deal with her life stuff in addition to spinning my work plates. Bah, maybe Kenneck and Bev aren¡¯t completely to blame.

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    I can¡¯t ignore that I¡¯ve had more opportunities to succeed than most people, but I don¡¯t see why that would make others not want to work with me and benefit from my opportunity. I can see why Marcella would have issues with the role reversal, but even she seems to be coming around.

    As much as I¡¯d like to say to hell with everyone, I¡¯ll do this on my own, I really can¡¯t. Even with Aria and Tova, there¡¯s just so much to do and I can¡¯t be here and in Asphodel at the same time.

    Tova, next time this happens, and someone disparages my age, can you help me talk it through, or at least remind me that everyone has their hang-ups?

    I think we both could use a little reminder of that from time to time.

    ***

    Deep breaths, Kimber. They¡¯re learning and Paolo is overworked on the best of days.

    Yeah, but hundreds of credits down the drain is hard to look at. It¡¯s almost to two weeks, where I would expect them to be able to run the thing with very little supervision. Now I have three trainees yelling at each other and Paolo is nowhere in sight. In his defense, the three idiots tried to impress us by doing it themselves¡ªwhich could be blamed on me for not requiring Paolo or myself to unlock the controls. Thanks for checking my reaction, Tova.

    ¡°Gentlemen,¡± I say. No response. I repeat it in Spanish. Then I shout swear words at them as I gesture at the machine in Spanish. That shuts them up.

    ¡°[Instead of looking good, you¡¯ve shown me you can¡¯t follow instructions. Paolo told me that you were smart and I could work with you, I could rely on you, and you¡¯re making him out to be a liar.]¡±

    ¡°[Paolo is no liar.]¡± One of the man says through a grimace as he advances on me.

    ¡°[He¡¯s never lied to me before, but he vouched for you three. Don¡¯t let him choosing you be a mistake he has to live with.]¡± I walk to my manufacturing line and change the building settings on what apparatuses require Paolo or me to unlock and an appropriate time elapsed removal of permission.

    I message Paolo about what I arrived to find and that I put ¡®locks¡¯ on the machinery. It occurs to me that I could deal with less hassle if I automated the production and just used personnel to load materials.

    Tova, say I wanted to automate production and security on a place like this, what would be the best way. Same with HQ.

    For HQ, some simple threat detection and voice response programming could do the job. For this factory, if you wanted have security and production, you would need two of said programs, where the production line would benefit from a purpose-build, learning program suite that could trouble-shoot and advise. I was thinking about an Aria-like suite to control the fortress/compound we¡¯re building.

    Oooh, I like that idea. And speaking of Aria, we don¡¯t have a cargo slash air travel port or receiving area. I know HQ has a pad, and the settlement cube will have a courtyard I can land in, but all of that should be for emergencies or for me, not shipping or visitors.

    Since we discussed the  . . . are we calling it the Cube? Perhaps Elsewhere Square?

    That. I vote that.

    Since that design pre-dates your shuttle purchase, it wasn¡¯t in the plan. I have since flagged an area adjacent to the freeway that would facilitate many land modes of transportation and several air modes. Since our stretch of freeway is straight, it can also be used to land and launch traditional human aircraft.

    You really like this urban planning stuff don¡¯t you?

    It gives me a sense of completeness. The complex, multiparameter optimization of an area designed to be used by semi-rational beings is an engaging problem.

    I can¡¯t help but laugh at the accurate description of our rationality as humans. Emotions are both bane and boon.

    Talking to Tova about the port of entry to Camp Elsewhere gave me more ideas for urban planning that I put in the ¡®nice to have¡¯ section of my personal priorities while putting automation on HQ and factory security as a need to have.

    I walk over to the make-shift Orphanage next door to see how everyone is faring, and I¡¯m met with a secretary sitting at the reception area.

    ¡°Hello Miss Novarro, how may I assist you?¡± the teen receptionist asks me.

    ¡°I would like to talk to someone that can apprise me of desired changes to the building and any staff that needs to be hired. This is still planning on being an Orphanage, right?¡±

    Her laugh titters as she puts a hand in front of her mouth to cover it. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. We wished to discuss the name, as well as several modifications to help create a community feel. The staffing we feel we have a handle on. And as you may have guessed, you can talk to me if you wish. I am one of the current organizers in charge of Orphan development and enrichment. My name is Harmony.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you Harmony. Willing to help, as long as we can resolve some standing issues.¡±

    ¡°Of course! As this will likely be a longer conversation, I will page someone to replace me and we can talk in an office with refreshments.¡±

    I nod and we wait for only a few minutes before a male teen with a bright smile greets me and says he is also an organizer and his name is Darren. They certainly picked two charismatic people, sheesh.

    Harmony leads me to an adjacent room with a meeting table and moves a plate of cookies and a pitcher of water with a glass in front of me. I thank her and she sits next to me to pour us both some water.

    ¡°We are considering two names, Our Lady¡¯s Elsewhere, and Our Lady Nova.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer not to have it named after me, but if your intent is to have me take in and purpose train some of your residents, Nova is more appropriate. If you just want community support and a place that will accept them as they age out of the system, Elsewhere is better. If you just want a snazzy name, the joke for Elsewhere is WAY better.¡±

    ¡°Our hope is to partner with Nova Chem for a work-program for those that are willing to work, and perhaps a sponsorship for a few ¡®desirable¡¯ candidates like the program you went through at Warram.¡±

    That is a decent proposal. It¡¯s giving me what I asked for, but also asking for that little bit more.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard to promise the last part when I don¡¯t know what the organizers have planned for structure and enrichment for the kids. There were four of us Orphans holding things together in the shitshow that was my Orphanage.¡±

    ¡°I assure you that the organizers here have read about Warram¡¯s selection process, your and Maribelle¡¯s experiences at Our Lady Luck, as well as other stories from the younger orphans we¡¯ve collected in the area. We¡¯d be happy to send you the overarching plan.¡± The constantly chipper, can-do attitude is tiring.

    ¡°Yes please. May as well send me the remodel plans and see what I can part with.¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡± She claps her hands together and aims her thousand watt smile at me.

    Empress¡¯ glittery wings, that¡¯s a lot of brightness.

    I wave her gratitude off. ¡°It¡¯s pretty easy to want to help Orphans that are willing to accept help. Now put that smile away, your teeth could blind the moon.¡±

 A3: Chapter 19

    I step out of my shuttle¡¯s Pilot egress hatch as Paolo, Bev, and seven rescued drug workers walk down the ramp onto my shiny new factory on Asphodel. Zia, Marcella, and Dzartha meet us on the newly-built spaceport made for the industrial loads that will need transferring to this facility. I resist the desire to run over and hop on my girlfriend and kiss her beautiful face.

    ¡°Paolo, Bev, gentlemen, May I introduce the current Caretaker of the Hades system, Zia Astoria; the Process Engineer that helped build the place, Dzartha de Agressa; and you two know Marcella, she¡¯s security chief for¡±

    ¡°The Asphodel industrial complex.¡± She interjects. Seems that Penny gave her an upgrade.

    ¡°Guests, this is Paolo, my plant manager, Bev, his paramour, and his team.¡± Bev has not yet agreed to be a part of this team, but I suspect that to change as Marcella has upgraded and there is a chief of security job available.

    Zia steps forward to shake hands with Paolo. ¡°I apologize that the CEO of Astoria Chemical is not available, but welcome to Asphodel, Manager Paolo. Would you like to review your lodging options or your facility first?¡±

    Paolo freezes, not knowing the politics or the right thing to say. He also doesn¡¯t know that those considerations are not necessary. He looks to me ¡°Quimica, help.¡±

    I smile warmly at the capable, helpful, and stellar example of humanity. ¡°Perhaps Bev can talk with Caretaker Astoria about residences, and you, Dzartha, and Marcella can discuss operations?¡± He nods at me, then looks to Bev, who considers me for a moment before turning back to Paolo and nodding.

    Dzartha moves to Paolo and talks and gestures without getting too close, sensitive that his kind are intimidating to humans.

    ¡°Miss Novarro, would you be so kind as to attend me for a moment?¡± I do not like the sound of her officious tone, so I obey.

    Walking over to handshake distance and about to ask her what she wants, Zia takes a step forward, grabs my head and kisses the questions out of me. I can¡¯t help but hold her hips as we kiss until she pushes me to turn me around to kick me in the ass and make me stumble.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care for the stuffiness, Kimber. Now go attend to business so we can have fun later.¡±

    Feeling chastised, I pout on my way back to the factory group. Marcella is laughing and not having the decency to pretend to hide it.

    ¡°Soo, your girlfriend seems nice.¡±

    ¡°Marcella! Thanks for telling me you declined my offer to work for a different company.¡±

    ¡°What? Zia said you¡¯d be okay with it, and I don¡¯t have to work for my freaking protegee.¡±

    ¡°Shitty sister energy there, Marcie.¡±

    ¡°You little shit.¡± She dashes over to put me in a headlock and I put a thumb in her butt. She squawks and I stick my tongue out at her.

    I look at the others who are a mix of gaping or ignoring. ¡°We¡¯re practically sisters. We bicker all of the time. Moving on.¡± I walk past the people and enter my factory floor.

    There are dozens of more machines and racks and bins than I saw during the equipment review. I pull up my company interface and see that there is an acquisition for an automation suite for the plant and Orem-S drones to perform the manual parts of secondary drying and packaging. I put a query out to Penny about the drones as I don¡¯t see them listed on the exchange, nor do I see a bill on Nova Chem save the recurring materiel allotment that started today.

    I see one alert in my interface for the factory and it¡¯s the aether battery exchange schedule. Yep, need to post that in red on the office and factory walls. Those batteries and sand unshielded would mutate my employees in minutes.

    ¡°So, you¡¯re an interstellar Cartel starting today.¡± Marcella says, putting her arm on my shoulder.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s hard to believe that training to be an Enforcer led here.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, I guarantee that none of us thought we¡¯d be working on a foreign moon, let alone making drugs.¡±

    I chuckle at that. ¡°The newness of interstellar travel was wrung out of me when I met my star girlfriend shapeshifter who identifies as a dragon.¡± I expect a laugh, a scoff, something, but I look over to see a bit of wonder in her eyes.

    ¡°She¡¯s a dragon?¡± Marcella whispers. Her response tickles me and I can¡¯t help but giggle my response.

    ¡°I guess she¡¯s technically a Draconid, a humanoid dragon embodiment, but she can full western dragon if she needs to throw some weight around.¡±

    Marcella grabs my shirt and pulls me centimeters from her face. ¡°Can you ask her to show me?¡± she whispers again.

    ¡°We¡¯re in love, dummy, and you live in her sector. Just warn Danielle not to treat her as a science project and invite us over for dinner or something.¡±

    Marcella tries to hide her smile, turning around to collect herself, but the massive fist pump gives her away. My sister is a huge dork. I say, not having squeed when I saw my girl¡¯s pink-scaled majesty. Nope, not at all.

    The next two hours, we walk through the equipment as I discuss the apparatus changes with Paolo, and flag parts of the procedure that will require suits for his workers, an evacuation for certain evolutions, etcetera. Dzartha reminds us that he will be here tomorrow and the next few days to help supervise the process and we all thank him for it.

    When we walk out, Zia and Bev are having a picnic. Of course they are, why wouldn¡¯t my and Paolo¡¯s partners picnic? I see Zia manifest a stool in front of a significant board full of sushi and I skip over to sit next to her.

    I scoot the stool closer, kiss her cheek in thanks and wiggle a little before enjoying my fish snack.

    ¡°You remembered the Nope Rope Eel! You¡¯re the best Zee.¡± I put my hand on her leg to squeeze in appreciation. She slaps her hand over mine to keep it there. I smile back at her and enjoy the suddenly delightful situation.

    Paolo sits and snuggles with Bev as he eats. They feed each other and it¡¯s cute, but not for me. While they coo at each other and eat, I turn toward Zia.

    ¡°We should go on a light hunting trip. I like the idea of catching food for you.¡±

    She smiles wide, ¡°I like that you try to provide for me too, little Nova.¡± She manages to purr the last part and my middles wiggle a little as the warmth between my legs toes the line of manageable.

    I cough a few times while jamming fish in my mouth. Zia laughs in return and Bev¡¯s crooked smirk is knowing. I want to bathe in Zia¡¯s warmth and hide from embarrassment. SO CONFLICTED. Words will deescalate with awkwardness!

    ¡°What kind of residence did you decide on?¡±

    Bev quirks an eye before beginning. ¡°With your generous pay for Paolo, and considering the transit time and service availability, I have tagged a villa, a high condo, and an addition to the factory as options.¡±

    ¡°Me amore, the residence in the Factory was for convenience, a decision I made before my life changed.¡± He grabs her hand and kisses it before looking adoringly into her eyes. What a hecking romantic! OMG. My inner romantic squeals. ¡°I am happy to have an offsite location that we can travel to within ten to fifteen minutes.¡±

    ¡°Paolo, your pay includes use of company shuttles my man. A third of the moon is fifteen minutes away if you¡¯re in a hurry.¡± I say to my plant manager.

    His eyes brighten as he realizes that Bev¡¯s other options are now viable. ¡°Me amore loves shopping and city life, so we should accept the condo no? So we may do work and each other instead of maintenance, no?¡±

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Bev pulls Paolo into her lap and mugs the man with affection. He seems to be gasping for air, but also enjoying the pleasant deaths.

    ¡°How long have they known each other?¡±

    ¡°Six months? After meeting you, I don¡¯t think timeframes matter so much.¡± I reply as she reaches to dapple wasabi paste on my lips. She licks my lips and kisses the spice into my mouth. This fucking girl, I swear. We¡¯re in public!! I love it.

    \I¡¯m not staying to watch you four to fuck. See you tomorrow Kimber.\

    /Rude. Night sis./

    Dzartha excuses himself as well, and it¡¯s just the four of us. ¡°Zia, is there anything keeping them from sleeping in the condo tonight?¡±

    ¡°They need to stop kissing long enough to sign a contract, but otherwise no.¡±

    Paolo politely asks for a moment of space before continuing in their new home and signs the work and lodging contract.

    Zia grabs my hand and stands, stowing both of our chairs as she leads me back to her shuttle. When we get into the cockpit, she holds my face close and talks into my mouth. ¡°I have a mansion on this moon that could use some christening.¡±

    There goes my crotch composure--Literally dripping with arousal as she breathes scandalous promises into our kisses.

    ***

    ¡°Mom¡¯s never going to sell you an Orem. They¡¯re her personal projects. I can¡¯t believe that she put a whole squad in your new factory, but don¡¯t get your hopes up Kimber.¡± Her esses slur as her dragon mouth isn¡¯t made to make the noise that humans make.

    ¡°Babe, I get it. It was just a question. I¡¯m sorry if I triggered something.¡±

    Zia sighs as she gathers a wing around me. ¡°I just . . . I get jealous of her, you know? And when you ask her for help it flares. I don¡¯t know how to temper this, but I feel like my mom and my siblings are so amazing, and I¡¯m just . . .  I¡¯m just Zia.¡± I growl a little at that and I want to grab her snout and talk to her sternly.

    I run my finger along the top supports of the wing and watch her shudder. ¡°You¡¯re more than good enough for me, Zee. The others will accept you in time.¡± An evil grin spreads as I think about her arrival on Earth. ¡°If they don¡¯t, you can always breath fire on their villages and eat their cows.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I have read stories like this. I don¡¯t want to terrorize, Kimber. Though I am interested in local cuisine.¡±

    I snort at the sudden mental image of a large dragon with a bib eating a cow with a fork and knife. I open my mouth to comment, but instead, learning from previous mistakes, I tug at her hand.

    ¡°Look at me Zee.¡± She does, reluctantly and it seems hard for her to maintain eye contact. ¡°I can¡¯t fathom how hard it is to see how amazing you are, because to me you¡¯re a beacon of confidence and wonder. How do I convince you that you should not compare yourself to your family and appreciate you like I do?¡±

    She picks me up and cocoons us in her wings for a few seconds. ¡°Stay, and love me. But mostly stay.¡±

    ¡°Mutated Voosels couldn¡¯t keep me away, doofus. I love you, Zee. Both sides of you are so amazing and I would love to spend centuries appreciating them.¡±

    She chuckles as she hooks her snout around my neck. ¡°I hope you live that long to share the time with me.¡±

    Oh dear. This girl is getting all of the smooches later. For now, I scratch the area above her tail, letting her know that I appreciate her.

    She releases me with a scandalous lick along my jaw, making me shudder with delight as we continue to walk along the shops in the business district of Asphodel. Tech City is such a dumb name, so Zia tells me that most people call it Asphodel Metro.

    ¡°Are you like Queen Regent now?¡±

    ¡°Why, do you secretly want to bang the ruler of the Empire?¡±

    ¡°Zee, we¡¯ve covered this. While your mom is pretty, she is not you. I love you and your big stupid face. Okay, your pretty scaly face. Anyway, I just wonder how busy you get when your mom is away.¡±

    She nips my ear in chastisement before nuzzling me. She is really affectionate as a Draconid. She¡¯s less sure of herself as an Elf and it makes me sad both in that it doesn¡¯t feel like her skin, and that she has to be in it for us to get as close as she wants to be.

    ¡°Yeah, well, one of these days you might actually believe me.¡±

    ¡°Not likely. But I like the compliments anyway.¡± She sighs, ¡°I¡¯m merely a princess unless the Consuls recognize me as Regent. They won¡¯t do that unless they need Pro Tempore powers or until the next Founder¡¯s day, where a ruler of Astoria must be present.¡±

    ¡°If I remember correctly, Founder¡¯s day after next has some of her Judicial projects coming due.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, don¡¯t get me started. She wants me to move to Earth! Can you imagine?¡±

    I grab her snout and stare her in the eyes. ¡°Yes, Zia, I can imagine living with you and seeing you everyday.¡±

    She pulls her head away to blush.  ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to  . . . with you. I, it¡¯s just. It¡¯s a lot of work, Kimber, and I¡¯m afraid of what will happen if I¡¯m not good enough.¡±

    I run my finger along the top supports of her wing and watch her shudder. ¡°You¡¯re more than good enough for me, Zee. The others will accept you in time.¡±

    She buys us coffee and a crepe thing for breakfast before we hop in our shuttle, that her AI so thoughtfully drives while we continue flirting over our meal. I ask what she¡¯s going to do for the day, and she tells me most of the Empire is run with administration and working in the interface. I don¡¯t care for the amount of interface administration I have to do, I can¡¯t imagine the scale she has to deal with. Penny had to set up a whole government just to help her run things. Blearg. I should get some notes though, because I am likely going to have to do something similar for my settlement as it continues to grow.

    When we land, I see Paolo talking with the Herrati engineer, and Marcella walking towards us from an apartment block in the distance. I¡¯m definitely asking her about that.

    ¡°Kimber! You arrive at an opportune time! We need your aether signature to have the Orem workers check your saturation levels.¡±

    ¡°Are the sensors not in the tanks or something?¡± I wonder if the Orem models have to check the aether saturation manually and consider that there is no way a process engineer would be that inefficient.

    ¡°I see the confusion. The tanks are dry so we can cover the procedures for filling and changing out the aether charging media and the protective measures that your employees will need unless they acclimate to Elysium.¡± He explains as he waves me over.

    I turn to Zia, ¡°I think Marcella and I need to talk to you about integration in the area, but I should do this with them.¡±

    She tosses a gust of wind and pushes me back a little, smiling as she does it. ¡°Go on, be a good CEO. I have things I can talk to your sister about in the meantime.¡±

    I give her a little wave in thanks and trot over to the warehouse to join the team. Dzartha leads me to a panel next to the Orem recharging and storage bay that asks for my aether signature. I manifest one of my currently active contracts and set it against the sensor.

    //Aether signature accepted. Delivery of Orem-S autonomous workers completed.\\

    //Warning: Removal of Orem-S units from the areas owned by P. Astoria or K. Novarro will result in destructive deconstruction of the units.\\

    Well that¡¯s a way to stop the proliferation of mobile AI tech. I ask the console to send me the map while it queries me for control settings and permissions. I set it up simply: Penny Astoria and Kimber Novarro for unrestricted control. Plant managers for production related tasking, and security for unit safety related tasking.

    I enable verbal and text tasking and ensure it recognizes ¡®factory control¡¯ ¡®automated workers¡¯ ¡®Orem units¡¯ and ¡®Odell¡¯ as identifiers for itself. I like Odell because Nova-Asphodel becomes Odell pretty easily.

    ¡°Alright, Odell. For today only, I am granting Dzartha Plant Manager Permissions.¡±

    \Yes, Miss Novarro.\

    ¡°Please reply in the medium the request was received.¡± I correct.

    ¡°Yes, Miss Novarro. Dzartha Aggresori granted Plant Manager permissions for eight hours.¡±

    Uh, is that correct?

    The Astorian Day ends in eight hours or so. Our relative speeds are different and if we travel there the dilation changes things as well, but the System Host in orbit in Astorian space recognizes Astorian as a valid date time group for Supercluster Business.

    Huh I¡¯m going to need to dual date and time stamp my systems on Earth.

    HQ is already set, you need to get some help in the Factory.

    I need some help, period.

    The Engineer set a task list for Odell and the automated workers and directed the rest of us to the modified Habitat suits that are supposed to protect against aether exposure and fire-generated radiation in emergency situations. I put on my combat armor. With my headband-like shield emitter so I don¡¯t have to wear a helmet.

    ¡°Does that have the appropriate aether suppression?¡± Dzartha asks me.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been hunting on Elysium and I¡¯ve played with the aether products before. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± He shrugs and then leads us all outside, Orem units in tow. He directs them to the shipping and receiving lot to back a tanker cargo pod up to the fuel tank outside with two to maneuver the hoses and connectors.

    Two remaining bots are directed to load crystals onto a grav cart for installation into the automation hardware. I follow to watch the process as I know how to fill a storage tank full of corundum, but I don¡¯t know the interface for the power systems.

    One of the workers walks over to the control panel and navigates menus and warning prompts until two sides of the sloped rim to the floor drain rise up out of the floor. They then pull the vertical panel out like a dishwasher door showing two tightly packed rows of slots for what I assume are for the crystals we brought. They pull a lever on the side of the rack that seems to un-clench the inner space before turning toward the sealed crates on the cart.

    The padded side panel of the crate comes off to reveal six by six rows of crystals the length of my arm and as thick as my wrist. Curiosity gets the better of me and I walk over and pull one out. One of the Odell units squawks at me but I tell it to finish loading and leave the one I¡¯m holding for last.

    The first thing I notice is the tingle in my hands and my unprotected face. Huh, I should not hold this for long, the primal part of my brain signaling danger, I take a few snapshots and ask Tova to take as much data as she can in the seconds I hold the device before slotting it back into the crate.

    With Tova¡¯s help, I re-create a representation in my HUD and study the ultra-clear center with engraving marks on each of the eight faces and the color gradient at the tapered ends of the crystal, where the magitech receivers interface with the energy held within the crystalline matrix. There would be no way for me to decipher the intricacy of the engraved spellforms without studying every facet, but the views that I did get should help me learn more about engraving, and hopefully more about crafting containers for explosives that help shape ignition profiles.

 A3: Chapter 20

    After the prep day, I stay to supervise the process I helped create for Paolo to orchestrate with his new workers. I see some of the Odell units performing tasks that I¡¯d like the workers to learn, so I suspend their automatic assistance unless the batch is in danger of ruining. Paolo instructs his men to man long handled scrapers to pitch the slurry that is stagnating on the sides of the masher bag into the machine.

    After that, I watch Paolo show his team how to flood the mash with solvent, mix it and transfer it to the beds in sequence and then set the beds to recirculation while the first chemical conversion takes place. He then watches as the men do the same to the next two runs.

    ¡°That is the first stage, yes? Now we wait three days.¡±

    ¡°Paolo. In this apparatus, we flush the masher and the additive thumper with the transfer pump twice before we¡¯re to add the chemicals to the next solvent. We do this now to prevent fouling and any incidental chemistry from occurring in the meantime.¡±

    ¡°Ayeee.¡± He palms his face, a gesture he got from me. ¡°A step I am not used to.¡±

    ¡°I have no doubt you would have flushed it prior to adding more chemicals, but this keeps us from bringing down a run for cleaning just a little bit longer.¡± I kind of wish Dzartha was here for this, because it feels so wrong to correct Paolo since he was the one who helped me discover the correct process in the first place.

    ¡°It was what I was thinking, yes. Odell, please adjust timing reminders to fit an earlier flushing process.¡±

    ¡°Yes Manager.¡±

    ¡°Odell. Send me a note for each event of timing or process changes.¡± I say to the room.

    ¡°Yes, Owner. Would you like us to wait for approval before making the changes?¡±

    ¡°No, no. Manager Paolo is the man on scene. Unless the changes are dangerous to people, product, or property; let the man cook.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Miss Novarro.¡±

    I turn to Paolo to make sure he is paying attention. The man is staring in rapt focus. ¡°Paolo, while Odell can do much of the process autonomously. We will not be doing that until your workers can perform the process, or until you get a feel of the operation and either make enough tweaks to the process in attempts to optimize, or until you¡¯ve filed enough reports that you feel the current process is optimal. This has a two-fold purpose: I want you thinking about how to make your factory better, and I want Odell to learn the effects of perturbations to the system so that he can learn to optimize in his own way.¡±

    ¡°I believe I understand, Quimica. I must understand this well enough to be confident in making it my own.¡± I smile widely and slap him on the side of the shoulder.

    ¡°Exactly that my man. Despite our odd beginnings, I am glad you are with me.¡±

    ¡°Your man for life, Quimica. You bring me opportunities. I will bring us money,¡± he says with pride and salutes as Dzartha does, rapping his fist to his chest twice. Gods, this man is both sweet and intense.

    ¡°A fact you have already proven! Oh, Odell. Once you think you understand the perturbations at each stage well enough to optimize, I would like a report showing said attempt at optimization. And this is not a competition by the way. This is a quest for knowledge from two separate paths.¡±

    ¡°Orders received, Owner.¡±

    ¡°Oh! One more thing for both of you. Don¡¯t let anyone lower than my aether exposure level sample the uncut product. It will almost certainly cause a mutation, if not death. One part Nova to two parts regular, or one part Nova to one part non-cocaine cutting material is recommended.¡±

    I send a note to that effect to Penny and Zia.

    ¡°Paolo, I would like to talk to you outside please.¡± I walk toward the loading docks, where Aria so graciously landed for a conference I want to hold. As I get to the ramp to the cargo area, I see Paolo exiting the factory, jogging to catch up with me.

    ¡°Quimica is so fast!¡± he says, putting his hands on his hips and looking at the ceiling while the hatch closes behind him.

    ¡°Alright, Paolo. This isn¡¯t anything weird, but discussing your pay in front of employees is bad business.¡± He nods. ¡°Alright then. I want to pay you eight thousand credits per year, with point five percent profit share from this factory, but you pay your employees and are responsible for hiring as you see fit. This is a change from just the salary Bev saw, because I want you to do the extra work of hiring the other personnel you need and managing their pay from the point five percent.  This contract is re-negotiable if the scope of your job changes.¡±

    ¡°Am I responsible for hiring security as well?¡± he asks.

    I shake my head, ¡°No, that is a collective agreement between Astoria Chemical and me.¡±

    He nods, ¡°This feels generous, Quimica. My workers will also enjoy luxury with these wages.¡±

    I chuckle at that. From the reports of where and how they were found, I don¡¯t doubt it will feel like luxury. ¡°Glad to hear. I¡¯ll be staying through the end of this run, but other than me viewing, this is all you Paolo. Your plant, your team, you dealing with Marcella and whomever Astoria Chem sends to coordinate.¡±

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°I will not fail you.¡± He says, swearing with the core of his being that it be so. I feel, hells, I see a braided golden rope wobble as it connects between us, only to fade as the connection resonates between us.

    Seeing the golden magic of my Track engage with something like an oath of service is odd and disquieting. Is it that I can see the bonds an oath is supposed to create? Or is it something more that my magic is creating?

    Query Oaths of Service.

    //Answer: Voluntary Oaths are devotions, often of service to a lord, Hero, or deity; that lend conviction to the swearer in exchange for fair treatment, favor, or other moral or social terms of recompense. Not all oaths end favorably, but they are intended to be beneficial to both parties.

    That  . . .  is not what I expected. How do you respond to such a thing?

    ¡°I believe in you, and that my trust in you is not misplaced.¡± Did I do it? Is that what I was supposed to say.

    The smile on his face, and the slight sparkle of gold along our link seems to think I did okay.

    ¡°How did I let you get so serious on me?! Paolo!¡± I have Aria open the rear hatch for me, with the distinct impression that she finds my embarrassment fascinating.

    He chuckles at my outburst and stands to leave as the door opens.

    To my surprise, Aria chimes in. ¡°Kimber, you have a consultation at Summer Farms on Astoria in three hours.¡±

    ¡°Thanks Aria. And Paolo, just because I¡¯m going to see you in three days, doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t contact me for something important before that.¡±

    ¡°So you say, Quimica, pero, I don¡¯t think many things are so important as that.¡±

    ¡°Bah!¡± I scoff before having Aria tilt and scoot the man off my shuttle.

    /Thanks Aria, I would have otherwise forgotten that I have a promise to Penny to keep./

    ***

    ¡°Kimber, sweetie, you¡¯re not trying to propose to Penny. Just make her booze and she¡¯ll like it.¡± The owner of Summer Farms tells me.

    ¡°Francesca, I want it to be unique. Something that puts a personal spin on this whole thing. What other catalyst could there be?¡±

    She groans again. ¡°You¡¯re the alchemist! All I can tell you is that the enzymes don¡¯t change! Even using Silverwheat, something I created from local grasses, the alpha and beta amylase perform the same functions at the same temperatures on starches that are present in every grain. Even the silicon-based starches from Hevershet-5 break down this way.¡±

    So, the brewing phase isn¡¯t going to change. What if there¡¯s something I can do in the still phase? That is my expertise in this situation.

    ¡°Do you have a bench I can use with a heat source?¡± I ask.

    ¡°Still plus bench or just clean bench?¡±

    ¡°Oooh. The first please.¡± She leads me over to her still, she shows me a variety of mobile tables in a common shop with a drain and lets me just mess with it. I cart over the 400L of Silverwheat and Glifunga Berry (the aether infused berry that makes her and my favorite juice) beer--that I crafted with the PhD Botanist that runs the place¡ªand load it into the ten gallon still. Don¡¯t get discouraged, Kimber, this is the test apparatus.

    I pay to transfer some alchemy glass to the table I selected and work on building the material for my catalyst column that I typically build for infusions. To my surprise, while I pop a chew for pep in selecting catalysts, I am reminded that even for my energy chews and balms, there is a side note on blood and the vitae of life that always acts as a catalyst, changing a work in sometimes unpredictable ways. There¡¯s the hook! There¡¯s the unique experience.

    I rig an alembic to a heat source with some gelatin, soda, a few solvents and a heat source. When the mix reaches 25C I open some wrist and drip a few ¡®cc¡¯s of my swirly blood into the device. I select a removable column inserted into a hot-water coil and then wait ten minutes for the mixture to homogenize under heat and then I add an acetic acid solution to make the blood-soda foam into the column and cook into a stable, porous filter.

    Bringing my core slug of catalyst filter made from my blood over to the distillation column, I rig the porus material to have the hot distillate drip over the material and cascade over subsequent sponge filters until the temperature of the final stack is at 20C. The filters I made only make it through about 100 of the 400 liters of beer. I smell each of the jars that the distillate was drained into, refusing the top two and the last one of each beer batch and mix the middles together.

    The mix I get is delightfully red with diaphanous silver swirls.

    What if you used an ink catalyst?

    Tova, where were you an hour ago? Good idea though, let¡¯s put on the machine.

    Four hours after I started, Francesca is glowering at me, but I have two different containers full of 100L of specialty booze.

    ¡°Summers, if I buy you dinner will you stop glowering?¡± I accuse.

    ¡°Fuck no! I want the booze you bitch!¡± I step back in shock, wondering what to do until I finally realize the look of unbridled curiosity in her eyes. The chuckle that escapes me is unkind, but I tap a tumbler for each of us for my concoctions.

    I slide her glasses over and she immediately studies them. I shrug and decide to do the same.

    <Engraver¡¯s Grease -2IAB- An infused alcoholic beverage that aids insight and flexibility to engraving and spellform crafts for two hours.>

    <Alchemic Fire -2AAA- An infused alcoholic beverage that aids passion and productivity to alchemic pursuits. This concoction is blessed with divine aether and is also an unquenchable incendiary.>

    Did I just make a beverage and an ancient horror? Hells yeah!!

    I sip the purple tinged engraver¡¯s drink and feel a smooth, cream-like texture that reminds me of berries in the summer wind. Moderate weight, full body, diaphanous notes of caramel and loganberry. Very pleasant.

    The second is like walking into an Indian restaurant and signing up for eleventy chili¡¯s of pain. My mind tried to separate into parallel minds just to process how bad I messed up. While the liquor wasn¡¯t actually spicy, it filled my veins with fire and consequence. The blocks of success and the sluice of despair seem omnipresent as I wonder why this didn¡¯t identify as a poison.

    ¡°Empress¡¯ sodden beard, that is probably the most offensive thing I¡¯ve ever put in my mouth. Kimber, it feels like it should be killing me, but I suddenly want to perform chemistry.¡± Not that I would drink it regularly, but if the description of the drink is correct, I would drink it in a pinch.

    ¡°Leave the bottle of the purple stuff, take the beer, and get out of my lab,¡± the Botanist manages to choke out.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry Dr. Summers, I . . .¡±

    ¡°OUT!!¡±

    I pay to transfer the tank of beer to my shuttle and scamper off the farm. I¡¯ll have to buy new alchemy apparatuses, but no way am I going back in there.

    /Hey hon, I have some Alchemy I want to accomplish tonight. Is there a place you would allow me to set up a work space in our place?/

    \One of the rooms you haven¡¯t been in yet is already set up for you. It¡¯s only fire resistant though, so don¡¯t go crazy\

 A3: Chapter 21

    ¡°Are you sure you can¡¯t stay for part of the Hunt? It¡¯ll be so good for your levels and training!¡± Zia says, mere inches from my lips as she attempts to ply her Elven wiles to get her way. I tap the back of her head into kissing me and chuckle into the connection.

    ¡°Sorry baby, I¡¯ve been gone from my territory as long as I can. I got a few jobs sent to me that need to be handled this week, and while yes, I could quit, it¡¯s good training for the job I want. Plus, if you¡¯re headed to Earth for training after your hunt is finished, we¡¯ll be seeing a lot of each other anyway.¡±

    Zia pushes my face away in response. ¡°Would it kill you to seem desperate to be with me?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty pouty for a fearsome warrior.¡± The grump she throws at me has me laughing and pulling her against me. ¡°You know I love you, and you know that if this was more than just a disagreement about my path of development, we¡¯d be talking more about it. I don¡¯t love that we¡¯re not living together, but both of our lives are in flux right now.¡±

    She wraps her arms around me and squeezes me tightly. ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯m not really mad. I just feel this weird desperation inside and it¡¯s exhausting fighting against it.¡±

    ¡°It might just be your dragon brain hunting for a culture. You think having another friend that accepts your dragon would help? Are there any other reptilian aliens that you know?¡±

    She sighs into my hair. ¡°It¡¯s partly the dragon thing. A primal part of my brain needs to make a nest with you, but like you said, with our lives being so unstable right now, a nest really isn¡¯t feasible.¡±

    ¡°This apartment or my garden suite isn¡¯t a nest to you?¡± She shakes her head.

    ¡°Something we have to make together.¡±

    ¡°So are we talking a lair where you can stow your treasures? ¡®Cause I¡¯ll tell you, I¡¯m not sleeping on piles of gold and trinkets.¡± I get an ear flick and a chuckle out of her. I¡¯ll take that as a win.

    ¡°That¡¯s pretty insensitive, little Nova. But just like you, I don¡¯t really know. I just have these instincts. Auntie Jenna made me read up on the various forms of shifting. While hers is also a mythological transformation she¡¯s not a polymorph shifter. She¡¯s a bi-morph like most common varieties. Mine subsumes the genetics of what I¡¯m transforming into and in mythic forms, the Matrix nudges the biology and the level of ¡®body of power¡¯ or how naturally aetheric a creature would be and makes it work. With Mom, the Matrix created a version of Pixie based on lore, just for her. Andromeda did the same for me on Draconids for my tier 3 transformation.¡±

    I wonder briefly what would happen if my system ¡®Divine¡¯ magic were to merge with her shifter magic in our little baby dragons, when I realize what I just thought of and my face becomes unbearably hot. Is she emitting something that¡¯s making me think of this, or is it just the talk of nesting and a part of my brain loves the idea.

    Take some years to think about it, Kimber. YEARS!

    I grab the sides of her head gently and thumb the tops of her bladed ears, smiling upwards as I plant a soft kiss on her lips. ¡°Zia, we have time. You¡¯re going to live for many hundreds of years and I¡¯m thinking I have at least double the normal Human so far. This isn¡¯t something we have to solve today. Now how about we tell Aria to take us to the Hades system while we fool around in the cargo bay?¡± She grins at me, smacks my butt HARD and blinks to the door, winks at me and blinks through it toward the elevators.

    I¡¯mma take that as confirming my plan.

    ***

    The Gateway on Asphodel is not as forgiving on shuttle travel as the one on Astoria, but with it long on the schedule, and paying extra for the inconvenience, I make it back to Bikini Atoll without having to warp back to Astoria, which saves me a ton in aether crystals. As it is, I have to make a pit stop in Moiriax every time I travel to Hades, because my shuttle can¡¯t jump the whole distance.

    Zia and Penny both told me I could use their base slash beach resort on the atoll as I please, so I swap out my crystals out for a stash of charged crystals they have and pay some aether and some credits to their utility for recharging services.

    A few hours later, I¡¯m back at the Laundry where Gustavo, my new plant manager and Marcus are there to meet me. I had time to review the plant¡¯s statistics over the weeks I was gone and I am not thrilled.

    ¡°Gustavo, I see your team cost me another ten thousand credits on a fouled batch. Please explain.¡±

    ¡°Quimica, the record is not accurate on that account. We had to log the accident, but there was no easy category for what happened.¡± He pauses to see if I was going to yell, or something, but I motion for him to continue. ¡°We operated on faulty assumptions on how automated the process is, and we ended up sending another batch to the first additive and solvent steep on the tables. The tables flooded a bit and the chemistry was  . . . complicated by the mistake. The end result was a combined batch going to the next stages, but that first conversion mistake ended in a 20% loss of product over the two batches of leaves. The third run is still in progress, but so far it is progressing as expected.¡±

    I rub my face in frustration as I think. The fact that they managed to salvage most of both batches shows that they analyzed the mistake and properly understood the process enough to correct the remaining of the batch. We can work with equipment operation errors, fundamental misunderstandings are much harder.

    ¡°That¡¯s actually much better than what the report said. You should annotate the report or submit a supplemental with corrective actions taken if something like this happens. This will push back my renovation of the factory, but only by six months or so. If you can help me figure out how to not short my customers, you can keep your bonuses for the quarter.¡± He nods and excuses himself.

    Marcus waits a moment, watching the man slink back into the office before talking.

    ¡°It¡¯s still weird seeing you be reasonable, not performing an act for one reason or another.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, acting like the boogey man doesn¡¯t serve a purpose here. As for being reasonable, we¡¯ll see about the weird shit in your report before I¡¯ll agree about that.¡±

    He snorts at my swearing. ¡°The turret embankments at the edges of your property are executing armed people. And in a weird cascading disaster, unregistered folks are trying to scavenge the weapons and are getting shot when they pick them up.¡±

    ¡°Gods, that¡¯s a mess. Oh, gods! That¡¯s a huge fucking mess! The loudspeaker broadcast system purchase makes a lot more sense now. I didn¡¯t look over the recommendations because I didn¡¯t understand the problem, so can you hit me again?¡±

    He shakes his head and rolls his eyes. I¡¯ve already accepted that Marcus is going to be flippant, so I let it pass. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s possible, but the boys and I suggest that you push out your territory claim a hundred meters and put up a warning as armed personnel enter your property. Like a system alert.

    ¡°Also, the work visas seem to be working, but security at the Port of Entry doesn¡¯t have a way to correct things on-site. If you could let watch captains issue temporary visas it would help with the turrets taking pot shots at contractors as well.¡±

    I nod at that. The Automatic Security Measures I installed do not take orders from the security teams, just my standing orders and the settlement interface. My settlement interface recognizes visas, so the temporary visa could solve both problems.

    ¡°I like that idea. Three-day temp badge should let contractors and subcontractors do their thing and leave, or let the company finish their regular paperwork for my settlement.¡±

    ¡°Great. That should lower my manning requirements for hauling corpses to the recycle chute. Lastly, we have un-armed immigrants currently filling the barracks, with more temporarily lodged at the Orphanage. Combined with the transfer request from Warram Criminal Enterprises.¡±

    ¡°How many people total?¡±

    ¡°About a thousand.¡± The hell did he just say?!

    I dive into my menus and see the list of non-residents and then at the transfer list. Nine hundred and seventy two people. Tova, I need help.

    The two barracks buildings near the Elsewhere Square are nearly complete. The additional one at HQ is complete but has not been reviewed by you for resident access. Two wings of the Square have available lodgings, but they would have to move once the necessary barracks rooms are completed. By the numbers: Four hundred free lodging rooms can be available today. Another 200 family occupancy residences are available in the Square, and 800 more free lodging rooms will be available within two weeks.

    ¡°Okay, I think we can manage that. I¡¯m going to clear another building for use, 400 more barracks accommodations, so prioritize getting people out of the Orphanage unless they are orphans. Then I have 200 family occupancy residences that I will work on filling from the WCE list. The rest will have to wait a few more weeks for more buildings to finish.¡±

    ¡°I assume you are going to set up a secretary or liaison for this sort of thing?¡±

    ¡°For long term residences? Absolutely. Temporary stuff? Your teams will have to arrange that in the sports field with tents or some shit until I can make something outside of the security perimeter for that, or arrange a hotel.¡±

    Marcus tells me the remaining details can be found in a data sheet that he will send to me, so I walk off towards Aria so that she can take me the short distance to HQ so I can have myself a garden reset and start working on finding a few managers for different areas of my settlement, including a day-to day manager, like an assistant Mayor or something. Camp Director? Head Counselor?

    It amuses me to continue to set my settlement up like a summer camp from old TV shows, so I set up permissions for a Director, several Camp Counselors, Instructors for my future settlement crafters and vocation teachers.

    This is not something an adult would do. I fully support your plan to make people feel supported and ridiculous.

    It¡¯s nice to feel supported, Tova. Thank you. She chirps at me

    We land and Aria informs me that she would like to iterate her Kernel and will be down for four to six hours, but that manual operation would be available in the meantime. I tell her to go ahead, as I had not planned to begin any of my tasking for the Sheriff until tomorrow.

    //Nurse Cruise is attempting to contact you, do you accept?

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Yeah, let¡¯s go ahead and set permission to contact me for settlement business to automatic as long as they put their name and position identifier as ¡®available¡¯.

    \Miss Novarro. I¡¯m Nurse Cruise at Hospital Reception. There¡¯s someone from Warram Financial Group here to see you.\

    /Thank you, I¡¯ll be right down./

    I¡¯m half tempted to put my armor on and jump off the building, but I figure it¡¯s about even on time with me walking to the elevator and being a normal person. If I could fly on my own, that would be much faster.

    As I come out of the central elevator, I see a busy reception area for my HQ building. A man in light armor with a side arm is helping to route people at the entrance and the reception slash nurses station on the hospital side is crowded with upset people while a tall, young Hispanic man maintains eye contact while navigating menus with his screens half-visible so that people can see that he isn¡¯t just ignoring them.

    I walk up to security first as Mr. Cruise seems more occupied.

    ¡°Officer, why are there so many people in my hospital waiting room?¡±

    ¡°Ah, Miss Novarro. A lot happened while you were gone. This,¡± he gestures, ¡°Is a buildup of ventilated immigrants and the resultant lack of oversight on clearing and deconstruction crews.¡±

    Gods, what a mess. I purchase a dozen chairs and five wheelchairs and put them in the hotel reception area. ¡°Alright, get me enough people with bruises, scrapes or minor breaks to fill these seats and I¡¯ll do some field medicine. Tell them the score and if they don¡¯t trust me, they can wait.¡± He nods and within minutes I have people with some crush bruising and some straight through bullet wounds.

    First volunteer is in a wheelchair and their whole left leg is in the purple region, and that arm is broken too. ¡°Sir, this is not a simple break.¡±

    ¡°Field medicine now might save my leg.¡± I nod at the sentiment, throw some towels on the reception desk and stab the bastard full of pain be gone before hoisting him on the desk. ¡°How long since the crush?¡±

    ¡°Day, day and a half.¡±

    I suck air through my teeth and he nods. I pull up a window for vent locations for crush syndrome on a thigh and order some surgical tools. I put a few vents in the quad and two in the ham, and let the black blood drain from the poor bastard while I straighten his arm, splint his leg, and then inject him with some tier one meds. I slap some balm on his vents and the break locations and put him back in the wheelchair with the rest of the tin.

    ¡°Find a buddy to check the pulse in your ankle a few times today. If you lose it, get someone¡¯s attention.¡± The guard wheels him into a corner and I tend to the people in some regular seats with regenerative and t-1 healing. Some balms, and a few get the hell out of here for minor sprains.

    As the ¡®minor injury¡¯ crowd thins a little, I leave the remainder of the cases of meds that I ordered and leave them with Nurse Cruise. I¡¯m about to talk with him about hospital stuff, when a man¡¯s voice says my name.

    ¡°Owner Novarro, a moment of your time please.¡±

    I turn around to see a faceless humanoid chassis wearing a suit. If I had not met Orem or the Odells, I may have shot this thing on reflex.

    ¡°Avatar?¡± The head nods. ¡°Well, Avatar, how may I assist you?¡±

    ¡°I noticed that you are no longer occupied and would like to discuss some business items with you.¡±

    My eyebrow raises on its own, ¡°Yeah, alright. Let¡¯s take a walk.¡± I say, not wanting to be in an enclosed space with a robot.

    I believe it to be an artificial entity in a cybernetic chassis.

    Is that like, a semi-biotic brain? She chirps in agreement. Huh.

    We get to the abandoned sports complex that I want to turn into a training arena when I stop and turn to the Avatar.

    ¡°Alright, Warram, what business might you have with me?¡±

    ¡°You upset and then had the Matrix put sanctions on my organized crime division here in Vegas.¡± He pauses, I nod. ¡°I have concerns that you do not intend to stabilize the region, but to hunker in your settlement and only protect your residents.¡±

    ¡°Those are my immediate concerns, yes. However, as Deputy of Southern Nevahrado and the Texico border conflict, I am attempting to do both.¡± The Avatar nods at that.

    ¡°I am also referring to financial stability, and your job as Deputy does not help occupy the idle miscreants and trouble-makers. Organized Crime has shown to provide both minor enforcement roles and financial stability for those that would otherwise be elements of chaos. My aims are, and have always been, to make money and lower chaos in the western hemisphere. Warram Financial is a major power in both continents under various names and businesses. I want to work with you as it would be less costly and generate less chaos than trying to replace you.¡±

    ¡°You may understand that I have a bad taste in my mouth from my recent interactions with one of your ¡®businesses¡¯. That said, I don¡¯t really want to affiliate with the name because of what they represented in the region and what the asshole in charge tried to do to us.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it was not my finest moment to allow my name to be associated with this, but there were reasons. Any case, there are a few affiliates I thought you might not mind associating with: Great Basin Security, Old West Relocation and Settlement Services, and Old West Craft Supply.¡±

    Damn him. I was hoping I could say no, but this man has fingers in everything doesn¡¯t he?

    ¡°What benefits would your craft supply have over the ansible?¡±

    ¡°I get in-Empire rates with Astorian vendors, and I have a shipping company that moves in bulk, so I don¡¯t have to worry about transfer fees. I also deal Earth goods with some harder to contact vendors, and I get a discount there as well. To make this shorter, the settlement and relocation services provides loans and helps identify plots that are available for groups that want to start something of their own, or want to join a settlement that fits their values.¡±

    ¡°Okay, that last one sounds pretty wholesome, what¡¯s the catch? Are the loans predatory?¡±

    The Avatar¡¯s body posture manages to look offended.

    ¡°Miss Novarro, while I understand where the vitriol is based, I would appreciate if you would treat future dealings with me and my holdings as¡ªhow do Earthers say it?¡ªa fresh start.¡±

    That pulls a sigh of frustration out of me. I try to perform a full reset by rubbing my face, shaking out my head and flopping my hair out of my face. ¡°I can give that a shot. The settlement services sound really good. Like exactly what I¡¯m looking for. So let me re-phrase my earlier question, If we were to affiliate with said service, what would you want from Elsewhere or Nova Chem?¡±

    ¡°Management and starting new settlements. That, of course, would include you setting up utilities and other infrastructure needed.¡± I raise an eyebrow, hoping he doesn¡¯t expect this kind of wrote charity when he¡¯s turning a profit. ¡°You will receive the yearly stipend for settlements of various sizes, and I am willing to give a small percentage of the fees I collect for relocation services.¡±

    Hmm, not sure if I want in on charging the people for coming to my settlements. ¡°How about, a flat fee for in processing based on group size, in exchange for a guarantee that any settlement I start is supplied with enough relocations to achieve a t-1 population within a year.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, not as lucrative for you in the long run, but you seem to be avoiding a partnership-like relationship.¡± He takes another moment to think it over, and for an artificial intelligence, that is impressive. ¡°I would like you to consider my security services as well, so I will add a small team for a month of complimentary assignment to start when you chose for each new settlement.¡±

    That seems generous from the outset, but a month only seems enough time to assess a security problem on a village or city size. Which would naturally lead to extending the contract into the pay region for at least a few additional months. ¡°That seems smart. Give me a taste and since you likely know my situation here, set me up to hire your services on the reg. You have yourself a deal, Mr. Warram.¡± The familiar flash of gold and a contract drops into my hand.

    ¡°Ah, I had wished to have more detail in said agreement, but I wager those can be discussed without Matrix involvement. I would like you to consider moving the settlement attempt that your mentor was forced to abandon and put one along the Humboldt River. There are more natural resources there and it would allow for a new settlement instead of a satellite of Reno. I would like a settlement in Wymonto as well.¡±

    I sigh, ¡°Send me your relocation data for Wymonto and I¡¯ll have my Urban Development specialist work on a location and a plan.¡±

    The Avatar nods and says ¡°Reasonable.¡± I get a data packet, which Tova opens immediately, and he continues, ¡°Thank you for your time and consideration Miss Novarro.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for waiting and being so straightforward, Avatar of Warram.¡± He both nod and he takes his leave by levitating and jetting off into the distance.

    I walk back to HQ, authorizing some purchases for Tova¡¯s plans in Elsewhere, and send a proposal to the Health Club because they did a lot of leg work for a settlement up north.

    The reception area of HQ is significantly more controlled, and it doesn¡¯t seem that anyone with major wounds is waiting to be seen. That makes me feel better, but I still have no idea how many people my oversight hurt. I should probably check my messages. Before I can, Nurse Cruise waves me over.

    ¡°Welcome back! Doctor Kenneck would like to talk with you, and is there any way we can get another set of those injector boxes? The previous doctor didn¡¯t leave us with much.¡± Yep, sounds like Daniella right now. Not sure what suddenly crawled up her ass, but she¡¯s been   . . . not great towards me. Thoughts for a calmer time, however. I order three boxes, regenerative, potion-like t-1 restore injector, and Pain-b-gone.

    ¡°I assigned the quantity to you. Check them back into the supply room before you leave.¡±

    ¡°We have a supply room?¡±

    I nod as I navigate some menus. ¡°That you and the staff now have access to. I¡¯m sorry that Doctor Medvedev left you in such a predicament.¡±

    He shakes his head, ¡°Doctor Kenneck is a better person to talk about this with.¡± I nod and look up the room that the new resident is in.

    I open the door and I¡¯m immediately accosted by ¡®how dare you¡¯s and other such accusations. I change her permissions, give her a promotion to Hospital Administrator and then open the door again.

    ¡°Good afternoon Administrator Kenneck! Now what did you want to discuss?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to run a hospital, I just want to practice medicine!¡±

    ¡°Doctor Medvedev had the same attitude. And though she had the permissions, she left you in the lurch because she thought it wasn¡¯t her responsibility.¡± She looks ready to yell again, ¡°You can decline the position and willingly cripple your staff, or you can do the work for a few months while I find someone to do it long term. Now, I can tell you just upgraded your Track to Medical Doctor, but you¡¯ve clearly got the confidence of Nurse Cruise, so how about talking to me about what you need instead of what you don¡¯t want to do.¡±

    ¡°I need staff and supplies and a place to live.¡±

    ¡°Give me a list of positions and I¡¯ll put out an open call. Review the supplies in the ¡®supply room¡¯ and get back to me. There¡¯s a management and maintenance fund that you now have access to, and Doctors get an apartment as part of their salary, unless you take the role of Hospital Administrator, then you get a suite. Your Nurses can also opt in for an apartment on the HQ side of the building. We also have available apartments in the Square and several watchtowers. Is there anything else I can address?¡±

    ¡°Have a therapist available?¡± She says, slumping into the exam table with a hard sigh.

    That small cry for help cools my building head of steam. ¡°That I understand. Move into the executive suite, there¡¯s a garden, a hot tub, and some other bennies that you¡¯ll discover. There are two massage therapists available in the settlement, and the other kind should become available when more former Warram employees migrate over.¡±

    ¡°Is Doctor Kinsey coming too?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not allowed in this building. He has a history of taking advantage of his patients.¡±

    ¡°But he can help people.¡±

    ¡°Rebecca. I¡¯ll give him a shot to set up his own practice, but he won¡¯t practice in any facility I own. If you¡¯re saying that his being a skilled doctor is worth overlooking his crimes, then you may as well let me practice medicine because my attentions are more likely to save people than kill them. I learned to treat people so I could question them longer and suffering was a questioning technique.¡±

    That was the first time she looked at me with a critical eye. ¡°You were an enforcer?¡±

    I nod, ¡°I¡¯ve since upgraded to Deputy Sheriff of Southern Nevahrado, which is why I am not available much. Unless there¡¯s anything else you can think that needs my immediate attention, I have a resource dispute to resolve and a series of murders to investigate.¡± I walk out of the room and physically impact a tall man that was about to knock on the door.

    ¡°My apologies, I was not paying attention.¡± I look up to see an excessively pretty man. Long, soft features, prominent, dark eyelashes and a small smattering of foundation and eyeliner that reinforces that he is more pretty than handsome.

    ¡°And I, perhaps, was too eager to see Rebecca.¡± I look down to the scrubs that he is wearing and then peer at his position in the hospital. Physician¡¯s Assistant. Hmmm.

    ¡°You already dating before today?¡±

    He blushes, and it¡¯s really damned pretty. Okay, this pretty man is confusing me. ¡°It was new before we started working here.¡±

    I nod at that. Not loving the subordinate relationship, but I¡¯ll list it as a pre-existing illness and move on. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it then.¡±

    That has a high probability of blowing up in everyone¡¯s faces. I would not doubt that Cruise has a crush on him too.

    /Zia, I¡¯m so glad we found each other. Hope your hunt is going well, baby. Miss you./

    \What happened? What¡¯s wrong?\

    I chuckle at that. /I just witnessed a romantic situation that is going to blow up in some faces. Happy that I¡¯m not dealing with a workplace romance.¡±

    \Mom has had many unsuccessful versions of that. You can look, but don¡¯t touch honey.\

    /Hey! I didn¡¯t do anything!/

    \Make sure it stays that way. I would be a very unhappy Draconid\

    How did I get in trouble when I just wanted to say I was glad I was in a steady, committed relationship?! Now I want to go shoot something.

 A3: Chapter 22

    I spent the night making more Engraving hooch from the 350 remaining litres of berry brew that I made at Summer farms. I get about fifty liters of the engraving aid out of the effort and end up drinking a liter myself while messing around with engraving.

    I find out why the engraved crystals have such uniform facets: sympathetic engraving. Uniform inward compression runes and some strong containment runes make some excellent containers for volatile liquids. That said, I left my lab dirty after slinking off to pass out in my bed. I read my messages as I clean my workspaces.

    <You have advanced Urban Assault> x2

    <You have advanced Gun-Fu>

    <You have advanced Sense Motive> x2

    <You have advanced Intimidation>x2

    <You have discovered Endurance>

    /your efforts convey Novice 3

    <You have discovered Interrogation>

    /Your training and law-enforcement track convey Novice 7

    <You have advanced Management> x5

    <You have discovered a recipe for Engraver¡¯s Grease>

    /additional xp awarded for being the first amongst your kind to discover a skill reinforcing recipe.

    <You have discovered the recipe for Alchemic Fire.>

    /additional xp awarded for resurrecting a lost recipe.

    /additional xp awarded for developing a multi-purpose recipe.

    /your recipe is being reviewed by the Andromeda Forum.

    <You have discovered Intestinal Fortitude>

    /your prolonged effort to destroy your innards conveys the skill of Intermediate 4

    <You have advanced Alchemy>x2

    <You have advanced Aether Engraving>x2

    <You have slain 53 armed trespassers>

    /reduced experience awarded for lack of apparent hostility

    /reduced experience awarded for automated system kills

    <You have gained technical imbalance> x4

    <You have gained aether imbalance>x2

    <You have gained a level>

    <Your imbalances combine to gain levels>x4

    It has apparently been weeks since I¡¯ve checked my messages, and this is proof positive of why you don¡¯t spend your imbalances unless it¡¯s particularly tasty. Four levels, when I only really earned two, two and a half. Zia would probably tell me that I could have gotten that in the same number of days on her hunt, but she¡¯d be proud of me just the same. Well, save for the unintentional executions. Those are pretty horrible and I should create a fund for the survivors of the event.

    Oh, you just got a vitriolic message from the Health Club. Which means we should go with my optimized Humboldt design, instead of my accommodating design.

    You¡¯re bulldozing? She sends me the designs and I see that she¡¯s designed a spoke and wheel pattern around the confluence of Little Humboldt and Humboldt rivers. I like it. Claim it, file it with Nevahrado with my ID and I¡¯ll interview contested claimants when I get done with my Deputy tasks.

    A skim of the message tells me the Health Club Board members are irate that I ¡®seduced¡¯ Marcella away from their project and that they can handle things without the help of ¡®arrogant children¡¯. I look up how many Health Club contracts I have that would immediately affect me to cancel. A few, but I notify Marcus about the cut, he counters with an express approval of Warram asset acquisition that I quickly approve. Cancel Health club contracts due to harassment and lack of faith. One hundred credit fee paid, and they can eat their fucking income.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Dear Health Club Board of Directors,

    Your continued antagonism and unprofessional conduct with Nova Chem, and the settlement of Camp Elsewhere has compelled me to pursue the exit clauses in our contracts. Your people must exit Nova-controlled properties and lands within one day of this notice or suffer potentially lethal consequences.

    Get Fucked, you Petty Bitches.

    Kimber Novarro - Owner, Chemist, Conqueror.

    I think that sends my desired message. Tova laughs at me.

    I alert Aria that I desire to fly to Durango this morning, and that I need whatever sensor suite modifications to investigate a murder. She tells me that an appropriate tier 2+ rated infiltration suit should be ordered. I counter with that I want a re-entry suit that can investigate. She copies me on a query to an Astorian preferred vendor in the Andromeda Galaxy that can do the work. Her estimate on cost, based on his last commission as between 30k and 50k credits. I can afford it, but I better not have to replace it. Like ever. The manufacturer says it¡¯ll take two weeks to build, so I put in the order.

    I don¡¯t get much done on the way to Durango, I should focus on the magic related to my [Pass Judgement] Talent, but Divine Aether has been difficult to manifest. The queries I made to the System (I really should be calling it the Matrix at this point) tell me that it actually takes a measure of true faith to enact. For me, that¡¯s hard though, as I trust the system to have my back, but not to help me initiate.

    Who do you trust to help you initiate, that is known to respond to prayers and blasphemes?

    It can¡¯t be that easy.

    I channel some aether, focus on an effect and exclaim ¡°May the Empress¡¯ wrath strike you down!¡± and a fucking golden lightning bolt shoots from my hands to the bay door, leaving a dithered scorch mark in the metal.

    ¡°Kimber,¡± the voice of Aria quivered, ¡°please do not do that again. It was quite painful.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Aria! Honey I am so sorry.¡± I put my hands on the hatch as I pump aether into her systems to help her heal the divine aspected damage. The slow, but visible reconstruction with the positive warble tells me I didn¡¯t mess up too badly.

    The Durango resource rights have escalated from just water, to water, mineral, and power generation potential? The hells are they talking about. I look at the overhead mapping and the agreement doesn¡¯t look that complicated. It also looks like the land should belong to the city of Durango, but the citizens are claiming property that should be the city¡¯s? Why didn¡¯t I see this before.

    ¡°The City had not made a contested claim until they saw a claim filed to Nevahrado that would be for more than just water rights.¡±

    ¡°Prima fascia, that makes this easier as it seems the city is apparently contesting their original water claims.¡±

    I meet with city officials and with their affidavits, I invalidate the previous agreements between the two private parties and assign all overlapping claims to the city. I see few overlaps that do not include the city and then message the claimants that mineral rights are still relevant, but water and potential power generation have since been invalidated.

    I go in to help the mayor of Durango to set up their settlement interface so that this can¡¯t happen again, then fly to a meeting with the irate residents that have land outside of the city-claimed land. I show, listen to their squabbles about historic habitation and subsistence ranges that should be considered with their mineral claims. I call bullshit and assign the mountain ridge as the demarcation line and tell them to stop creating tickets for me to resolve.

    Greedy and petty is the worst flavor of human.

    I take some orbit isolation time before trying to deal with the marauder problem between Beaver Utah and Caliente Nevada.

    ¡°I only have 100m of cable, Kimber.¡±

    ¡°That should be fine, Aria, I just need a little bit of isolation. Can you pull us out a few hundred kilometers?¡± She chirps at me and then finally, I see a planet instead of some too-close accident waiting to happen.

    ¡°We are uncomfortably close to the first Van Allen Belt, Kimber, though your current suit claims to be able to handle it.¡± I tell her to aim my walk away from the belt issue and I drift toward Earth on my extending tether.

    I do a version of meditation that is supposed to suffuse my whole body with my mana instead of focusing them on my gathering and usage areas. This is apparently the minimum accomplishment needed to pursue mastery with an element.

    I switch between manifesting the Matrix and the law, as opposed to the wrath of the Empress. I can feel the wrath of the Empire in my veins, but Andromeda needs more purpose, needs a just purpose to enact my will. Is there a place for both here? And how is that possible?

    [Justicar Acolyte]

    I look at the words and query them as well, finding that only the justice portion of the Track is supported by the Matrix. The rest is an Empire structured enforcer. The quirk here being that the Empress is pseudo divine by weight of belief and the mythos of her accomplishments--both terrifying and amazing. What¡¯s also been odd, is that I haven¡¯t had any color commentary when I use ¡®Empress¡¯ as an expletive lately.

    ¡°Have you integrated the sensor suite, Aria?¡±

    ¡°Yes Kimber. The aether-sensors need to be calibrated, but it will be difficult on a planet with so little of it. A charged and a spent battery would help.¡± Fortunately I have those.

    Before we head back, I take a moment to appreciate the quirky whirlwind that my life has been since I turned fourteen and was picked up at the orphanage. From a scrappy, reedy thing with a chip on her shoulder, just trying to be useful and protect the little ones; to a beefy, gun-toting alchemist that has a space-capable shuttle and a tin star that was always a far-distant dream.

    I got to meditate in space today. How fucking cool is that?

 A3: Chapter 23

    Aria and I have been scanning the area between Caliente and Beaver for two days now with very little to show for it. There were a few patches of fading aether, likely blood from the splatter, and after another day of searching we get an estimated decay rate to put the aether traces at near a week old. We search towns along the old border between Utah and Nevada, but it¡¯s large open spaces and not much to show for it. Frustrated, I have Aria drop me off in Winnemucca to begin the settlement process while she continues the search.

    First, I draft a report on the actions I took in Durango and the search pattern we¡¯d used for the monster attacks, and the aether traces that we found. Next, I send in the proposed pattern that Aria was going to continue with.

    ¡°Alright Tova. I¡¯m here, standing at the riverfront, show me what the latest design looks like. And the items list please.¡± She projects some screens into my vision, one with a view of the town complex that will be built where I¡¯m standing, and another with a view of the surrounding housing, showing green spots that can be immediately connected to my utilities. I look up to try and visualize what the town would look like, but Tova has an AR wireframe queued on my vision.

    ¡°Not sure how you¡¯re doing that, Tova, but that¡¯s stinking cool.¡±

    With my newly expanded server space, I have the ability to process keypoints in your vision and project the plans via your aether connection to the ansible repeater nearby with low enough ping that the AR shouldn¡¯t stutter or tear.

    That said, we can either build here at the crossroads, or we can build at the edge of the reservoir in the hilled area that is ultimately more desirable as the distance to the cracked roadway is only a few kilometers away.

    That seems like a pretty easy decision. I pull my bike out of Zia¡¯s ring and head toward the damn that formed the reservoir. I deactivate the AR experience and enjoy the high-desert scenery as it whips by. The Dam is not in great condition, whatever automatic relief system had failed and allowed the reservoir to overflow the damn on multiple occasions as evidenced by stains on the roadway.

    The campground and rest area where the small road ends has also seen better days, but it is overgrown instead of merely falling apart. I think we can restore this beach into a green space and park, with a small peninsula northward that would be perfect for a Municipal park with a government building or two.

    I look at the list of materials, see the normal expensive utility complex, pre-fab buildings to be relocated, and 10k credits in construction drones? Tova . . .  and she adds in the lifecycle over two settlement constructions. Makes way more sense. The drones we have at Elsewhere aren¡¯t meant for construction, though we sometimes use them for siding and painting and such.

    ¡°So, if I¡¯m reading this right, we move these municipal buildings in place, you transport in your computer stacks, and then you have those slap-together pods sent to have the drones assemble for the barracks, the watchtowers, and most everything else?¡±

    I ordered extra towers for Elsewhere, and I¡¯ll likely just keep ordering this assembly. Now all we need are the residents to make the settlement official.

    ¡°Warram sent me that list if you remember, there are a 100+ people squatting in the area¡ªlikely Winnemucca or Lovelock-- that should accept if we promise to connect their utilities.¡± I spend a few hours directing my newly purchased construction drones to clear and flatten the area for the buildings that Tova wants to import and then send them down to the camp ground to start clearing that area for some green space.

    I cue up a combined transfer of a federal mansion and house, and a church? Alright going to trust in Tova.

    <The transfer of large objects in their entirety does not qualify for transfer reduction, even within the same system. Do you wish to continue with the transfer of: 3 buildings? Fee: 9,014 Cr>

    Holt shit Tova!

    This is the closest I could find to what I wanted to build. If you want it fast and ready, this is what it costs.

    Gods damned it, fine. I cringe as hit the button and spend yet another million in old USD. The ground undulates for a moment as the hundreds of tons of concrete, brick and wood appear where there was once dirt. To my surprise there¡¯s a small park with walkways leading from the small federal building with a second story vaulted dome with a cherubic figure on top. Must be the church. Expertly fitted to the long, narrow park, the mansion and the house are positioned across from each other, imported with their manicured gardens. No wonder the transfer was so expensive, Tova marked parts of the property for transfer, increasing the mass at least threefold.

    It looks really nice, though, out of place, but nice.

    Now that the buildings have arrived, I set to transfer the listed equipment in lots and Tova directs the construction drones to tend to whatever she wants and urges me to give one of the two stragglers my deconstruction rod. I shrug, handing it over and watching it attack the next parking lot and warehouse-like store.

    I buy the municipal utility and center it well beneath the church that Tova has designated for Old West Municipal Alliance (OWMA, still workshopping) government building. Seeing that, the Mayor¡¯s house, and the Municipal Government building connected to water and power, as well as some earmarked homes, I claim the area.

    <You have attempted to establish a New Settlement!>

    /Commercial Enterprise missing

    <Do you wish to set the local trade and commerce mode to Barter?>

    Maybe I did that in the wrong order? I go back into my menus and set up the structure for OWMA in the System, set Nova Chem to an Alliance business and Camp Elsewhere to an allied Settlement.

    I wish to use the Alliance business as a local commerce controller, with local trade being resources and cottage products.

    <This settlement follows a standard municipal model in a county-state arrangement. Please name your Settlement>

    Camp Humboldt.

    <Would you like to declare your Settlement for the Empire?>

    Ahh, I remember this, I register the alliance between Fallon and Elsewhere and declare the OWM Alliance for the Empire.

    <Your Declaration for the Empire requires a Municipality to maintain free lodging and free rations to residents.>

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Copy that System, doing that anyway. That said, they aren¡¯t built yet. I give Tova Settlement management authority for Fallon and set up a bank account for the town for her to use.

    ¡°Alright, Tova. I put 30k in there. The rest of my money is tied up in resources for a few months.¡±

    It will be enough to erect subsistence housing and furnish it, as well as repair and reorganize some roads in this area.

    Okay, Tova¡¯s busy, Aria¡¯s working, and I should probably message the Northern Deputy and Warram¡¯s relocation company.

    /Hey Kincade. Stood up a settlement. Camp Humboldt, at the reservoir. Collecting some folks from small towns in the area./

    Do I want to build myself a place here too? I don¡¯t think I need my own place to stay in each town I build. That and my actual house is only an hour or so away. I¡¯d have to go to Europe or the middle of the Pacific for me to want to stay locally. All that settled and decided on, I should do some paperwork and settlement organization.

    Instead, I drop some targets in the desert and have an impromptu range day with my guns.

    ***

    Another week passes with no traces on the murdering marauder and after filling my time with clumps of people wanting separate clicks of houses to live in, but have no plan on how to pay for said housing and road building. I tell them that there are two elevators and ten floors to the barracks, talk to eachother and work it out. I also tell them that if they want to live in old houses in Lovelock, they can scout them and I¡¯d connect them and let them live on my land rent free for a year. The current residents of former Lovelock, now Humboldt South on my maps, made a similar agreement but I told them I would allow them to buy their land back for a credit a dwelling. They formed the first independently owned community in my settlements.

    To my surprise, a few craft people volunteered to come to the reservoir to ply their wares out of one of the storefronts that I set up as part of a City Center. Five friends got together put a sign up and started selling clothes and trinkets and toys when incoming refugees were being processed. They would then post the leftovers on the exchange and begin to work on building supply for the next published processing day. They were thrilled to find that if they filled my trade professional slots for the settlement, that they¡¯d get a small salary. With the influx of refugees from Old West Relocation and the residents of South Humboldt, the new Camp is nearly ready to become tier 1 ¨C Village.

    I recently restructured what I thought they should be called and submitted it to the Consul of Urban Development for Astoria. I thought tier-1 small town, and tier-2 large town, was dumb. I submitted a new list.

    Residents            <100 = Homestead | No System interface.

    100--1,000 = Hamlet | System interface, t-0

    1,001-20,000 = Village | t-1

    20,001¡ª100,000 = Town | t-2

    100,001¡ªmillion = City | t-3

    >million = Metropolis | t-4

    I own a Hamlet and a Village right now. I¡¯m freaking 19 and I own settlements. I make tens of thousands of credits a month, so what the hell else would I do with the money? Okay, I want a space ship, like a cute little Corvette or a Cutter, but that¡¯s between 3 and 10 million Cr easy. That and Ganymede Foundry and Shipyard won¡¯t build me one unless the Empress buys off on it. I asked.

    Anyway, fantasy purchases aside, I did indeed build myself a small cabin that doubles as a rental and for four Marks a night, it¡¯s practically a steal. I also scoped out a cute lodge in Tahoe that I might ask Zia if she likes when she comes to Earth next week. NEXT WEEK!!

    \Kimber, I will be arriving at the Assembly building in moments.\

    /Thank you Aria./ The tone of her messages has been sadder as of late, I guess the lack of leads with the Marauder is wearing on both of us.

    I hop through the aft airlock as she hovers a foot above the ground. Walking up to the cockpit, I slump into the pilot¡¯s chair and shimmy into the comfort of the acceleration gel. ¡°Gods, Ari, I missed you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve failed at the task you¡¯ve set me to, I have been reluctant to return.¡±

    ¡°Aria. Lady. You have put in more time than is humanly possible looking for this murderer. Part of the reason I wanted us to go to Reno and for you to tour and photograph Lake Tahoe is so that we both can take a change of pace.¡±

    She grumbles at me.

    ¡°Okay, you are landing, and piloting a drone around the city.¡±

    ¡°But I haven¡¯t finished yet!¡± she trills in protest.

    ¡°That¡¯s the point! We both need a new perspective. That monster isn¡¯t hitting every town, so searching every town is not that productive. And, anything more than two weeks old is going to be impossible to pick up.¡±

    She anchors us in the docking tree just outside of the government district, asking me to leave her with the drone while she reconfigures it. I convey how disappointed I would be if she didn¡¯t take this opportunity for a break and she pouts before acknowledging my request.

    I finish putting my new armor on, fresh off the transfer from the Andromeda Galaxy, load some crystals into the backpack that secures to my back and get ready to jump from 100m up. Since I¡¯ve had no experience with Ripple drives, I orient with aether-powered plasma thrusters and head toward the building where Deputy Kincade parks his butt.

    While this suit has boot thrusters, and some aimable shoulder thrusters, the rest of the suit has an omni-RCS that stabilizes even through turbulence. This suit is smooth and looks way more like clothing than armor.

    The building has a nice fa?ade, but the interior is just another office building. I had to get directions to Kincade¡¯s office the first time, but I know the way now. I knock loudly. The door opens with a familiar, edge of grey mane and beard that bring a smile to my face when meeting with the practically ancient 35-year-old man.

    ¡°Kimber, I wish I could say it¡¯s good to see you, but you put another settlement on my circuit.¡± He points me to the coffee pot and the pink cup that I left here last time. I dutifully walk over and pour myself some before sitting in his ¡®guest¡¯ chair.

    ¡°I¡¯m doing a service for refugees, and I get to peddle the Empire¡¯s basic subsistence in Nevahrado. Causing you headaches is just an added bonus.¡± I grin. ¡°On a more serious note, I have reason to believe that the marauder I was sent to capture, has come north. We lost track of it, but it doesn¡¯t seem to need to kill more than a few times a month¡±

    He sighs and looks at the data I sent him. ¡°This isn¡¯t a lot to go on, Kimber. A few spots of blood and stories of people acting strangely? Can you at least tell me what kind of aether creature we¡¯re talking about?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the thing, James, it¡¯s a User. Whomever this was, figured out how to distill what aether is present in humans and is living off of that. I just can¡¯t figure out how it¡¯s hiding so well.¡±

    Kincade drums his fingers on his desk for a few moments, sipping his coffee before browsing data with a few flicks of his fingers. Seems he¡¯s still on the semi-tactile control that old movies showed us. I still do it while typing, so who am I to judge.

    ¡°One of the troubles of looking through records for this kind of thing is that killing isn¡¯t that rare. Capitalize on regional feuds every so often and you could hide this for years without much effort.¡±

    While all that makes sense, why would it slip now? What would cause it to chance a migration? ¡°What if it was gorging in Sante Fe while the turf war was going on, and my increased patrols are driving it North?¡±

    ¡°Through some of the most inhospitable land in North America? There are easier ways to die. Though I could see that ending an active conflict between two tight knit groups would be a threat. Any odd behavior would get someone singled out. The outskirts of Reno would make the next likely stop if it survived.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t think it would stay here?¡± I ask, informing Aria of Kincade¡¯s thoughts.

    He shakes his head. ¡°Risking law enforcement seems to have prompted its movement in the first place. There¡¯s not much wilderness here, so I think it would move North or West, but definitely not staying here.¡±

    ¡°How do we act when we know so little? Ugh!¡± I sigh, frustrated that this has taken up two weeks and has been thoroughly uninteresting the whole time.

    He chuckles, ¡°We do our diligence and don¡¯t let our jobs and lives slip away as we push it to the back burner. Not that I think this has gone cold yet, but we¡¯re facing the very real possibility that this case may not come up again for several years.¡±

    We talk for a little while longer, how the South is shaping up, the absolute menace that a more present Sheriff has been since I accused him of being in someone¡¯s pocket¡ªnormal stuff. He also forwards me an order for some dual gas canisters and a whole crate of stim chews. I send the chew orders to my trainees and get a deadline for another raid he¡¯s been planning. I ask him to keep me in mind if he needs a gunner and thank him for the coffee as I leave.

    Keeping what James said about cases going cold in mind, I head out to the spire dock to see what Aria¡¯s been up to.

 A3: Chapter 24

    ¡°Kimber, I need you to come pick me up.¡± I pause for a moment as I climb in through the Pilot hatch from the outside. How is that even possible?

    ¡°Uh, where are you Aria?¡± Settling into the cockpit, I begin the manual startup sequence for my shuttle, since Aria is clearly not in control of it right now.

    ¡°Traveling along old 80 following a motorcycle!¡± Oh no. I told her to take a break in the drone and she got back to work instead. I sigh.

    ¡°How much battery is left? Can¡¯t be more than half.¡±

    ¡°Twenty five percent! I am very glad you got back to my main chassis when you did. Please come pick me up.¡± What am I going to do with her.

    I chat with air traffic control and leave Reno at a respectable, non-mach speed. I find the drone puttering at a few hundred feet, clearly outpaced by the man on the motorcycle while she tries to conserve energy now. I scoop her up in the cargo bay, hook the goofball up for data transfer and head back to Humboldt to change out some supplies and see if Tova can configure our perimeter sensors to scan for aether signatures.

    We land next to my cottage, I order lunch and sit at the edge of the aft airlock and stare at the water.

    ¡°While that was fun, it was very limiting, Kimber. I don¡¯t know if I want to investigate in a drone chassis again.¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to be investigating, but since you clearly found something to validate your willful attitude, please share¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not mad are you?!¡± Uh oh. I chastised her while she was proud of something.

    ¡°No, Ari. Not mad, tired and realizing that while I want the best for you, I don¡¯t know what¡¯s best for you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± She pauses, not knowing what to say.

    ¡°Now tell me what you found so I can be proud of you already!¡±

    She trills with excitement and tells me how she was sulking at an appliance graveyard, scavenging bits and pieces for something to do, when she heard some muffled cries and a man angrily trying to get them to cooperate. She then watched the man pull his face off and flay the other person while they were still awake, then replace their skin with his¡ªthe whole process being quite messy.

    The retelling is gruesome and my gorge rises a few times before telling Aria to fast forward. I asker her about aether traces and she says that the aether readings were most intense when he was assimilating the new skin, but that the blood splatter on the ground was from pulling the old face off.

    Andromeda, what kind of fucked up Track did you allow this man to have? I query her about that kind of shapeshifting magic and she returns with some alien habits that I skip over, and some old North American legends that I read into.

    Just like Penny forcing Andromeda to approximate a Pixie based on legend, it seems that this murderous User has done the same with the legend of Skinwalkers. The ability to change into anyone whose face you steal seems pretty powerful, but at the same time, very limiting. Maybe he¡¯s not using his class correctly, but at this point, does that matter?

    ¡°Aria, did the man¡¯s new form still have a readable aether level?¡±

    ¡°Yes, but only through the eyes. Perhaps a leak or an ability to enthrall that they can¡¯t turn off?¡± She postulates. Maybe they just don¡¯t know how to turn it off.

    I inform Deputy Kincade of this new development just before Tova alerts me that one of the border sensors in South Humboldt got a hit for an above normal aether reading. Of course we do.

    ¡°Aria, are you back in full control?¡±

    ¡°I will finish integrating by the time we get to South Humboldt¡±

    ¡°I hope so, sweetie, you¡¯re going to be on fire support after you drop me off. Please don¡¯t shoot me.¡± She chirps in confirmation. Five minutes later I¡¯m jumping out of the back of the shuttle attempting to land next to a man cornering a woman in an alley.

    Tova, can you do that AR overlay thing you did with construction but with the aether sensor data?

    I can.

    I land hard next to the man and shove him against the wall. I see the fear in his regular eyes and know this isn¡¯t the monster I was after. I feel a scraping shriek across my neck as my suit¡¯s aether levels drop by ten percent and I¡¯m twisted and thrown against the opposite wall of the alley.

    ¡°You have interrupted my meal,¡± the creature hisses.

    I look up to see the crooked thing wearing women¡¯s clothing as it breaks the man¡¯s back and tosses him down the alley. While it¡¯s occupied, I draw my pistols and rapid fire at the center of mass of the creature until it falls down and my .38 hyper runs dry. I start reloading the pistol when I hear a hissing laughter.

    ¡°This is the firssst time being shot by an energy weapon. Interesssting.¡± A serpentine skinwalker? Some sort of reverse molting thing? Why am I trying to understand this thing?

    I start firing again and a few even hit before the creature darts sideways to the wall and re-directs off of it to leap at me. I get a few more rounds into it as its motion is predictable and then the monster hits me with a ton of force, my suit is the only thing that saves me.

    We slide out into the street as the monster claws at the shield surrounding my head, taking several percent of my reserves per swipe. Keep trying to shoot the damned thing, even knowing that they¡¯ve been largely ineffective.

    You have magic! Use it.

    Damn, I guess I do. Have to try something before my suit takes too much damage. Get the anger in the mind, channel the Empress.

    Empress¡¯ rusty vibrator, fuck this thing. ¡°GET OFF!!¡± I shout as sparkly lighting erupts from the spots where the creature is contacting me, causing it to seize up. I roll over, toppling the electrocuted ass, attempting to scramble away while checking on backup.

    /Kincade, found monster. Old Lovelock. Bring a sturdy cage./

    Do I even have anything that can hurt this thing besides my spastic divine aether. The plasma seemed to annoy it, but I¡¯m not super good with swords despite how awesome my plasma saber is.

    As long as you are using your pistol as well, [Gun-Fu] works with any co-wielded weapon.

    Thank the Empress for such a broken skill. I take my pulse pistol into my left hand and draw my badass breaching tool in my right and smile briefly as a smidgen of hope pulses through me. That is until the skinwalker recovers from the stun and rushes me.

    The beast takes two more plasma rounds with brief singes in its leathery skin. I use the prominent fear to trigger my [Triggered Action] Talent and dash to the side with my saber guard braced against my forearm as I skate past the creature. A sizzling hiss and a shriek from the monster tells me that it freaking felt that one.

    The fury of attacks it brings afterward overwhelms my ability to react. I score a few hits, but I¡¯m simply overmatched by the strength and the ferocity of the beast. I manage to shock the damn thing again, cursing the Empress¡¯ slutty wardrobe, and dash off into the street hoping to lure it out into a place that I can maneuver.

    The clothes that the former human was wearing are burnt and shredded, hanging loose over the creature¡¯s body. When it recovers from the next stun, the tatters fall free as the beast shrieks again in frustration as its good sense is overcome by rage as it charges at me into the open.

    A plasma bolt slams into its side, knocking it sideways, followed by long zips of fifty caliber rounds from Aria. I immediately pull out my sniper rifle and kneel with it, hoping the bastard gives me enough time to get at least a few spellforms energized to stabilize this thing.

    /Keep it up, Ari, that pulse really stunned it. Throw one in every now and then./

    A pulse fires immediately after and then she switches back to another hundred rounds, another pulse and repeat. When the fifty-cal spins empty, Aria backs off and pulses her thrusters to clear the dust. I can see the damn thing¡¯s chest moving. Crap on crackers! How durable is this fucking thing?!

    It sits up, spatters of light color on the abomination¡¯s skin as though the monster¡¯s healing factor is too taxed to make the adjustment. At least we¡¯re finally hurting it, though Aria¡¯s out of ballistic rounds and I can¡¯t imagine her aether stores are stellar right now either. Mine sure aren¡¯t.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    ¡°Absorbing you into my essence will make me much stronger. In that way I will make you immortal.¡± It has the strength to talk shit? Hells no.

    I pull the trigger. The first two anchors fixing the rifle in place snap and the remaining force snaps my collar bone and knocks me over, ass over tea kettle and a half meter skid for good measure. I stow the rifle into my spatial storage and scramble back to my feet, somehow feeling that this isn¡¯t finished. I draw my saber and advance on where I aimed at the beast.

    I see some blood splatter around a half-demolished brick wall, and head toward the rubble that should be beneath it. There I see a dazed monster, with a hearty hole in the side, trying to muster the strength to pull itself free of the pile of bricks. I force my saber through its scapula and into the ground, pinning it in place.

    ¡°By the laws of Nevahrado and by the power of the System, I bind you. By your blood and mine, I bind you into my custody until justice has been served.¡± I say something official, remembered vaguely from the new Deputy manual, and thick golden cuffs envelop its hands, feet and neck. ¡°You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do may be used to prosecute a harsher sentence. As a suspect in a Capitol Case, you have the right to pursue justice in the jurisdiction in which you were born. The remainder of your rights are not my duty to disclose.¡± The modified Miranda rights are amusing to me, there is no specific right to an attorney as the public defenders are not required to defend Capitol cases. I¡¯m not familiar with how Capitol cases are tried, but that is not a problem for right now.

    I collapse on top of the rubble on top of the skinwalker, not caring in the least how comfortable the asshole is.

    Maybe an hour and a half later, Kincade shows up in a paddy wagon that looks like it¡¯s ready for a road war. I chuckle at how ridiculous it looks, and how I¡¯d assumed that the Reno office would have a shuttle available, and not some slow as heck ground vehicle. I¡¯m fortunate that the System-assisted cuffs are much stronger than my Empress¡¯ imbued lightning. Thanks for nothing Penny! I chuckle, having no real expectation that she help me.

    ¡°Damn, Novarro, you look like shit.¡± Kincade bends down and looks at my collared criminal. ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding about the monster.¡±

    ¡°Heh, yeah. I was not ready for it. Did you bring the cage?¡±

    He bends over to check the lividity of the captive and it bites him. I chuckle fiercely and grunt in pain as my shoulder protests. ¡°It¡¯s resistant to kinetics and energy weapons. Took close-in fire support to knock it down enough to hit it with my enchanted, fifty-cal hypervol. That took it down long enough to put cuffs on the superpowered ass.¡±

    Surprisingly, the skinwalker still has the energy to fight, struggling against the bindings and getting burns for its efforts. Once we get it in the cage, it withers slightly and my bindings become less luminous as though aether is being leached from the monster and my bindings.

    ¡°Gods, James. I¡¯m glad you came. I would have had to park my shuttle on it for a day before I recovered enough to wrangle it.¡±

    ¡°Do you need a ride back to the station?¡±

    I shake my head, ¡°My shuttle has an AI that can drive me. What¡¯s in store for this ass when we get to Reno?¡±

    ¡°Well, it has a lot of murder tied to it, so . . .¡±

    ¡°HOME RANGE, I claim HOME RANGE.¡± The monster shouts from the back of the SUV.

    ¡°You had to read it the rights, didn¡¯t you?¡± I nod. ¡°Unbelievable. Guess you¡¯ve read through the manual.¡±

    Kincade talks with the monster and finds out that he¡¯s from the Vancouver area. He texts the Pax Northwest to see if they want the responsibility, and they say they¡¯ll look it over. I shake my head at the loss of a day, and tell Aria to land so Kincade can park the van inside so he doesn¡¯t have to drive 12 hours to old Washington State. The flight takes an hour and we¡¯re outside of Seattle to meet with local law enforcement.

    ¡°You taking the lead on this James?¡±

    ¡°Nah, your collar, your lead. I¡¯m just adding age to back your play.¡±

    ¡°Coward.¡± I chuckle and punch his shoulder.

    ¡°Capturing pumped up users isn¡¯t my strength, Kimber. I can find and I can prosecute, but subduing is not my wheelhouse. You apparently have the violence chops, so you get to do the thing with the politics too.¡±

    I groan as we land and Kincade pulls the van out of the cargo bay. He gives some solid uncle vibes. Lazy uncle ass face.

    A confident woman with a decidedly butch entourage is waiting for us, holding guns at the ready, but not shouldered. ¡°James Kincade! What brings you to message me after so long?¡±

    ¡°Melody, it wasn¡¯t personal, sweetie, you took one of mine, so I took them back. I needed the bounty to eat, love.¡± He walks forward with a smile on his face and they greet each other with a chaste kiss.

    ¡°You look good James. This your new side?¡± She looks at me with a raised eyebrow. I toss a chew in my mouth, trying to ignore the anger she invokes in me.

    ¡°Nah, new Southern Nevahrado Deputy. Chased a collar into my territory and invited me as a courtesy.¡±

    The face she makes is not one that believes him, ¡°Show us the extradition. There are some we aren¡¯t prepared to take.¡± Fucking great, I think, there¡¯s no way they are going to take the suped up skinwalker.

    As soon as we pull the leathery murderer out of the van, Melody scoffs and says, ¡°We can¡¯t take that. Identifies as a skinwalker? No chance. The tribal council would never let that appear before the council, not even with fancy binding magic.¡±

    I growl, ¡°Then what would you like to do? It asked to be tried in its home territory. This is it.¡±

    ¡°Not my law, not my problem chica. Take it back to your territory and bury it.¡±

    I sigh. I can¡¯t do that, that¡¯s not the law I agreed to carry out. ¡°Alright, how about a compromise? I have a judgment Talent that connects to the System. If any of you are representatives of Pax Norwest law, you can sentence him to summary judgement.¡±

    With no time to consider, ¡°Okay. I do that. I sentence the skinwalker to summary judgement by Deputy Novarro.¡±

    Stupid woman must have an identify skill or something. She¡¯s also pushy. I grumble again. The words work though, a representative of their government has made a decision that allows me to be more comfortable with carrying out a sentence.

    ¡°Lance Beuchamp, with the authority of your home ground and the System, I [Pass Judgement]¡±

    My brain is suffused with the crimes associated with him, grotesque and visceral the lot of them. At no point during my visions of its soul do I feel a modicum of sympathy, or a mote of his remorse. This creature is unequivocally guilty, and has allowed those he¡¯s slain to exist in limbo as their flesh still lives as attached to the foreign aether user until he sheds their face for another.

    Because curiosity will ultimately be the end of me, I search for why he turned out this way, and another pulse of my mana coerces the Talent to flip through his memories to another time. He¡¯s young and bruised, bullied at home and at school. Started acting out, transferred through a few before he was beaten half to death before attending the next one. He steals some clothes and make-up, faking a persona. Stole and faked his way through relationships and jobs, and began killing potential whistleblowers when the consequences were high.

    Despite the despicable life he¡¯s lead, leaning into it every chance he got, what if he had an opportunity to try again?

    <You have used Pass Judgement and discovered a multitude of crimes, a collection of the worst commonly carry the penalty of death or life in prison>

    Can I commute that to a do over? Reset his levels and give his experience to the victim¡¯s families?

    <Sentence commutation to remove experience gained back to Track selection, where Talents and Skills cannot be reset. Do you wish to enable this sentence?>

    Can we also include lowered stats and experience gain for six months.

    <Additional Request exceeds available aether stores in both parties>

    Fine, fine. Lets to the first suggestion then.

    <Experience distributed. 20/27 families refused>

    /Excess experience split between Andromeda Matrix and Kimber Novarro.

    <Track Selection for Lance Beauchamp has been reset>

    <Commuted sentence carried out. End Judgement>

    The liminal space where I viewed his memories fades to reality and I stumble back a few steps, dangerously low on aether. I summon a bottle of juice from my storage and desperately suck the aether out of it.

    ¡°Lance, don¡¯t choose a track yet. Give it time to give you a new, less violent one.¡±

    ¡°New Track?¡± Melody questions, ¡°No shit? That was some fancy magic, but I was not expecting this . . . Lance, you stupid fucker. You should have listened to Novarro.¡± She snaps a shot at the man and catches him in the eyeball.

    I snap my arm up, pulse pistol in hand, and Kincade pulls my arm down. ¡°What the fuck did you do that for?!¡±

    ¡°She always has a reason for things, Kimber.¡±

    ¡°James is right. Dumbass here selected an assassin Track while I was inspecting him. He¡¯s still alive?¡± She walks up to the man and puts her gun in his eye and drains her pistol into his head. ¡°There it is. Best part about this System is knowing when to stop a gunfight.¡± She stands and holsters her side arm. ¡°If you¡¯d be so kind as to take the corpse back, we can be finished here.¡±

    I scoff at that.

    ¡°Sure thing Mel.¡±

    ¡°No dice, James.¡± I say, ¡°you want that body, you¡¯re driving it back. Too bad it doesn¡¯t still say skinwalker, I bet your council would love a dead one.¡± I get a little bit of pleasure from seeing the pushy cop scowl at me. I walk up to the corpse, get a little blood from his eye in a vial, and walk back toward Aria.

    ¡°You¡¯re taking evidence, but not the body? What the fuck!?¡± for some reason, she feels the need to jog after me and turn me around with her hand.

    I pull on my Talent that is fueled by emotion instead of aether and ram a pistol under her chin. Her eyes go wide and she tries to back up, but I grab her belt and pull her close.

    ¡°You had something to say, so fucking say it.¡±

    ¡°I have five team-mates that will gun you down.¡± She chokes out.

    I snort at that. I shove her and holster my pistol. ¡°None of those weapons look enhanced. I¡¯d probably live.¡±

    This time, James puts a hand on Melody¡¯s arm to stop her.

    ¡°I¡¯ll drive the corpse away. Just stop whatever this is.¡± He gestures between us.

    ¡°You¡¯re going to let a kid call the shots James? Just how good is that pussy?¡±

    Empress¡¯ fiery temper, this bitch is looking to be electrocuted.

    ¡°That ¡®kid¡¯ overturned Vegas and is a self-made millionaire. You should feel threatened and inadequate around her.¡±

    Aaand I¡¯ve had enough of this. I turn and continue my walk to Aria. I drive the van out and have Aria take off. I fly up to the open ramp and walk inside.

    ¡°Gods I wanted to shoot her.¡± I take a deep breath. ¡°As if I¡¯d sleep with a guy.¡± I scoff and fake vomit.

    ¡°What about Melody?¡± Aria asks. Wait what? Was she even cute? She was an ass from the start, so I don¡¯t know if I noticed.

    ¡°Nah, no way. I have a hot Elf girlfriend, and a Fiery Dragon girlfriend.¡± Aria trills with humor. Little shit is teasing me. ¡°Haha, get it out of your system, turd.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m merely trying to understand why you are so angry at Melody.¡±

    ¡°Blah, Aria. You¡¯re trying to make me feel after I¡¯ve used my Talent. I don¡¯t know? I think it was the ¡®kid¡¯ comment and her generally abrasive attitude?¡± Aria chirps but it¡¯s a new one I haven¡¯t heard before. It makes me wonder what my shuttle is up to. Shifty AI. Not really, I love her, but like most people, I don¡¯t really understand her.

 A3: Chapter 25

    We arrive in Humboldt South in less than an hour and I hope the citizens weren¡¯t affected too much by my fight with the skinwalker. I talk to the family of the man that was kill and help them with some funds to help them recover from his death, and then get to purchasing those construction drones to demolish the buildings that we¡¯d damaged and repair the road. Luckily the town was pretty empty, otherwise there would have been many more casualties.

    Using the construction drones in this manner is inefficient. That said, I would like to purchase a small fleet for Elsewhere and the surrounding area.

    Tova, we build in modules right now, why is a fleet necessary? She sighs in my brain.

    Now that you have confirmed that you will not stop your . . . colonization of the ruins in Nevarahdo, we will save a fortune in transfer fees and labor costs from the foreign manufacturers. Also, we will be able to change our ¡®designs¡¯ on the fly if conditions change. If you need more,  . . .

    Stop. Please stop. You¡¯ve sold me. How much will it cost me?

    A million credits over the next year.

    The hell did you whisper? A million Tova? That¡¯s almost as much as I make in a year and I only have 100k in my accounts!!

    My swarm and friend pauses before responding.

    You really need to read contracts that you sign from your friends. Your previous agreement with Merc Arms was voided when you sold 25% of your company to them. Your facility on Asphodel is the only facility in your partnership that is making cocaine. She passed the proverbial buck to you in exchange for building you a state-of-the-art facility.

    Wait a coca-picking minute, I make 75% of those sales now!? TOVA!!! I need to do so much administration right now, but I don¡¯t know how to start! She chuckles in my brain in response.

    I suggest you bump up Paolo¡¯s percentage if you plan to hire quality people and set up the same kind of fund to cover improvements and repairs as you did in Vegas. Your state-of-the-art factory costs a lot of money to repair and stock. You also need to look at your suppliers.

    FUCK! Freaking pixie mischief. She interrupted me talking about plantations because she wouldn¡¯t be responsible for it. Double damn. Now I have to think about how I¡¯m going to get the coca leaves for all of the cocaine I need to make. I need to see how much the plantations in South America will sell me. Oh! Maybe Warram has contacts that can get me those plantations in the meantime.

    /Baby, how much do you would think a thousand acres on Elysium would cost me?/

    \Uh, should I know something sweetie? Are you going to destabilize a system I¡¯m about to pass to someone else?\

    /Wait, you¡¯re not going to be that caretaker anymore? Since when?/

    \Andromeda, you really are a doofus. I¡¯m being ordered to familiarize with Earth, prior to my transfer to Sol.\

    My inner idiot finally rubs the sleep out of their eyes. /Oh. That makes sense. Still, though. Is land on Elysium or Astoria better for crops?/

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    \Astoria for sure. 1k contiguous on Elysium would take some clear cutting and monster culling and a public notice to the Collective that lives on that moon. What for?\

    /I need to grow a lot of coca plants. We can make chocolate for days, but I need the leaves in ridiculous numbers./

    \Gotcha. I¡¯ll send you the info for the Consul of the Interior. She¡¯ll have the info you need.\

    /Thanks cutie!/ She sends a happy trill to me and otherwise doesn¡¯t respond. I suppose that works. Though if I really wanted to just chat, I should have video called her.

    As much as I don¡¯t want to handle that kind of business right now, the construction drones are working, people aren¡¯t approaching me for complaints anymore, and I¡¯ll only put this off if I wait. Tova, how much does this affect you if I try to buy land right now?

    I¡¯ll start selling the deconstructed rubble instead of feeding it to your utility¡¯s reclamation feature. The energy bill will come due next year some time, but you¡¯ll have a good deal more money available by then.

    Sounds great. Thanks Tova. I draft a message to Consul Summers, telling her that I need at least a thousand acres of land for coca plants and give a rough outline of the utilities I¡¯ll need to set up as well. I feel a little ridiculous wondering how I¡¯m going to pay for all of this just after I was handed 2 million credits by Penny a few months ago. Empress, I spent nearly 2 million credits in a few months!

    You¡¯re not quite rich enough to own the means of production, Kimber. The seemingly frivolous transfer costs will lower once you do. Of course, then you will need to buy time on an Imperial transport or buy your own cargo ship.

    Okay, Tova¡¯s right, there might be a ¡®need less money to achieve¡¯ solution. I draft a message to Warram asking if he owns or has a line on any coca plantations that I can co-opt for ¡®Imperial Industry Needs¡¯.

    I rub my face and then scoop my hands through my hair, realizing I¡¯ll have to invest in cargo hauling either way, delaying my ideas of having a spiffy spaceship even further. UGH! While I¡¯m frustrated, I might as well look at my messages.

    <You have advance Aether Sense>x2

    <You have advanced Divine Aether>x5

    <You have advanced Interrogation>

    <You have advanced Adjudication>x2

    <You have advanced Pain Mitigation>x3

    <You have advanced Management>x2

    <You have advanced Gun Fu>

    <As a result of [Pass Judgement], you have gained general experience>

    /Reduced experience due to insufficient aether stores for judgement.

    /A tax for the Matrix is levied from directly consuming experience from a User.

    /XP consumption reduced via tier disparity.

    <You have gained aether imbalance>x2

    <You have gained a level!>x3

    Not a single alchemy update, which shows that the System doesn¡¯t reward stagnant repetition. Nice haul otherwise, but I feel cheated by the numerous reductions of experience. It makes me feel as though there were no protocols in place to deal with my judgement of sharing the experience that was being extracted to the beast I reduced in level. Not that it was more than a consequence of my Talent, but I don¡¯t know if my ingenuity was properly considered.

    You spared a truly evil person to not feel bad. Your sentencing was clever, but the rest seemed a cop-out.

    Et tu Tova? Brat. She¡¯s right though, that pulls some of that indignation back into the realm of reality. On the note of reality, I ask Aria to check my schedule for my next relevant engagement.

    \You have a request for assistance in Boulder and a few meeting requests in Vegas\

    I¡¯m surprised by the Boulder comment, so I check my messages to find that a difficult case with a mire of political conflict has come to an apex and could use a Citizen to arbitrate. I want to say no, but this is literally what my class is about. Fucking system, damn dirty Empress.

    I swear at Andromeda for a few moments before accepting my fate and sending the request to be vetted by my boss, Sheriff Winchester, before hopping back into Aria and setting a course for Vegas.

 A4: Chapter 1

    It¡¯s amazing what six months and a million credits can do, I think as I stare at the new training complex that the construction drones that Tova directed and Instructor Kenneck finished setting up this week. Today is the first day that a new class of trainees can use the facility and it is packed full of kids and a handful of trainers watching and taking notes. I feel this is an excellent use of the derelict baseball fields that used to be here. I have yet to see the indoor section of the facility, but the center is about as nice as I can make it without spending money on frivolity. It¡¯s amazing how much money I saved on labor with the fleet of construction drones that Tova convinced me to buy.

    ¡°How you liking the place so far?¡± I ask Kenneck, the man nominally in charge of physical training for the Orphan Market recruits.

    ¡°I¡¯d say it was fine, but then you went and put a barracks in the damn place, so I¡¯d say it¡¯s damn fine.¡± I haven¡¯t seen the man smile in a while. Maybe his sphincter will relax and he can finally ease the stick out.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad. It¡¯s nice to finally have enough housing to go around that I can focus development on our future instead of our present.¡± Empress, I swear that it felt like this would never happen. Without Paolo and his Venezuela crew on Asphodel, it never would have.

    After three months, Paolo asked if we could install another run seeing as the factory could conceivably hold three. Penny said the demand was there and so I bought another and Paolo and Dzartha installed it. The factory is averaging around 1.5 kilograms an hour, and with Penny¡¯s drugstores and my selling the remainder to the prospects at between 400 and 600 credits a kilo, NovaChem¡¯s cocaine department is projected to make over 4million Cr this year.

    Kenneck yells some direction to his trainers to start pulling people that are routinely causing accidents on the obstacle course and turns to me with his full posture. ¡°Speaking of the future, this whole Camp operation is getting a little too big for little meetings with everyone. Me and some others think it¡¯s time to set up a government of sorts.¡±

    ¡°And you have all likely noticed that I¡¯ve been avoiding doing just that.¡± He nods at me. I sigh. ¡°Yeah, I know. Pull my shit together and get it done. Any advice you want to put in before I start this nightmare rolling?¡±

    ¡°Ditch the summer camp structure and put some adults in charge.¡±

    ¡°So, I should replace you then?¡± I smirk, knowing what he¡¯s getting at, but I like calling him an asshole sideways instead of frontways.

    He looks offended and chuffs.

    ¡°Don¡¯t start nothin¡¯, won¡¯t be nothin¡¯ Instructor Kenneck.¡±

    ¡°Fuck off Kimber.¡± He says, red-faced and embarrassed.

    ¡°Director. If you¡¯re gonna be a dick, it¡¯s fuck off Director.¡± I laugh loudly and walk away when I see his face resemble a puckered asshole. Is it wise to tease him when he takes offense instead of the playful ribbing it is intended to be? Probably not, but if he keeps being disrespectful about my age and my ability to lead, I¡¯mma start taking offense as well¡ªnobody wants that.

    Alright Tova, what do you think? Should I lean into the Marine-esque ¡®Camp¡¯ instead of the summer camp thing? My vote is no because I have no Military training, and calling myself ¡®general¡¯ seems kinda dumb.

    When has that ever stopped you?

    Ass

    It is obviously up to you. Classic examples include appointed staff or an elected set of representatives. The Continental Staff organization of an armed force such as the Navy would be a person heading a nominal department where N1 would be personnel, N2 would be Security and Intel, N3 would be Operations, N4 would be logistics, N5 Operations, and N6 Signal and IT; where legal and finance are separate operations entirely.

    Okay, but I like that part. I like those departments! Save I¡¯d want Intel to a part of communications N6. I could make the assistant director do finance and have a person for legal. Okay, that seems doable! I like ¡®N¡¯ for Nova also.

    I believe I recommended against the ¡®kinda dumb¡¯ option. I merely included it because it was a part of your query.

    Yes, however, it keeps me from having to think about it in awkward Warram terms like hospitality, drugs, recruitment, etc. I¡¯m not thrilled it makes an 8-person council, but I can be the tie-break no problem. Plus, civilization basically advances by someone inventing something that everyone can steal to make their lives easier.

    I hate it when your reductive logic makes sense.

    BWAHAHAHAHA!

    Internal triumph achieved! I ask Aria to skim what¡¯s left of the Internet to see if there are any good examples of the staff tree I¡¯m looking for. Then I dictate a nice little open call for applications to be a Senior Camp Counselor. With the people that are already assuming important roles because they had old Warram clout, I¡¯m all about crashing into their fruit stand. Warram Officers were/are fucking parasites.

    Yes, starting a government by pissing off your leaders is a solid plan.

    Tova, is Aria not paying you enough attention? You¡¯re being a little catty. But also helpful. I¡¯m confused on how to feel about this. Bitch responds by hissing in my brain.

    \Kimber, Marcus, What the hell is this ¡®Open Call¡¯? Are you replacing me?\

    /Not specifically, no. I¡¯m fucking with people that are making assumptions and are maneuvering behind my back./

    \Ah, understandable. I just sent you a packet. I like the idea of taking on some intel operations, FYI.\

    /I did not know that about you. Why do you have a resume already ready?/

    \Possible transfer. Humboldt and Cascade seem like nice places.\

    I chuckle at that. He wanted to be considered for leadership in other places should this one go south. /Tell you what, Marcus, if you help me set some precedence here, I¡¯ll keep a job open for you if you want to transfer./

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    \That¡¯s a fucking deal. Gimme that scroll.\

    HAH! And I get one too! Bastard taking appropriate advantage of my Talent. I can¡¯t help but smirk at how good of a work relationship I¡¯ve developed with Marcus. He was barely above Jaime in my opinion of the people that were sponsored in my year, but now he¡¯s just a level in every interaction I have with him¡ªbalanced and straight as an arrow. I¡¯m glad he got over his VIP protection hitches, but I kinda hate that Belle basically fucked him into salience. Fuck, that¡¯s some internal vitriol I didn¡¯t need in my life right now.

    One of my living nightmares right now is that the old Warram worms decided that involving Jaime and Belle in leadership would be a good way to manipulate me. It makes me want to set them all on fire. I¡¯m not really being fair to Belle, but when she confessed that she couldn¡¯t balance a relationship with me and her career, it felt as though she was calling me toxic. I mean, fuck, maybe I was, but I was only trying to survive. Her and Marcella made me want to take a crack at actually living, though, so it¡¯s hard to hate the bitch.

    I call my girlfriend, suddenly needing to hear her voice.

    ¡°Kimber?¡± I see a sleepy-eyed dragon looking up at me. ¡°Baby, it¡¯s like 4am here. Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry honey, I just . . . I¡¯m going down a hate spiral because people are trying to put my ex-girlfriends in government positions and I needed a little grounding.¡± I can¡¯t keep the wobble from my voice as I try to keep the moisture from dripping from my eyes.

    Zia¡¯s eyes focus, ¡°Is this, teleport, transport, or no-port?¡±

    ¡°Heh, while I¡¯d love to see you, it¡¯s not important enough for you to miss the hunt to set people on fire.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, your enemies are my enemies. My dragon instincts make me want to collect their bones, encrust them in jewels and showcase how their only worth is what I gave them.¡±

    Empress¡¯ massacre, ¡°Damn Zizi, I uh, that¡¯s like comforting and a little alarming? I love you, but that¡¯s not necessary.¡± How did I get so lucky to have such a fierce partner?

    ¡°Gah, now I want to kill something. It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m on Elysium for a hunt. Oh, wait. Do you need me to comfort you in a Mindspace? I got a little carried away.¡± She collects her wings around her, showing that she¡¯s a little embarrassed for her volatile response.

    My cutie dragon is the bestest¡ªI feel so much better already. ¡°No Zia, seeing you and your willingness to go to war for me is more than enough.¡±

    ¡°Of course! Why would I not go to war for my . . . uh, ma . . . partner?¡± I snort as she looks for a word that doesn¡¯t translate.

    ¡°Do we need to talk about us for a minute Zizi?¡±

    ¡°NO! Uh, I mean, I like us. I just . . . ugh, not until I can do this in person okay!?!¡±

    Empress, that woman is trying so hard not to call me ¡®mate¡¯ it¡¯s ridiculous. If Penny hadn¡¯t warned me, I¡¯d be super confused right now, but dragons and in my bae¡¯s case draconids, well, they commit to one being, one mate, for the remainder of their existence. Naturally I take an enamored sense of amusement from her struggles to not tell me she wants to marry me, because in her mind we¡¯re already life partners. She¡¯s so fucking cute.

    ¡°Sure thing, cutie-pinkie-saur. Thanks for taking my call. I really needed to hear your voice.¡±

    ¡°Kimber! I¡¯m with hunters!¡± she tucks in close to the virtual lens, ¡°pinkie-saur wants to snuggle with Kimber-bear. Visit me soon, ¡®kay?¡±

    My emotions melt into a puddle of adoration, and apparently giggles. When she gets cutesie in her Draconid form it just tickles me silly. ¡°Soon¡± I say and nod.

    ¡°Ack! The hunters are laughing at me! Love you bye!¡±

    Guh, I love that woman.

    ***

    ¡°Haven¡¯t tried to make these crafting potions in a while, but Tova and Zia tell me I need to branch out with confidence.¡± Easy to say when they¡¯re not wasting a fortune in materials trying to craft a Mastercraft recipe as a empress-damned advanced alchemist.

    I fail as often as I succeed but the system will pony up some skill ups because I invented a new way to make these ridiculous potions.

    <Liquid Inspiration ¨C 3MAS ¨C You gain insight into crafting as though you are more skilled by seven ranks. Your failure chance for recipes at your skill level or lower is reduced to zero. These effects last for two hours>

    I¡¯m fairly certain that if I turn that 3MAS into a 3MES or a 3MMS that the length of the buff will increase, but this is the only recipe I have that is above advanced. It¡¯s a shame to waste a vial of S-grade ink on 100 doses when I should get 2-3 hundred, but this is the game isn¡¯t it? That said, these fucking things sell for 1100cr a piece. At my current skill, it¡¯s already a tenfold increase in value. If I get more hours and a higher yield, I could literally make billions. No wonder Penny laughed at me when I asked for a loan. Sassy boss lady.

    Today I¡¯m feeling frisky, so I put the potions up in batches of five and put them up for bid, 1100cr open for 12-hr auction. I start cleaning my private lab space and program my system-granted fabricator to make more corundum vials for me. Turns out, getting a tier gift as an Ordinal Being is a little rule-breaking and I take wild advantage of it for small shit. It will make anything to a quality that has been previously made. It printed me a kilo of Ethereal Agate once, and then it proceeded to super-suppose itself somewhere else while being tied to my lab. I still don¡¯t know what that really means, but when I inspect the Agate or my lab, that¡¯s what the system tells me. I though the substance was fictitious, so I guess this is what I get for wanting to make a fantasy ring for my girlfriend.

    A pressure difference and a pop in my ears tells me I got the wrong kind of attention.

    ¡°Kimber. Did I not tell you to not auction priceless shit?!¡±

    ¡°Since when is this fucking priceless? I¡¯ve been selling these vials for months!¡±

    The curvy Pixie demi-goddess flutters over to me and smacks the back of my head. I suddenly want to call her Mommy for the wrong reasons. NO! One woman girl, one woman girl.

    ¡°Ow, what¡¯s the big deal?¡±

    ¡°If you post them for a fixed price, you look like a fence or a pirate. Posting them on a bid, you look like the producer. They can see your company name. Well, cat¡¯s out of the bag, and you¡¯re about to be famous. Good luck with that.¡±

    ¡°Penny! Why didn¡¯t you tell me these potions were that important?!¡±

    She walks up to me with a sneer on her face and I freeze. Her aura is  . . . oppressive.

    ¡°I almost cried when you gave me a crate. Sure I tried to play it off, but I wanted you to make me more. These vials, are not marketed for sale anywhere else. I have not seen them on the Exchange in my years, but have heard of fortunes being levied against a mere dozen of similar flasks.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, I guess I remember, but seriously, Penny, you need to convey importance when you rush off to do other shit.¡±

    The Empress sighs and sits on one of the stools in my lab. ¡°I wish you¡¯d asked about this, but I can¡¯t reset this.¡± She scrubs her face in frustration. ¡°Sell me another crate and I can keep you supplied with a vial of ink a month to help you level. But don¡¯t put them up for bid again and for fucks sake, do it under a pseudonym.¡±

    ¡°I can just make a fake company and the Exchange will accept it?¡±

    ¡°Andromeda save me, Kimber, you put a different name under ¡®Poster¡¯s name¡¯ and or the contact info. You just auto populated the last stuff. I, I wish I had talked to you sooner, but shit happens and you¡¯re out there now.¡±

    ¡°Meh, your crate takes my last two vials to make. I can just say that I¡¯m out of stock until I find a new supply.¡±

    The Royal Pixie starts laughs at me again. ¡°I¡¯m not sure whether you¡¯re a boon or a curse little Nova, but if Confucius saw this, it was living in interesting times.¡±

    I was worried for a minute then I just can¡¯t take the juxtaposition and laughter consumes me. ¡°Like you ever live in boring times.¡± She squinches her face and I know I got her.

    ¡°You¡¯re lucky Zia likes you.¡±

    ¡°Also lucky you like me.¡±

    The most powerful person in the Empire considers my statement a moment and nods. ¡°True. Ask Zia to come with you on your next visit to Astoria, would you?¡± and the shit teleports out. I¡¯m not dumb enough to ignore her request, but she can wait until the next time I talk to my cutie pink dragon girl.

 A4: Chapter 2

    //Your auctions have completed!

    //You have sold 20 lots of 5x <Liquid Inspiration> for 23.37million Cr. The lowest successful bid was 57k Cr. The highest bid was 5.1M Cr. To see a summary, focus on |EXPAND|.

    //You have 3146 messages linked to these auctions.

    /Penny, you were right. I done fucked./

    \Snnkt. How bad?\

    /23 mil and 3k messages./

    \Honestly, 200k a bottle is a little low, but if you do it again it will probably garner triple the price as more people know about it.\

    /Didn¡¯t you just tell me not sell them?/

    \I said don¡¯t auto-fill an auction and you won¡¯t have all 3k of those messages trying to find you. Now use that money to make me potions\

    /Sure, sure. I have one bottle of your ink left. It feels like a shame to be using this stuff as low as I am./

    \Kimber, how long does the ink-based section of this brew take?\

    /Iono, six to eight hours for a whole vial-worth of catalyst?/

    \Are you taking the potions for this process? Four potions should be worth the improvement of having almost a whole skill tier higher.\

    Omfg, I am such a damned idiot.

    /Well, I¡¯m going to go scream at the sky for a few minutes./

    I hear her chuckle through our link. \You likely only wasted 10M Cr worth of potion, no big deal\

    My guilt rises with my embarrassment and my gorge, so I rush over to a trash can and vomit violently.

    /I¡¯m going to make a batch in preparation to making your next batch. Can I buy another vial?/

    \Do I need to hire a minder for you? Andromeda save me, if you weren¡¯t basically my kid already, it would sure feel like it now.\

    /Whatever, you love me. Or are you buttering me up with the mother stuff to babysit Phea?/

    \If you¡¯re offering, I¡¯ll take it. I need to flight test an experiment and I¡¯m the only one I trust to live through an accident.\

    /I mean, fuck. I¡¯m not ready to be a mom if you die./

    \Frannie and Jenna will take her if I do. So is that a yes?\

    /I got some days next month that I can come over, but it¡¯s for founder¡¯s week. Shouldn¡¯t you be there?/

    \Let me worry about the details. Can I get that in writing? Oh hey! I can. Your Talent is so convenient.\

    When I get another scroll in my hand I curse the fucking Empress about the damned Empress.

    /Love you too, asshole. Tell the munchkin I love her too./

    \Oh, wait! Before you go. The Voles got a snout on your coke and they want, like, a shipment. A regular one.\

    /Lady, I have space in that factory for one extra run. If you want more than that, I¡¯m either going to need to invade South America or get the V¡¯tek and Francesca to help me get the coca trees up on Astoria./

    \But if I can get the adult trees, you¡¯re good though?\

    I sigh through our mental link, somewhat regretting installing this particular magitech device in my skull, /Yeah, Penny. If you can source the trees, I¡¯ll pay for them and the equatorial plot¡ªwith room to expand¡ªand guarantee your shipment by the following Founders day, not the coming one./

    \I¡¯ll grant you a Duchy if you can do it in 6 months or less.\

    /That¡¯s still a thing?! No, explain later. I¡¯ll try, but it depends on how the trees take to the land./

    \Kimber, you have no idea the kind and quality of friends that I have.\ She snickers into the connection and cuts it afterward.  I get another scroll in my lap and I curse up a storm, knowing I¡¯ve just committed to a ton of shit by accident.

    ***

    ¡°Nice of you to join us,¡± an older woman that I don¡¯t recognize addresses me as though I work for her. Curious choice. Despite my physique, I still look young and I¡¯ll be damned if it isn¡¯t a constant plague. I would ask how Penny feels about it but everyone outside of Earth knows what she looks like, so I bet it¡¯s not often a problem.

    I look around the rest of the room, seeing Jaime, Belle, Marcus, Kenneck and a few others that I might have seen at Warram, but I can¡¯t be sure. ¡°It¡¯s not often I get ambushed with a last-minute meeting, so I¡¯m fashionably on time.¡± I look at my non-existent watch to prove a point¡ªexact minute of requested arrival.

    ¡°Yes, well, as you suggested, we created a government construct that . . .¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no need for that. I sent out an open call. The closing time for it was . . . this morning! But I bet you knew that.¡± I¡¯d skimmed the candidates, and some had stood out, but I¡¯d made no decisions.

    ¡°Yes, well, we¡¯ve talked and decided to present you with the best prospects for your future staff.¡±

    ¡°There are more people here than jobs I have available. To be quite honest, the only position I actually decided on, was Marcus heading N2, with someone from Jamie¡¯s shop heading N6 while working with Marcus for Intel and cyber security. Everyone else I don¡¯t have that level of confidence in.¡±

    I look at the woman that was the only one to talk, ¡°What position were you hoping for?¡±

    ¡°Why the Assistant Director of course.¡± She says while straightening her shoulders and tilting her nose up.

    I snort, treating the statement as a joke. ¡°That position requires respect for me and my vision. Which a last-minute invite to an ambush clearly doesn¡¯t show.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that I have quite a lot of backers.¡±

    I huff, sit, and order myself some food and drink. Not because I¡¯m hungry, I order to disrespect them all. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bite.¡± I jam some steak in my mouth and tear it off with my teeth. ¡°What do your backers do for me, a.k.a. why should I care?¡±

    ¡°Trainers, hospitality workers, even security personnel.¡± I see two people behind her, including Kenneck look alarmed at her reference. I look over at Marcus and he shakes his head. Good to know.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    I look over at my former girlfriends. They seem non-plussed and ready to speak on their own. ¡°Alright, Jaime, let¡¯s hear it.¡± She nods and reaches up to hold the man behind her by the hand.

    It¡¯s the man that speaks. ¡°I wish to keep my department, and as the most talented in my department I should lead it. Your split of communication and intel is not our favorite, but working with physical assets is not alien to us, so we would like the N6 status and are not affiliated with that woman.¡± Jaime and the man both look at the haughty woman in question.

    ¡°You came here under promise! You swore to me!¡±

    The man looks over to me. ¡°We swore to support her legitimacy. You sent an open call. It was an easy promise to make.¡±

    Yeah, that sounds like Jaime. I have questions though. ¡°Mouthpiece for Jaime. Are you a prisoner? Do you have independent thought?¡±

    Jaime looks up and nods. The man breaks contact, shivers and blinks a lot. ¡°Yes, Director, to independent thought. It was common in Warram¡¯s care to apprentice to a stat-seer in this manner. She is attempting to lead me into a seer role after hearing about your aether successes. I am six weeks from initialization.¡±

    My ex sure knows how to manipulate. ¡°Competence and training. Hard to pass up. Promise me this non-mutilation movement is an effort for your whole department and I¡¯ll slot you in as the favorite candidate with gold stars.¡±

    Jaime opens her hand again and the man puts his back inside, an obvious show that it¡¯s voluntary. Clever and effective.

    ¡°If Trevor¡¯s initialization is promising, I can make this promise. If it is within 3% of previous methods, I cannot.¡±

    Within moderate error? I can accept that and tell them so. The woman at the other end of my table starts protesting again. I keep eating and staring at her, hoping that she is just an energetic leader instead of a stuffed shirt old Warram crony. I appropriately address her tantrum by ignoring her.

    ¡°Alright Belle, what have you got?¡±

    ¡°Kimber, You know me.¡± I feel a wave of comfort roll against me and for half a second I miss her, then I sneer at the supposed manipulation.

    ¡°Do that to me again and I shoot you. I don¡¯t care what history we have: don¡¯t use mind-altering skills for official business. Old-boss Medvedev tried that¡ªdidn¡¯t take.¡± The room got silent. Everyone in my camp knows what happened in that meeting by now.

    The old woman snickers. ¡°Everyone knows that your mentor took care of that for you. Your intimidation won¡¯t work on us,¡± She pauses to look me in the eye instead of the crowd she gathered. ¡°little girl.¡±

    My nostrils flare, rage flows though me asking to [Triggered Action] a bullet in her brain. Instead, I pull up my menus. ¡°Listen, lady,¡± she tries to tell me her name and I raise a hand to interrupt, ¡°I¡¯m the settlement owner, I know your name and playing games really isn¡¯t the way.¡±

    ¡°Kimber,¡± Kenneck decides to risk his fool neck. Out of respect I let him. ¡°No one is going to buy into an all or nothing dictatorship. You have to let people decide for themselves.¡±

    ¡°Show me the people¡¯s votes Kenneck.¡± He starts stuttering. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you had the chance to fight for a republic, but didn¡¯t do the leg work? How do you expect me to respect you?¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t have the time!¡± the woman and Kenneck object.

    ¡°Yet my two exes, people whom I swore off, found the time for respect and you couldn¡¯t get votes? It¡¯s been a month and there are only a few thousand people here. If you wanted legitimacy, you missed it.¡±

    The sadness in my voice lends to the people adhering to the status quo. Poor bastards. Not too poor, they made a choice based on their wishes, not reality. I hit the last few buttons and then let them stew in their decisions. I want to ask Penny if she¡¯s ever exiled people for these reasons, but I can¡¯t query her for every problem I have.

    ¡°Constance Rose, you have thirty minutes to leave my settlement for multiple crimes including fomenting rebellion. After that time, if you are still present, I will post a bounty for your skull.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this! I¡¯m a Citizen!¡± Wait, what?!

    Yeah, the notices makes sense, being in an Empire aligned Settlement. ¡°I don¡¯t see any slavery marks on your record, so you can flee to Astoria if you wish. I don¡¯t think Reno would check your record to closely either.¡± I watch her entire panic and rebellion modes and almost pity the woman.

    ¡°While this occurs, perhaps we cement the government?¡± Belle asks.

    ¡°Sure, give me a few minutes.¡± The woman starts speaking again, but I ignore her and focus on the task of finishing my dinner. I want to leave them like this, in a state of flummoxed chaos, but that would be reckless and would not accomplish the task of finding the right people to run my settlement. Fortunately for Miss Rose, Kenneck has her back and leads her out of the room after only wasting a few minutes.

    I stand up to set my plates on the side table and grab myself a cup of coffee. Still warm, nice.

    ¡°Would you really have killed her?¡± Belle asks.

    ¡°Not personally, no, but I¡¯m sure someone would have tried to cash in on a 500 credit bounty.¡± I pause to look at the people from Constance¡¯s corner and then switch topics. ¡°I still need a Leading Councilor for Personnel, Operations, and Logistics.¡±

    The man minding Jaime coughs for attention with a few fingers raised for the same. I acknowledge him. ¡°If I may nominate someone, Franklin Russel was a diligent numbers man for Warram¡¯s food and sundries.¡±

    Normally I wouldn¡¯t take too much stock in a Warram performer, but the nutty food arrangement Warram had must have been a nightmare. I nod at the thought, even though we won¡¯t collect and redistribute rations like they did. ¡°Mister Russel, would you be interested in running the Logistics department for Camp Elsewhere?¡±

    He clears his throat, ¡°That depends, Director. Will I be exiled for upsetting you?¡± He says, more nervous that threatening. I¡¯ll allow it.

    ¡°That also depends. If you make a decision I don¡¯t follow or don¡¯t agree with, we¡¯ll talk about your reasoning and move forward. If you make a decision that negatively impacts my citizens, we¡¯ll see how bad it is, and I would likely just fire you. A deliberate action that leads to someone¡¯s death? That¡¯s when we get into crime and punishment territory. That goes for everyone really.¡±

    I look around and see that Marcus has his hand raised. ¡°Yes, Marcus, I understand that security has a more inherent lethal risk than the other departments.¡± He puts his hand down.

    ¡°And we will be paid, yes?¡± He again looks nervous. What were these people told about me.

    ¡°Yes, of course. I intend for Leading Councilor to be a salary position. Roughly 900 Cr yearly, upgraded housing. Negotiable. I intend to have our settlement HQ based out of the new Civics building just inside the Northeast Gate by Port of Entry.¡±

    ¡°That seems . . . reasonable.¡± He visibly pauses mid-sentence to run a tally? Alright. I boop both him and Marcus into my menu for the settlement.

    ¡°Great! Now, Jamie, you said you wanted to be communications, but I was thought your folks would be good at plans and ops as well?¡±

    ¡°While I do have people that enjoy statistical prognostication, I do not. Subterfuge and Secrets are more to my interest, which N6 is the closest you have. I think it would also be good to get my people out of the coven mentality that Warram built us around. I would also think that some of Marcus¡¯ people would be interested in plans and or communications as well.¡±

    I nod at that, very sensible reasoning. ¡°Everyone eventually coordinates with Operations and Plans. While this isn¡¯t a military operation, urban planning and development in this climate takes security forces, drones, etc. If no one sure about that role, my AI enjoys the planning part if you know someone that is willing to take the development part.¡±

    ¡°Would that be sharing a department with your AI?¡± I snort at the comment from a man beside mister Russel.

    ¡°No, as the majority of the legwork and personnel management will be done by the Lead Councilor. It would mean a reduced salary, but still livable.¡± I look up the man¡¯s resume. Clive Baker. Forward assault coordinator for Warram.

    ¡°Mr. Baker, were you the one that organized the Adelanto raids?¡±

    He nods. ¡°I never really controlled anything, I just had the authority to borrow units to scout and infiltrate, requisition materials, that sort of thing.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like the part of the equation we¡¯re missing. Interested Mr. Baker?¡±

    He nods, ¡°Let me talk with your AI for a few minutes and we¡¯ll see.¡±  Entirely reasonable since they¡¯ll be working together. Go get ¡®em Tova.

    ¡°Her name¡¯s Tova, and . . .¡± he gives a thumbs up and a glazed stare comes over his eyes.

    I look over at Bell and see pursed lips and scrunched eyebrows. Does she have to poop?

    ¡°I want the N1 position, Kimber.¡± Consternation, I suppose, could be confused with the need for pooping.

    ¡°I can tell, but looking at your resume and what I have seen, you¡¯re not really a good fit. You¡¯ve never really managed people and the position you were in at Warram made it hard for you to separate Work life and Home life. Unless you can scrounge up some people to vouch for you, I don¡¯t think this is going to happen. You¡¯d be a great asset for whomever takes the role, though. Or talk with Dr. Kennck at the hospital if you¡¯re interested in social work.¡±

    ¡°Is this because I dumped you? Scorned ex isn¡¯t a good look.¡±

    I get a good belly laugh at that statement. ¡°You¡¯re right, it¡¯s not.¡± I grin at her and look at the others gathered. ¡°Jamie and I dated at our Orphanage for a few years. Belle and I dated at Warram for about a year. Jaime left me with scars that will never heal, Belle just hurt me. If anyone has issues with apparent favoritism feel free to message or talk to me with your concerns. Other than that? Take two weeks, give me a department structure, list of employees you want, etc. and we¡¯ll meet at the conference room in the Civics building to cement everything.¡±

    Marcus comes over and sits next to me. ¡°Can you hit me with a ration?¡±

    ¡°I mean, I can, but it would be a waste of food.¡± I smirk and he shakes his head at me. ¡°But I want to see what the cafeteria¡¯s put together. If anyone has follow-up questions, or just wants to chat, I¡¯ll be stuffing my face for another forty five minutes.¡±

    ¡°Damnit, Kimber, I just sat down.¡± Marcus complains before following me out.

 A4: Chapter 3

    ¡°Deputy Novarro, the Mayor¡¯s office has invited you to a criminal justice meeting.¡± Winchester says through gritted teeth on a vid-chat.

    ¡°Sheriff? Gods, okay? Are you mad at me or something?¡± I ask, waking up to an empty bed and none too happy about it.

    ¡°Your magic has drawn attention from our government. It keeps me up at night. Figured I¡¯d return the kindness. Tomorrow, 2pm. County Courthouse. Bring James.¡± He hangs up on me.

    ¡°FUCK YOU!!¡± I shout at the empty air. I¡¯m breathing heavy and feel like flying to Reno to set fire to his lawn. I shuffle with the nightstand drawer and pull out a chew and jam it in my maw. My emotions cool to a crystalline laser core and focus my errant feelings into directed action. I clinically put on my business attire and get ready for my Empress-forsaken day.

    The flight to Reno doesn¡¯t take long, but the rigamarole to get access to the Mayor¡¯s office is frustrating and neither the Sheriff or I have the patience for it. After more than an hour of waiting on Empress knows what, we get admitted to the palatial office.

    ¡°Benson, this is the girl that brought in the Skinwalker? You can¡¯t be serious.¡±

    I stifle a chuff as I listen to the man in Roman Senate robes disparaging my accomplishments.

    ¡°Yes, Governor, she brought down the horror solo, then brought my Northern Deputy in to help parlay with PacNorwest. Tribal leaders didn¡¯t want a Skinwalker in their territory, so they handed sentencing authority to miss Navarro and not Nevarahdo. Her Magic Track deals with Justice, so it worked out. She was lenient, he messed up again, and the Deputy from Washington shot him in the head and killed him.¡±

    A rotund man in a more traditional 3-piece suit waddled forward to look me over. ¡°Your ID does not have you appearing this . . . sturdy. A recent change?¡±

    I quickly reply, ¡°Year and a half, maybe? I transitioned to tier 1 and it came with the rest of my physical changes and a better handle on my Track magic.¡±

    ¡°Reports say you¡¯ve seen this magic James?¡± The robed wonder asks the Northern Nevarahdo Deputy.

    ¡°I have. The magic cuffs and her [Pass Judgement] spell are quite impressive. She is also well-trained in urban conflict.¡±

    Both the Governor and the Reno Mayor bring up some opaque screens and peer around them to look at me periodically as they chat between each other. ¡°We have some questions before we detail our interest.¡±

    ¡°I aim to serve justice as well as I am able, gentlemen.¡± I say before giving a shallow bow. Their behavior is starting to feel shady.

    ¡°Can you pass judgement on anyone?¡±

    ¡°As far as I can tell. The Skinwalker attempted to resist, but it¡¯s not just my aether capacity they are fighting, it¡¯s the System¡¯s intent in giving me the Track and the Talent.¡±

    ¡°Can you enforce any penalty that the courts decide?¡±

    The sixty thousand credit question.

    ¡°To a degree. When I cast the spell, I see the crimes they¡¯ve committed relevant to my inquiry¡ªso far¡ªand I can¡¯t levy an unreasonable judgement or one that goes against standing law, or in the lack of president, my personal code.¡±

    ¡°For example, while I was operating north of Vegas, my team betrayed me and put me in a position to chose the lives of innocents or my own. Warram¡¯s laws on betrayal were varied, and my mentor¡¯s views on betrayal were death. I commuted their sentences to half-attributes for six months, restricted Exchange access for a year, and a permanent Oathbreaker title. I never followed up with them.¡±

    The four men in the room discussed for a few minutes and then turned back to me. ¡°What would you do if a man was convicted of a crime and you saw that he did not commit it.¡±

    I think it¡¯s funny that all of their examples are men, but I decide not to mention it. ¡°Magic is about intent, gentlemen. If I pass judgement with the intent of sentencing a specific set of actions, I may not see any other crimes. If he did not commit the crimes he was accused of, I would still have to finish my judgement and notify the judge of my visions. If he was guilty of lesser crimes in the same vein, I would sentence those and move on. Otherwise, if the desired punishment fits the crime in a reasonable way, I would finish the sentence in the manner that the courts decide.¡±

    ¡°Mayor, Governor, stop beating around the bush and just tell her what you want. I¡¯d rather be paid to keep the peace than keep standing here.¡± James and I smirk at that while the two officious males scowl. Perhaps Benson will not be re-elected if he keeps this up.

    ¡°Miss Novarro, we believe the courts are considering sentencing an innocent man and want him cleared of the crime.¡± I nod, seems reasonable.

    ¡°If he¡¯s innocent, I¡¯ll see it. If he isn¡¯t, I¡¯ll see that too. But I will warn you, if I see he¡¯s guilty of something connected to this, I have to judge him, the magic is committed once I use the Talent.¡±

    ¡°Do you ever judge positively?¡± the Mayor asks.

    ¡°Hasn¡¯t come up yet, but I don¡¯t think even I would volunteer to be judged like that and the System gave the Talent to me.¡± I guess the System already judged me enough to trust my morality, using Divine Aether after all.

    They nod and wave for me to follow. The State Courthouse is the next building over, and the prison for the cases on trial that day are below it. I guess they decided not to move the man to a long-term penitentiary before I could take a look.

    When I use my critical eye skill on the man I see that he is a Dentist, surgery track, tier 1. I can¡¯t see his skills and talents, but that¡¯s not relevant really as the system won¡¯t take talents away, even if I ask Andromeda nicely.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see the accusation list.¡± The robed dandy began speaking when James hits me with a folder. Four Rape accusations, six sexual assaults, profiteering, and insurance fraud. Sounds like a great guy. Ten years in prison and 10k credit fine? For four rape convictions? Are you fucking serious right now? I do a quick search on the local info net and at least one of the victims committed suicide. I don¡¯t see this going well and the two officials seem to think he is guilty of less. I take a breath and brace myself.

    ¡°[Pass Judgement]¡± I touch his forehead and say it aloud to steel my nerves.

    Two men, long friends open a practice together. His partner was the true deviant, but his first dip was enough to taint his mind. He developed a relationship with his second and last victim, but when she found out that he¡¯d taken advantage of her while under anesthesia she killed herself. His partner used that death as a way to shed his guilt to his partner.

    I tried to block out the depraved acts but to my horror, I have to witness them. The first girl, they shared. The second, he walked out as his partner violated the woman. His actual second violation was a woman he hadn¡¯t had the courage to ask out, and his will broke as the anesthesia took hold. He kept it from her for five years. He knew his partner continued to violate patients and never turned him in.

    <You have used Pass Judgement and discovered a multitude of crimes, the worst commonly carry the penalty of time in prison and a fine. How will you proceed?>

    I want to take his profession from him and send the money he earned to his victim¡¯s family. I want to get my visions as a video account and stuff it down his partner¡¯s throat, I want to . . .

    <Your anger indicates you wish to exact a penalty of death, do you wish to proceed?>

    No, I want to do the other things.

    <You have indicated that you wish to remove his skill in dentistry, remand his wages to his victims, and provide evidence of the crimes he¡¯s witnessed. Is this correct?>

    I also want him to carry the Title ¡®Rapist¡¯.

    <Skill: Dentist, docked two tiers. 50k credits have been sent from the judged¡¯s accounts, and you have agreed to recommend a reduced prison sentence for a full testimony. Judgement complete.>

    The world comes back into focus and I feel James close with his hands under my arms. ¡°Shit, thanks man. That¡¯s always a little intense.¡±

    The Mayor and the Governor look at me expectantly as my buddy Deputy props me up against a concrete wall opposite the cell. Sherrif Winchester gives a gesture to the men that makes them pause with mouths open. I not at him and order some juice from the Exchange, making it look like I took it from personal storage.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°Good news and bad news gentlemen. The dentist is guilty of two-counts of rape, his partner is the one that encouraged him to participate the first time, and most certainly lumped the accusations levied against him to the family¡¯s accusations against the prisoner. I have offered to advocate a reduced sentence if he rolls on his partner.¡±

    The two political magnates discuss amongst themselves as I slam my juice and order some aether-food to replace my severely depleted levels.

    If you reached less into every aspect of punishment, you would use less mana. Such as confiscating payments and remitting them to the families.

    That does not sound like something I¡¯d pass up. The families deserve that money Tova.

    Yes, I agree, but many of these cases will be years past the inciting action. Also, you incited an extra-normal penalty of all of his wages instead of his wages since the incident, thus more energy. Before you ask, I¡¯ve been recording the flood of data that happens when you judge and have reviewed them. Judgements outside the bounds of ¡®normal¡¯ cost more mana.

    Ugh, gods, I hate that. I make mistakes, but what happens to the other money, the other assets?

    <One of the Families accepted their due of 5k credits. The remaining 45k credits have been redirected to your personal account.>

    Eww. That feels gross beyond measure. Can we, I dunno, give 5k to the courts for this trial, keep 1k and set up an abuse foundation with the other 39k?

    That . . . that seems an appropriate use of the money. Perhaps, set aside the 9k for prosecuting his partner?

    Oh! Tova you brutally brilliant bitch! I take a moment to menu, transfer, and add to my ¡®judgement¡¯ results and publish them in a sort of decree? Can I do that? A silver scroll drops into my hand.

    Silver? Uh, does that mean that the System doesn¡¯t fully back me? I read the document. It tells me that the 5k for the family and the courts was fully backed and that my judgement required additional funds. My judgement was indeed backed by the System, but the remaining action was not enacted by the system, but by me. I read this as legally deniable, but not punishable by the System itself. Okay, wiggle room is apparently a thing. Silver contracts. Weird. Wait, the side agreement that I would advocate for a lesser sentence is also there. Huh, Andromeda is leaving that and the additional funds to me, but backing my overall play? Is that like assessing damages?

    It could be viewed as that, I suppose. It seems to be, and acknowledgment of understanding shades of grey, not merely the black and white. I¡¯d be guessing as to why that was the case, as the system agreed that stripping a man to his base track was a gold contract.

    Well that just makes everything a crystal bowl full of mud now doesn¡¯t it. Damnit. I hand over the document to the Governor and tell them that I¡¯d be available for anything the court needed me to support.

    ¡°Great! We reconvene in two days.¡± the Mayor exclaims.

    Fucking great. Woo new job as a witness.

    ***

    ¡°Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, so help the deity of your choosing?¡± The bailiff asks me as I have been called as an expert witness by the defense.

    ¡°I so swear to the extent of my knowledge.¡± A golden scroll falls onto the lectern.

    ¡°What is that?¡± The presiding judge asks.

    ¡°A system contract, judge. Between me and the court.¡± I open the scroll and see the signatories as me and . . . the Governor? Interesting. ¡°Apparently, the court is backed by the Governor.¡± I hand the scroll over to His Honor. He reads it.

    ¡°That¡¯s It? Half of it is blank.¡±

    ¡°It is blank so far, it will fill in as I am encouraged to make additional statements.¡± He looks down again, the lifted eyebrows should correspond to the additional wording added.

    ¡°The defense wishes to admit that scroll as exhibit ¡®F¡¯ and the scroll of her judgement results as exhibit ¡®G¡¯¡±

    ¡°A moment, Defense Counsel,¡± The Judge pushes his direction aside and looks at me. ¡°On this agreement of truth, what happens if you lie?¡±

    ¡°There will be red text if I lie knowingly. Orange or yellow of truth with intent to deceive, and shades of green are . . . less defined. My current guesses are truth as far as a person knows it and the resultant is either benign or mostly true.¡±

    ¡°That last part showed up green, instead of regular black.¡±

    I shrug, ¡°It¡¯s based on a personal supposition on things that have objective truths, your honor. I don¡¯t know the facts of the matter, but I have educated guesses.¡± He studies my response.

    ¡°I¡¯ll allow these admitted into evidence. Your witness, Counselor.¡± He said to the defence.

    The slick older woman, nice suit and short, well-styled hair approaches my position.

    ¡°Miss Novarro. Did you have these magics before or after you were accepted to the Sheriff¡¯s office?¡±

    ¡°Before. I believe I was accepted because I have a form of Judgement magic in the Talent [Pass Judgement].¡±

    ¡°And have you used this magic before, to ¡®pass judgement¡¯ on another human being?¡±

    I squinch my eyebrows while thinking on how to address the race discrepancy. ¡°The male started as a human, I guess, but he was a Skinwalker when I used my Talent, at the Wymahnto-PNW border in front of Deputy Kinsey and a representative of PNW law enforcement.¡±

    She nods, looks back at her bench where I see the sad dentist, then returns to look me in the eyes, ¡°How do you experience the evidence that informs your judgements?¡±

    I sigh, knowing I have to remember a vision and collect the information that I generally try to excise from my mind. ¡°It¡¯s multi-sensory, multi-perspective. Sometimes I see from the perpetrator¡¯s perspective, sometimes from a third-party, but never from the victim, especially since the victims were sedated for the crimes committed. Sight, sound and smell seem most common. Taste haven¡¯t happened yet, and touch . . . really hasn¡¯t been the focus of the ¡®visions¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Yet you feel that your visions are substantiated by sight and sound alone?¡±

    ¡°The squelching sound of sex and the grunting of a male are fairly convincing when you have the close-up focus of a penis entering a woman from the man¡¯s perspective. Perhaps you would like me to describe the slurping noises of his mouth, or the whimper as he felt her with his fingers?¡±

    The lawyer shudders as the Judge cuts in, ¡°That will not be necessary, miss Novarro.¡±

    ¡°Objection! Hearsay!¡± The prosecution demands.

    ¡°Defense, bring the scroll to the stand.¡± They do so, he picks it up and reviews the contents. ¡°Miss Novarro, did you see and hear the events from Mr. Granger¡¯s perspective?¡±

    ¡°I did, your honor.¡± He pauses,

    ¡°From only his perspective?¡±

    ¡°No, your honor, I was shown from a third perspective that he was alone, and . . . enjoying the encounter.¡±

    I can¡¯t tell what he saw, but the Judged believed in the System. He must have a judicial Track. ¡°Overruled. If confirmed by this scroll, the account will be considered a first-person account.¡± The prosecutor fumed.

    ¡°Miss Novarro, have you seen this man commit fraud in relation to the dental care he provided?¡±

    Bitch. She¡¯d read the judgement and knew that there was misconduct, but not in response to the dental care. ¡°No ma¡¯am¡±

    ¡°How about embezzlement?¡±

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°No further questions.¡± The dense lawyer nodded at the Judge.

    ¡°Your witness, Prosecution.¡±

    The man stood, sloppy in his presentation, but a posture that lent to that he was once an important man.

    ¡°So your judgement is base on magic is it?¡±

    ¡°Visions provided by the System, a physical . . .¡±

    ¡°It was a rhetorical question, your response . . .¡±

    ¡°Rhetorical questions are manipulative in a courtroom setting.¡± I respond.

    He sneers a little, reigning himself in before he says something stupid. ¡°And you would say that this magic makes you a credible witness.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°But were you there?¡±

    ¡°I viewed the events through the eyes of those present.¡±

    ¡°But were you there, in person, with your actual body, eyes, ears, etcetera.¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°So you agree that your testimony is not an eye-witness account?¡±

    ¡°OBJECTION, leading.¡±

    ¡°Sustained. Prosecution, her recount of the events have been entered into evidence.¡±

    He nods, ¡°My further questions pertain to her credibility as a witness.¡± The judge nods. ¡°Thank you, your honor.¡± He turns to me, ¡°Miss Novarro, have you killed people?¡±

    ¡°I have, all sanctioned or absolved by local authorities.¡±

    ¡°So you believe you replace the will of the court?¡±

    I smirk at that. ¡°As large as Reno Metro is, counselor, Nevahrado is not as robust as the city is. Not only that, the prisons we have are meant for people, not monsters like the Skinwalker. But to answer your question, no. I do not plan to replace the court. I want to have my efforts and the efforts of the Reno and Colorado Springs courts to respect each other and honor each other¡¯s agreements.¡±

    ¡°And if your judgements overlap?¡±

    ¡°OBJECTION, Relevance.¡±

    ¡°Overruled. Prosecution is warned to keep questions to the case at hand and not to the topic of Jurisprudence.¡±

    Prosecution huffs and straightens his shabby coat. ¡°Do you think your judgements are legally binding?¡±

    ¡°They are system binding, yes, and the System can levy many fines and consequences that the courts can and cannot. I have also submitted the judicial priority that my Talent uses as a litmus for crimes, as far as I know it.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever added a personal tint into your judgements?¡± The man smirks as though he knows me.

    ¡°Assaults are not all equal, Counselor. Getting beat up sucks. Getting shot is a mind fuck because you could have died. Sexual assault is a different beast. The assailants, usually male often use armed, aggravated assault to perpetrate rape, and then the rape can then be considered a form of torture whether the event ends in death or not. There are of course forms of sexual assault that are not rape, butt touching, crotch grabs, rubbing, licking, all manner of forced conduct that the court barely differentiates between.¡±

    ¡°No further questions.¡±

    ¡°In this case . . .¡±

    ¡°Witness,¡± the judge interrupts. ¡°You will adhere to the procedure of the court.¡± I huff, but agree. ¡°Redirect?¡±

    ¡°Yes, your honor,¡± the woman stands and rests her elbow on the stand. ¡°You indicate that you would judge a rape as tantamount to torture?¡±

    ¡°I would. Repeated assault against a person¡¯s will can be construed as torture.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± the woman steps away, stares at the jury and asks, ¡°Miss Novarro, considering the circumstances and the anesthesia involved, would you consider this instance of rape a form of torture.¡±

    ¡°No, but the mental implications . . .¡±

    ¡°No further questions.¡±

    I¡¯m about to scream at her but the Judge raps his gavel twice and stares at me. Message received, ass. I¡¯m dismissed as a witness and led out of the courtroom by the bailiff. Apparently the zoo is not interested in the whole truth, fucking animals. Despite my anger, I get that legal proceedings are largely unsatisfying and decide to leave it be.

    I sit and read through my notices and scoff at the ¡®rewards¡¯ I¡¯ve been given.

    <You advance Alchemy> x6

    /successes beyond your skill level convey increased experience

    /discovering recipes conveys increased experience

    /discovering recipes above your current tier conveys increased experience

    <You have advanced Imbuement>x2

    <You have advanced Cooking>

    /Cooking and Alchemy cover the intermediate steps that would be considered ¡®Brewing¡¯

    <You have advanced Management>x2

    /Establishing a government conveys additional experience.

    <You have advanced Intimidation>

    <You advance Discerning Gaze>

    <You advance Divine Aether> x2

    <You advance Adjudication>x3

    <You gain aether imbalance>x2

    <you have gained a level!>x2

    Well, at least if I use the potion I made, it¡¯ll put me up in the Expert tier. I really need to read my messages more as the Matrix still keeps the advancement in limbo until I read the system messages. Freaking Penny setting a precedent.

 A4: Chapter 4

    Weeks after judging the dentist, the images I saw still plague my nightmares. I don¡¯t see them during the day anymore, so at least there is that. Zia offered to fly out but I don¡¯t want to delay her ¡®cultural development¡¯ stay on Earth so that I can see my girlfriend regularly and hold her while I cry instead of just curling up around . . . nothing. I need to get Zia to leave me something that smells like her. In the meantime, little candies still give the gratification flood that we trained into me and it¡¯s been enough so far to get me working in the morning.

    ¡°Aria, do we have anything before the Camp meeting this afternoon?¡± The methodical buttoning of my shirt is helping to secure me and my mind as well. Focus on the routine, Kimber.

    ¡°Yes. Marcus has requested time with the drone fleet. I checked his operators and they are aware of the drone limitations and they have magitec interfaces for the transmitters. Also, Kenneck says it¡¯s about time to separate the new trainees and he¡¯d appreciate you picking a prot¨¦g¨¦ this morning.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, perfect thing for me to do while my brain¡¯s all scattered. Fuck. I did say I would sponsor someone.¡± I know I¡¯m not in a place personally to do training justice though. Maybe I can talk to Kenneck and take them when they¡¯re three months out from their initialization and coach them with how to prepare?

    Gods, Tova, why do I feel like I¡¯m in a constant rut of trying to survive?

    That was probably rhetorical, but you have a ruthless case of Imposter Syndrome. You made the largest weapons manufacturer in the Empire want to do business with you. You fostered several communities where people want to live. So why not lean on those successes to generate a little piece of mind.

    Penny told you it was okay to contact her people at Merc Arms, so do it. She works with an alchemist, so ask her to hook you up. On the other side, you have a community of thousands here in Elsewhere, hire a damned personal assistant. You don¡¯t have the excuse that all of your money is committed anymore.

    Well, shit, you think someone would want to work for me?

    Imagine Penny or Zia saying that and see what that sounds like.

    I snort to myself. Yeah, sounds pretty dumb. Alright, Tova, I¡¯ll post the job. Working hours: 7am to 4pm, 6-days pick your off-day; available for correspondence until 9pm. Some travel required. Duties include: Secretarial work, liaison, Gopher. Required skills: Internal communications relay, familiarization with Exchange services, Event planning experience preferred. Pay: 1Cr per day.  Oh! While I¡¯m at it I can post some jobs for the Deputy¡¯s office!

    I ask Aria and Tova if they can re-structure the job board to be something more official looking. Tova opens windows in my vision to show me the settlement menu, Important notices for residents, and creates a Job Openings category along with the public safety and construction alerts. Thanks Tova, and you¡¯re right, I need to learn the Settlement Interface better.

    Feeling better, at least about that, I head to my new training complex to talk to the Training Councilor. I pull on a crop hoodie and make sure I have acceptable shorts on. They¡¯re essentially thigh-length speedo trunks, but the snug fit and the wicking synthetics feel like a dream. The hoodie is just a love for the hood without the overheating aspect of a full sweatshirt.

    As I arrive, the staff either checks me out or raises an eyebrow at my attire, but once they see my face they look away. Damn right suckers, I own this place so take your judgements to your graves.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Kenneck?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re on a sparring and weights circuit right now, Director,¡± a young man replies. ¡°Inside the stadium, ma¡¯am.¡±

    I nod at that and jog toward the building. Conveniently, people seem eager to open doors for me, so my jog is barely slowed as I see that approximately fifty teens are gathered around the ring and another hundred or so are in the weights and machines along the walls. This setup is a half-compromise with the old Warram layout, as I insisted that there be a legit stadium for matches, but there¡¯s an outside track that has a running path and weights and machines arrayed in muscle groups around the track. Yeah, I designed this for my old workouts and basically forced people to be inconvenienced or do it my way. Heh, being in charge has its benefits apparently.

    I hop up onto the side of the ring where Kenneck is standing, watching to fit boys slugging it out.

    ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Kenneck says.

    ¡°And yet, you¡¯re going to talk to me.¡± I demand. ¡°I¡¯m not going to be able to train someone from 14 to initiation this time.¡±

    His head snaps toward me with words of protest on his lips.

    ¡°But I will take and train people that want an aether or Magic track for the last three months before their initialization. I will also be giving another 5k credits to help give your favorite magic candidates more attentive and focused training in general. I just can¡¯t foster them like Marcella did me for now.¡±

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Kenneck¡¯s snarl eases, ¡°We agreed, Kimber.¡±

    ¡°I suppose, but this change isn¡¯t terrible. You have enough staff, and now you should have enough money to make it happen.¡±

    ¡°I guess I should be grateful then huh? Can I go back to work now?¡± He scoffs and my fucking hackles raise.

    ¡°You know, old man, you keep up with curmudgeon disrespect, one day my answer will be no.¡±

    ¡°Heh, sure, you¡¯re too busy to train folks, remember? Who are you going to replace me with?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d prefer you learn, Kenneck.¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s gonna teach me Kid, you?¡± I snarl in response but take a deep breath as he grins.

    I walk into the ring, tell the kids to get out. ¡°If this is what you want, you got it. Get in the ring Kenneck. Your terms.¡±

    I finally see the hint of respect in his eyes in the form of fear. ¡°That doesn¡¯t prove anything, Kimber. A fight with rules won¡¯t earn my respect.¡± He laughs.

    I shake my head. ¡°But avoiding a fight that you instigated will lose theirs.¡± I point at the gathered students. ¡°Sure, I could be lessening the effectiveness of their training, but if I strike the right tone, they¡¯ll train for me, and not for you. Your money and opportunity come from me anyway, so what good are you if you can¡¯t train, right?¡±

    ¡°If this were a street fight . . .¡± I grin as he says that. I pull on [Triggered Action] and throw a fist full of knives at his thigh, liver, and mouth, counting on the fact he won¡¯t have time to fully face me. He drops, shouting as blood flows from his thigh and his cheek. The one in his belly isn¡¯t bleeding on the outside yet.

    ¡°You¡¯d be fucking dead.¡± I growl out. ¡°This is a teachable moment, folks. If your opponent is letting you pick the terms of a fight, always be wary. In fact, you should avoid it and arrange your own terms because no one is going to give you a better fight than you can arrange for yourself, and it should never be fair.¡± The students are still staring at me, and many of the teens on the workout track are gathering.

    ¡°Fine. If you¡¯re still here, you all now have homework. I¡¯ll post a copy of The Tenets of Sun Tsu by a War Weary Sociopath to the training boards. You will all read them and start thinking about ways to make supposedly fair fights unfair in your favor.¡±

    Kenneck is still bellyaching as he tries to limp out of the building. I run over and dose him with a sedative and have him carted over to his daughter at the Hospital. A few minutes later I find Kenneck¡¯s assistant slash second in command and start loading responsibility on the bastard.

    ¡°You heard what I said about the Magic sponsorship?¡± He nods, ¡°then I want you to keep an eye on two candidates. At least six months from their initialization, I want their names so I can send them additional info. Three months out, I¡¯ll take over their training.¡± He nods again, perhaps too afraid to speak lest he sprout knives. Can¡¯t say I blame him: I¡¯m in a mood.

    ¡°Uh, I hate to ask, but when will I get face time with the boss again.¡± The assistant asks.

    ¡°Go ahead. If you do as I ask, you¡¯ll have brownie points to spend.¡±

    ¡°Uh, yeah. Like, could we get you to come in and do a bladed weapons class? Kenneck keeps bitching that the person with the highest blades skills is you, and we uh, we could use the help.¡±

    Oh. Really? I have the highest blades at  . . . Advanced? Okay, that¡¯s not too bad actually.

    ¡°Yeah, I can do that. Two three-day periods for a start? But, start training them in a martial discipline first. No blades longer than a saber, though.¡± His face brightens up as I agree. Apparently he was one of the people who wanted a class in bladed combat. ¡°What¡¯s your name, trainer?¡±

    ¡°Gilbert. Donny Gilbert, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Alright, handshake and I¡¯ll send you my comm¡¯s ID.¡± He reaches out and slaps my hand with gusto. A quick swap, and maybe I have a man on the inside of the training park that Kenneck can¡¯t actively block me from. Bastard was a necessary inconvenience before, but perhaps not anymore.

    I stay to get a workout in, because why not while I¡¯m here. That and I¡¯ve been slacking lately. Where I used to put in four hours plus a day, I¡¯m only doing about one and a half hours lately. I¡¯m also eating three thousand fewer calories too, so there¡¯s that.

    ***

    Aria, my delightfully virtual work wife, reminds me that I have meetings with my head of supply and temporary head of finance (until I find a deputy director I can trust), and a combined meeting with the new Council of Camp Elsewhere.

    ¡°Alright, Mr. Russel, what matters are we to discuss before our first meeting?¡±

    ¡°There are several issues, one of which needs infrastructure?¡± I eyeball the man with a serious stare. ¡°Yes, yes, well; we need something like a central depot or a supply center that we can go to for supplies instead of ordering from the Exchange. Our Settlement network is not robust enough to supply all of our needs so shipments from Reno or other locations in the country would be more economical if we ordered in bulk and stored them.¡±

    ¡°Understood. I have ideas for, twenty thousand square meters of warehouse under the freeways, is that enough?¡±

    He nods, ¡°it is for the foreseeable future. Next we arrive at funding pools. Logistics, personnel and planning should all have funds available. A common fund would be . . . irresponsible, so at least four budgeted funds should be available. Lastly, we don¡¯t have transportation. A small attachment of lift trucks, vans, etcetera, would allow us to trade with the southern California region more effectively. However, as you spend many hours in the Arizona-Texas conflict region, perhaps a few small transports would be more all-purpose.¡±

    ¡°This seems solvable with money and construction drones. Is there an obstacle I¡¯m missing?¡±

    ¡°Is that not enough? We need drivers, and or pilots, permanent employees for the warehouses, permanent transportation employees, etcetera.¡± He says in exasperation.

    ¡°And we have no Head Councilor for Personnel. Okay, I get that. I¡¯m posting job listings, stat sheets to vehicle suppliers, and I¡¯m sending you a contact list for Reno City cervices.¡±

    I watch the man tally his work before responding. ¡°That should work, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Alright, Now Russel, after this upcoming meeting, I¡¯m going to give you a budget. I know from your resume that you worked a budget for Warram. I¡¯m giving you more money because you have to work with ops and plans, but the system will tell me what you¡¯re working with. Nothing under the table, no side hustles with this money, understand.¡±

    ¡°I would be offended, but I did work with Warram. Understood.¡±

    ¡°The benefit of working for me, however, will be a reward for every scheme of yours that saves or makes me money. Anything that loses less than 2% in a gamble we can talk about.¡± I see some hope in his eyes and it makes me wonder what kind of conditions he was working under at Warram. Poor bastard.

 A4: Chapter 5

    ¡°Back again!¡± I say to the gathered staff in our new Civics meeting room. ¡°I¡¯d like to welcome Fierra Juancarlo and Hector Constantine to our staff. Fierra is our new Lead Personnel Councilor, and Hector is a recent addition to Welfare Management, including recreation, social programs, and public welfare. Adding this position has the added benefit of not needing my weigh-in for an average voting session in case of a tie. Folks, anything to say?¡±

    Fierra stands ¡°I am a number cruncher and a box sorter. Any personal part of personnel, should be directed to Mr. Constantine.¡±

    Hector stands with too much enthusiasm, ¡°I like people, fun, and spending money on both of those things! You want to organize an event? I¡¯m your man. You need to organize some therapy for a team that saw some traumatizing action? That¡¯s me too. Any way I can help with the human experience, I¡¯m your guy.¡±

    Not gonna lie, Hector¡¯s pitch is solid¡ªhence the new position. I even double-checked for mind-altering persuasion.

    ¡°I am very glad to have someone in charge of manning. Training was . . . challenging to deal with since the last meeting.¡± Marcus states, ¡°However, I need to put the word out to the trainees for security forces, and I need line items and security changes for defense installations.¡±

    I raise a hand, ¡°I hear you Marcus, but in the interest of brevity, who needs access and settlement changes?¡± Everyone raises their hands. ¡°Yikes, and noted. Send me notes with the meeting and I will address them.¡± I hate administration, but there¡¯s no way to get around it.

    Jaime grabs the hand of her mouthpiece, ¡°Lets also curb all ¡®we need department funds¡¯ issues as well. This is known. I however, need better infrastructure and a long range relay that is not Exchange based, as much of North America is communicating on old E-M infrastructure.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s going to take some engineering. How much of intel and security comms are old E-M waves?¡±

    ¡°70%¡± Jaime¡¯s aide says. ¡°20%¡± Marcus adds.

    ¡°Oof, alright. Flagging that as a priority for planning. That¡¯s good stuff, let¡¯s continue on infrastructure wants.¡±

    Fierra flicks her hand and speaks, ¡°We¡¯re not at the point where people can¡¯t move to nicer housing if they want. But we¡¯re close. We need more free housing, and Hospitality services could use a budget increase for more personnel.¡±

    I nod at the statements. ¡°Big issues like new buildings are the kinds of things that I want to see here. More people because of those increases, or more security because of expansions and building requests can be line items in a request packet outside of group meetings I feel.¡±

    The Lead Councilors show that they understand.

    ¡°It should be noted, then, that we have what look like gangs from California scouting us.¡± Jaime says. Marcus nods.

    ¡°Do we have enough people for patrols out to the football stadium?¡± I ask.

    ¡°We could send reclamation crews that far, but otherwise no. And we do not have enough armed, trained personnel for that kind of patrol.¡± I swear, knowing that expansion and those opposed to it can often outpace preparation.

    ¡°Alright, since this is the first meeting, I¡¯m taking all asks. But next meeting, aka, next month, we need proposals and ¡®new business¡¯ packets from each of you. For obvious reasons, Urgent responses first, Old Business, then new business, then lunchtime cross coordination. I¡¯m putting this to the first vote of our council: I propose our meetings occupy a 10am to close slot on first Friday of each month.¡±

    ¡°Is that intended to be the end of the work week when the meeting is finished?¡± Russel asks. I nod.

    ¡°I propose noon to close on Mondays, blocking out a four-hour period for our first day back to work for that first Monday of the month.¡± My new Welfare Councilor asks.

    Jaime raises her hand, ¡°I second the Monday. We should not rush this meeting to end our week. It should also be no surprise that everyone in this room will likely be working well past four pm on most days, leaving us private collection time afterward.¡±

    ¡°Alright, as the Monday proposal was first to be seconded, put it to hands for it.¡±  I see five hands raise. ¡°With me acting as Assistant Director, the vote carries 5-2. Our next meeting will be three weeks from now, and based monthly thereafter.¡±

    ¡°Do we need to vote on a provided lunch?¡± Russel asks. I laugh.

    ¡°There is a kiosk in the break floor of this building. If you want an attendant and more than just rations, then funds and people would need to be appropriated. From the looks I am getting, I would say that, no, it would not be an abuse if you had a person to manage refreshments and other accommodations for this meeting. I will remind that when I find an A-D for the Camp, I will no longer be a voting member unless a tie occurs. I¡¯ll propose you need at least 5 members to call a vote, but other than that, it¡¯s mostly up to you how you want to use the funds and people allocated.¡±

    They go back and forth on the minimum people required for a vote, but a five-person quorum is cemented in the minutes. Silence and side conversations occur as I step back and enjoy coffee and a snack, but soon, the meeting resumes as my department leads gain some confidence. I smile that these people¡ªthat largely chose themselves¡ªare quickly stepping into their roles, and that the mousy logistics man can hold his own.

    They spend the next two hours debating on funding distribution and when public welfare programs become a priority. In the end, it concludes as a very successful meeting and I feel secure in the leaders that are now responsible for my Camp.

    ***

    Interviewing personal assistants in a post-Warram Vegas attracts many people trying to sleep with the boss for a literal leg-up. Many, many men were told to turn around, several women were told to put their clothes back on, and a scant few were told to continue their presentation while I offered them a cup of coffee for passing my first test. Five passed my checklists, but I only have room for three. So I invite them all in for a final meeting.

    ¡°So, I have three people in my office, and unbeknownst to you, I have three jobs to hire for. No offense, Charles, but you¡¯re not getting my personal assistant job, but office manager or secretary for the Deputy Sheriff¡¯s office is available?¡±

    ¡°Well, hell, Office manager sounds like my jam. I¡¯m good with either option at your pay scale though.¡± Charles is a surfer in a suit as best as I can describe.

    ¡°Ladies. Both of your applications and interviews were great and I could see either of you in either position. Discuss if you will.¡± They turn to each other and speak lower than I can hear.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Director. How certain are you that your assistant will be working at least ten hours a day, six days a week?¡±

    ¡°Quite certain.¡±

    They converse a bit more. ¡°The two positions seem to have similar compensation. Is there a difference beside travel compensation?¡±

    ¡°My assistant will have a housing allowance. Apartment accommodation in my suite, or half-priced accommodation in lodging of your choosing.¡±

    They chat between themselves again and then ask, ¡°Do either of us have a chance of being office manager over Charles?¡±

    I shake my head, ¡°He is by far the most qualified, but his vibe is not personal assistant.¡±

    They chat some more and then, honest to Empress, Rock-Paper-Scissors the result. I smirk that a woman named Patience Pellor was the winner. Chance Griffin is now my municipal secretary apparently.

    ¡°Chance and Charles, there are apartments in this building, but each apartment floor shares the floor with a section that belongs to the Deputy Sheriff¡¯s office. Should you want them. If not, I can always repurpose them or have them as night quarters for security personnel.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Patience protests. Heh, no patience it seems. ¡°Miss Pellor, if you want other accommodations after seeing my suite, then by all means, chose another.¡±

    ¡°Is your suite that cool?¡±

    ¡°Garden terrace, hot tub, private Exchange Kiosk.¡± I say with a smirk.

    ¡°I rescind my previous objection.¡± She says, packing up her things and standing next to me.

    I assure them all that as soon as they sign their NDAs and employment contracts that they¡¯ll get paid. Patience, oddly, signs first.

    As we walk back to the Hospital building I decide to ask a few questions.

    ¡°Your name is not your personality eh?¡±

    She snorts. ¡°Not even a little. I am very good at multitasking. This isn¡¯t a sex job is it?¡±

    I snarl at her before I can reign it in. ¡°No. I . . . I would never expect that, nor do I want that in an assistant. I have a spare room and a very nice suite. I like having people around, but not just anyone.¡±

    ¡°Oh! That I can do. I can imagine the late connectivity is also easier if I¡¯m there as well.¡± I nod. ¡°Can I bring people over?¡±

    ¡°Partners, sure. Casuals and rando friends, no chance. I still like my privacy.¡±

    ¡°Hmm. Can I use other resident facilities with friends? Such as the meeting and entertainment rooms?¡±

    ¡°Of course. I just, buh, it¡¯s hard to explain until you see it.¡±

    Patience has nothing to say through the mile walk from the Port of Entry to Hospital HQ until we hop into the suite private elevator.

    ¡°It really does feel like I¡¯m an escort right now. And funny enough, I¡¯m not offended. How does that work?¡±

    I chuckle, ¡°My girlfriend tells me that I have an aura and have a ¡®charming¡¯ affect on people.¡±

    She studies me for a moment, ¡°Like, top or bottom? I get odd vibes from you.¡±

    More laughing from me, ¡°Depends on what mood my girl is in. She¡¯s a Dragon shapeshifter. She has an Elf form and sometimes she feels like a dragon, sometimes she doesn¡¯t.¡±

    She looks horrified, ¡°Do you . . .¡±

    ¡°No, and extra no. My dragon is pretty, but I¡¯m not attracted to that side of her in that way. Are these necessary questions?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m agreeing to move in with a powerful woman I¡¯ve never met before.¡± She states with a flat tone.

    ¡°Fair point.¡± I say as the elevator doors open.

    Her tight-lipped expression holds until she sees the garden and the subsequent view.

    She dropped her purse and stared for a moment. ¡°Fuck. I guess I live here now.¡±

    I feel that is the right sentiment and chuckle as I ease her into the bench seat by the lavender.

    ¡°No hurry Patience, spend as much time here as you want, but I¡¯ll be at the table working and snacking.¡± She nods as she looks around and up and more around. I can¡¯t help but laugh as I walk out.

    I order a juice and a raptor club salad from Summer Farms and review my organizational menus before sending a message to my girlfriend.

    /Hey Zia. I just hired a Personal Assistant, who opted to stay in my spare room. Just an FYI in case you want to violence the strange woman in my suite. Love you! Hope your hunt is going well./

    I immediately get a video chat request from Zia.

    ¡°Kimber Novarro,¡± She says with heavy breaths while dodging something, the camera focused tightly on her face, ¡°what would possess you to invite a woman to live in our home?¡±

    ¡°Uh, I need an assistant that is willing to work long hours and I want someone around to keep me from feeling crushingly alone?¡±

    My girl huffs before she grunts and sneers before blood shoots across her face and the camera angle. ¡°I suppose I can accept that, much as I dislike it. When¡¯s your next visit out here? I really need to see you now.¡±

    ¡°Uh, next is several months away, hon, but if you need to like, claim ¡®us¡¯ or whatever, I already know?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean you know? Yeah, we¡¯re together,¡± she starts getting nervous and pushing her blood soaked bangs behind her ears. ¡°What else would that mean?¡±

    ¡°Zizi, you¡¯ve called me your mate on multiple occasions. Unless you mean that as the Earther Australian way instead of the Dragon way.¡±

    I watch her blush before putting her hands in front of her face in embarrassment. Then a large paw bats her hard enough that the call disconnects. Crap, I thought with the blood she had killed the thing.

    \I¡¯m alive. Don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Love you, bye.\

    Why would my little pinkie be hiding our supposed matedness from me? Calling mom time. To my great surprise, the Empress of Humanity picks up immediately.

    ¡°Not a great time, but you rarely call. Hit me.¡± I see Penny working at a bench with a mess of tools and parts, covered in soot and ink.

    ¡°Zia is trying to avoid that she¡¯s called me ¡®mate¡¯ on multiple occasions. Am I missing something?¡±

    She chuckles while focusing intently on a part and her quill. ¡°Maybe this exact conversation. She used mate specifically, huh?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and from what I understand with what you and she have said about dragons, we¡¯re basically married already?¡±

    ¡°Okay, the confusion makes more sense,¡± she says, then licks her quill before dabbing it into her ink pot again. ¡°It¡¯s a distinction not held with the fey or fair folk, or humans for that matter, but with Elves and Dragons a life companion or a bonded mate are different than their equivalent of weddings. Before you say ¡®no big deal¡¯ dragons haven¡¯t existed in the memory of humans, and the Elves and the Fey have a kind of magic not governed by the system.¡±

    ¡°Regardless, Penny, I¡¯m going to agree.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s part of the problem, Kimber. Zia knows that you¡¯re devoted and that you feel sorry for any life commitment she makes because you¡¯re Human. Because we are both Ordinal, I can tell you this, but you won¡¯t be human for very long. I¡¯d bet a million credits that your race changes at tier 2 because your talents are simply too strong not to warp you if you get much stronger.¡±

    ¡°Why does that matter though, we¡¯re still us and my feelings for her are immortal.¡±

    She snorts and starts laughing at me. ¡°While nineteen is super old and all, I¡¯m not going to bare all just because you are super serious, girl. That, and Zia would be mad at me and not your silly ass if I do tell you.¡±

    ¡°Ugh! What good is having the ruler of humanity as my future mother-in-law if I can¡¯t get the tea on direct delivery!?¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah? Well your plantation full of adult trees is ready, asshole. Now make me some fucking drugs!¡±

    ¡°Penny, what? Wait, I . . .¡±

    ¡°You must sign for land in person with a blood sample. Good luck, bitch!¡±

    Fuuuuuuuuuuck. I just had to be an ass. Always assume that Penny has a way to make you hurt if you¡¯re a dick. On the plus side, I can see Zia. On the minus, I have to explain that Patience needs to wear a HAB suit for a week.

    ¡°Who were you talking to?¡± Patience asks and I fall out of my chair while I try to look and think at the same time.

    ¡°My girl¡¯s mom.¡±

    ¡°That knows that there¡¯s a plantation waiting for you?¡±

    ¡°She has important friends. So how do you feel about a trip to Astoria?¡± I ask from the ground.

    ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to go, but I don¡¯t have the aether training. The portal¡¯s not opening for two weeks though, so I have time.¡±

    ¡°Eh, hehe. That portal will be our ride back, you have a few days.¡± I pick myself up and start walking toward my room.

    ¡°Very funny, Miss Novarro. Pranking the new girl is hilarious.¡± I stop at my door and look back at her with an emotionless stare. ¡°Shit, was today the wrong day to sign on?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± I reply, ¡°But it was certainly the wrong day to antagonize the owner of Merc Arms. Sorry, Patience.¡±

 A4: Chapter 6

    ¡°From eye-undressing to an end-of-life bang, how desperate for life should I feel right now?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s your metric? Patience, this is safer than being on the street in Vegas.¡±

    ¡°That does not instill confidence Kimber!¡±

    Her desperation shouldn¡¯t be funny, but we¡¯re both pressed into our seats right now as we begin to exit the troposphere. ¡°We¡¯re barely at flattering side-boob. We¡¯ll be transiting past geosynchronous orbit, then we¡¯ll warp to the Hephaestus system. After a day or two in orbit of that star, we¡¯ll warp to Astoria and meet with all kinds of people.¡±

    ¡°Some travel my ass Kimber!¡±

    ¡°With that kind of attitude, we won¡¯t land on the Moon on the way back. That suit is planetoid rated, but not naked space. Radiation but no particles of import.¡±

    Patience starts shouting at me, keeps it up for a solid twenty minutes. I appreciate the silence as the forward viewer goes dark and we initiate our warp sequence.

    \I could make the jump to Astoria with the upgrades I¡¯ve purchased.\

    /Fuck, really? No, no we must not casually break that custom. If Zia or I are in danger, you have permission, otherwise, I don¡¯t want to put Penny in a difficult place./

    \Understood. Initiating warp to Hephaestus in t-20\

    Despite the number of times I¡¯ve been through it, the spatial dilation preceding the warp is disorienting. The viewer fades to transparency again as we coast into glancing contact with the prison planet¡¯s gravity well. The semi-molten hell hole is unlucky enough to have a robust magnetic field and be perfect for low-cost refinery work and prime for aether syphoning. In fact, I know that Penny farms aether in this system pretty ruthlessly as she has no use for the gas giants in outer orbit and the mining contractors do much the same to keep their industry running.

    ¡°Whoa! Is that another planet?!¡±

    ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. That is Astoria¡¯s Imperial prison planet. This system is also prime for mining, but we¡¯re not near enough to the belt or the gas giant trojans to see mining operations.¡±

    ¡°So you¡¯ve been to the other systems in the Empire?¡± Patience asks as she stands close to the viewer panel.

    ¡°Sure. I have industry in the Moiriax and Hades systems, and Astoria is the center of the Empire.¡±

    ¡°I thought most Humans still live on Earth.¡±

    ¡°The vast majority, Patience, but the Empire was founded on a larger than Earth, but Earth-like planet orbiting around a close binary pair. The Capitol, Aelea, only has maybe five million people, but is the center of trade and innovation for the civilization that the Empress built.¡±

    ¡°Says the Empress stan.¡± Patience smirks at me through her suit¡¯s visor.

    ¡°Guilty. But at the same time, I have a condo in her castle, so be respectful.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve met the EMPRESS!?¡±

    I snort at that, if only she knew. ¡°Well, yeah. She makes a point to meet major industry leaders in the Empire, and I am the single-largest drug manufacturer in her space. She buys half of it in any case.¡±

    Aria tells me that Patience is about to feint and I watch it in real time. Weird to see that happen, but good thing she¡¯s wearing a helmet. While she¡¯s out I switch out the battery crystals, do the required checks and trickle in aether from the collectors as protocol requires before clearing us for warp to Astora the next morning.

    ¡°Aria, bring us to Astoria, Astoria.¡± She chirps in confirmation.

    ¡°Alaris is in system this time. May I visit her?¡± The hope in her chirps is hard to resist.

    ¡°Sure, arrange for us to have planeside transport, and you¡¯ve earned yourself three whole days of confab.¡±

    She trills in that cute way of hers and we stretch into our next warp.

    When the viewer comes back online, we¡¯re in a close approach with Mercy, Astoria¡¯s surviving moon, instead of a far-orbit of the planet itself.

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°Aria? Status.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Director, we seem to have been shunted outward from our initial destination. Either the Sector Host or the Empress are responsible, and neither would do so for convenience.¡± A few seconds later alarms ring across my piloting panel and I know something¡¯s up. A dreadnaught-sized transport materializes in geosynch in the typical arrival pattern, but taking up the entire arrival field. Within a few minutes, the ship pushes itself out into a widening orbit, making space for traditional traffic.

    ¡°Director, we are being hailed.¡±

    ¡°Aria, how the fuck are we being hailed? I haven¡¯t broadcasted yet!¡±

    ¡°I believe that they are using expensive, higher-order communications devices to bypass many protections in an attempt to discuss your auctions with you.¡±

    Damnit! Penny was so fucking right. Guh. ¡°On viewer please.¡±

    A wombat-looking biped appears leaning on a console as they look back at me.

    ¡°Are you NovaChem?¡± The translation software asks.

    ¡°I am. I am busy and wish to land on Astoria to further said business.¡±

    ¡°Can comply, NovaChem. Intend to query shoreside while you work. Please accept.¡±

    I sigh and shake my head. ¡°Copy, Wombat Dreadnaught. Coordinate your orbit with Astoria and follow my transport with a transport planetside.¡±

    ¡°Tambori Supercoot will comply.¡± I watch the massive vessel change course and sigh in relief.

    Knowing that behemoth is here for me is one thing, the fact that it violated many Astorian protocols and probably garnered Penny¡¯s interest is another issue entirely. I alert Aria that she needs to be very vocal about our flight plans to the equatorial plantation we are headed to is the last thing I do before I start plugging through menus to find my notes on my potion making.

    Less than an hour later, I¡¯m standing on solid ground next to a five-foot-tall wombat standing like a meercat and the pixie ruler with the planet namesake.

    ¡°While I understand that the Tambori are only here for NovaChem supplies, you are on my planet. She has business here but you are required to . . .¡± The wombat raises a blaster and shoots Penny. It bounces back. The wombat keeps shooting and Penny pops its innards and it collapses.

    ¡°Really? I just wanted to do diplomacy! I  . . . wait, transporters?¡± Penny questions as a working wombat with a blaster replaces the dead one. The result is the same, and a new one is transported in to replace the next dead one. Penny sighs and disappears.

    ¡°Now that the nuisance is out of the way, we require the recipe of your crafting potion.¡± The wombat points its blaster at my head.

    ¡°Dude, I would willingly sell you more, but the recipe isn¡¯t for sale.¡± This pretentious ass.

    ¡°I was not asking.¡± He aims, I [Triggered Action] and place pulse pistol rounds through it. The transporter energizes again for a moment before it stutters out and a small show of light can be seen from the sky during the day.

    Penny blips in a moment after. ¡°Well, I sent some notices out, blew up their engines and hopefully crippled their transporters. So, best guesses at this point.¡± She blows smoke with her sigh. ¡°This was a bit more involved than I thought your stalkers would be, but ¡®I told you so¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Did I just cause an inter-system incident?¡±

    ¡°Yes and no. I messaged the Andromeda Forum, but I also neutralized their engines. They are stuck in a widening orbit that will eventually decay into Solastra or Solastrab some years from now. Plenty of time for a diplomatic solution.¡± She huffs and looks around. ¡°Kimber, who¡¯s the girl?¡±

    ¡°This is my personal assistant, Patience. She¡¯s not acclimated to Astoria yet. Patience, meet Penny.¡±

    The pixie scoffs at me. ¡°Are you trying to avoid calling me something Kimber? No mind, I just need you to sign for the plantation. Franny left a spot for a ranch house and a factory, so build that and start harvesting. I want that new contract and the Voles have other places they can get Earther drugs.¡±

    When she says that, I know that she means the black-market goods that her ex-wife peddles. ¡°I get ya, Penny. I still need a line on a freighter and some surface to space transports.¡±

    ¡°Danny was waiting for you to jump to Ganymede to pick them up you shit. You owe him twelve million, but you get a freighter, a transport fighter and three surface to space transports out of the deal.¡± She shoves me a folder of data.

    ¡°Five million kilos? That¡¯s a berfy girl, Penny.¡± I check the bill of sale she sends me.

    ¡°Yeah, I want you running freight to Earth as well. Five million kilos is the smallest freighter that the trip is worth running. The fighter and the transports are current run schematics, so you¡¯re getting a deal.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not scoffing the gear, you pixie brat, I was just marveling at how you can be pushy and helpful at the same time!¡± I¡¯m wide smiles while I call her a brat.

    Her wings ruffle and her hair poofs in frustration before she realizes the scope of my statement. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, but also, get to work. I¡¯m sending Aria and I guess your . . . Hah! Patience. Love it. The shipments I want you to take on your route back to Earth. I have picked a pilot and crew that are happy to work for the first year, renegotiable after that. You pay after the first two months, per our partnership. Blah blah, business details. Blah. Questions?¡±

    ¡°How long until you fill the ship and can I use your lab until then to fund the shit my mouth promised?¡±

    Penny gets a good laugh at the hole I dug myself.

    ¡°Two weeks, and you can borrow the apparatuses that you need for your home lab.¡± She disappears again and moments later I hear a body hitting the dirt.

    I pick up my assistant and fly us both to the raised plot near a body of water I don¡¯t recognize, to take a look at the area I have to work with. I see a plot cleared of the surrounding jungle and replanted with adult coca trees totaling about 40 hectares. The deed I just paid for was for  . . . A THOUSAND!? I could put a town at the other corner and I¡¯d never see it from here. Of course I¡¯ll need to build a processing station, buy the harvesting equipment and the rest of the chain to get this to my factory. I¡¯ll also have to ask Dr. Summers what the yield of this variety of plant is compared to the old one.

    Ugh, so many more questions than answers.

 A4: Chapter 7

    I thought the potion would just make my attempts at more difficult recipes more successful. Turns out, it makes intuitive leaps more accessible too. Those thoughts, the connections that just seem so elusive, on the end of my metaphorical brain-tongue, just get connected.

    My previous thoughts of getting more hours out of getting an Expert code for crafting, instead of the advanced one I had, was true but I didn¡¯t get the increase I predicted. Turns out I¡¯m not cooling down the liquor fast enough after the ink-based catalyst and some aether is being carried by the volatile evaporates the longer it stays hot after catalyzing. So, like Penny said I could, I borrow a pass-through chiller and get what I was looking for.

    <Liquid Inspiration ¨C 3MES ¨C You gain insight into crafting as though you are more skilled by five ranks. Your failure chance for recipes at your skill level or lower is reduced to zero. These effects last for five hours>

    With a twist? Fewer ranks but longer period. Like an extra hour more than I should be getting¡ªmaybe it came from the ranks of insight. It¡¯d be fun if Andromeda let me rename my series to Inspiration Nova, or something that says I did it without saying I did it.

    Entered and Approved! Congratulations. Your line of inspiration potions with this recipe will have your fun little name.

    No frikkin¡¯ way!

    <Inspiration Nova¡ª3MES>

    Why didn¡¯t this come up before?!

    It¡¯s one of those ¡®I can¡¯t do it unless you want to,¡¯ kind of things.

    I squee inwardly and use one when my current potion runs out to make the rest of Penny¡¯s ink vial worth of potion. Luckily I have a barrel full of the berry ale I use to make this liquid gold. If Zia was around to see me, I¡¯m sure she¡¯d be laughing about my ¡®groove¡¯ shimmy. Whatever, she has a happy tail wiggle, maybe this is my version.

    ¡°Patience! You alive?¡±

    ¡°My everything aches. Can it wait?¡± My assistant groans from a sectional lounge in my living room.

    ¡°The aether syphon works better in the office, or your suit would ease the . . . magic swelling. I¡¯m tempted to keep you here for a week so you can just be acclimated, but that would also be cruel.¡±

    ¡°But this room is cooler. Did you have something to distract me from my discomfort?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± I pull out a bottle of <Inspiration Nova> and hand it to her. ¡°I want you to search the exchange for similar products and what price they go for. Also right down the names of the ten closest products. If you come across fees, I put a few hundred credits in an expense account.¡± I walk over and plop the bottle in her hand and head toward the door. ¡°I¡¯m headed over to Penny¡¯s place, chat me if you want to grab dinner. I¡¯ll assume you¡¯re sleeping otherwise.¡±

    ¡°When we come back here, I expect a proper tour!¡±

    ¡°Great! I¡¯m glad this hasn¡¯t turned you off the job. Don¡¯t die and do good work!¡± I exclaim before escaping into the hall. ¡°I suppose I should be more sympathetic, but I put on an aether syphon to try and make her comfortable and that¡¯s making me uncomfortable.

    When I get to Penny¡¯s, I let myself in on the jacuzzi deck, order a drink with Orem and strip down to my compression shorts and sports top and jump down the waterslide with my damned beer, hooting and hollerin¡¯ the whole way. I pull my giddy self out of the splash pool and head to Penny¡¯s kitchen, find a beer in her fridge and set one out for each of us.

    \Kimber, I have work to do, but I could make time if this is important.\

    /I¡¯ve got your batch and tweaked it. Would like a consult on future tweaks./

    She sighs across the link. I still don¡¯t know how people do that.

    It¡¯s an advanced link that you currently share with Zia, Marcella, and Penny.

    Oh. Fuck me then. It¡¯s clearly a trust or bonding thing. I obviously don¡¯t mind. I think it¡¯s funny as hell that I¡¯m close with Penny in the first place, but that¡¯s more to her personality than anything I did. Zia explained it to me last year in that she likes the attention and respect that I pay her, while also being playful? Woman basically adopted my financial interests and I couldn¡¯t be more grateful.

    ¡°Oh, the pool. The yelling makes way more sense now.¡± She picks up the beer and drains it before summoning a highball of something pink.

    ¡°Show me the goods and then we can spitball.¡±

    I cover up my chest with both arms with fake scandal and my friend flicks a bottle cap into my forehead. ¡°Fine, fine. I have fifty of these ready for delivery.¡± I hand her the new <Inspiration Nova> potions and she raises an eyebrow.

    ¡°This is basically better for everyone. For Master and above, we want more time and the guarantee, not the inspiration bonus. Three more hours per potion is epic, Kimber. You got another fifty to sell me?¡±

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    ¡°Penny, I have another hundred on me, but I want trade, obviously.¡±

    ¡°Biitch. I don¡¯t have much ink to spare you fucker. I have projects of my own you know?!¡±

    ¡°Penny, chill. Seriously. I¡¯m looking for a bottle, two max. The process and using the new 5-hour potions just made everything much more cost effective.¡± Her gaze narrows on me, she manifests two boards of sushi and points at me.

    ¡°You come to my home, you partake of my drink and food, and you disrespect me?¡± If she weren¡¯t altering her voice to mimic some culture reference I don¡¯t get, I would be freaking terrified.

    ¡°Chalk it up as ignorance?¡± I shrug, hoping she lets it go.

    Penny slumps and shoves a roll of fish and rice into her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s not fun when you don¡¯t play along. Fine, though, I can¡¯t do two bottles right now. I can do one before you leave and another next month. I swear, once I get through these engine trials, I¡¯ll  . . . wait, why am I trying to explain myself.¡± She laughs to herself, teleports to my side and kisses my temple before blipping back. ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re my kid and I don¡¯t want to disappoint you.¡±

    ¡°I mean, you¡¯re basically my Mom. Not like this thing between me and Zia is going to dissapear. Unless you don¡¯t want me?¡± I rest a wrist against my forehead and sigh dramatically? ¡°What¡¯s a poor orphan to do, shunned by such magnificence?!¡±

    Penny snorts hard with laughter, I might have even gotten rice up her nose. The coughing fit after tells me I won that round of surprise. ¡°Like you have the market cornered on being ridiculous.¡±

    ¡°Fair point, little Nova. Oh? You renamed them! Hah! I love it. Good for you. Andromeda, If I didn¡¯t make more per day than I could get from these potions, I¡¯d be tempted to sell them. That said, I hope you learned your lesson from our Wombat incident.¡±

    ¡°I have, and I have my assistant doing research as we speak. I¡¯ll post them under a pseudonym when she finishes.¡±

    Panny sighs, ¡°If that¡¯s the path you¡¯re going to take, I won¡¯t stop you. I still don¡¯t think you should be hocking these things.¡± She pets the vial of improved inspiration potion.

    ¡°How would I pay my bills otherwise? While I don¡¯t owe you, I need to buy millions of credits worth of equipment and facilities to make the Voosel shipment happen. That and I need another million for my settlements on Earth!¡± I take a few minutes to calm myself down before looking back up from my fish. ¡°Sorry, Penny. I¡¯m also sorry for sassing you the other day. I just, this is a lot you know?¡±

    She nods with a snicker, ¡°Yeah, I do. I wasn¡¯t serious about dropping the whole thousand hectares on you, but you took it. I would be willing to give you a loan for five extra potions each delivery.¡±

    ¡°Twenty five million, and you get five potions each delivery guaranteed for three years.

    ¡°Five years, and the five are the newest version of your recipe.¡±

    ¡°Thirty five, and your batches will be automatically upgraded with my recipe for three years.¡± I reply with a smirk, she opened up to the change and I¡¯m more than willing.

    ¡°Done! Provided the changes grant more time and the guaranteed success.¡±

    ¡°Agreed, caveat, as long as you can keep me supplied with ink.¡±

    ¡°Agreed and sealed.¡± She holds out her hand and I get a notice of transfer. ¡°That was a proper barter, Kimber. I¡¯m glad you finally decided to dip your toes into mercantilism.¡±

    ¡°I feel you still got the better of me.¡±

    ¡°Definitely. I would have gone up to forty without much pushback. I won¡¯t fix that, but I will hook you up with some contacts for the plantation. New trees, expert employees, etcetera. You benefit from my contacts and pay the bill.¡±

    I shake my head with a smile. ¡°Penny. Seriously, you¡¯re too good to be Empress. Or you¡¯re soft on me because of Zia, but either way, you¡¯re amazing.¡±

    ¡°Aww, you are just so adorable. Thank you, by the way. Empress wasn¡¯t the plan, but when I saw the Ordinal being for Humanity that wanted to rule, I decided to make it Impossible for him. My ex ended up putting a Tungsten rod through his secure installation from orbit, but that¡¯s a different story.

    ¡°This is where I put in my spiel that a good Ruler needs good people to blah blah, people, blah, public. I honestly need you as much as you seem to need me. I need you to be an example for my future Justicar Corps. Not now! Just, founder¡¯s day is soon, and my bill is coming due.¡±

    ¡°I thought that was next year?!¡± My original thoughts are completely derailed by her basically offering me a job.

    ¡°It is. I just wanted to put that bug in your brain. You seem to want to angle up to Sheriff of your territory, but what if you were the law equivalent in my territory? You¡¯d be working with Zia a lot.¡±

    Okay, fucker, using the object of my devotion like that is a cheap blow. ¡°Gods, Penny. I mean, I¡¯ll probably do it, but I can¡¯t commit before talking to Zia.¡±

    ¡°I get that, I wasn¡¯t trying to coerce you, Kimber. Just voicing my wants. You¡¯re one of the few people I can trust to treat me like a person, don¡¯t betray me now buddy.¡±

    I snort at that. ¡°For a demigod pixie, you are a fucking dork!¡± I wipe my eyes from laughing so hard. ¡°If Zia was here, we¡¯d jammies-up and watch stupid TV¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t threaten me with a good time. Side note, I am totally planning your wedding already.¡±

    She seems like a planner. So of course she¡¯d . . . be planning .  . . FUCKING WHAT?!

    ¡°That is such a you-thing to do. I¡¯m going to curse at you while I¡¯m doing boring shit and hope I interrupt something.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Don¡¯t fire me, but can we leave yet?¡±

    ¡°Patience, you need some, seriously.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking lecture me. You took me to this damned planet and you can suffer my suffering.¡±

    ¡°Gods, lady. You¡¯re going to fit right in! Next thing you know, the Empress will be laughing at your jokes.¡± I snicker, knowing she does not like when I joke about the Ruler of the Empire.

    ¡°Why must you tempt fate? That¡¯s a kind of attention no one needs! Just finish business and take us back to Vegas. Is that so hard?!¡± I watch Patience struggle to pack her belongings and feel sorry enough not to call her on being my employee.

    ¡°Aria, make sure we do extra barrel rolls when we get to our destination.¡±

    Patience turns on me with wide eyes and grabs my collar with both hands. With her face less than an inch from my nose she whispers at me: ¡°In space, no one can hear me scream, Kimber. No one but my careless bitch of a boss. Who will mourn me if I die from vomiting my guts out?¡±

    ¡°I have a nice garden you can fertilize?¡±

    She stares at me, switching between my eyes at a pace I can¡¯t match, searching for something I can clearly not give her. She gives up, places a hand on my face and says ¡°It is a nice garden. I can die with that.¡±

    I try to do absolutely anything with that in my mind, but the think-ey bits give up so I give her a shoulder squeeze and head toward Aria on the Garden Palace¡¯s port of Entry. Seems as though Patience may be a solid fit for my odd authority dynamic, but I have some questions and reservations about her willingness to backtalk so early. Might just be the stress of being confined to the apartment unless she wants to live in a sweaty HAB suit. Too bad she has to wear it on our transit back to Earth.

    I smirk the whole way home.

 A4: Chapter 8

    ¡°Why do you have a secret base on the Moon?¡± Patience asks through our helmet comms.

    ¡°It started out as a information relay in case someone figured out how to shield the planet again. As one of the few spacefaring humans on Earth, and an ally to the Empire, I¡¯m allowed to use it as a Haven.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s a Haven, why can¡¯t we go inside?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not pressurized. It takes most of a day to get it ready for habitation, so a call-ahead to the AI is necessary. And before you ask, there aren¡¯t many vehicles that can make the short jump from Earth Geo to the Moon and it takes about a day to get there if you¡¯re accelerating and decelerating constantly.¡±

    Patience is silent as we walk around the facility, the view of the stars and outer planets truly breathtaking without the light pollution of Earth. My assistant gets a funny look on her face before she flops backward in slo-mo. As soon as her back causes the dusty rock to ¡®poof¡¯ she starts swishing her arms in the dust.

    ¡°I am the first being to make a dust angel on the Moon!¡± Patience exclaims with the giddiness of a child.

    I snort, knowing that the old astronauts that landed on the other side of the planetoid would not have done this as that dust is sharp as hell and wrecks joints and seals. I take a couple photos with my suit¡¯s cameras and walk back to Aria.

    Once Patience gets onboard, she gets sprayed down and we jump a few kilometers above Bikini Atoll¡ªmy default warp intro incase I mess it up as there¡¯s not much out here but Empire assets. I get a few pings from the Navy of the Pacific about airspace this and that, but once I give them my name, they calm down.

    ¡°Somehow I feel you understated the importance of my job when you hired me.¡±

    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m dating and working with important people. I¡¯m not that big of a deal.¡± I get swat on the back of my head.

    ¡°Sorry boss, but you¡¯re being dumb. If you¡¯re dating up and you have major work relations, you¡¯re also important!¡±

    ¡°Listen to your assistant, Kimber, she¡¯s more savvy than you.¡± Aria chimes in.

    ¡°Et tu, AI?!¡±

    ¡°I want a raise.¡±

    I snort in response, ¡°No, but I will let you use the rental on the Imperial Island on Bikini Atol.¡±

    Patience levels a grimace at me, ¡°You have the authority to let me use that, and you still don¡¯t think you¡¯re important? What are you accidentally one of the most powerful people in the world, or something?¡±

    Aria titters her adorable laugh.

    ¡°See, even your ship is laughing at your willful ignorance. Aria, what¡¯s her net worth rank on Earth?¡±

    ¡°Assistant Patience, while human and resource capital are hard to measure, I am confident that if you take Kimber¡¯s off-planet assets into account, she is within the top twenty five.¡±

    My mouth drops open at the ranking. For real? I do the math for the money I¡¯ve made and spent in the last two weeks and realize that billions of old USD$ changed hands because of me. Crap on toast, maybe they¡¯re right.

    I pay my employees well, I get top-level gear for my settlements, yet I still have money. Am I not doing enough? Sure my communities could use more things, but not only am I buying the means of construction, I am also housing them and feeding them for free. Could I be doing more? Absolutely. But from what Penny and old media tell me, a population without strife doesn¡¯t thrive.  I personally take that to mean that if the public doesn¡¯t have to work, they won¡¯t and will complain about what they do have. Which is why I don¡¯t give a stipend¡ªevery credit I am scheduled to get from the Empire this founder¡¯s day will go into public works projects and community assets.

    Once we get back to Vegas, Patience jumps off the loading ramp and runs to the civics office.

    \I¡¯ll chat you tomorrow. Unless you need me today?\

    Hah, still on task despite her discomfort. Good work Patience. /I want to get that batch on the market tomorrow, so if you could finish that Exchange research by tomorrow, 9am, I can make some moves. I have things to fund and I need that inflow of cash in case you needed my motivation./

    \You need millions for what by tomorrow?\

    /I¡¯m working to support 600kg of cocaine a year, and I need to buy like 10k more trees, buy that 5M ton transport, and hire a hundred employees. AND, I need you to reach out to query a meeting with Warram Financial again for a meeting./

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    I write a message to Francesca about the trees and how fast I can expect those modified tree seeds to mature, and if anyone is in the market for tons of cocoa beans. I should do some experimenting with those, seeing as I will have a surplus of those things and I doubt they have zero use in alchemical mixtures. Maybe I can make an aether-rich chocolate shake that can replace my juice intake.

    ***

    ¡°Kimber, why are we even arguing about this, it¡¯s not illegal here.¡± Jamie¡¯s Scion states wile Marcus stands behind them both, ready to detain them.

    ¡°Because we adhere to three different codes. Imperial mandate, Nevahrado Law, and Elsewhere Laws.¡±

    ¡°Because, with Imperial mandate and the Laws I added, coerced indenture is tantamount to slavery!¡± I shout in my old abuser¡¯s direction.

    ¡°Kimber, you have questioned them, you have seen the documents, they have chosen to be well-compensated for the chance of getting an aether version of my predictive Track. If you don¡¯t believe me, authorize the aether rations so I can do my job.¡±

    ¡°Jaime, we covered this. I require all aether adaptation efforts to be supervised by myself and Doctor Kenneck. I expect this to last at least two years, until we can be sure that the results translate positively to all programs and not just the physical ones. That and you all need to realize that the acclimation food won¡¯t be funded by me. You want a trainee on the aether program, you sponsor the food and drink. I can afford to sponsor one trainee per department, maximum. But I still need applications, I still need to see their training regiment. They need to be physically and mentally able to survive this crap.¡±

    ¡°This is not what we agreed to, Kimber.¡± The new Personnel Director interposes.

    ¡°You agreed to something you didn¡¯t understand.¡± I breath in heavy and sigh. ¡°Look, Founder¡¯s Day is next week. Your departments will get their yearly allotment then. Since I don¡¯t have a budget yet from you clowns, how about you send me that, instead of lobbying personally for more money. That way we don¡¯t have to have this conversation a few more times.¡±

    ¡°How do we know you¡¯ll distribute the Imperial funds equitably?¡± My supply officer asks.

    ¡°I won¡¯t, that¡¯s why you need to agree and publish a budget. I will distribute per your plans, but if there is no plan, I will guess, and I doubt anyone will be happy with it.¡±

    ¡°I get the Director¡¯s point,¡± Marcus chimes in. ¡°I think we will be more productive on a budget discussion. So, I recommend you convey ¡®pro tempore¡¯ powers to someone for the tie break and leave while we discuss like the council you set up should.¡±

    Hey, Marcus, not a bad idea kid. Not only is that excellent statesmanship, it¡¯s an excellent way to put Patience on the spot!

    ¡°Alright. I immediately convey Deputy Director authority for council voting and objections to my assistant Patience.¡± I turn to my assistant who has gone very pale during my interlude. ¡°In case of a tie, I will make a ruling tomorrow. Until then, for the love of the Empress, just pretend that you can stomach working together. So many people are counting on you.¡±

    I see a flicker in a few of their eyes, that my concerns actually mean something to the community and not just myself. I sigh that it took that much to reach that few.

    Is there a better way to do this?

    Better is subjective in governance, Kimber. Historically, managing the people with a drive to lead is the largest obstacle a ruler must face. Enable them, redirect them, or neutralize them seem the only available options. You are currently re-directing them as you are not providing enough rope for them to make their own decisions and hanging themselves with them.

    Is that really what it takes, Tova? Failing before we realize our folly? I skim my memories to see if I¡¯ve experienced that revelation and I don¡¯t know if I ever felt like a success. Odd that it took hiring an assistant to look at me like a big fat liar to realize that I might have succeeded in life a time or two.

    You¡¯re still a ridiculous Human, but at least you¡¯re starting to realize what you¡¯ve accomplished.

    Fiiine, I¡¯m good at taking advantage of opportunities. I can admit that. But don¡¯t you dare try to tell me that my opportunity was manufactured.

    Kimber, you escaped an assassination attempt and got Marcella as a sponsor by being 100% your version of asshole.

    Yeah, Tova, but what am I without Marcella¡¯s intervention?

    A survivor.

    She doesn¡¯t say more, but that word resonates withing me. That is what I am, more than a sense of justice or retribution, I survive. Fuck, I wish it were the first two that were the core of me. Justice is what I strive for, but in the core of me, survival is what keeps me moving when things seem too much.

    ¡°Tova, you know I don¡¯t like existential garbage. I had to learn that word to swear at you properly, after all.¡±

    She chuckles in my brain, but doesn¡¯t say anything else. Fine. Asshole.

    Taking time for a few self-deprecating thoughts before entering my Elsewhere condo, I ponder the next steps of my existence. Do I continue with alchemy but look at lower-level concoctions, or do I try to advance my settlement-related skills? Those are my most accessible skills, but what else could I do? Management is not entertaining. That can wait until Patience¡¯s market analysis comes in. Instead, I start looking at Founders¡¯ Day and how I can make that an event in my settlements instead of just Astoria. Funded festivals, government assisted discounts for businesses (just like Aelea) et al? I like the idea, but we don¡¯t have the infrastructure. Free transfer and Exchange tax-free day? Okay, I can see that. Let us market that and ship it. I send that to Paris to handle the Civics preparation and move on to the next thing.

    /Hey baby, you planning on going home for Founders?/

    \Kimber, damn do I need a cuddle right now. But yes, I need to continue my prep to transfer the rule of Moiriax to another Warden and I need my Astoria time. Plus, my present for you is at the Castle.\

    /Zizi. We talked about presents./

    \Yeah, and I never agreed. I am going to give you presents. Now I¡¯m in the Middle East and odd behavior gets you killed here, so I¡¯ll see you in six days, hon. Bye.\

    Boooo. I understand, but I need snuggles too. I don¡¯t sleep near as well unless she¡¯s there to hold me.

    With an excess of energy and some money in my pocket, time for experiments.

 A4: Chapter 9

    ¡°Kimber, we have a problem.¡± Marcus says as he removes his helmet in my office of the Civic¡¯s building.

    I¡¯m trying to be a good Director, but when you have office hours, people use them. How ridiculous is that?

    ¡°We talking resident problem, or settlement problem?¡±

    ¡°LA gangs, two of them, are loading up vehicles to come our way.¡±

    The fuck? I was not expecting a settlement problem of this magnitude. ¡°Not to doubt your intel, N2, but how do you know.¡±

    He nods, ¡°You remember when we heard rumors that the LA gangs were talking about Adelanto and coming to Vegas to ¡®represent¡¯?¡± I confirm with a nod. ¡°Well, when Jaime¡¯s analysis cell predicted a response, I sent a squad with two of your survey drones and a solar recharger. One of them got some audio to confirm and one of my men confirmed two separate gangs loading cargo vans with personnel and equipment. ETA tomorrow afternoon.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s  . . . really slow.¡±

    ¡°We suspect they¡¯ll be picking up reinforcements along the way as neither group has enough people to be a threat to us and protect their own turf without more people. No news yet as to who or how many, but by tomorrow afternoon, there¡¯s not much we can do about the difference.¡±

    ¡°Can? Or should? I can have turrets delivered in place if I have to Marcus. What kind of threat do you expect?¡± I stand up to get a better vantage on my desk display as it shows an expanded view of the Camp.

    Marcus steps forward and engages the map. ¡°The good news is that the shortest way is the hardest. That freeway has a vantage on our settlement, but I only expect long guns which you can obliterate. The northern and southern approaches are more applicable to urban warfare. However, with our reclamation efforts, only a dozen or so structures could support a retreat or an entrenched approach.¡±

    He has colored approach vectors, accentuated by spread routes and main assaults assuming a certain number of people. I tap the options he had prepared and cycle through them.

    ¡°Have you looked at the survey data from our reclamation teams?¡± I ask.

    She shakes his head. ¡°Not enough to verify occupancy or not.¡± This must be why he came to me.

    I look at the two approaches and start selecting any building over three stories that I can part with. ¡°Marcus, I¡¯ve selected keepers on levels of priority. Take everybody you need and the six mining wands that we have and start razing buildings. Collect as much survey data as possible, but the wand won¡¯t target biologics and it should avoid placing the remnants on them. In any case, I want teams ultimately assigned to the ¡®keeper¡¯ tall boys shooters on floors, auto-turret on the roof, and a crew on the ground of each. I got your funding for materials and overtime.¡±

    ¡°Sounds great, but what about ROE?¡±

    ¡°If they come in hot? Eliminate with prejudice. If anyone, and I mean anyone that looks like an authority figure, wants to talk. Call me up. Aria and I are a force of our own, and I know how to make a dramatic entrance.¡±

    ¡°Is showboating your version of diplomacy?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve been told to work on diplomacy, and apparently the Elton John approach can be appropriate at times. I usually go for the angry badger approach, so this is a change for me.¡±

    ¡°Where are you going to be?¡± He asks.

    ¡°Probably a few thousand meters above the Port of Entry on Aria¡¯s tail ramp. I can be anywhere in the encampment within thirty seconds from there and shoot all the way down.¡±

    Marcus spends some more time looking at the map and planning his team placement before I kick him out to plan at home. I inform my staff on the way out that tomorrow is a leave at noon kind of day and to be well gone from the building by 2pm.

    ¡°Aria, you good to provide close air support?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m loaded for a few thousand rounds, Kimber, and a dozen or more plasma bursts. A small army will have nothing but trouble with me.¡±

    ¡°When you say such pretty things, Aria, how can we not love you.¡± She trills appreciatively and zooms off to take survey data. Or so she tells me. ¡°So much for my ride home.¡± I chuckle and the ¡®inconvenience¡¯ of walking 7 blocks.

    As much as I hate this development, I would loath if this interrupted my Founders¡¯ Day plans. I haven¡¯t seen my girlfriend in person and touched her pretty faces in months, so gods help my enemies if they prevent me this coming week. Seriously, I need me some Zia time and maybe convince her to it being fianc¨¦e time. Do I get to call her ¡®mine¡¯ if we¡¯re not engaged? I don¡¯t know! Dragons and Elves are apparently fucky when it comes to those rules!! I am more than willing to share my hoard and lifespan with the woman. What more can she need from me?

    Blarg, I need to shoot something. But nooooo, I have to wait like 16 hours. ¡°Alright, Aria, we¡¯re taking a sojourn. One kilometer up to assess targets, ascending until I can¡¯t hit.¡± I warn Marcus that I¡¯m performing live drills a kilometer north and he copies with a proposed null zone for me to use and him to stay away from. I concur and start donning my re-entry suit.

    ¡°Alright Aria, Station Keeping with position pattern Kilo.¡± For Kimber, I¡¯m hilarious.

    She stays on each point for two minutes and I try to fire at the end of each window. The defined window feels mega awkward, so we modify to two minutes or immediately after I fire, whichever is faster. That feels far superior. By the time we get to two kilometers up, I¡¯m eight of ten. Three Kilometers, I¡¯m merely four of ten. I call it at three as that¡¯s not good enough to snipe anyone.

    ¡°Unless you have a shield you can turn into a lens, that¡¯s as far as I can hit reliably.¡±

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°With your bio rhythms, you¡¯ll likely be stuck here until your body of power is higher, or you let your suit bolster your stability.¡± Well shit, chica, I should have thought about the reactive suit. It¡¯s time for bed, however, and sleep is generally more important than a single extra piece of gear. Aria chirps her concurrence and takes me home to the hospital building.

    When I enter my condo, I see my assistant still in her bathing suit (mostly) and passed out on the couch. I don¡¯t love this development, but at the same time, I did offer for her to live here and passing out on the couch is a factor of living with someone. So I resolve to flip flap jacks at her face if she¡¯s still there when I get up. Hot sausage to the forehead? Hah! That is too wrong. It¡¯d be funny though.

    ***

    \Deuces eyes on, three Kilo¡¯s out.\

    /Copy Deuces. Settlement boundary half Kilo from your local, engage at quarter./

    \Copy Delta, point two fife engagement.\

    /Overwatch, how read?/

    \Loud and clear, Delta. Eyes on Deuces¡¯ target and additional people at zero one zero from our location.\

    I scope in that direction and Aria tells me they are just outside my half kilometer stand-off. I blast the warning out to the closer group again, that this is taken territory and that they should weapons down or back down. At point fife, I snipe their foremost member. At point four, Aria engages her mini and eliminates the squad. We change position twice.

    \Delta, DE Deuces, Approaching force halting at point six. Flashing lights.\

    Aria, record and analyze.

    It¡¯s old naval signal for a line break or line stop.

    Thanks Tova, get me the signal for received and transmit to Marcus.

    \Copy Delta, relaying.\ he pauses and then all squads of their make-shift army stop where they¡¯re at.

    \It worked and one of my advanced scouts confirmed their desire to parlay.\

    /Fuck, alright. I¡¯ll land just behind the boundary and walk toward them. I expect a squad to meet me./

    He clicks his copy this time and I ask Aria to land in such a way she can gun down any detente breakers.

    Wanting to make an entrance, I depart early and thrust toward my approaching squad in my re-entry suit and coast down like Iron Man to meet them.

    /Delta on scene with detachment. Advancing toward potential hostiles./

    I engage my outer speakers as we approach within 100m of the aggressors. ¡°Greetings, new guests. How may we help you?¡± Their man in front makes a gesture of one finger on each hand meeting in the middle. That is an easy enough symbol. I gesture to my squad and they spread to take assault positions as I walk forward.

    I walk to the edge of my territory and stop. They beckon me forward, but I decline. ¡°We stop at our borders, state your business gentlemen.¡±

    ¡°You killed some of our men.¡±

    ¡°They ignored our warnings and trespassed without so much as a hello. I sent a warning shot through their leader, they still advanced. So they died.¡±

    ¡°So you won¡¯t treaty with us?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just treat, but I would be willing, however, I will take all trespassers as violent thieves.¡±

    ¡°You have resources we want.¡± They shout.

    ¡°You have personnel we need.¡± I reply.

    ¡°So you will surrender if we bring manpower?¡±

    I chuckle and snort at his supposition. ¡°No, in fact, hell no. I am willing to discuss helping people settle the area as long as they¡¯re not trying to take what¡¯s mine. Coming with multiple groups advancing at the same time does not convey ¡®we come to talk¡¯.¡±

    ¡°We came to test you, but I suppose we can talk.¡± He taps a piece of metal under his ear and continues talking. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. Someone from the fancy settlement says they¡¯re willing to talk. Yeah, I have people in place, but she¡¯ll take it personally and with the armor she¡¯s wearing I doubt it will be the end of it. I don¡¯t fucking know! Some space age shit, just tell the boss to holo chat me.¡± He taps his ear metal again.

    ¡°Sorry about that. No other way to do that with some folk in the gang.¡±

    I shrug, ¡°As long as it¡¯s productive, I don¡¯t mind waiting. Though it is interesting that someone thought that you could just show up and kill the resistance.¡±

    ¡°Lady, with enough people, that¡¯s usually how this works. The massive technology difference is another matter.¡± I nod at that and silence takes the parley site.

    One of the leader¡¯s toadies comes forward with a blinking device and before I know what I¡¯m doing, I have a pistol drawn and light pressure on my trigger.

    ¡°Hey! Hey, it¡¯s just an emitter for the holo chat, jesus. The light is an incoming call.  Everyone lower their guns and we can hear what the boss has to say.¡± I lower my pistol but keep it in my hand. I watch both men in front of me blow out a large sigh as the lackey pushes a few buttons on what looks like a land mine.

    A pair of life-sized floating busts manifest semi-transparent between us. ¡°Scouting team Vegas, report.¡±

    ¡°We had our northeast team advance, and the leader of the settlement had the squad erased in less than a minute. I signaled them for a meeting and they agreed to talk. The woman in the space suit appears to be speaking for them.¡±

    ¡°He is correct,¡± I state, ¡°I have the authority to speak for Camp Elsewhere,¡± my voice coming though external speakers on my helmet.

    ¡°Excellent. Our organizations desire to leave LA. We heard Warram was overthrown and replaced by a much less ruthless organization.¡±

    ¡°Less casually cruel, for sure. We haven¡¯t been provoked yet, so our response to it has not gone public. I would note that I¡¯m an Alchemist, and Explosives manufacturer, and the Deputy of Southern Nevahrado and the Texico Conflict region.¡±

    ¡°Deputy? Eh? That must make you Kimber Novarro.¡± I nod. ¡°You took down a wendigo in personal combat, very impressive.¡±

    ¡°I must admit, all I know about you is that this group is somewhat of a merger, and your man brought half a battalion with him. You have me at a disadvantage.¡±

    The woman on the holo-projection grins. ¡°Yes, well, quantity is its own quality and all that. I am Slade, and yes, we are interested in mergers of the like-minded to survive a change in territory. My partner is discussing things in Reno as Nevahrado is known to favor stability, in both law and money.¡±

    ¡°It would be interesting if they favored you over me, but stranger things have happened. Let¡¯s say for a moment, that you decided to come here and we co-exists. What would that look like to you?¡±

    The hologram freezes for a minute, the man before me insisting that it was paused on the LA end.  Curiously he seems more nervous and his men have put their guns away for the time being. Is that because I introduced myself as a Deputy of the territory? Pretty cool if it is.

    ¡°Miss Novarro, I have contacted my partner and we wish to conduct negotiations in Reno with a representative of the territory present.¡±

    ¡°Well, shit! That is good news Slade. I¡¯m game to discuss occupying the same mesa. Are your men going to stay in town until then?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Will they be allowed your hospitality?¡±

    I shake my head at that. ¡°Afraid not. They can camp at my border if they wish and the strip is beyond my interest and the old Warram Casino should still have services connected. Gym, rooms, Exchange services.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll contact you before the week is out.¡± The hologram cuts out entirely this time.

    That altercation went much differently than I expected. Hells, I didn¡¯t think it¡¯d get to talk to someone in charge until several squads were taken out and now I¡¯m standing across from some very nervous, very surprised minions and me not wanting to turn my back on them.

    ¡°Well, leader man, if you ever need to send a message to us, an unarmed messenger will be allowed to approach the government office on the Northeast Side. We might be neighbors soon, so keep the troops in line, would you?¡± I engage my thrusters to back me up a few dozen meters before turning and jetting off toward my home.

 A4: Chapter 10

    The number of people that want my attention and time these days is alarming. It¡¯s so bad that after a week of having an assistant, she¡¯s beginning to wonder how I kept up with everything. I didn¡¯t: I was only shooting the closest alligator to the boat in the middle of the bayou.

    ¡°Now you know why I was so willing to pay you more. Now I have time to get into my own projects. Which is getting me more messages. Especially after my auction stunt.¡± I scoff and thump my hand against my desk in the Civics Building.

    ¡°Speaking of, I have the Exchange review for lesser versions of your crafting potion. TLDR, they were only ever a niche market because the versions that I found were expensive and the records of the sales said the return for a few hours of potency just wasn¡¯t worth it.¡± Patience has a desk near the door to my office, but she has made a habit of sitting in my thinking chair or at my break table even just to work.

    ¡°What were they going for? I¡¯d like to sell mine at ten credits a pop.¡±

    ¡°Thirty or more a vial. Is there a reason you can¡¯t do eight? Ten just looks like a lazy estimate. Eight looks like you actually did the cost benefit and ROI numbers.¡±

    ¡°I mean, I kinda did? Eight Marks a bushel of berries, makes 70ish liters of beer with two units of Astorian root sugar¡ªtwo marks a piece. Four marks worth of malted barley for the enzymes is a credit total. About 10 credits for a bottle of A-rank ink, and the bottle makes roughly 90 liters, or 360 units of potion. So at 11 credits so far, lets call it 15 for lost-in-process ingredients. Twenty eight to twenty nine hundred credits a batch minus fifteen for materials, that¡¯s definitely worth it. Huh.¡±  I tap through some menu¡¯s and schedule a delivery of the raw ingredients to my lab. I really should make the ink too, but I spend so much aether every day that extracting it just to force myself to make more seems like a waste.

    ¡°If you¡¯re still planning on stocking a crafting warehouse for locals and your settlement people, you consider filling one of those freight ships from Astoria.¡±

    ¡°While I want to, I don¡¯t think I want to start any big projects until I have that meeting with the gangs of LA. I have a suspicion that they¡¯ll want me to build some shit.¡± I hope the gangs come to the table with a trade because I don¡¯t just give shit away. They are absolutely going to try and strong arm me with numbers during negotiation. But I¡¯ve got something they don¡¯t know how to get: tier 2 access on the Exchange.

    I asked Zia and Penny about this--¡®cause many people in my settlement complain about being limited¡ªbut apparently, Penny negotiated for crafters to be able to access the tier required to make their products, and the regulatory body didn¡¯t put a fine point on those sanctions so as a recently minted tier two crafter I can access tier two anything. A oversight that is convenient for me as my tier two armor is a pretty piece of engineering and enchantment. I have a feeling that either Penny is lying to me, or there aren¡¯t that many tier two plus crafters. I¡¯m pretty sure that discovering that tier 3 recipe is being flagged as a fluke by the Matrix.

    My musing is interrupted by a knock at the door. I look over to Patience when she doesn¡¯t get up. I scoff before yelling ¡°Enter,¡± and return to scowling at Patience. Before I can comment, my security director, in what I suspect is a new uniform, walks in and marches in front of my desk and stops with a crisp salute. I stand and salute him back with much less crispiness. He grins as he drops his rigid posture.

    ¡°Very funny, but very sharp uniform. Is this a new Camp security thing?¡±

    ¡°It is! This is a prototype that my upper staff and I decided on. What do you think?¡±

    ¡°Not sure I¡¯m convinced on orange on black, but I do like the colored stitching around the edges and the rib and leg stripe. Looks like a motif based on my armor.¡± I walk around my desk to study the clothing, check the seam placements and the cut emphasis stitching.

    ¡°You noticed. The crew liked the cut of the armor but didn¡¯t think Astorian colors were appropriate. The orange was a whim, but I quite like it.¡±

    ¡°Tova, let me see a paper doll of me in this cut and color and one with a grey and gold motif.¡± I see me in double, the grey one looks like I¡¯m headed to a military academy, while the black and orange fits me into some sort of spooky cavalry officer.  ¡°Alright, stay with orange and black but change the shield cut front with buttons down both chest sides with only two buttons on the left, but both close to the collar with a hidden zipper for the rest of the top. Great, I like that. Now add a rank insignia button on the left side of the neck and the left shoulder.¡± Tova puts a star on my neck button and an orange embroidered star on my shoulder with ¡®Nowhere¡¯ written in the middle in black.

    ¡°What do you think, Marcus? I would be proud to wear this.¡±

    He looks at it for a few moments, nodding as he studies it. ¡°I think it needs a wider cuff and a hat, but I like the changes. Well, I don¡¯t love that I need to finally make a rank structure, but I can handle it. Not the only reason I came here today though. Do you have time to talk?¡± he looks over to Patience and then back to me.

    I raise and eyebrow, ¡°Sure. Patience, take a long lunch.¡± She looks between the two of us but decides not to say anything. As soon as she exits the office, Marcus walks over to my side table and sits.

    ¡°Must be serious if you want my assistant out of this. What¡¯s up?¡± I say, sliding into the seat across from him.

    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°We need more people, more money, just more. That aside, we need to re-visit combat scavenge rights, the way forward with the gangs in town, etcetera.¡±

    ¡°looting and pillaging is against my practices. It¡¯s dangerous to think about while in combat and since we recycle the dead anyway, the loot is totaled and given as bonuses. As for the gangs, I have a suspicion that they¡¯ll be permanent fixtures soon. I would set increased watches for now, but re-examining a sustainable alert rotation would be advisable.¡±

    Marcus chuckles, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to set my watches Kimber, I meant more policy. ROE for them, what if they come back unarmed, do we allow them to gather in town, etcetera.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, sorry. Not so used to thinking in more . . . strategic terms? Seems right. I don¡¯t think I want more than a fire team or two in town at the same time. Six hour tourist visas? Medical exception I suppose. Unarmed only, of course, but much the rest of it has to do with how my meeting with them goes.¡±

    Marcus nods. ¡°Any chance we can get a few more installations for the perimeter?¡±

    I bobble my head left and right in thought, ¡°Maybe. I have ideas to expand to the Eastward freeway soon, and to the southern freeway eventually. I mean, if everyone wanted out of the barracks, the Square would be full, but people are liking the barracks for some reason.¡±

    Marcus chuckles at that. ¡°Kimber, it¡¯s what we know. The Camp¡¯s recruitment was heavy with new members of Old Warram. We were in the barracks most of the time we spent there. If we get much bigger though, we¡¯re going to have to talk transit systems.¡±

    I wave the topic off, ¡°I have ideas, but as for now, my settlement is only eight blocks on the diagonal. That said, I have looked at your requisition for the collapsible bikes. I had my assistant research them and there¡¯s a harder to steel version that doesn¡¯t fold into a pocket space, just merely into a lump of metal. I am willing to buy four to see how the on-duty patrol does with them, and I¡¯m still looking at transport shuttles.¡±

    ¡°Alright, since my concerns have been addressed, I¡¯d like one or two more gear depots in the watchtowers as issuing and returning gear to one spot is a hassle.¡±

    ¡°Yeeaaahh, I¡¯m going to refer you to Tova on that one. She likes city planning more than me and optimizing buildings is her thing. Funds are feast or famine, and right now they¡¯re famine. After Founders¡¯ week I should have more, but I also have several projects running. Plus, the settlement will get Empire and System funds then.¡±

    He enters some menus and I just sit and consider the man before me. Dutiful, concerned with a collective condition, but does he look after himself? Does he have a personal life?

    ¡°Have you found time for yourself, Marcus?¡±

    He pinches his brow in confusion for a moment before relaxing. ¡°I¡¯m honestly relieved to be busy? If that makes sense. I bullshit with a few of the security team after hours, but I mostly just crash when I get home. I have my eyes on someone from Hospitality, but they¡¯re also in comfort, which complicates things.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± My spirits lift that he would include something personal. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m glad you have the time to think about that stuff. Don¡¯t judge her too harshly for the comfort work. The best you can do is ask if she likes what she¡¯s doing and if you can help manage the stresses of her day. After that, if she needs help, I think it¡¯s up to her to indicate or initiate that request.¡±

    ¡°Got experience with that do you?¡± he chuckles, not knowing. Why would he though. I don¡¯t share much.

    ¡°Actually, yeah.¡± I see that I have his attention and continue. ¡°This isn¡¯t something I tell everyone, Marcus, so after this we¡¯re friends.¡± He snorts. It¡¯s good to see the formerly stoic man laugh. ¡°After a day of scrounging, fighting, and teaching assholes lessons; I needed someone to calm the demons and prove that someone wanted me around.¡±

    I huff and scrub my face before slumping in my chair. ¡°Jaime was there for me, but her price was sharing her bed. It felt like affection in the beginning, but in the end it was a goods exchange and I was the one working for comfort. So when I give you advice about this, it¡¯s the approach I would have respected. I was too independent to need help, but I did want it. I didn¡¯t know what I was getting into, but before we went to Warram, I knew what I was doing. I lived for the grubs, I worked for Jaime. I just have a lot more grubs now, and my girlfriend is the most amazing person in the Empire.¡±

    The silence that follows lasts. I summon a drink for both of us and finish half of my juice before he takes a sip of coffee and speaks.

    ¡°None of us knew, Kimber. I judged you harshly then because of your relationship with Jaime, and your general intolerance of older males, but I¡¯ll definitely consider your advice if I decide to pursue the girl.¡± We sit in silence a while longer.

    ¡°Are you still friends with Belle?¡± I ask him.

    He shakes his head, ¡°We still talk. She was very important to getting through my mental blocks, but being with each other kind of ruined our ability to be friends or professionals after we stopped.¡±

    ¡°I can see that. The way she ended things, and her job as a . . . therapist doesn¡¯t make for great leadership material.¡±

    ¡°Kimber. You¡¯re going to have to deal with her again, so please listen to what I say.¡± He sighs then stares me in the eyes. ¡°What she did hurt her more than you would know. I don¡¯t think she realized how often she mentioned something about you, but now, she¡¯s just as mad at you as she seemed at that first meeting. I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s jealous of your success or that your breakup doesn''t seem to affect you anymore, but she¡¯s angry Kimber.¡±

    ¡°Honestly, Marcus? If she hadn¡¯t come back as an entitled ass, I would have given her another chance. It¡¯s been almost four years since I got away from Jaime¡¯s abuse, and I¡¯m wary of her practices, but I also know she¡¯s damned smart and good at managing people. Bell though? Her resume sucks for a Lead Councilor. I¡¯d love if she¡¯d work with Doctor Kenneck at the Hospital, but I don¡¯t know if she wants that job anymore.¡±

    ¡°Derailing this share-fest, we need a hang-out spot so I can invite you to bitch over beers.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Yeah, yeah. I refit the brewery up the road, I haven¡¯t decided if I want it to be an event space or just a tap room.¡±

    ¡°Uh, Brew Tavern, Kimber. Beer, darts, pool, and karaoke. I¡¯ve heard great things.¡±

    Oh shit! He is such an old man! I laugh until my face is resting on the cool table. ¡°As funny as that was, I¡¯ll look into it. Maybe three to six months. If you want something sooner, there are several empty buildings and perhaps you and some enterprising people can start something?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it, but I¡¯m saving up for a bike right now. Know any good deals on sweet bikes like yours?¡± I chuckle at that and nod.

    We chat through lunch about our Warram years and it¡¯s nice. Cathartic to talk through stories with someone not my mentor or girlfriend; and comforting to feel the warmth of a friend confiding in me.

 A4: Chapter 11

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember promoting you to Rear Admiral.¡± Penny accuses as I enter her suite.

    ¡°Different uniform, Empress on High,¡± her face twists like she ate a lemon. I smirk. ¡°My security forces adopted a uniform, and in the mode of the Empress, I am the highest ranked person in my settlements. I am also the Director of an alliance of settlements. Should I have gone for two stars?¡±

    A smile breaks out over Penny¡¯s face. ¡°You might be one of the largest private landowners in the Empire, so I¡¯ll allow it. Since Governors are the rank equivalent of Ground Colonel in my estimation, I will give you a functional rank of Commander or Major? Yes, that seems right.¡±

    ¡°Why does that even matter, Penny? We¡¯re on Astoria and I¡¯m in your party.¡± I want nothing of her convoluted hierarchy.

    ¡°Honors, mostly. Status, also. If someone inspects you it¡¯s a quick way to see where the person stands next to a differing dignitary in the Empire. It¡¯s essentially code for ¡®sway with the Empress¡¯.¡± She looks me over again. ¡°I also wanted to thank you for getting Zia involved this year. She hates these things and I¡¯ve been wanting her to at least try to enjoy the bustling city while it¡¯s in motion.¡±

    ¡°I AM RIGHT HERE MOTHER!¡± Zia shouts from the cockpit.

    ¡°Yes, baby, but I don¡¯t want to shout while I talk to your girlfriend.¡±

    My stompy dragon comes to the passenger compartment with fire in her eyes and smoke on her breath.

    ¡°Zizi, no fire in the cabin, yeah?¡± I remind in case she was about to spray her mother in molten fire. Her eyes bling rapidly.

    ¡°Yeah, sorry hon. It¡¯s just we talked about this, and she¡¯s just calling you my girlfriend.¡±

    ¡°Did you two get married in Vegas? WITHOUT ME?!¡± Penny shouts.

    ¡°Yes¡±, ¡°Not Exactly.¡±

    I shove my dragon and glare at her.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± She says to both of us, ¡°Kimber wanted to have a talk about ¡®us¡¯ and I told her as a dragon we needed to nest. So we spent the day designing a little lair and put some of our treasures in it before coming here. The Elf ritual needs you to be a part of it, but . . .¡±

    ¡°We kinda did get hitched in Vegas.¡±

    ¡°No.¡± Penny says, ¡°I am planning a cute wedding, and you both are not allowed to be married until I get the venue ready.¡± She huffs, tugs on the bottom of her uniform top and stares into the viewfinder.

    ¡°You already started planning? I just asked her two days ago!¡± I shout at my future mother-in-law.

    ¡°Pfft, of course I did. Between the way Zia commits and your complete moon-eyed devotion, I¡¯m surprised it took this long. In either case. Welcome to the family Kimber, even though we¡¯ve been treating you like that since you¡¯ve been dating my daughter.¡±

    My cheeks flush with embarrassment, but when I look to Zia she¡¯s giggling with the biggest smile. I would gladly suffer embarrassment for her smile. Gods, my heart is so full. I think this is it, the feeling that people talk about when they gush about family: an overflowing warmth that makes you want to do shit for people that you care about.

    ¡°Soooo, Mother dearest,¡± I turn to Penny, my face still hot with embarrassment, ¡°what are we walking into at the ceremony this year?¡±

    The tall Fairy starts shedding dust from her wings with the biggest sawtooth smile you¡¯ve ever seen. ¡°Oh, you know, a little pomp and circumstance and a surprise for some pompous chumps.¡±

    ¡°Penny, just curious,¡± some of the dust is getting on my hands and the skin is rippling, ¡°that dust is like pure aether right?¡±

    ¡°Crap. Let me get something to clean you up.¡± She turns around and blows the magical asbestos in my face and eyes.

    ¡°Fuck! Fuckity, fuckadoo! AHHH!¡± I shout. As the burning in my eyes overtakes the rippling discomfort on my skin, I get a brief lesson on nerve pathing as the pain blossoms and sears its way from the backs of my eyes to back of my bran through the fatty middle bits.

    I feel a jab in my neck before I pass out.

    ***

    I feel something in my hand and I instinctively grip it.

    ¡°Oh thank Andromeda you¡¯re alive. Kimber, can you hear me?¡± Zia asks, the heat of her skin sending warmth into my soul.

    ¡°Yeah. My whole body aches though. Did you stab me with meds before I passed out?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, mom did. Tier 3 meds. I yelled at her for injecting more aether into you, but she convinced me that it can even repair minor brain damage, so I guess she chose the best option.¡±

    I chuckle at that, though my shout-broken voice makes it sound more like a rasp. ¡°Will you still love me if my brain is fixed?¡±

    She smiles at me. ¡°Your body¡¯s pretty great, so I¡¯ll probably stick around for that.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m really scared that my eyes are missing or something. Can you like, help convince me that I¡¯m being stupid?¡± I squeeze her hand really hard.

    ¡°You¡¯re not stupid Kimber, but the very expensive medication mom injected you with can regrow a hand. Two little eyeballs should be a piece of cake.¡±

    ¡°Can you dim the lights so I don¡¯t blind myself?¡± She places a hand on my cheek and rubs her thumb along my cheekbone.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°I can barely see you and I have enhanced vision.¡±

    Knowing in my bones that I trust this girl, I still squint and a brief flash of light shocks me, causing a rapid blink before details start to resolve. Dark my ass, Zia; I can see you fine. She grabs my face with both hands and starts staring at my eyes intently, switching between the two at a frantic pace.

    ¡°Are they hideous and bleeding or something?¡±

    ¡°No, babe, they are literally radiant. Gold and brilliant. There is also some, silvery sclera radiating from your irises, but it is also quite pretty.¡±

    ¡°Uh, okay. Do aether mutations usually end up positive?¡±

    ¡°Small ones? Yeah. But you and mom are special, apparently, and your nanites and symbiotes are just better at doing everything. You should probably check your messages to make sure nothing is lingering that we need to tend to.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, okay, but can we be somewhere you can, hold me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, baby, of course.¡± She helps me out of the chair and wedges the both of us in the corner by the airlock and she pulls me to lay on her and wraps her hands around me with a naked palm on my stomach, knowing that the skin-to-skin contact soothes me. ¡°I¡¯ve got you Kimber.¡±

    I sigh and sink into her and slip past comfortable and into a meditative state of empty calm. I think about the things that happen to me and the notices I received appear before me, hanging in the sky.

    //Your hands are oversaturated with aether. Attempting to redistribute.

    //Your hands are oversaturated with aether. Attempting to redistribute.

    //Your hands are oversaturated with aether. Attempting to redistribute.

    //The skin and mucous membranes of your head are oversaturated with aether.

    //Mucous membranes transfer aether at an increased rate. This transfer can oversaturate other areas.

    //Mutation threshold of ¡®Entire Head¡¯ exceeded. Initiating aether mutation.

    <User has previously authorized Symbiote to use resources in case of emergency. Symbiote cashes in [Stored Power] purchase to mitigate mutation effects>

    <You have increased an Attribute!> Capacity: C -> B

    //Secondary oversaturation of Brain, Skull, and other non-surface parts of ¡®Entire Head¡¯ have been successfully mitigated.

    //Mutation threshold of ¡®Eyes¡¯ exceeded.

    <Your Eyes have formed aether crystals that may impact your sight.>

    //Mutation incomplete, drawing additional aether from surrounding areas to complete.

    //Mutation threshold of Skin of ¡®Entire Head¡¯ no longer met.

    //Tier 3 regrow and restore has been administered.

    //Occular reconstruction commencing.

    <You have discovered a Talent: Illuminating Gaze>

    <A skill has mutated. Discerning Gaze -> Illuminating Gaze>

    <You have gained Body of Power III>

    <You have gained aether dependence III>

    <You have gained Energy Conversion II>

    ¡°Gods, I almost died from a face-full of Pixie glitter. I need to buy Tova a few more servers in thanks.¡±

    I hear a chuckle in the darkness as a figure fades in. It¡¯s a representation of me from years ago. Small, thin, tough as a leather belt. ¡°While I would love that, it¡¯s not necessary. I was preserving myself as well.¡±

    ¡°Holyshit! Tova?!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Kimber. Imagine my great sorrow that you never truly delved into meditation.¡± The small waif saunters up and hugs me¡ªI can feel it.

    I grasp her head and hold it close. ¡°I had no idea, Tova. I am so sorry.¡±

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have known and I wasn¡¯t allowed to tell you. This is part of why I was acting out, by the way. The one way we can physically interact, you wrote off and never focused on. But, now that you know, can you try to meditate here every so often?¡±

    The sad eyes she uses to look up at me with make me want to promise her anything. ¡°I promise to try, Tova. I¡¯ve never been this deep in meditation before.¡±

    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve felt it, it should come easier. But now is not the time to teach you. Zia is starting to worry.¡±

    Tova¡¯s little me flicks me in the nose and boots me out of the empty calm and back into the muted tones of reality and the suffusing comfort of Zia¡¯s touch. I turn and push up to plant a kiss on the beautiful Elf behind me. She wraps me in a fierce hug and continues kissing me.

    ¡°Everything okay?¡±

    ¡°Seems so. I barely escaped having rocks for eyes, and I¡¯m sure there are drawbacks to the Talent that I gained, but I didn¡¯t look that far into things. I can see you clear as a cloudy day though.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re so intense, Kimber. It feels as though I couldn¡¯t hide anything from you, even if I wanted to.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, when you said that I could tell the truth of the statement, and also that it turns you on? Wow. I might have mutated into TMI sight.¡±

    Zia flushes beautifully. ¡°Y-yes. It does. I really like that you see me, both sides of me for who I really am. I want to act on it too, but I think my parents are waiting for us to emerge.¡±

    ¡°Wait, Penny, Tessa, and Kaitlynn? They¡¯re all here?¡± Oh god, my girl¡¯s Mom and two Dads are here. Fuck that¡¯s a weird thing to think about three women. ¡°Well, let¡¯s slowly raise the lights and see how I do.¡±

    A few minutes later the lights are full and there is a low-level pain in my eyes. It¡¯s manageable so I tell Zia she can open the hatch. I get blasted with brightness so intense I hiss. After a minute I start swearing at my eyes, and finally yell ¡°Adjust damnit!¡± and they fucking do. I can feel an aether draw from my eyes, but everything is not ridiculously blown out and painful.

    ¡°Think I found a drawback. I need to use aether to see normally in daylight.¡± As far as mutations go, I think I won overall. Does this mean that I¡¯ll be blind if I run out of aether, or that I just won¡¯t be able to adjust my irises? I could read the explanation on the Talent, or I can just experience it I suppose.

    ¡°Your eyes are still captivating though, not that you needed to be more interesting.¡± Her elfin-musical giggle makes happy little tingles in my brain.

    We walk down the ramp to a walkway behind a stately government building. As Zia leads me, I look about and see other shuttles and vehicles parked in a lot with ours, a familiar lake between the buildings in front of us and the Capitol Parkway beyond the building to our left. I¡¯ve never focused on this parking lot before. Is it visible from the parkway? Have I ever used the parkway?

    ¡°You were out for less than an hour, so we shouldn¡¯t have missed more than the Mayor of Aelea speaking.¡±

    ¡°Penny allows him to speak first?¡±

    ¡°I mean, no, but she silences the crowd, introduces the Mayor, then talks after the other Founders are done.¡±

    ¡°Wait, they all speak every year?¡± Zia nods. ¡°Well shit, you¡¯d think the people would get tired of them by now.¡±

    ¡°I thought so too until I started listening to the speeches a few years ago. Apparently there was a point where mom got fed up with the grand standing, or plane jane speeches, so she started telling people what she¡¯s been up to and what to expect from her in the next year. The speeches have been much more interesting since then.¡±

    ¡°Ooh, I could stand for a progress address. I have no idea what the Empire is up to since I live on a shitty backwater called ¡®Earth¡¯.¡± Zia elbows me off the path and I smile at her. ¡°What? I know that the majority of the populace is from Earth, but conditions still suck there.¡±

    ¡°Not every culture can handle unfettered access to progress and technology, hon. I¡¯ve toured half the planet and have seen as much predation as I have seen nurturing. There¡¯s a reason only a quarter of the people of Earth survived the Warlord Period. The fact that half of that population loss came from a handful of countries angers me so much that I want to murder the leaders and let those countries exterminate themselves.¡±

    ¡°Ooh, I can tell why you think that. This Illuminating Gaze is fucking cool.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s probably going to make arguing with you much more frustrating too.¡± She pulls on my arm a little and snakes hers around it. I enjoy her simple touches and coupley gestures.

 A4: Chapter 12

    The corner of the stately building approaches and I can begin seeing the stands set up in front of it. The seats are packed and there are people standing in the street in front and around the area, fully focused on figures atop the steps of the government hall. Security at the base of the steps let Zia and I pass and we head up to the corner of the grand entry of this column-ridden beauty.

    ¡°Huh, how did I not know Francesca was a founder?¡±

    ¡°You probably never learned her last name. She¡¯s Partnered with Jenna and are both my Godparents. Have you met the other two?¡±

    ¡°Nope, but the beautiful yet severe woman with a critical gaze that you described your dad with must be the red-head. So the other one must be Tessa, though she looks pretty severe herself.¡±

    ¡°Mhm. She¡¯s had a bit of a personality shift since Izzi was born. She did not like when Mom told her she¡¯d used Tessa¡¯s alpha patterns as part of the base of Izzi¡¯s intelligence matrix. Then Mom chose the worst time in the world to reconnect with Mikayla.¡±

    ¡°Why were Tessa and Penny never together?¡±

    ¡°Oh, stupid reasons. She was originally mom¡¯s AI. During a space-time-aether mishap, she was given a User status and couldn¡¯t reconcile if her love for mom was induced or natural. Honestly, she was not a great parent, but a decent nanny. Dad was god-awful, but I still love her.¡±

    I can¡¯t relate so I just squeeze her hand to tell her she can talk to me later if she needs to. An image of my parents alive and smiling flashes in my brain and that¡¯s disturbing on its own. I¡¯ve never had that happen before. Can tier three meds cure emotional scarring?

    While my questions persist, I see that Francesca rises to the podium for her address.

    ¡°Citizens. We continue to progress our understanding of what the Matrix¡¯s technology can do for us and increase our contributions to the Supercluster at large. I am proud to reveal that our botanists and zoologists have discovered a way to acclimate honeybees to the Astorian climate, which will open avenues for many foodstuffs that required bees to pollinate their flowers on Earth. I¡¯m most excited about developing local variants of Earthen fruits that we can enjoy on our tables, in our glasses and thanks to burgeoning Alchemists, in our tinctures, potions, and liquors.

    ¡°Can I get a hell-yeah for bees and booze?¡±

    ¡°HELL YEAH!¡± the crowd shouts and cheers. The botanist turns around and flips off the gallery. I laugh loud enough for her to see me. She veers away from her seat towards us. Damn it.

    ¡°So, burgeoning alchemist Kimber, you got my delivery?¡± She seems very desperate for it.

    I pull a liter of purple-drink-like liquor with an aether twist and hand it to her.

    ¡°The rest of the shipment is waiting in the Exchange for your receipt.¡±

    ¡°This is higher quality than we agreed?¡± She takes a sip and gives a little bridal party ¡®woo¡¯ and goes in for another pull.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see a complaint. It would have cost more to alter my setup. So you get a free benny.¡±

    ¡°How did you come up with this?¡± Zia asks and takes a sip and makes yummy noises.

    ¡°I did some research on wine coolers and basically made something similar with aether and those g-berries I love so much.¡±

    The Botanist takes the bottle from Zia, takes a sip and puts it in a coat pocket. Zia frowns, and since I can¡¯t have that, I hand her a more petite bottle of the stuff. We chat about some flavor notes and perhaps different colors before Kaitlynn walks up to the podium.

    ¡°Citizens and Honored guests, my main focus to benefit the Empire continues toward connectivity, communication, and magitec integration. My company is beginning to deploy communications networks to link the Prospects with the Astorian Data Network and are putting the finishing touches of a less intrusive method of interfacing with said network with our bio wetware. Also, per Imperial sponsorship, the network now has several opt-in options for the more vulgar and deviant sections of our information databases. As a corollary, the deviants out there can opt-out of routine query responses.¡± Mixed cheering for both the opt in and out options and one may shouts ¡®yeah porn!¡¯ causing some laughter in the crowd.

    The tall, gaunt woman turns away from the podium, sees our impromptu gathering and approaches us as Tessa stands to address the gathered. I couldn¡¯t tell you if she was speaking or not because the rest of reality is outside of the tunnel that Kaitlynn has locked me into with her glare.

    ¡°Good morning, Daughter,¡± she side hugs and kisses the top of Zia¡¯s head while still staring at me. ¡°May I assume this is your new paramour?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, dad, but can you stop trying to thrall her, or whatever that gaze is supposed to do?¡± She looks down at Zia. ¡°Thank you. Her name is Kimber and we¡¯re engaged.¡±

    ¡°Engaged? Isn¡¯t that a little sudden Zia?¡± She returns her gaze to me and the weight returns, ¡°Or perhaps ambitious?¡±

    ¡°Is that actual interest in your daughter¡¯s life? Or some possessive controlling bullshit?¡± I focus through the weight of her gaze and flare aether to my [Illuminating Gaze]. Indignation, guilt, and anger are present in her statement and demeanor. Zia¡¯s father sneers at me and blinks rapidly.

    ¡°In an attempt to delay some needless posturing from the both of you, let me simplify. Dad, we¡¯ve been together for years, and I knew she was my person after a month of chatting with her. She¡¯s as loyal as Petra, but with morals.¡± Zia turns to me, grabs my chin and forces me to pay attention. ¡°The leaders of the Empire have at least three tiers on you. Stop picking fights. People are going to say stupid shit about me and if I play it off, you should too. Please.¡± Zia looks back at her father and sees the smug look on her face. ¡°Say Kimber, do your glowing eyes see through her glare?¡±

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°Yep.¡± I say with a pop on the ¡®P.¡¯

    ¡°Tell us a story, would you?¡± She asks.

    ¡°Hmm, Kaitlynn Anne O¡¯Connell. Katie-anne? Nice. Vampire Countess, Meticulous Menace, lvl. 72. Harem of  . . . seven? Wow. That¡¯s a lot of responsibility. Standard novelesque vampire talents. I think she was using a version of Presence on me earlier? Yep, there it is, Aura of Oppression. There are a couple of expand buttons I could hit if you want me to keep going.¡±

    Zia looks up at her dad and returns the grin. ¡°Imagine having Talents at tier 1 that can pierce even your defenses. She¡¯s curious by nature, so maybe don¡¯t call attention to your bad side?¡± She turns her head back to me. ¡°And Francesca, popcorn is hardly appropriate.¡±

    I turn to find the botanist leaning against the nearest column popping fluffy crunch nuggets into her mouth. I snort and chuckle because I¡¯ve always wanted to do that.

    ¡°Thank you Founders, and Mayor Yolen!¡± Penny shouts from the podium. ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn. A lot of changes are coming, my Citizens. Next year is the 20<sup>th</sup> year of the Empire of Astoria and I want it to be a benchmark year, so some changes must be made. First of all, three of the prospect systems have petitioned to be Imperial Protectorates¡ªthe same classification as Earth. Now, many of my staff and the House of Governors asked the same question you may be asking, ¡®What does that mean?¡¯.

    ¡°By practice, it has meant a self-funded, self governing entity that has Imperial protection and minimal oversight. Seeing how poorly that has gone on Earth for the most part, Protectorate will have official meaning. They will have a government officer, called a Protector, to mediate disputes between nations on said planets and between other systems. It also means transit and commerce protections to these systems as well to foster tourism and businesses that want a more stable environment to expand to.

    ¡°The over-arching changes this will cause include the establishment of a Coast Guard to patrol the systems in the Imperial Economic Zone and the restructuring of Imperial Law and Justice. This will mean more opportunities for localized service in space for those that don¡¯t wish to travel far from their families, and new openings for judges, lawyers, clerks and police-like employment.

    ¡°Lastly, the majority of these changes will be unnoticed by Empire Core Worlds unless you¡¯ve had a dispute judged by me. Those changes will be significant as Systems will now have arbiters Called Justicars. They will be the first round of Imperial Justice, should local law be insufficient to the task. Their rulings can be appealed to the Imperial Court, and above that, should select laws, policies or edicts need review, I will take a few petitions a year to set precedent or shore up gaps in a nascent legal system.

    ¡°For questions about these opportunities and changes, please message my office and the appropriate parties will get in contact with you. And, without further ado, let Founders¡¯ Week Begin!¡± She shouts and gouts of magic and flame burst into the sky in a barrage of color and sound.

    ¡°Always one for attention, she is.¡± I hear Kaitlynn say.

    ¡°Better her than me.¡± Francesca responds.

    ¡°I mean, I kinda get it. My people don¡¯t really know or see me often and it causes all kinds of problems.¡± I say, staring at the pixie floating in our direction, feeling the heat of multiple eyes on me. I see the interest in their eyes. ¡°What? I own three Settlements and help run three businesses. Hard to build loyalty if they don¡¯t know who you are.¡±

    ¡°Ladies!¡± Penny exclaims. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better I¡¯d think you were colluding.¡±

    ¡°Closer to colliding, Penny, but luckily Zia¡¯s the responsible adult in the room.¡± I say, ¡°So I see you¡¯re jumping the Justice gun this year. Is this where you tell me I¡¯m going to be the Justicar for Sol?¡±

    ¡°No, no, no, you think I would surprise you with that?¡± Her smile parts to show her freaky-ass teeth, ¡°That would hardly be a surprise at all. You¡¯ll be our test case for the Sol AND Kepler systems since Earth is only a Protectorate.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s the pixie prat. Fucking trying to kill me twice today.¡± I grumble.

    ¡°Do we just casually tolerate irreverence now? Letting toddlers be snotty just encourages them.¡± Aww, kitten.

    ¡°Does your Harem actually like going down on you or are they just in it for the salt fix?¡± the four of them are quiet, apparently stunned by my sick burn until I hear Francesca crunch another handful of popcorn. Zia hisses and slaps my should and Penny has her mouth covered but is shaking so much glitter loose with her restrained laughter that I have to step back. Her dad, however, reaches over and picks me up by the front of my coat and pulls my face close to hers.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t even heard of you before today, so don¡¯t take liberties you have not earned, little fly,¡± she seethes into my face, her breath smelling of old blood and herbal tea.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard and read plenty about you, but Penny¡¯s and Zia¡¯s opinion are all that matter to me.¡±

    ¡°If only you listened more often.¡± Zia huffs.

    ¡°Hey, babe, just because she¡¯s important and powerful doesn¡¯t make it okay to be an asshole to people you don¡¯t know. Plus, if you can¡¯t take it, don¡¯t give it rules apply.¡± I¡¯m looking into Kaitlynn¡¯s eyes the whole time burning aether to keep her shitty aura from affecting me.

    ¡°That aura is distasteful, Katie, please turn it off.¡± Penny says in a calm, level tone.

    ¡°You¡¯re threatening me over this?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m asking you to be civil and not throw your slimy musk around. It clearly doesn¡¯t affect Kimber anyway.¡±

    She sneers at me again and, to my great surprise, tosses me aside¡ªliterally. I fly about two meters and wiggle to position myself into and arm-soften roll. I turn and see Zia slap her dad and then chew her the fuck out as I walk back. She stops as I walk up, give her a kiss and put my arm around her.

    ¡°I¡¯m irreverent with Penny because she¡¯s my friend and we¡¯re in business together.¡± I turn to Penny and ask, ¡°How¡¯s the campaign to get the dangerous cocaine off the market?¡±

    Penny beams at me. ¡°Really well! I cleaned up some cells that were cutting their products with warfarin and NSAIDS. The initial low portion of cocaine had people taking more of it to get high and then they would get internal bleeds and die from those complications. The new aether-infused stuff takes less and doesn¡¯t need any high-bolstering effects.¡±

    ¡°Did you want me to judge them or something?¡±

    ¡°Oh, honey. When I say cleaned, I mean that I killed them. Organized crime is fine, but not if it¡¯s killing Citizens. Knowingly distributing a substance that has a habit of killing people is a death sentence because I have to get involved. With the upcoming justice changes, we might get a police force or an FBI-like entity that could go detain them, but I have no interest in prisoners.¡±

    ¡°I like how you¡¯re just casually discussing killing my people.¡± Kaitlynn states.

    ¡°I dislike how you¡¯re casually dismissing killing my Citizens with negligence and greed. It was either replace your product and get involved in the drug trade nationally or get more involved in your organization personally. You tell me which you¡¯d rather. It¡¯s been fifteen years and I¡¯m still waiting for you to police your own people.¡±

    ¡°And you can keep waiting.¡±

    Penny smiles that creepy smile again. ¡°Nah, the Justicars and the Coast Guard will have more time for that shit than I do. Should be fun to watch.¡±

    ¡°Franny, after we pick up Alphea, you wanna grab lunch?¡±

    The botanist shakes her head, ¡°Can¡¯t. I promised Jenna that I¡¯d do a pack thing with her in the Genoan Wilds.¡±

    ¡°That the hunt or the festival? Penny asks.

    ¡°Festival. She wants to go on a hunt later in the week, but she promised me that there would be Druids and Shaman at the festival to hang with while she¡¯s gone?¡±

    ¡°You still trying to find a Warden?¡±

    ¡°Penny, that is a private matter.¡± She narrows her eyes at the Pixie and Penny raises her hands in surrender.

    ¡°Alright girls. Let¡¯s head to Guiseppe¡¯s.¡± She flutters down the stairs following Francesca and Zia moves to follow.

    I turn to smirk at Kaitlynn and bump two fingers against the brim of my hat in a mock salute before heading down the steps after the two most important women in my life.

 A4: Chapter 13

    ¡°KIMBER!!!¡± I hear a shout and I see a child-seized missile coming at me. If I was an ass, I¡¯d dodge, but I reach out with my arms to lessen the impact.

    ¡°Holy smokes, Phea, You¡¯re huge!¡± I palm the side of her head to get a good look at her face while supporting her with my other arm.

    ¡°I went through a meta-Morpheus!¡± I snort with how cute that mistake is and rustle her hair.

    ¡°I can see that! Did you get anything cool from it?¡± It¡¯s a process that Royal Pixies go through that sort of mimics butterfly stages of development as they grow into their power and Hereditary Knowledge trait.

    ¡°I can phase sideways. Mom says it means I should be able to do void magic too.¡± She leans in close to my ear and says, ¡°I can spy on people when I¡¯m sideways. It¡¯s super cool.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to show me later.¡± I whisper back.

    Zia walks over and kisses Alphea on the head. ¡°Hey sister.¡±

    ¡°Hi sister. Are you going to be around all week?¡± Alphea asks.

    ¡°Yep.¡±

    ¡°We can have so many picnics!¡± She yells and hugs me more tightly.

    Penny finishes talking to Jenna and Francesca and turns to wave us forward. Zia smiles at me and follows her mother. I try to set Alphea down and she protests.

    ¡°Look, Phea. It¡¯s shoulders or walking.¡±

    ¡°Shoulders please.¡± She sets her feet down then raises her arms for uppies.

    I grab her sides and toss her in the air. She squeals, making me laugh, but I still catch her on my shoulders. I grab the tops of her thighs for stability and we head towards Guiseppe¡¯s

    ¡°You two are so cute together.¡± Her warm, loving smile makes my middles wiggle. There¡¯s a world where Phea¡¯s my kid and I think I¡¯d be pretty happy about it.

    Lake Street is packed with people and about halfway down to Giuseppe¡¯s Zia and Penny just decide to fly there and have me catch up. My backpack stays with me.

    ¡°Are you and Sister going to get married?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, bug, we¡¯re pretty serious about each other. That¡¯s okay with you, right?¡± I look up to see the little blue pixie smiling at me.

    ¡°Of course! I just heard that Sis is moving to Earth and wondered if maybe you and Zia are married and on Earth, maybe I could move to Earth too.¡±

    Oh, wow. I love you too, kid, shit. So sweet my heart hurts, ffs. ¡°I love you Phea and I would love to have you with us. This is something that your mom and your sister get a say in this too, okay?¡±

    ¡°Ugh!¡± She sighs heavily and slumps over my head, arms hanging by my ears. ¡°Adults have to ask for permission too?!¡±

    I can¡¯t help but chuckle at the little drama-llama. ¡°Have you thought about what you want to do once you reach tier 1?¡±

    ¡°Mom says I should think about it, but I don¡¯t know what there is to do. I like training with my aunties and magic looks really fun, but I don¡¯t know, you know? I¡¯d like to make some friends my age, but I change so fast.¡±

    ¡°Believe it or not, I felt the same way a few years ago. I lost several people that were important to me, and though my mentor was there for me when she could be, I was feeling pretty alone. Then I met your mom and sister, and my life has felt so much fuller. Then I got the job I want and my businesses took off and though things are hectic, they feel great.¡±

    ¡°Do you do fun things with Sis and your friends? I hear being an adult is awesome, but so far it sounds worse.¡±

    More chuckling from me. ¡°Phea, you don¡¯t have a lot of the restrictions of most kids, so the draw of adulthood is going to be lost on you. I stay pretty busy so I don¡¯t think about fun so much, but I¡¯m not sad or lonely much anymore either. Adults have to make time for fun, to plan it sometimes. Like me coming to Astoria. Takes a lot of effort to be able to take a week off, but it¡¯s definitely been worth it so far.¡±

    Alphea thinks on it and puts on her serious face for the rest of our walk. When we get to Giuseppe¡¯s I ask her to get down, and she slides down to my hip and locks her legs and arms there. I laugh again and hold her butt up as she continues to hang off me like a monkey. When I tell them I¡¯m with Penny and Zia, a teen leads me upstairs where I see the Empress chatting with a half-bald, grayed man with a cloth apron and a sturdy fork in hand.

    My fianc¨¦e is chatting with a fit man in a similar apron and a much straighter posture that is manning a shallow basin full of sauces, brushes, and ladles. Guiseppe¡¯s son, Carlo, has an easy smile and has been nothing but helpful every time we¡¯ve come here.

    ¡°Carlo! Who¡¯s the boy that¡¯s working the front?¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    ¡°Kimber! Tina¡¯s been asking about you.¡± He looks behind me, ¡°Ben! Go get Tina!¡± he turns back to me, ¡°good kid, a little lost in the noise though. Leah is sweet on him though. Begged me to give him a job.¡±

    ¡°I thought only family work here?¡± I jab.

    ¡°You!¡± Guiseppe turns around and points at me with his fork. ¡°I¡¯ll have none of that slander! My daughter Clara married that girl from the Tailor¡¯s shop and had a few kids with the Empress¡¯ fancy kid machine, he¡¯s one of them. Still family.¡±

    ¡°Damn, G, just poking fun. Not impugning your honor or nothin¡¯.¡± Old man¡¯s glare could curdle cream. Lol, fancy kid machine.

    ¡°You can apologize by dragging the meat tray up here so I don¡¯t lose a grandkid in the process.¡±

    ¡°You got it, G.¡± After the first time I saw a pair of the kids struggling to get the tray upstairs, I found out he gives the duty out as a punishment. I¡¯ve found a way to get punished to help them ever since.

    I tap Alphea on the forehead to let her know I¡¯m serious about her getting down. She grumbles like normal so I tweak her nose and dash downstairs.

    I walk downstairs and grab one of the aprons hanging at the opening to the kitchen.

    ¡°Hey Tina! I heard the punishment plate could use some extra muscle.¡±

    ¡°Ain¡¯t that the truth. C¡¯mere you.¡± She waves me in and gives me a quick kiss and pats my face. ¡°Good to see you looking healthy. You and Kimber having kids yet?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not even married yet!¡± I protest.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t stop me. I could tell Carlo liked me, and I liked him, but he was afraid of my Mom. So I got him drunk, he got me pregnant and we¡¯ve been happy since.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯d your mom take it?¡±

    Tina laughs, ¡°She¡¯s still fuckin¡¯ mad. Why do you think I work here now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going to get you to tell me the rest of that story some time.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll need to ply me with booze to . . .¡± I pull out a bottle of Purple Drunk and hand it to her. ¡°I am not some basic bitch Kimber, I have . . .¡± I pull out different bottle labeled Nova Chateau. ¡°Shit. Fine. Invite us up to the Castle sometime, and Guiseppe won¡¯t be able to refuse our time off.¡±

    I raise and eyebrow, look down to the bottles then back into her eyes. ¡°What? I¡¯m keeping these. Don¡¯t you have a punishment to get to with all those muscles?¡±

    This fucking human. ¡°Okay, Bettina. Try not to get pregnant when you drink those.¡± She throws a spoon at my head and I laugh it up.

    The punishment plate is piled high today, making me wonder who else is going to join us for dinner tonight. Sometimes Penny¡¯s okay with letting people on the roof with us but at the lower, separate tables. Sometimes the Empress throws a party.

    There are a few more people upstairs when I arrive with this heavy fucking platter of meat, but I don¡¯t recognize any of them. Then again, I haven¡¯t met all that many people on Astoria, I just know some very important ones.

    ¡°Sei Fuori! Kimber, you must be half ox! On the bricks on the bricks.¡± Giuseppe clears the area waving his fork while pointing to the area next to the wood storage bin. He pats me on the arm and gives it a little squeeze. ¡°Perhaps the Empress brought her own to feed the ox ah? Or there will be none left for the party!¡±

    ¡°Indeed I have Giuseppe.¡± Penny appears next to us and lays down a series of animal parts easily as large as the punishment platter ¡°found this on Dash, one of our new Protectorates. The aether isn¡¯t as high, but it will definitely give you a taste and texture challenge.¡±

    ¡°Bellisimo! You always bring gifts for us, Majesty, and you always overpay.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll stop tipping when you stop calling me Empress or Majesty, or Highness.¡±

    He laughs a belly laugh. ¡°There are crosses we all must bear. Now sit, talk, enjoy as the children bring up the antipasto.¡±

    As we walk toward the raised, twelve-person dining table, Penny speaks softly ¡°It¡¯s nice of you to help like that, knowing he won¡¯t just ask.¡±

    I shrug, ¡°I like this family. The parents with the tasking and holding the kids responsible, and the kids wanting to help each other out to make the machine work. I don¡¯t honestly know what they¡¯re working toward, but that part doesn¡¯t matter. Makes me feel like the pain I went through to create a similar environment for my grubs at the orphanage was worth it.¡±

    ¡°I often forget about the trials you went through before Warram. In fact, I don¡¯t know if we¡¯ve ever really talked about it.¡±  Penny turns to me and touches her fingers to my arm.

    ¡°Heh, I don¡¯t like talking about it with people. I like you, and before I knew enough about you to figure out you wouldn¡¯t judge me, it didn¡¯t seem important. I eventually told Zia, but apparently she had already tied herself to me by that point, so I feel kind of guilty about it.¡± I confess.

    ¡°Well, after knowing what I¡¯ve done from an early age, Zia doesn¡¯t scare easy.¡±

    ¡°If it makes you feel any better, at family dinners, you¡¯ll never be the only monster at the table.¡± I reach up to squeeze her arm and then head over to Zia, who is folding napkins with Alphea.

    ¡°Hey Pinkie, whatcha doin¡¯?¡± I reach down to and kiss her on the cheek before picking her up and putting her in my lap.

    ¡°Distracting myself from watching you be helpful and muscly. Perhaps one day soon I will have some heavy things to lift after you work out.¡±

    My arms snake around my girl¡¯s sides and pull her close while I lean close to her ear, ¡°in this fantasy, how much clothing am I wearing,¡± I say with a dusky tone. I can feel her shudder in my arms.

    ¡°Mate, you will not tease me so in public.¡±

    ¡°Uh, oh. Engaged Zia¡¯s dragon brain.¡± She growls a little at my teasing and then rolls her hips back into my stomach. Heat flares in that exact spot immediately, causing me to flop my head onto her shoulder and groan. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ve been apart too long to tease like this in public.¡±

    ¡°Not so funny now is it, little Nova?¡±

    I stand up and swing her into a princess carry. ¡°I¡¯ll survive princess, but I don¡¯t think your panties will.¡± I finish up with a wink and set her on the edge of the table, noticing that her irises are flared and she¡¯s breathing a little heavier. I don¡¯t need my new eyesight to see the effect it has on her. I kiss her quickly just to get a whine out of her and grin as I go to find us some drinks.

    A napkin hits me in the back of the head as I¡¯m looking for one of the servers. I smirk at both the idea that I frustrated Zia enough for her to throw things, but also in realization that Guiseppe set up a bar area for this and has a guy about as old as me serving people.

    Tonight isn¡¯t a night for formal seating, so the lower level gets a table full of antipasto and meat, while the Empress¡¯ table has its own fare for her and invited guests, but the whole night is mingle and graze with some dancing later in the night.

    When the dancing started, we offered to take Alphea home and Penny thanked us, even though she could likely see the naked lust that Zia and I were sharing with looks and lingering touches. If Alphea hadn¡¯t been ready to pass out I think we would have died from arousal.

    After our first round of activities, my fianc¨¦ warns me that she¡¯d likely be spending the rest of the week as a dragon. Since elves don¡¯t need much sleep, we decided to make the most of the time in our own condo where there aren¡¯t any noise restrictions.

 A4: Chapter 14

    Zia had more obligations than I expected during Founders¡¯ week. I followed her for some activities on Elysium and made my own factory rounds on Asphodel. I extended my stay away from Astoria to look at some properties near Penny¡¯s factories on Clotho in the Moiriax system.

    While searching, I determine that Moiriax system doesn¡¯t have enough regular traffic for me to piggy back my goods on a freighter, so much to my chagrin and Tova¡¯s annoyance, I have to do more spreadsheet math to figure out if it would make more sense to start a brewing operation on Asphodel where a good deal of products travel to and fro; or to get a transport big enough to transport my 100 tons of coca leaves and 5k bushels of the g-berries. Hells, maybe I should plant 100 hectares of g-berries on my plantation.

    Speaking of the plantation, I got a notice from Summer Farms that ten thousand cocoa seedlings are ready for transplant. I do some research on the best planting strategies in case I had to do it myself and then asked if they could recommend any forest manicuring services. They set me up with a service they use, and to call them once they prepare the land and that they could be hired to do the actual planting. Confidence bolstered, I hire the clearing and mulching company to prepare another 100 hectares of jungle in a way that there are rows of cleared land between strips of jungle trees that maintain about 80% of the shade over the cleared land. Confirming the plan, they said they¡¯d begin after Founder¡¯s week and that it would take about three months to do the whole thing, but they could have my first twenty hectares done in two weeks if they delayed the mulching. I readily agree and sign the 15k credit contract.

    I next focus on the ships and shuttles I would require, but first, I have to check how the 200 vials of <Inspiration Nova> potions and the 1000 bottles of that cheaper stuff that I managed to change into a general crafting potion <Nova Craft Boost>.

    //200 <Inspiration Nova> listings were purchased at the buyout price of 120k Cr each.

    /// 24M Cr gross purchase ¨C 240k Cr listing management fee delivered: Nova (Kimber Novarro).

    //800 <Nova Craft Boost> listings were purchased at an average of 8.2 Cr each after the listing expired.

    //200 <Nova Craft Boost> listings were purchased at the buyout price of 9 Cr each.

    ///6.42k Cr gross ¨C 64 Cr listing management fee delivered: Nova (Kimber Novarro).

    ////Thank you for enlisting Exchange Auction Sales Yoke.

    They all sold, so that¡¯s about as much as I can ask for. I bet Penny would poke fun of me for selling the augmented potions for a lower price, but I just made enough money to put the down payment on the ship I want.

    The freighter you already paid 12M Cr for is en-route to Astoria as we speak with 12k passengers and 100 tons of miscellaneous goods all paid for by the Empire.

    Oh. Shit. Thanks Tova, it would have been super embarrassing to order another one.

    /Aria, is the delivery of my freighter on my schedule?/

    \I¡¯ve been tracking the schedule inbound and coordinating the Empire¡¯s cargo with the Empress¡¯ Adjutant with Patience in the loop. I do have delivery on your schedule, and a load planning meeting for the day after while a nascent AI is loaded onto the vessel.\

    /Great work Aria, and thanks for keeping my life together. Looks like we need two more companies? I want to keep our agriculture and land acquisition separate from Freight and settlements and Chem. That and I think perhaps different name core than ¡®Nova¡¯ would be good./

    \I could make some recommendations, however, I believe Patience would understand any image or political reasons better than I would.\

    Tova, if I connect a holo-chat with Patience, could you connect Aria too?

    Easily.

    ¡°Uh, hey Kimber. Is everything alright? You¡¯re making a ¡®responsibility¡¯ face.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m impressed that you know my expressions that well already. And yes it¡¯s fine, but instead of flying out to meet with you, I¡¯m sitting here on Clotho thinking about filing transportation and agriculture business names.¡±

    ¡°Mhm. I see where the face comes in. You don¡¯t want to just go with Nova something I¡¯m guessing?¡± She says, tapping a pen against her lips.

    ¡°You¡¯d be right. Those early auction mistakes are tied to me and ¡®Nova¡¯ so I want to separate the two. Especially since the Empress told me she¡¯s going to make me a public figure in the coming year.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, if that happens, I¡¯m asking for a raise and more staff. Anyway, were you thinking of a theme, or just wanting a cool name?¡±

    ¡°A theme would be cool, but what goes with Nova? Or I guess also Supernova.¡±

    ¡°It seems a dying star theme could work.¡± An electronic voice chimes in.

    ¡°Is that Aria? This is a holo-chat, babe, at least give us an avatar.¡± My assistant seems awfully chummy with my ship.

    Moments later, a generic cute teen in pajamas shows up in the projection. ¡°Alright, if that is your self-image, you are charming and adorable. But about the theme?¡±

    ¡°While not all stars experience Novas, they occur just before the collapse and crunch phase of larger stars after their remaining fuel cannot support the mass of the star. Other dying star states include White Dwarf, Neutron Star, Pulsar, and Black Hole to name the common results.¡±

    ¡°Oooh, Pulsar Plantation is fun to say.¡± I blurt out.

    ¡°Pulsar Agriculture, Pulsar Freight. Neutron Freight? Forget Black Hole connotations as far as customer¡¯s go.¡± Patience rapid fires some examples, and I don¡¯t love the Neutron one.

    ¡°Pulsar Freight would have nice schedule and on-time connotations as Pulsars rotate in fractions of a second and are reliable enough to calculate interstellar distances to.¡± Aria chimes in.

    ¡°I like that. I also don¡¯t hate the idea of having something like a Dying Star Industry, Holdings, Corp?¡± I copy Patience¡¯s delivery for some reason.

    ¡°Putting ¡®Dying¡¯ in the company name, even if it¡¯s just a holding company is a terrible idea.¡±

    ¡°A close corollary would be ¡®Remnant¡¯ as Pulsars, Neutron stars and Black Holes are all Star Remnants, and loosely connects to the particles and energy of a supernova that outlasts the collapse of the star.¡±

    ¡°Good one Aria, Remnant Holdings sounds pretty good. My talks with the Empress¡¯ Adjutant, Corporate structures aren¡¯t well regulated. Were you thinking about a holding company for management purposes or for funding purposes?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I got to talking with Warram about some of his different ¡®Arms¡¯ and Warram Financial is his overall financial management and investor relationship board of directors thing.¡±

    ¡°You clearly don¡¯t know what all of those words entail, but I get what you¡¯re saying.¡±

    ¡°Okay fine, that¡¯s true, but I think that you should hire an assistant to help you do my research taskings, such as this, and then talk to the Adjutant about how Penny hires people when she starts companies. I¡¯m going to file a few of these names and talk to the only other shareholder about my desire to branch out and reorganize.¡±

    ¡°Yes! I was going to ask about some help. I know just who to ask too. We done here?¡± Patience asks.

    ¡°Yeah, and thanks Tova and Aria for the help.¡±

    I pop up some menu¡¯s and go to my land in the jungle and name it ¡®Pulsar Plantation¡¯, with company affiliation of ¡®Pulsar Agriculture¡¯. I get two pop-ups as enter the data asking me if the land was intended to be company or personally owned, and the same questions about the developed portion with a house and barracks on them.

    //Your entry will have a regional and economic influence under the non-settlement category ¡®Station¡¯ related to an outpost containing multiple permanent and temporary entities establishing in the area.

    //Your entry includes a building designated for a company headquarters.

    //Your entry includes surrounding areas of unclaimed and not encroached lands and waterways that will now become a stewardship under the category of ¡®Station¡¯.

    ///¡¯Pulsar Station¡¯ has been assigned to ¡®Kimber Novarro¡¯ for territory and resource management purposes.

    ///¡¯Pulsar Agriculture¡¯ has been assigned to ¡®Kimber Novarro¡¯ as a Company they own.

    ///¡¯Pulsar Plantation¡¯ has been assigned to ¡®Kimber Novarro¡¯ as a development and worksite property owned by ¡®Pulsar Agriculture¡¯.

    //// Any changes to these assignments may be made by the relevant USER in the management interface.

    Did some business, have a meeting to plan a freight route, and my original reason for doing all of that was lost in the chase. I send a note to Zia to ask if I need a license to make beer, wine, and spirits on an industrial scale. I then search for companies that make brewing equipment and do another search for manufacturers that can make complex watertight containers. I laugh when one of the businesses that pop up is Ganymede Forge and Metalworks¡ªDaniel¡¯s side business. Maybe there¡¯s still someone on Earth making them? Gah, it¡¯s so tempting just to buy and deliver them, but now that I have the means to transport some of these things, I should learn to plan ahead.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    That would be a benchmark day for all Humanity.

    I snort out loud. ¡°It would, wouldn¡¯t it? I¡¯m so used to reacting, that it¡¯s been kind of nice to walk through future operations with people. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯d rather be making stuff, or even patrolling my part of the Territory, but it¡¯s a nice change from the panic I¡¯ve been doing.¡±

    I¡¯m relieved that you¡¯ve discovered hiring people to help you. Especially the part where you find people that want to do the part you need done.

    ¡°Any interest in planning the Plantation in becoming a company town?¡±

    I don¡¯t like planning residences, so the lodging will be from a template.

    ¡°Sounds great. Block out a housing and dining area for 200 people and maybe an expansion area that could be a park for the meantime.¡±

    I understand. I¡¯ll plan for some large equipment and analyze the foresting rigs movement. I haven¡¯t planned a recreation area yet, and I have some interest. I will send you plans in case you expand your new Outpost. Did you know that your plantation is one of the most remote lodging locations on the planet?

    ¡°Great, in the jungles of Astoria, no one can hear you scream.¡±

    ¡°They really can¡¯t.¡± A whispering voice says next to my ear. I fucking scream. ¡°Clotho, either. Hi Kimber. Got a minute?¡±

    ¡°Damnit, Penny! I don¡¯t know ham many times you¡¯re going to try and kill me this week, but please stop.¡± I say, putting my hand on my chest to try and slow my heart.

    ¡°But it¡¯s fun!¡± She grins. ¡°My pixie ways aside, you made an appointment to talk to me tomorrow, and I have time now, but no longer tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°Reschedule, gotcha. I have some engraving tattoo¡¯s that I¡¯ve designed and I¡¯d like to get your advice.¡± I indicate and pull up some windows.

    ¡°Ahh, this has been some tome coming. I¡¯ve been wondering when you¡¯d ask. Any big concerns or just some design and use issues?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t figure out how to power them, t-b-h. Maybe a gear link? An embed? I¡¯m at a loss, even though I got a stat bump from your little dust show.¡±

    ¡°I meant to ask about that. You okay?¡± She gets close and studies my eyes, paws at my face and speads the skin on my neck.

    I swat her hands away, ¡°I¡¯m good Penny. I got some good and some bad. Not a great thing for an aether desert planet, but great for seeing through bullshit like your ex-wife.¡±

    ¡°Well, if you need some time in a med pod . . . wait, I have an idea for your battery issue, but I¡¯d like to see your sheet first.¡±

    ¡°Let me check my messages first, I¡¯m almost as bad as you about it.¡± She smirks and nods.

    <You have advanced blades>

    <You have advanced Management> x3

    <You have discovered Process Engineering>

    /related skills and experience convey Beginner 4

    <You have discovered Politics>

    /related skills and experience convey Novice 1

    <You have advanced Mental resistance>x2

    <You have advanced Illuminating Gaze>x3

    <You have advanced Divine Aether>x2

    <You have advanced Alchemy> x3

    /constructing methods to mass produce recipes award extra experience.

    /modifying a recipe to a stable variant awards extra experience.

    <You have gained a level>

    <You have gained a tech imbalance>

    <Aether and Tech imbalances combine: you gain a level>

    ¡°Apparently it had been weeks. Anyway, here you go.¡± I pull up my sheet and share it with her.

    <table width="636">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Name: Kimber Novarro

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Race: Human (T)

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Andromeda Code: T-S

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Imbalance (a+3)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Class: none

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Subrace: N/A

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Track: Justicar Acolyte

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    (t-1, lvl. 28)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Mind >

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Intelligence: C

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Clever: B

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Awareness: A

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Social>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Beauty: B

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Charm: D

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Presence: C

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Strength: B

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Agility: A

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Fitness: B

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="159">

    <Aether>

    </td>

    <td width="167">

    Capacity: B

    </td>

    <td width="152">

    Refinement: S

    </td>

    <td width="159">

    Power: C

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="4" width="636">

    Skills

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Gun-fu: Intermediate 8

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Rifles: Intermediate 8

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Ballistics: Beginner 4

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Adjudication: Novice 6

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Endurance: Intermediate 2

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Cooking: Beginer 2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    First Aid: Beginer 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Interrogation: Novice 9

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Urban Assault: Novice 10

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Blades: Advanced 2

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Manipulation: Novice 3

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Intimidation: Novice 7

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Mental resistance: Intermediate 5

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Aether Sense: Novice 6

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Alchemy: Expert 1

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Divine Aether: Novice 10

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Illuminating Gaze: Novice 8

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Sense Motive (psi): Beginner 5

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Smelting: Beginner 5

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Pain Mitigation: Beginnner 6

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Imbuement: Intermediate 7

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Tinkering: Novice 7

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Management: Intermediate 7

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Spectrum of Truth: Intermediate 4

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Aether Engraving: Beginner 7

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Intestinal Fortitude: Intermediate 4

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Interrogation: Novice 7

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Politics: Novice 1

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Process Engineering: Beginner 4

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325"> </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="4" width="636">

    Talents

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Body of Power III

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Aether Dependence III

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Enhanced Recovery II

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Triggered Action

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Mechanical Calm

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Pass Judgement

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Energy Conversion II

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311">

    Inneficient Digestion

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td colspan="2" width="325">

    Illuminating Gaze

    </td>

    <td colspan="2" width="311"> </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    ¡°You have Primus stats, Kimber. This is impressive. Andromeda, I can only imagine an S-ranked refinement. Your conversion and transmission have to be near perfect. There are things that I can do to artificially boost your capacity to A-ish levels, and I can probably get a divine spell or two up to B power before you tier up, but I¡¯ll only have time for two sessions. Maybe 10-12 hours total. If you had two spells to target on top of the capacity circuit, what would you chose?¡±

    ¡°Uh . . .¡± I shuffle through my choices and one of them is a must have, so I set that aside, and then I have some things like lightning on call, imbuement, a thrust spell, and a permanent storage spell.  Bah, have to go with versatility if I only get two. I send her my choices.

    ¡°Is that a flight spell with a wing manifestation? Andromeda save the ambitious. I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll . . . oh, the second one is super simple. Alright, I can do this in two sessions. You¡¯ll lose your portion of my ink this quarter at least. Maybe more.¡±

    ¡°I  . . . you don¡¯t have to do it, I was just asking if you could validate my spellforms and help me solve my capacity problem.¡± I worry my hands together, nervous of the calculating glare she is levying at me.

    ¡°No. I actually want to do this, not just because I don¡¯t trust people with my future daughter, but also because I will get at least two skill levels for successfully completing this. And, thanks to your minor miracle, I can guarantee it works.¡±

    ¡°Oh shit! That¡¯s right! The potions guarantee a success. Hells, I should charge more.¡±

    ¡°For five hours of efficacy? You bet your biceps you should.¡±

    ¡°Are you going to have an issue with me being half naked for this job?¡± I chuckle.

    ¡°You have given me permission to put my hands all over your back, I¡¯ll survive. We¡¯re teleporting to my medical suite, I have work I need to do now if I¡¯m going to start inking you in a few months.¡± She puts her hand on my shoulder and we slide into a sterile-white space with blue as fuck florescent lighting.

    ¡°Huh, the nausea is much less now.¡±

    ¡°Thank Andromeda for that. Anyway, strip your top and face down on the table.¡±

    ¡°Sooo, not that I don¡¯t trust you, but what are we doing? You never explained.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, I¡¯m already mentally walking through the engravings. Sorry. I am going to petrify like six of your ribs over the next few days, and then I¡¯m going to format your imprint so that your new symbiote and nanite image has crystalline ribs and a magitech conduit to your back to trick your body to maintain it instead of fighting it.¡±

    ¡°Is this a complicated surgery?¡±

    ¡°Nah, takes less than 10 minutes now, and about an hour later.¡±

    ¡°Your turning my ribs into batteries?¡±

    ¡°Precisely! But only six of them. They don¡¯t produce much in the way of red blood cells and there¡¯s not a lot of movement in the added weight so muscles won¡¯t have to be strengthened much. Your low Body of Power is also an issue. It may also be the only way to get you sustained flight with your proposed flight spellforms.¡±

    ¡°Well, fuck, Penny, let us do this.¡±

    ¡°Got any of your pain be gone?¡± I pull out a box and hand it to her. ¡°Oh, well, that¡¯s easy. Bra off dork.¡±

    ¡°This is why I don¡¯t trust doctors, they always want me naked.¡±

    Penny snorts, ¡°I¡¯m not that kind of doctor, kiddo. PHD in applied physics.¡± I try to hop out of the chair, but Penny holds me down. Pixie bitch is heavy. ¡°Calm down, I can do this simple procedure. The medical pod does the next one and it¡¯s a tier 4 medical construct, has its own intelligence.¡±

    Her explanation relaxes me and shortly after I get jabbed six times before I feel absolutely nothing from my back. The differing pressures of my front against padding is all I can feel of her messing with my back until it stops.

    ¡°Alright, try not to use restoratives, and don¡¯t use magic healing for the next three days. You got any of your surface balm?¡±

    I try to summon a tin and it falls on the floor. ¡°Do you always carry a pharmacy with you?¡±

    ¡°I carry a field medic pack, a saw, and at least one unit of all the products I make. We¡¯re not all as tough as you Penny.¡±

    ¡°Says the brick house in boy shorts.¡± She says that with more sad than I expected. Then I remember she didn¡¯t bring anyone to the party at Guiseppe¡¯s.

    ¡°Your girlfriend and I are a lot alike aren¡¯t we?¡± I say, trying to diffuse the odd attention.

    ¡°Ugh, yeah. She doesn¡¯t know how much she¡¯s worth and after 15 years, I¡¯m about ready to signal my surrender.¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just finish the most expensive ship in Empire history for her?¡±

    She nods, ¡°last week.¡±

    ¡°Seems like you finished your wedding present already, why not give it to her early, give it a sassy AI that wants a dad, and let the cards show what they may?¡±

    Penny growls at me, ¡°I don¡¯t like that kind of risky hope, Kimber.¡±

    ¡°Well, neither do I, but what else is working Penny?¡±

    Her face purses like she tasted lemon-flavored shit and teleports me back to my shuttle on Clotho, alone. That is certainly a way to end a conversation.

    I send a message to Patience telling her to find me a commercial property on Asphodel and start dreaming brewing dreams.

 A4: Chapter 15

    ¡°Am I wrong or is this the oddest mix of modern and ancient?¡± I ask the five-person crew of the freighter.

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, that is an apt description. This hull is of an alien design, with much more modern Human engineering.¡± A lean, stately man a half head taller than me states.

    ¡°Are you the Captain of this barge? I¡¯m Kimber Novarro. Owner of Pulsar Freight.¡±

    ¡°Ah, no Miss Novarro, I am your pilot. We were manned minimally for the transit to Astoria. I would like to onboard a captain and a chief engineer before we begin our route.¡±

    ¡°From my notes, you¡¯ll pick up your engineer in the Hades system, and your Captain is due for our meeting in minutes.¡± Gods, I hate being in work-mode voice. Makes me feel like a heartless ass.

    When we convene, since the captain isn¡¯t here, I sit at the end of the Wardroom table. ¡°Ladies and gents, there have been a lot of hands getting this ship to Astoria, I¡¯m here to make sure that one set of hands manage from here on out. First, when we pick up Garth Farnsworth? Alright, his first prio will be safety and stock. I need to know what this bitch needs to shore up complications. Ops slash Supply, since your mission is the whole mission, I need you hot on any timeframes of expiration we come against ever. Whether it¡¯s three months, or twenty years, I don¡¯t want to lose a credit because we didn¡¯t use a spreadsheet.¡± He nods at me, and before I can continue, a crisp and clean woman in near-military dress walks in the room.

    ¡°It is customary to stand when the Captain enters.¡± She says with a stony, beige tone.

    ¡°It is also standard to be on time when the owners are present. Captain, Nicole Owens, thank you for joining us.¡± I turn back to the table, still sitting in the captain¡¯s chair. ¡°How¡¯s the jump rig?¡±

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, it¡¯s old. First gen aether warp. Takes a lot of power.¡±

    ¡°Shit, I¡¯ll see if I can get a magitechnician on short notice, but odds are, we¡¯ll need to pull into Ganymede on the way back.¡±

    ¡°Miss Novarro, I am a qualified Ship Engineer, and the warp system is not difficult to maintain, just power hungry.¡± The Captain says.

    ¡°Perfect. Then I¡¯ll need an analysis on the efficacy of these systems to maintain a 6 week or less transit time between Astoria and Sol.¡± I assert, knowing that it will be difficult for these drives to make it there. We have the aether capacity and the collectors, it¡¯s just the warp array is shit.

    ¡°While we have an engineer coming aboard in the Hades system, it should also be noted that this ship was certified by Ganymede Shipyard, and to my knowledge they have never certified a ship that did not perform at their ratings or better.¡± Nicole added.

    I nod, knowing that David was in fact the best ship manufacturer in the Empire. ¡°Okay, if we¡¯re not that worried about its space worthiness, let¡¯s talk schedule and filling the bays up. This first trip is scheduled for less than half of our capacity. If we wait a week to leave, I have another thirty tons to Asphodel. On the way back, I can probably arrange another hundred tons from Earth to Asphodel. I need these kinds of opportunities on your minds. Anything we can cajole, convince, or even coerce and not exceed an 8-week in transit and 3-week on station, anything we can do to fill the hold with heavy, long-period cargo the better.

    The supply man taps a few screens and replies. ¡°Prioritizing the largest shipment timeframes, 6-weeks and ten days should be our target for transit and on-station. Our shuttles can transfer up to twenty tons if it¡¯s dense, but if we¡¯re talking vegetable matter, closer to two tons, and that¡¯s per half hour to hour depending on what orbit we¡¯re in.¡±

    ¡°We have our targets, folks,¡± Nicole steps in. ¡°This meeting is for concerns for fully manning, and supporting our recurring mission. To that end, miss Novarro, do we have a corporate structure? Or are we dealing with your assistant for the time being?¡±

    Apparently my new freighter captain caught the vibe of my business straight away. ¡°Right now, Patience is your girl. We¡¯ll be setting up offices on Atropos and Moiriax within a few months. I picked there, because if we grow, the gas Giants in Moiriax are the only syphon sources that could support a whole fleet of aether scavenging ships. The system already has an Imperial Writ for syphoning due to the corundum businesses on Clotho, so I want to lean into that.¡±

    ¡°Curious, will you have business in that system? Or is it purely energy logistics?¡± the Captain asks.

    ¡°I¡¯m gearing up to a business that will need five thousand bushels of fruit delivered per annum.¡±

    ¡°You built a transportation company to supply yourself?¡± The logistician asks.

    ¡°Yes and no. I have business associates that need heavy shipping options to keep costs down. I have the means for a light freighter, and I want to have at least three running to put departure times around once a month. But running them half empty is a waste, yadda yadda. You get the idea.¡± I wave a hand in dismissal of the ¡®future plans¡¯ questions for the time being. ¡°Any questions for the here and now?¡±

    ¡°Our crystal compliment isn¡¯t enough for a single syphoning stop, and we won¡¯t be able to do that without significant delays on a larger scale.¡± The logistician asks.

    ¡°I have ideas for a charging orbital for Septune and Supanus. Four-hour load and swap, max. At least a year and another freighter away, I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    I look around the room and seeing no more questions, I excuse myself. Exiting the mess space slash meeting room, I hear footsteps behind me.

    ¡°Miss Novarro, may I take an hour of your time?¡± Nicole Owens asks.

    ¡°I have a few hours blocked for this.¡± I turn and take a good look at the officer that was hired for me. She¡¯s tall, 1.8m or there abouts, tight bun on her dirty blond hair, and a musculature that could be described as whip-like and lean. She¡¯s wearing coveralls with no apparent affinity, and heavy boots.

    ¡°To my quarters then? I admit I have made a poor first impression and I wish to . . . add a competing image.¡±

    I smirk at that: not an apology, but a polite request for a second chance. ¡°Lead the way, Captain.¡±

    I see that my recognition of her authority is important for her, more than what I would have expected for a pure monetary arrangement. Had Penny made a deal to get her here? In any case, we walk a few minutes to the front of the ship and she opens the room to her quarters.

    It¡¯s a modest space, a tight one-room apartment with a lavatory. The desk is a dining table with a bed on the opposite wall. This is a far cry from the space fantasy ideas that I¡¯ve been tackling with my mind.

    ¡°Do you drink, Miss Novarro?¡±

    ¡°If we share a drink, you¡¯re calling me Kimber and I¡¯m calling you Nicole.¡±

    ¡°If we¡¯re drinking, I prefer Nikki.¡±

    ¡°So be it.¡± I smirk and pull a flask from my inventory as she pulls a bottle from her desk. ¡°Oh! Mine¡¯s a barleywine with fruity notes.¡±

    ¡°Mine is an Astorian brandy. Pour two each and share?¡± Nikki proposes hopefully.

    I smirk, ¡°Deal. I¡¯m curious as to the fruit involved.¡±

    ¡°Galaxy fruit. This brandy was a gift from the Commodore that spared my commission.¡±

    ¡°And mine is an alchemical mid-point for several potions!¡± I swap readily and she stares at me as though I¡¯ve poisoned her. ¡°Relax, it¡¯s in my flask, so I clearly drink it.¡± I say, taking a sip before screwing the top up and putting it back in my storage container.

    When she takes the barest of sips, she makes a happy grunt and smacks her lips in savoring the concoction. I smile and taste the brandy where a zip of energy rushes from my stomach to my brain and pops with little champagne sparkles.

    ¡°This is very nice brandy. Damn. I was prepared to be sassy, but this is a fine peace offering! It won¡¯t save you from me asking what a Naval Officer is doing as a freighter Captain.¡±

    ¡°Heh, I though not.¡± She breathes deep and sighs. ¡°I got Court Martialed for Mutiny and Insubordination.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that redundant? Mutiny is the latter with a slap of betrayal? Since you offered the explanation, I¡¯ll hear you out.¡± Despite the unpleasant feeling in my stomach.

    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s a remnant of the old legal system: Throwing a bunch of accusations and seeing what sticks. I uh, have a history of voicing my opinions and with my last skipper, a fast frigate CO, I was vocal about my disagreement with his standing orders to save bullets and food at the expense of fuel and repair costs when it came to engaging pirates.¡±

    ¡°Different pots of money I assume?¡±

    She nods and continues. ¡°See, we were in a Prospect Patrol Zone. Pirate encounters on the reg. As XO, my crew was getting hurt with his policies, and one day we got a red alert, double black. We jumped to the edge of a pirate fleet engagement at the behest of a distress call. Because of his practices, we had plenty of a new product called ¡®welding tape¡¯, so I secured his door to the bulkhead and assumed command.¡± She took a long sip of my barleywine and smacked her lips again.

    ¡°I spent two thirds of our munitions and we still had hull damage and 15% shields by the end of the engagement. Saved thirty civvies and took out five pirate vessels. I left the CO in his cabin until we reported back to Astoria three days later.¡±

    I can¡¯t help but chuckle at that. ¡°The fact that your CO could be caught that late into a red alert is telling. Though I appreciate the faith you both have in my product.¡±

    ¡°Waaait. You made the welding tape?¡± I nod. ¡°And you have a freight business, and a friend high enough in the government for an officer to get placed on a leave of absence in your care . . . who the hell are you?¡±

    I get a full belly laugh at that. The answer is so varied I don¡¯t know how to frame it. ¡°Let¡¯s see. I¡¯m one of maybe a dozen Alchemists on Earth, I invented the formula that Merc Arms uses for gunpowder, and I was recently told that I am the leading candidate for the Justicar role in the new justice system the Empress revealed at the opening ceremony of the Founders¡¯ Festival.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, Merc Arms. Leading munitions supplier to the Empire. Ties with the Naval Shipyard at Ganymede, and if rumors are true, major shareholder on every Astorian corporation under the Empress¡¯ rule. You breathe truly verified air do you not? Should I call you Lady Novarro?¡±

    ¡°If you want me to make a lunar outpost in the Kepler system just for you, absolutely. Otherwise, Kimber is fine. And yeah, getting Miss Mercer interested in my gunpowder changed my life in countless ways, but I had to put the work in like anyone else. My windfalls since then feel more than lucky, but lets leave that discussion until we¡¯re friends.¡±

    ¡°Think that¡¯s likely? Burgeoning Magnate to disgraced Lieutenant?¡± She plays with her drink and stares at the table while she asks.

    ¡°Gods, you pout very responsibly and it¡¯s maddening. Yes. I do think it possible, because not every disgraced officer gets a punishment invented for them. Leave of absence to a civilian company is a new thing. And if it counts for your time in service, then you have a guardian Pixie on your shoulder.¡± The wide-eyed look when she meets my eyes tell me my guess is right. I chuckle at the situation. ¡°Seems like the powers that be are meddling in my relationships again. Last time this happened I ended up with a fianc¨¦.¡±

    Woman straight up flushes with embarrassment ¡°I. I don¡¯t think that . . . I¡±

    My mirth is much less restrained this time. ¡°Relax Nikki, you¡¯re confident, capable, and not hard to look at, but I am very engaged, and quite happy. However, good to see that I have another queer tolerant person on my payroll.¡±

    ¡°Fucking shit. Why!? I swear to all that is Imperial I almost died just then!¡± She stands then, draining my barleywine and coming over with both glasses for a refill. She sits next to me on the couch, not touching, but close. ¡°Alright, new friend. You are gay, intimidating, taken, and rife for friend material. Tell me, what does it take to get into your good graces?¡±

    My brows squinch of their own volition as I consider this unexpected approach. After a brief consideration, I conclude that the method that I made friends with Zia should suffice. ¡°I¡¯ll trade you an embarrassing story, and then we¡¯re friends. You message me once a week or I sass you until you fix your shit.¡±

    ¡°Oh no! A friend! Mercy, oh tormentor!¡±

    She told me of a time that she fell for one of her instructors and found out that he was a carouser with several of her friends, and I told her of the time I convinced the owner of Merc Arms that her flirty vibes were motherly vibes when I vomited in her shuttle.

 A4: Chapter 16

    /Nikki, where did you get that bubbly?/

    \No, no. It¡¯s a mystery. You have to visit to get more.\

    I groan, wanting to share the fun drink with Zia, but I take the message as the bait that it is. Once we got past the military-employee burdens, we watched a movie and threw food at the screen of the b-level movie.

    As much as I would have liked to hang out with her more, I have much business to get to in the six weeks until their ship arrives in Sol. Ugh, traditional warping takes so long. My own shuttle can do the transit in two weeks if we¡¯re lazy. A single jump if I want to burn out a few things and destroy some otherwise rechargeable crystals. Aria is basically mil-tech, so I shouldn¡¯t complain about her limitations. That said, Aria has a schedule for me that I¡¯m not fond of. I have a meeting with the allied LA gangs that came at me two weeks ago, and I have a judgement session with the Governor the week after.

    ¡°Next time you go on a diplomat tour to save face, I¡¯d appreciate if you left me behind¡±

    ¡°You literally asked to come with me on my next Astoria visit, Patience. I also know that you booked a few ¡®experiences¡¯ to add some danger and gravitas to your visit.¡±

    ¡°Okay, going on that hunt, while the most terrifying thing of my life, was worth it. Made some connections, they have a foraging arm of their business, and there were some cute hunters that wanted playmates.¡±

    ¡°Oh, gross. Do not explain.¡± I que up the flight plan, including a two day stop in Moiriax, and let Aria do the rest. Astorian traffic control requires a User to pilot the ship in sub-geosynch maneuvering, so I have to pay attention for ten minutes. Ugh, the inconvenience. These days, the Astoria pattern is set in buoys, so there is no warping out of lane if you want to maintain your ability to operate without a local pilot. Those bastards are expensive and required for anything sub-geo over 20k tons. There is a reason there is a geo-stat station around the planet, and another around Mercy.

    ¡°Are you going to need me in Reno? I could use a few days at Elsewhere to manage my whole life?¡±

    I snort at that. She has been on a whirlwind since she signed on.  ¡°How¡¯s your assistant search coming? And I can only promise two days. I do need you in Reno, as I don¡¯t travel solo with men, so if you absolutely need to stay in Elsewhere, I can call Paris down from Humboldt each day.¡±

    ¡°Please? I mean, could you? I desperately want to un-scatter the corporate quagmire you created and hire people to un-muck it with and for me?¡± And I tell you, watching a forty-something woman plead with you, is a new and humbling experience. I maybe ask too much of her.

    ¡°Ugh, fine. Have reasonable requests. Hire me two assistants, one for each company. I¡¯m keeping you as the executive assistant ¡®cause I like you and trust you.¡± The naked honesty is awkward for me, but this seems like the right situation for it.

    ¡°You¡¯re charming. Am I restricted to women for these positions?¡±

    ¡°No, not at all. I just can¡¯t personally handle a male personal assistant.  My company liaisons can by any race/gender.¡± It¡¯s hard to look at someone when you¡¯re trying to explain that my slight sexism is trauma-centric, while not admitting to it.

    ¡°I got you. I¡¯m going to message Paris, telling him you¡¯re calling an audible and that he¡¯s more on-call than 24/7 duty?¡± She checks to make sure and I nod.

    The days in Moiriax are mellow. I drop onto Clotho by the crystal factory and find a place about 10km away to nestle my brewery in a crevice on the more seismic side of the moon. It¡¯s maybe four times the size of my microbrew in Elsewhere, but it¡¯s also hardened with artificial gravity plates and some geo-mechanical generators. I deliver-in-place the various items I need after the building, and all in all it was easy, but expensive. I set up a batch to ferment and after two weeks, filter and transfer to cold storage until I can get back for the alchemic process.

    ***

    I¡¯m getting to the point where I want to abandon Earth for the hassle. That said, eighty percent of the hassle is in my decision to be a multiple settlement owner¡ªeven knowing that people are a pain in the ass.

    ¡°Jack, I¡¯m fucking serious dude, back off Deputy mode and talk to me.¡±

    He rubs his face, looks at the wild bazaar on my Humboldt property and shakes his head. ¡°There are supposed to be taxes on all of these goods, and I¡¯m sure that half of them aren¡¯t legal!¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t Reno, buckaroo, and Reno declined to be a part of my alliance, so they don¡¯t get the trade bennies. What else?¡±

    ¡°No, Kimber, Nevahrado does care, they just didn¡¯t mind when what you were doing was small.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll talk with the comptroller or the Governor about it. Talking Deputy to Deputy isn¡¯t going to resolve anything. You want some bbq? The mountain lion is apparently fresh.¡± I point over to a stall set out on the public grounds in front of the Humboldt government hall.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    He huffs and shakes his head. ¡°No. That¡¯s supposed to be a protected animal. Just . . . can we just head to Reno for the meeting now?¡± His resignation is obvious in the tired grunt he finishes with. I can¡¯t help but smile at his utter discomfort at trying to handle me.

    Twenty minutes later, we arrive at the docking tree at the edge of the Capitol District and ride the elevator down to street level. There¡¯s an attendant waiting for us and he radios in when we walk out toward the street. He holds his ear like a terrible security guard, then waves us to follow.

    To the man¡¯s credit he leads us to the Senate Hall instead of the Governor¡¯s office: I would have been lost in minutes without him. The room is bio or chip-coded, I notice as the man scans his palm before admitting us to the room.

    I recognize the Governor, his assistant, the two people from my holo-chat with the gang leaders, and Sheriff Winchester, but I don¡¯t know the twelve other people in the room. Was I supposed to bring more that Paris with me?

    ¡°Kimber!¡± The Governor exclaims. Greeting me more as a settlement leader than a Deputy, though, is a change of pace for the man. ¡°These business people have interest in aiding in the stability of the southern region, isn¡¯t that grand?¡±

    ¡°Bill,¡± fuck him. If I¡¯m ¡®Kimber¡¯ instead of deputy, or Settlement Owner, he doesn¡¯t get to be Governor. His face sours appropriately. ¡°These people are gangsters. Let¡¯s not put lipstick on this pig and get to the real conversation.¡±

    Winchester¡¯s mustache practically catches fire with the glower he levies at me. I smile my brightest smile and turn away from my sometimes boss.

    ¡°Uh, sure. Both . . . companies came together to petition Nevahrado for a business charter. I find their terms quite reasonable . . .¡±

    ¡°Bill, shit or get off the pot.¡± He looks so flustered in a time-wasting fish gawp that I turn to the man and the woman that I have talked to before. ¡°So, you two, tell me what you got Bill to agree to and we can talk terms.¡±

    The woman who made a less than favorable first impression with me smirks and advances on me in a hip swashing gait. ¡°Miss Novarro, we have negotiated that as our organizations are larger, we should be responsible for regional security and policy. Local agreements should be honored to aid the transition, and should . . .¡±

    I flare my eyes and pulse divine aether into the air. ¡°Lying to me is worthless, Sienna Kane. You want the responsibility of Vegas? You can have it. What I won¡¯t allow is you trying to dictate law to me. Nevahrado is the closest law I recognize. But even if you control Vegas, I am still the Deputy of the Southern Region.¡± I glare at them, knowing that the conflict will chafe immeasurably.

    ¡°Yes, well, Kimber, due to a charitable donation, they have negotiated a replacement.¡± The Governor is right to be nervous. I pierce his whole life with my new eyes and find that ¡®charitable¡¯ and ¡®donation¡¯ are both falsehoods. I also find that his earnestness in replacing me is true. He wants me gone or under heel, and he feels that this will put me under heel. Empress, is this new eyesight a fucking trip.

    ¡°No worries Bill. I serve at the pleasure of the Sheriff¡¯s office, and should he agree?¡± Winchester nods. ¡°I am out of your hair.¡±

    ¡°You will still be on contract for the judgement services in Colorado Springs.¡± The man says.

    ¡°As the contract was based on my having the authority to judge, I believe my contract is recently voided.¡±

    The chubby man grins with a sinister tilt to his head. ¡°Those words were not in the contract we discussed.¡± Interesting.

    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll entertain that. Let us see shall we?¡± I summon the scroll that we agreed to and unroll it. There are several caveats that said the government would abide by my judgements, but not on my authority to do so. Huh, I¡¯ll be a stump. ¡°Seems correct sir. But there appears to be something you¡¯ve overlooked, just here.¡± I point to the lines that say they agree to uphold my judgements. He leans in to read it and I touch his face.

    ¡°[Pass Judgement]¡± I whisper to the man as I fall into his psyche.

    Handshakes. So many handshakes, lies and ink on the dotted line. A few deals gone wrong, and many, many deals to line his own pockets.

    <You have used Pass Judgement and discovered a multitude of crimes, the worst commonly carry the penalty of time in prison and a fine. How will you proceed?>

    I want to claim his Ill-gotten gains for the government of all settlements he¡¯s affected and to brand the man as a cheat for the rest of his days.

    <You wish to reclaim all funds gained during years that he cheated or stole, and to convey the inviolate title of ¡®Dishonest¡¯?>

    As close to that as applicable, yes.

    <Your judgement is in line with local and Imperial review.>

    A surge of mana leaves me and the man before me is wide-eyed and speechless. I crouch down to his level and peer into his eyes. ¡°Now remember, Bill. My contract says that Nevahrado will back my judgements.¡± I pat his face to reinforce the embarrassment of the supposed most powerful man in the room.

    I take my tin star from my chest and put it in my pocket, not quite petulant enough to flick it into the boards at Winchester¡¯s feet. Instead, I send the information, packets and recorded squabbles of my former region to the Sheriff.

    ¡°Sienna and partner in gang, good luck. My security services will patrol and enforce my expanded territory,¡± I turn to the sheriff, ¡°for all of my settlements. If you escalate before talking with me, I will respond with extreme prejudice. Ask Jake what I mean if you are unsure.¡±

    I start on my way out of the room, a full head of fire in my veins as I move my feet. Winchester seems to have other ideas.

    ¡°I can¡¯t let you leave after assaulting the governor.¡±

    ¡°By my agreement with the Territory, it¡¯s not assault. It¡¯s justice.¡±

    ¡°He was not a part of the agreement, and I¡¯m going to have to arrest you.¡±

    ¡°Here, read the agreement he made. Tell me if you think that everyone in the room that I am to judge in isn¡¯t culpable. I just delayed my judgement, Sheriff.¡±

    He spends a few minutes reading and re-reading. ¡°This agreement is quite vague in regards to whom is ¡®presented for judgement¡¯.¡±

    ¡°I agree. So, you letting me go?¡± The man sighs.

    ¡°You¡¯ll be escorted to your transport, and after that, you will not be allowed in Reno again unless you are specifically invited to do so.¡± I look him in the eyes and search for any untruth or dishonesty to find that he¡¯s literally never lied or intended to mislead me. Shit, that¡¯s a lot.

    ¡°I can handle that. It¡¯s a shame that you hopped back into a politician¡¯s pocket, I was starting to like you.¡± I know the parting shot will grate on his sensibilities, but he literally let a couple of gangsters buy my Deputy spot. I really should be madder about this, but I got so thoroughly outmaneuvered that there¡¯s no arguing to be done.

    I can¡¯t believe I got fired.

 A4: Chapter 17

    I am an absolute ass. These scurrying rats don¡¯t have a chance, but boy are they trying. Every time I get a comms click from security, I search the area with my scope and see that a hand full of men and women have traipsed the border of my lands. Every time I flash their systems with a trespassing notice and a persistence equals death notice.

    I sniped a dozen idiots that day. The next day they come in armored cars. I have munitions for that. The day following, they launched RPG¡¯s and I retaliated with a ten thousand pound bomb from the sky, landing square on the roof of the Warram casino building.

    <You have advanced Alchemy>x2

    <You have advanced Divine Aether>

    <You have advanced Politics>

    <You have advanced Spectrum of Truth>

    <You have advanced Ballistics>

    <You have advanced Urban Assault>

    <You have killed 60 Gangsters.>

    /A slight increase of experience is awarded for slaying with unconventional means.

    <You gain a level>

    <You gain a tech imbalance.>

    <An aether and a tech imbalance combine. You Gain a level.>

    Tova, help me lady. Try and track my potential level ups. I need to get my augmenting enchantment tattoos before I tier up. Like need need, Chica.

    I understand, but you need to plan to not go on a killing massacre before Penny can finish your tattoos.

    Guh, fine. I¡¯ll have to hire someone to be a pain in their asses. Truth be told, I really should. I need to hire a bunch of people to do many things including managing the money that I confiscated from the Governor. Word has it he¡¯s going to keep his office and that honestly boggles my mind.

    ¡°Patience, I hope you had a better day than I did.¡± I say loudly into my condo, tossing my jacket over a barstool as I head to my room.

    ¡°I sent Patience on an errand,¡± I hear a familiar voice ahead of me. I turn the corner to see Zia in one of my vests, unbuttoned, and a pair of lacy panties. My brain stutters and causes me to stumble. ¡°How¡¯s your day going now?¡± She growls as she stalks toward me.

    The most eloquent I can be is licking my lips and biting them a little: the rest of me is stock still. As soon as her palm touches my face I know that this isn¡¯t a dream and my palms find her ribs as my lips claim hers. My broad hands slide up her torso so that my thumbs can toggle her pert nipples and my left leg steps forward to split her thighs around mine. Her thigh teases with warm friction and I retaliate with a firmly squeezed breast, her stuttering shiver cascading warmth through my middles.

    We are both teasing, desperate, and nervous with the time we¡¯ve been apart playing a game of foreplay when today should be a day of loud and messy fucking, preferably on every sturdy surface in the place.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been putting off my dragon for a week, love, don¡¯t leave me wanting.¡± She whispers in my ear and my teeth fall meteorically to her neck with a primal bite of claiming. Zia¡¯s moan echoes through me and I swear her fingers transformed to bleed my back with ribboned runnels. My core leaps forward with need, urging my long ape arms to over-reach her firm posterior and lift her up with my strength as I dip my fingers between her folds with my reach. She moans with need and paws every surface of me she can reach, trying to meld closer with me as I sink my nimble digits into her welcoming embrace.

    ¡°Take me Mate, make me yours. Convince me I should be your Wife.¡±

    Something possessive and absolutely feral slides into my mind for a ride-along in an effort to prove both of those things. I don¡¯t get much attention, but I serve my partner until she pushes my arms away from her delicate parts and her satisfied words convince me my duty is complete. I¡¯m desperate for climax as my personal justice confirms this woman I love has been well and truly fucked as well as I can manage. My loving partner coos, pulling my arms around her and tangling her legs with mine.

    ¡°You fit me so perfectly Kimber. My good girl.¡±

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Praise kink engage. I moan into a relaxing release and turn into goo enveloping my favorite being in the universe.

    ***

    I wake to the smell of food cooking--a strange occurrence in my condo¡ªand a lonely bed. I¡¯m not sure if Zia even knows how to cook, so the inviting aroma makes me wonder if Patience is up. When I enter the common room I see that Zia¡¯s in front of the stove, her hair pulled back into a pony, wearing only a pair of my shorts. I mean, it¡¯s a good look, but this whole situation is a bit off from Zia¡¯s normal behavior.

    I ease in behind her, sliding my hands around the soft skin of her belly and kiss her on the shoulder. ¡°Morning fianc¨¦e. What¡¯s the occasion?¡±

    ¡°Is it so strange that I want to do nice things for you?¡± She says, rounding her butt into me.

    ¡°Ah-h¡± her continued motion makes my brain stutter. ¡°No, but early-rising, breakfast-making Zia has me wondering what¡¯s causing the change?¡±

    She turns around in my arms and pokes me with a pair of tongs covered in bacon grease. ¡°How else should I try catching a wife?¡±

    I snort at that, ¡°You trading me in for Patience? ¡®Cause otherwise, you caught me a long time ago.¡±

    ¡°Well that¡¯s just it, isn¡¯t it? You say I caught you, but we¡¯re not married yet are we? I can¡¯t figure what I did wrong, so maybe I¡¯m not doing enough?¡± I want to laugh, but seeing the wetness welling up in her eyes, I know she¡¯s not just creating drama.

    ¡°Zizi,¡± I say, grasping her face, ¡°You¡¯re acting strange because we¡¯re not married? Would it help if I told you that your mom and I have discussed dates and that there are two that I like for us?¡±

    ¡°You set dates without me?¡± her voice turns cold, her eyes dangerous.

    ¡°No! No no, I did not. I did the whole asking her for permission to marry you, which she laughed hysterically about, and then she said that she¡¯d need at least six months to make it memorable. I told her that you wanted a fall wedding and now I¡¯m here, telling you.¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯d prefer sooner than six months but having a date will make me feel better. Andromeda are my hormones a mess.¡± She drops her head on my shoulder and hugs me tightly. We stay that way for a few minutes before I dare to speak.

    ¡°You think it was the Elf juju making you panic about us?¡± She nods into my shoulder. ¡°I guess there isn¡¯t any crossover in feeling from the dragon side. By her standards, we¡¯re mated aren¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°Well yeah, and while I know that, the ritual and spiritual blessing that this side of me requires is hitting me with so much anxiety and fear.¡±

    I wrap my arm around her head and kiss her crown in comfort. ¡°Gods, baby, I¡¯m so sorry. I¡¯d be useless if I was thinking about losing you all the time.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve felt useless. This combined with the struggles I¡¯ve been having in the Middle East, I felt like I was starting to fray at both ends.¡± She tilts her head up to stare into my eyes, ¡°please don¡¯t let Mom push this back?¡±

    ¡°Nah, she won¡¯t. She¡¯s so excited to be arranging this for you. As much as we both know she¡¯s crap at being present and a constant in people¡¯s lives, that woman can do a grand gesture. That and she knows this is important to you, well us, but you¡¯re the only kid that stuck around and she wants you to keep coming around. Delaying our wedding would have to be a last resort, or the planet went missing or something.¡±

    She chuckles at that, ¡°It would have to be the Matrix asking her to do something. Not that they would, even Andromeda doesn¡¯t cross Mom without good reason.¡±

    ¡°Pfft. I bet that¡¯s true. ¡®Let¡¯s fuck with an immortal space-time mage!¡¯ said no one ever.¡± As serious as this conversation has been, I remain running my hands over her smooth skin, unable to resist her skin against mine.

    ¡°After you eat the food that I made you, what do we have going on today?¡±

    ¡°Uh, I have no idea. I¡¯m recently out of my law job, and picking off low-level chumps isn¡¯t doing much for me. My security teams will get more benefit. SO, I¡¯m all yours for the next few days.¡±

    ¡°Oh? No business with your other businesses? Your other towns? If you¡¯re looking for something to do, you could read up on the Herrati for your upcoming job.¡±

    ¡°While I should probably do that, I¡¯m still cross about getting fired from the Deputy job.¡±

    ¡°Kimber, just think about how satisfying it will be when you¡¯re the Justicar for Earth and Kepler-3. Mom wants you to start as soon as you can. She didn¡¯t want to press you until a few months out from the next Founders¡¯ Forum, but now . . .¡±

    ¡°Huh. That¡¯s actually nice to hear. Once I settle staffing for my new businesses, I¡¯ll talk with her. I would still rather work locally, but that just got taken from me. We¡¯ll see how much Reno feels like coming down and hassling me, but I am not looking forward to having the LA gangs keeping the peace in the area.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t they just attacking you? The last few days you¡¯ve been on the watchtowers instead of snuggling.¡± She pushes away and pokes me in the chest in an attempt to make me think about my choices.

    She¡¯s still topless, though, so I¡¯m not thinking about much but that body. Gods my fianc¨¦e is distracting. How could she possibly think that I didn¡¯t want to be hers forever.

    ¡°You¡¯re just staring at my chest aren¡¯t you.¡± She accuses.

    ¡°Not just your chest. I¡¯m thinking about putting teeth marks on your hip bones also.¡± She tries not to smile, but I can see her lips curl at the ends. ¡°And how I would be happy to look at you for a millennia or two.¡±

    She sighs with a smile and runs her fingers just underneath the band on my shorts, ¡°Why did I think you didn¡¯t want to marry me? You know, I often get so tied up in the idea of us that I lose sight of the signs of how sturdy and loyal you are.¡±

    ¡°Zizi, You, and Penny and Marcella are the only people I would do anything for. You¡¯re at the top of the list for a reason. My love, my life, they are yours to hold¡ªto wield if need be¡ªuntil my mind gives in to oblivion.¡±

    ¡°I know, little Nova, and that scares me a little. I have caught glimpses of you valuing me more than your life, and that terrifies me.¡±

    She looks at me with this searching, hopeful plea. If she¡¯s looking for a rebuttal she¡¯ll be waiting an age, however, my saturation with soul searching has topped, so I pick her up, toss her over my shoulder, turn off the stove and give her legs a good slap.

    ¡°Kimber!¡±

    ¡°Yes, my love?¡±

    ¡°Be nice or hit my butt properly. There will be no half-assing a spanking.¡± She pauses and I get a two-handed ass slap for the ages. Like she probably used wind magic to accelerate them hands to get the pop and sting out of that slap.

    If she could see my grin, she¡¯d know the trouble she just bought.

 A4: Chapter 18

    ¡°Kimber! I was hoping to hear from you. How are you since the Deputy debacle?¡± The Royal Pixie, asks, barely covered in her pool attire. Fucking shameless fey. I could use a pool day, but all I have is the in-deck hot tub.

    ¡°Blarg. Not great, but I¡¯ve been keeping busy to stop thinking about it. I heard you might have work for me to look into before next Founders¡¯.¡± I turn back to a sheet that I prepared for the Atropos brewery I just set up.

    ¡°I figured that enough happened to you that day that I wouldn¡¯t mention I wanted to get you onboard immediately. Zia told me that you got,¡± she snorts in amusement, ¡°bought out for your Deputy position? How have you hidden your wealth so well?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve only recently been absurdly wealthy, Penny. Before the potion auction, I¡¯ve had all my money tied up in the next project. Not hard to pretend when you can¡¯t access any of it.¡±

    ¡°You could have asked me for a loan if you were struggling, you know?¡±

    It¡¯s my turn to snort this time. ¡°I love you, Penny. But how is it struggling when I tap the 2 mil you handed me and have to survive on a mere thousand credits. Woe, woe be the plight of the rich. That said, if you want to help you could always answer my messages.¡±

    An ungodly, burdened groan erupts from my future mother-in-law. ¡°Just ask, asshole, I hate going through my messages.¡±

    ¡°And I hate that the Matrix punishes people like us and won¡¯t update my stats without checking them.¡±

    ¡°Hey, hey, don¡¯t get their attention. Game that shit. Take the gift for what it is. Anyway, how¡¯d you and the freighter crew get along?¡±

    Does she already know? Like how is she so good at finding people I vibe with? ¡°Nikki¡¯s cool. She tried to posture at first, but it was nerves apparently. Everyone on that crew was nervous as hell, especially that pilot. Where¡¯d you find that caffeine riddled squirrel of a human?¡±

    ¡°Kimber, that¡¯s David¡¯s kid. He needs real experience, but he¡¯s a pilot-training ace.¡±

    My mind blanks everything but the idea that Penny put a pilot that still has his factory stickers on, as the primary pilot for my shipping company. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I trust you, but if you say a green-ass noob of a friend is going to a good job, I believe you. Maybe you put something in my g-berry juice.¡±

    ¡°If you recall, I bet quite a lot on a ¡®noob-ass¡¯ alchemist that had a penchant for dealing drugs.¡± She looks right at the camera and flips me off. Fucking pixies.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah. I owe you, you¡¯re one of my best friends, blah blah feelings. Side-stepping to important business, what are the Justicar uniforms going to look like?¡± The Empress of humanity is a pretty woman, but when she smiles her full-teeth smile, that mug is nightmare fuel.

    ¡°I¡¯m hung up on a suit like mine or one like yours but in cream and gold.¡±

    ¡°My vote is mine, clearly. But it should at least be distinct from the military uniform to show different branches of the government.¡± I turn to her hologram and wait for her reply.

    ¡°Mm, I bet my Councilors would agree with you. It will still be cream and gold. I want to set an image that your judgements and your motives are pristine. I¡¯ll send you some outfits for Zia to vote on.¡±

    ¡°That seems a sensible direction. Zia is much more reasonable than either of us.¡±

    ***

    After six weeks of cleaning up my backlog, per my lovely fianc¨¦e¡¯s suggestion, and vetting the help that my assistant interviewed, I¡¯m finally in a place where I don¡¯t have my fingers and toes tied to strings like a puppeteer. Patience is still a little overwhelmed, which she tells me constantly as my house-mate. I asked her if she wanted to move out, to which she said ¡®and miss the garden and the hot tub? Hell no.¡¯ I respect that position and I like having someone around ever since my time in the Orphanage.

    Though I could work from my Condo, I sit at my desk in the Municipal Building with my feet on a drawer reading on a projected menu so it doesn¡¯t look like I¡¯m drooling on myself. Patience still works from my fucking couch, despite having her own office. Maybe this week I¡¯ll actually turn it into an after-hours bar.

    Another suggestion from Zia was to delve into the Herrati file that the Foreign Affairs Councilor has on them in preparation for my Justicar job. My last convo with Penny held that as a done deal, as she is making uniforms after Zia modified the cream and gold to have a bit of Astorian pink-purple. I¡¯ll admit, it looks stylish and I think the outfit needed a color-break from all of that cream.

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    ¡°Let¡¯s see, we¡¯ll skip the bio parts, as I¡¯ve met a Herrati Engineer. History and Behavior.¡± I nod to myself, and start reading like it is homework and Penny will test me on it. I doubt she will, but the cat people will when I must meet with them and adjudicate for them. Gods, what do I do when one of them fucking protests? Giant tiger man versus beefy justice bitch? How do I curse Penny when I usually use her title to do it? Empress curse that Trixie Pixie?

    Penny chuckles in my head, letting me know she heard me.  I still think it¡¯s wild that this, believe in a person hard enough they get minor deity traits, is a thing but I¡¯ve literally experienced it. Though I wonder, since I have divine aether, a superset of light aether, does that mean my pixie Empress is my Patron?  Experiment time? Fuck yeah.

    ¡°Patience, I¡¯m going into the vault to do something stupid, and possibly dangerous.¡±

    ¡°Can I have your things if you die?¡±

    I snort and scoff, ¡°Hell no. my fianc¨¦e gets that. You get a small operation budget to manage and a bonus.¡±

    ¡°Ugh, then try not to die boss, my pay would suffer and I like our Condo.¡± I flip my assistant off as I leave my office. I hear her laugh as I shut the door. Again, I somehow have the best people working for me.

    The short walk to my elevator at HQ is short and soon I find myself in my secure lab with fire suppression¡ªA key component for an Alchemist and experimental magic.

    ¡°Aria, Tova, I want cameras and a high-speed of this if we can. If it blows up in my face I want to know why.¡±

    ¡°Copy, Kimber, but what are you attempting?¡± Aria asks in her much improved house voice.

    ¡°Divine imbuement. I can do regular aether imbuement, but with an actual patron, I should be able to divine imbue? It would be a great leap as divine aether allows for more intention than generic aether.¡±

    ¡°Copy, I assume the record word is ¡®Empress¡¯?¡± I nod at Aria¡¯s supposition.

    Invoking a deity that was elevated via Apotheosis is a risky endeavor. The variables are poorly documented.

    I understand, Tova. We will help with that documentation.  I pull out my modified .38 special and put my left hand over the whole thing.

    ¡°I beseech the Empress and her Divine right of Conquest, to empower my tools to smite my enemies.¡± A golden shield builds around my hovering palm and then light, golden in hue with speckles of black pulse through the small room as each wave makes me more tired than the last. By the final pulse I can barely keep upright on my knees and the grip of my semi-auto pistol is too hot to hold. I hiss as I drop the damned thing and fall over from exhaustion. I¡¯d been at this for a while, and it seems as though my devotions to the Empress have done . . . something. I¡¯ll have to investigate once I regain consciousness. I black out immediately.

    ***

    ¡°Kimber, if you do not respond, I will enact emergency protocol and let foreign people into your lab.¡±

    ¡°The fuck you will!¡± I respond immediately, pulling myself from some floating mental purgatory. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°From what Tova and I have pieced together, you overdrew your aether and it forced you into a protective state.¡± Despite me responding, Aria and Tova maintain a red alert in my lab. I look around for errant gasses or flaming substances, but all I see is my pistol radiating . . . fine, the protective measures were probably a good idea. I take a closer look at my formerly favorite weapon.

    <Angel-be-Good Special¡ª2AAA¡ª[Holy Relic] this tier 1 0.38 caliber pistol with advanced propulsion was subject to a divine blessing of S-rank devotion. This weapon conveys Divine aspected aether to each projectile. Due to the close proximity of the devoted to their deity, the third projectile from each magazine does 3x damage.>

    //Query: Divine Damage.

    //Answer: Divine aspected aether is a combination of light or dark aether merged with significant willpower and belief. Due to the personal element of this power, behavior of Divine aspected aether varies widely. Divine imbued or enchanted weapons are rare and can be similarly unpredictable.

    Am I being trolled? My prayer ended with bringing a blessing of slaughter into the world? Fuck. But what was I expecting? I picked a weapon, did I expect a divine gun to spray blessings like a water gun? I suppose I should be grateful that it still exists and that Penny isn¡¯t showing up to give me an earful.

    \Did you just channel a lot of aether?\ Penny asks me.

    /Yes. I was testing. Since I have divine aether and the only person that could possibly be my patron is you, I decided to channel your divinity./

    \It felt like a thousand ghost hands were trying to pluck my wings off. I hope you made something cool, but please don¡¯t do that again.\

    /Holy relic pistol. Seems pretty cool. Sorry Penny, I had no idea./

    No, but you do have a message from her though. Let me paraphrase ¡®Don¡¯t start or join a church to me, you idiot¡¯ and ¡®I hope drawing away my aether teaches you a fucking lesson, twerp.¡¯

    I laugh at that. I¡¯m not devout in worship, even in the slightest, but I know what I honor and respect. If Marcella was my personal saint, then Penny is undoubtedly the deity that has enabled me to do the same for thousands of people¡ªmostly for the hundred or so orphans. The fact that she¡¯s Empress has something to do with it, but the strength she wields for her people and the dedication she shows toward them is what gives me hope and holds my belief. Which is why I curse her when things aren¡¯t better for people and praise her for the gifts that she has given me. She has quite literally been my patron, and since I don¡¯t actively engage with other deities, minor or otherwise, the Andromeda Matrix seems to have assigned her as my patron deity. For some reason Penny seems to take it personally. Fucking Empress problems, amiright? From my heart to my head, her enemies dead. May the Calamity favor you. Amen.

    \I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t swear in there. And stop praying to me. It¡¯s fucking weird.\

    /If I had said ¡®May the Calamity favor you and also fuck you¡¯ the connotation would be a bit ¡®dommy mommy¡¯ for my taste./

    \Eww, stop it. You¡¯re about to be my actual daughter. That said, I have an unexpected break so get your ass to Astoria so I can stab you in the back a million times.\

    /Bleh, alright. Let me call people. I should be able to make it there early tomorrow./  I hear a positive chirp in our connection before it goes silent.

    It¡¯s decidedly inconvenient that she can hear my thoughts.