On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor Five Hundred And Thirty-Seven

Five Hundred And Thirty-Seven

After an extrely enjoyable and relaxing flight, where for once I had the opportunity to take things easy, pampered by the stewardesses in the first-class section of the plane, we touched down at Dulles International Airport. The flight had been peaceful for , with Adelheid idly watching so TV on the in-flight set, while also listening to so German to English and German to Japanese vocab lessons on her phone.

Christina had been largely silent as well, her expression rather vacant and troubled, growing ever more tense as we crept closer to our destination. Perhaps it was thoughts of the technical treason she had committed against the United States by stealing the Vermillion List data and handing it over to a foreign power, or it was her prior worries, I wasn’t certain.

Our last passengers had spent the trip taking advantage of the first-class service, Aliyah and Treyvon finding common ground with Titan, the three of them enjoying complintary booze and als, though fortunately none of them had taken it to excess and beco drunk. It was amusing hearing Aliyah be so happy about flying first-class, obviously when they were on Black Wolf Company business they kept costs low, this sort of extravagance isn’t usual for them. Or for , honestly…

The cost of the tickets was scandalous, really, and my old, frugal self from five months ago protested internally, but Hinata and Kira-san both pointed out that I had a certain level of status to maintain now, and being cheap was detrintal to the image we wished to project. Though I’m also sure Hinata just wants to enjoy the finer things in life as well…

As we had the day of settling business and Healing, causing what was supposed to be a quick in-and-out trip, to attend Miss Lindiwe’s recovery gala, make a few connections, then nip across the border to Botswana and retrieve the Seeds, to beco a major drain on our ti, it was now early Monday morning local Eastern Standard Ti, and in Japan it was nearing midnight.

Fortunately, I was always in ntal contact with Eri, and of course I had my phone too, so I had been kept abreast of matters back in Japan. Reaction to the concert and the various revelations had been positive, and the Ministry for Spiritual Matters was having to field so many calls for interviews and questions by concerned citizens that apparently the Minister, Morita Yuna-san, was having a rather stressful ti of it, and was considering hiring a separate PR and enquiries section, according to a rather amused yet exasperated Haru.

I don’t like being away from ho long, especially with the Pilgrimage due to start on Friday, then Shaeula’s birthday on the Saturday. I did worry about the overlap, but Shaeula assured so long as I made ti for her in-between the shrines we visited, she’d be content… I really need to rember her birthday gifts, just like I did for Daiyu… damn, even with a Material and an Astral body, I’m constantly short on ti…

The one plus in all this was that Shiro was keeping the buffs running and we were raking in ether. It was a lesser amount, as without there we couldn’t risk Shiro’s Berserk Blessing, but it was still far above what I imagined anyone who wasn’t supported by a host of Vassals could manage.

As we taxied in towards the terminal, I glanced out the window. The skies were grey, and a few faint flakes of snow were falling. It was a rather dull morning, but what caught my eye was that there seed to be rather a lot of military personnel about, unusual for a civilian airport. Coincidence? I hardly think so.

Grabbing my bag, I quickly rounded up my party, and as expected, the others that had noticed the unusual scenes were Trey and Aliyah, their rcenary instincts keen as ever, and Adelheid, who was naturally wary.

“Thank you for flying with us. We hope you co again!” The attractive stewardesses and handso stewards ushered us off the plane, and as we descended, ahead of the crowd of course, the privilege of being in first-class, even the slower Christina had noticed the situation, her face going pale.

Inside the terminal, ordinary passengers were being kept back by ard US soldiers, as well as federal agents in crisp black suits paired with white shirts, both male and female. I heard mutterings from the crowd that perhaps a celebrity was coming, and when so tried to raise their phones ready to take pictures and shoot videos, they were quickly and politely disabused of that notion by the black-clad agents.

“I’m a little worried. Adam… he’s a pragmatist, but… he’s ruthless.” Christina clutched my arm to her ample chest. I didn’t resist, as she did genuinely seem frightened, and while I had no doubt that many of her test subjects experienced greater and more horrific fear under her experints, even so, it didn’t sit right with tossing her aside right now. Besides, there’s still her little ruse. I’ll disavow being her boyfriend when I et the Director, but until then…

“It’ll be fine. I’m not letting you die until you’ve genuinely made ands for all the suffering you’ve caused.” I assured her. It’s the sa as Nie Ling. It never brings back the dead, but… at least it can help the living.

“That’s… is that saying you want to spend the rest of my life with ?” Christina managed to tease, though it was clearly an effort, so I casually flicked her forehead with my free hand.

“Don’t be an idiot. Is this the ti for flirting? I’m just going to work you to death until you’ve done enough good to outweigh the bad. You’ve heard us ntion it, rember? The Scales Of Judgent? Until your heart weighs less than that feather, you’ve not got my permission to die!”

“How cold… but I don’t hate it.” Her breath was coming faster, her face red, and she squird, which was troubling for , as it pushed my arm against her heaving chest. Behind , Aliyah rolled her eyes, clearly irritated, but despite that, she was carefully watching all the threats around us, gauging the exits, as was Treyvon.

“Enough.” I flicked her forehead again, but was regretting my habit, as it was clearly having the opposite effect on the strangely masochistic scientist.

It seed so in the audience had recognised , as I could hear my na, and Britain and Korea being ntioned. I also heard so people asking if Christina was one of my won, as she was clinging to , and I was grateful the woman in question couldn’t pick that noise out of the buzz of the crowd, else I’d never hear the end of it, and it’d only embolden her.

“This way, if you’d please.” One agent stepped up, and a path was cleared through the terminal, the ordinary passengers being held back. I glanced at my companions, who, other than Christina, all nodded or shrugged, signalling agreent. Following them to passport control and immigration, our docunts were briefly checked, though Adelheid’s seed to surprise the officer a little, but in short order we were outside, in a cordoned off area, filled with more soldiers and agents, as well as a number of black Humvee-style trucks with tinted windows, and a woman, who when Christina saw her, she went tense, her grip on my arm buried in her chest almost painful.

The woman was wearing a black suit with a long skirt and stockings, her white shirt paired with an elegant bolo tie set with a large black onyx. With her dark hair pulled up into a tight bun, she certainly looked different to the agents around us, despite the similar dress code. Her face was pretty, if rather cold, and her eyes were a rich brown colour, matching her dark skin, but those too seed a little chilly, as if she was wary or angry. “Welco, Mr Akio Oshiro, and companions, to the United States of Arica. I am Viola, Undersecretary to the NSA Paranormal Branch. I’ll keep things brief.” She gestured to one of the waiting black vehicles. “Miss Bakker, Director White is eager to see you now that you’ve returned. Most eager, in fact. He has a great deal to talk with you about. After all, your leave was rather unexpected, and unauthorised.”

Christina swallowed, forcing a smile, her face now white as a sheet. For a woman that didn’t flinch when it ca to injuring herself during her experints, to see her so wary now… Adam White must be a dangerous man. No, I already know that, considering what he’s ordered.

Tightening her already vice-like grip on my arm, Christina cast a pleading glance at , and I bit down a sigh. “Christina is very tired from the events of South Africa and our long flight. I was hoping to take her to our hotel, for a few hours of rest. I’m due to et with the Director this afternoon, so Christina can accompany then. Loathe as I am to keep her from her work, I do hope the Director can be understanding, considering… our relationship.”

Viola narrowed her eyes which were like glittering precious topaz, hard and cold. “I would have imagined that travelling as you did, there would have been ample ti to rest on the plane…”

Christina managed a nervous titter. “You know how it is, Viola. Or maybe you don’t? After all, you’re still single, aren’t you? Too wedded to the job…” Another nervous bout of laughter followed, and sweat was beading on her forehead and cheeks, despite the end of autumn chill in the air, flakes of snow landing on our heads and lting. “…who am I to talk? You know my love for my experints. But… sotis you just need to find a good man. Or a woman, if that’s what you’re into, Viola. I’m not one to judge.”

Those words made Viola purse her lips sourly, and I was sure I could hear her teeth grinding, but her face remained impassive, though she was looking at as if I was filth. I’m not the masochist here, I’m not enjoying being looked at with disdain!

“I see.” she managed in the end. “It’s quite the imposition, but… Director White did instruct to be as accommodating as is reasonable. Do be sure to get so rest then, Miss Bakker. If you are too tired to adequately explain your behaviour to the Director, there will be… consequences.”

“Oh, I get that, I do.” Christina nodded. “I wouldn’t want to cause Adam more trouble.” Again, more strained laughter. Both sides knew the other was lying, I imagined. “Trust , no more fooling around.” Hey, I’ve not touched you, woman! You’re wrecking my reputation!

The annoying thing was a lot of the agents and soldiers guarding the area seed envious or impressed. Objectively, Christina was a beauty, after all, and she’d made an effort to look far less like a nerdy slob than usual. “Don’t worry. I take my eting with Director White very seriously. After all, ever since London, we’ve had such productive conversations.” I got in on the subtext as well, and that made Miss Viola blink, forgetting her disdain for a mont.

“Good. I hardly speak for the Director, I wouldn’t be so bold, but I do know he is eager to… set matters straight and clear so misconceptions. I’ll leave you to the tender care of Miss Bakker then, and we will send you to your hotel, and also collect you at the appointed ti, if there are no objections? Leaving your safety to chance… quite unacceptable. Why, even the President is eager for tomorrow’s event.”

“That’s fine.” I agreed. Hinata had made sure to drill into I needed to constantly assert my importance, so as to not lose the upper hand in negotiations. To that end, we were staying in one of the more exclusive hotels in Washington DC.

“In that case…” Miss Viola glanced over at Titan. “I trust you aren’t too tired to co back for a debriefing, and that you’ve not been having fun with Mr Oshiro here?” Her tone was quiet, but I could hear the irritation.

“Nah woman, I be fine.” The big man shrugged, the fabric of his suit straining. “I can co in and tell the boss what I know, ya.” He turned to us, especially the worried Christina. “Obviously, I be only your keeper, Miss. I’ll let ya tell the Director all the details, wouldn’t want to get it all wrong and make a fool of myself, and cause trouble, ya know?”

Christina’s complexion regained a little colour. “Yes, I’ll be sure to give Adam the full story. Just… well, you don’t need to tell you, do you Titan? There’s no point speculating on what we don’t understand. We’re here for empirical evidence, for certainties, aren’t we?”

Titan waved a hand, showing he understood, and an agent opened the door for him, and he entered the vehicle. Viola glanced at Trey and Aliyah, pursing her lips again montarily, before nodding to us. “In that case… if you would…” She gestured to another of the blacked-out trucks, and as the door was opened, I helped Christina in, followed by Adelheid. I was going to sit next to her, but Christina squird around until in the end I was sandwiched between the two won, though Adelheid was keeping her distance, blue eyes cold. That’s our little Tanya…

Trey and Aliyah took up seats in the rear, and soon we were off. Christina breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could say anything, I nodded aningfully at the driver, and she made a ‘zipping’ gesture over her mouth, which froze for a mont, leaving blinking, surprised. Shit, that was almost cute. No, I’ll not be fooled. When she’s quiet and not panting like a pervert she’s attractive, but her personality is garbage.

As the vehicle, which on the inside was rather plush, yet sturdily built, the fra and glass likely both bulletproof, I let my gaze wander outside, to the gentle snowfall as it started to dye the world white…

***

“You didn’t have to get us separate rooms, you know.” Aliyah grumbled. She had tossed her duffle bag into her own room, before coming back to mine. For a woman, she certainly travels light. Is that the rcenary way?

“Trey and , we’re used to bunking down together. Not like it’s anything weird.” She paused, a smirk suddenly on her face. “Not like it’d be with you and your cutie of a sister. I’d definitely be worried if you shared a room with her.”

“Yeah, very funny. Never heard that one before.” I snorted, unamused. “Don’t worry about it, just enjoy the luxury. Who knows, you might be grateful if you find a cute girl to romance while on the trip.”

“That’d certainly be sothing to see.” Trey also returned, having dropped off his luggage. He had changed to a winter coat, though he was still wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt underneath, showing off his muscles despite the wintry chill outside. “Shit sis, even if we shared a room and you found soone for a one-night stand, I’d be the gentleman and find sowhere else to sleep.”

“You, a gentleman? Shit Trey, if you were, maybe you’d have more luck. Anyway…” Aliyah looked around my room, which was an expensive and expansive one, but not a suite this ti, as I would be staying in it alone. Or at least, that was the plan, anyway.

“…I thought our crazy mad scientist lived sowhere near here, or at least had sowhere to stay. So what gives?”

Christina had sat herself in one corner of my room, clutching her luggage, and seed to have no intention of leaving. “I’m not going anywhere! Oh no, little Miss Christina is staying right here, where it’s safe! If I go ho, then Adam will send a black bag team after for sure. I’ll be dragged off sowhere and all my secrets will be extracted! And then… poof!” She made a gun gesture with her fingers, pointing it to her head. “Unmarked grave, nobody but Akio to mourn poor Christina.”

“Not so sure he’d mourn you, you annoying bitch.” Aliyah grumbled, crossing her arms nacingly. Like Trey, she was wearing a winter coat over her shirt and jeans. “Maybe he’d be glad to be rid of you? But… think about it. There’s only one bed in here, even if it’s a big one. And one bathroom, with…” Aliyah gestured, and indeed, it was a luxurious bathroom, but it was walled with slightly frosted glass, which wouldn’t conceal much of anything.

“I don’t mind.” Christina shrugged. “Honestly, if he wants to see…” She reached for the hem of her jumper, tugging it up, revealing her belly, and showed no indication of stopping before Aliyah rushed over and grabbed her wrist.

“Damn flasher. You may have the goods, but if you show them off casually, nobody’s going to value you. Fuck , can’t believe I’m lecturing a madwoman on modesty. Even your crazy psycho maid isn’t this bad.” she growled at .

“Look…” I tried being reasonable, addressing the clearly rattled Christina. “If you don’t want to go ho because you’re genuinely worried, we can work sothing out. I’ve not gone to all this trouble and suffered all this stress just to have you disposed of now. Although, I thought Adam White wasn’t prepared to go against , and that should at least buy you a little safety? That’s why we went through the whole girlfriend charade, isn’t it? But that aside… think long term. I’m only here for a couple of days, thanks to the South African situation overstaying its welco. When I’m gone… won’t you be staying behind? You’re Arican, and a patriot, after all, as you keep telling .”

Christina bit her lip, flustered. She certainly seems less self-assured recently, so I’ve noticed. “I am. But… I’m a scientist, the one thing that separates a scientist from a fool is the fact that we have to accept the truth, even if it’s unpalatable, or hateful, or makes everything we believe wrong.”

Aliyah had released her, and was looking on, eyes narrowed. Seeing glancing at her, she shrugged, as if to say ‘might as well let her speak her mind.’

“Even in the brief ti I’ve spent in Japan… I’ve already learned more than in weeks, months of prior research. Yes, it seems unlikely you are the only one with the talents you have, science tends to abhor things that are unique, just as the universe is said to be largely homogeneous, the laws of physics the sa everywhere. But then… can I really be sure? If I’m ever going to reach the true heart of these mysteries… and allow us to harness these powers, just as humans mastered fire, steam, electricity, information…” Her eyes were bright and feverish, her face flushed, a quite different lewd look to when she was harassing . “…why should we be at the rcy of the whims of the Gods? I’m not a believer, but I understand why it was forbidden knowledge that got them cast out of Eden in the Bible. Because what separates man from ape, God from man? It’s simply knowledge and the use of it.”

“She’s not wrong.” Trey agreed. anwhile. Adelheid had changed into a warm fur duffle coat, which made her look younger, but also more adorable. She was now sitting quietly in one corner of the room, not paying attention, though she was shooting looks of disdain at the red-faced and panting Christina. Yeah, she doesn’t need to understand her to know she’s being weird…

“If an orangutang knew how to use guns and knives, they’d be a match for any two or three Special Forces soldiers. Greater strength, speed, reach… but since they don’t, if I was in an ard fight with a group of them, I’d be the winner.” Trey continued.

“Exactly!” Christina agreed. “But that’s not all. Can we trust borrowed power? No, just as knowledge imparted isn’t every truly understood. Adam’s obsessed with the idea that people like you are a way to supplant humanity, or destroy us, so wicked trojan horse for these so-called Gods. I don’t know if that’s true, or if it even matters… because we’ll seize knowledge and integrate it into our own science, and make better use of it than they ever could! Don’t you see?” Christina’s bright blue eyes were feverish, yet brilliant to behold.

“You made able to see the wonders of this Boundary. You can steal and transplant, even manipulate these so-called Divine miracles you call Favours! Your Eye… I don’t entirely trust it, but I can’t disregard it when it’s so often correct! Rigorous testing is needed, if it was before…” She suddenly shuddered, calming down as if doused in cold water. “…I’d have stopped at nothing to do so. I’d have broken you, probably. Even to cutting out your eye and seeing if we could transplant it.”

“Already tried that, I’m afraid.” I chuckled, embarrassed. “It requires a little extra.”

“See?” Christina shuddered again, her look ecstatic. “We do think the sa way. Only… you understand the human cost, I think. I… well, isn’t it unreasonable for to consider others, when I’m perfectly happy to risk myself?”

“Not really, no. But… it does make it a little understandable. Also, no, I most certainly do not think like you do. All my cruel training and experints are done with inford consent and maximum safety asures.” I disagreed.

“And so shall mine be from now on! But in case I backslide… I need you to watch over .” She grinned triumphantly, hands on hips, as if making a point. “Your dealings with Princess Eleanor and Britain, now with South Korea, and even South Africa… if you treat the United States as fairly, I can still do my patriotic duty. Besides… I’m not going to lie to myself. I never do. I’ve fallen in love with you! And I don’t want to die before I’ve tasted more of these… of these emotions.” She licked her lips. “I think of all the wonderful experints we can do together, mysteries we can uncover, and my chest feels hot, tight, and my body leaks. After all these years of deriding my fellow researchers as idiots and rely slaves to their hormones, being distracted by love… I find myself in their position. Perhaps this is my just desserts. Because… you hate , don’t you?”

“Pretty much.” I agreed honestly. “You’re not exactly loveable.”

“That hurts. It makes feel hot, your disregard, but… it also hurts. Damnit.” Actual tears ford at the corner of her eyes. “I hate this. I love it too, but mostly I hate, hate, hate it! I did think there were only three absolutes in this world. That ti only marches forwards, entropy always tends towards increasing, and that the future was unwritten and unknowable. I was wrong on the second two, it seems. Energy and order from nothing, I’ve seen it, and you can glimpse the future, yes?”

“Shadows of it, certainly. I wouldn’t say it’s already written, just… probabilities.”

“In that case… if I could just travel back in ti, stop myself from doing such deeds, tell myself if just I waited I’d find soone who could help unlock all the answers, and also make feel like what I suppose a person is supposed to feel like…”

“Well, you can’t. One thing I’m sure of is, ti does only flow in one direction.” I shook my head sadly. “Otherwise, wouldn’t the universe simply just collapse into chaos, everything in permanent flux? After all, if ti travel is possible, then there should be an infinite length of ti for infinite people to travel back to every point in ti infinitely.”

“Oh yes, quite right, the impossibility of absence paradox. I like that one. Though it’s unfalsifiable, so not truly scientific.” Christina nodded, understanding my point. “Anyway, I’m not good with this… with any of this. I asked Haru Suzuki to share their pain with , thinking that I wasn’t scared of pain and injury, that you were overreacting… but… feeling myself be soone else, that was the most horrific thing of all. I am . Christina Bakker. Scientist. Researcher. Seeker of truth. Woman. That last, I never cared about until now. I try. I… it’s an impossible task, to make ands, isn’t it? Because unlike science, people are unique. You just can’t swap one out for another. You’re unique too, Akio. So… it has to be you.”

“Well fuck , Trey.” Aliyah turned to her brother, exasperated. “I never thought it possible, but the mad bitch actually has feeling slightly sorry for her.”

“Don’t worry sis, it’ll pass.” He joked, before frowning, looking at . “Look, I’m Private Military. I’ve fought in wars, conflict zones all over the world. I’ve done bodyguarding, extractions, sabotage, straight up firefights… I’ve killed a fair few people, you know? And maybe you’d be one of them. Not by my hands, but… if we’d have caught you, Christina here would have dissected you for sure.”

She nodded at that slowly, listening to his points with bitter interest.

“Do I think I’m a good man? Hell no. Killing is killing. And maybe not everyone I’ve killed was a bad person. But they were an enemy. Only thing is… we draw a line, right Aliyah?”

“No shit.” As Aliyah spoke, I realised Adelheid was listening too, it seed like she was using her phone’s translation app and an earbud. Since English to German was way more intelligible than Japanese to German, I assud she would be getting most of the general idea.

“We don’t kill kids. Not even crazy child soldiers who have done terrible things. I an, until you’ve seen them hit an isolated village, kill the n, torture them sotis, then… well, this ain’t polite company to talk about what they do with won, even young girls…” She nodded at Adelheid, who scowled, clearly understanding. “Maybe that’s evil in itself. It’s probably kinder to put a bullet in so fucked up kid’s head before he tortures a load of girls, even if he was made that way by others. We’ve blood on our hands from doing, and not doing. So fucks would tell you that not doing ain’t your responsibility…”

“…but that’s crap.” Trey took over again. “Now, I’m not saying that just because you can cure cancer or heal life-threatening injuries, you have to spend your whole life helping those in need. After all, you’re not Mother Theresa, man. Hell, even Mother Theresa ate, drank, read and spent ti to herself. But… there are those that’ll bla you for not helping them.”

I nodded, rembering the father of that adorable, mature little girl Ami, who I had healed during the ti Hinata gathered Shinohara-san and the others, for so pre-emptive PR work I hoped would never be needed. He had felt simring resentnt, even though he knew it wasn’t fair, wasn’t my fault. It was simply human nature.

“Basically, I’m saying, there ain’t none of us who is a saint, even saints probably have skeletons in their closets.” Aliyah finished. “You’d never make the choice that Nie Ling woman did, you’d rather die than kill innocents, yeah? But… what if it was for those you loved?”

I had considered this before as well. I’d like to think I’d never resort to such, knowing that Eri and the others would hate if I committed such sins for their sakes, but… when Shiro was dying from breaking Sancus’ chains… I threatened Tan with finding her Pantheon and laying it to waste, which would obviously entail massacres of those who were underserving of death, and I ant it at the ti. “Yeah…” I nodded slowly. “I see your point. Not that it excuses what Christina did, and she’ll have to carry that hatred all her life, but…” I took a deep breath.

“I can’t give you what you want. You honestly don’t deserve my love. But… just like I’ve given Nie Ling a chance to make ands, you can have your shot. It may not seem fair, it may not be right, it’s favouritism, probably just because you’re a woman, and you’re attractive…”

“I know you think I’m gorgeous…” she managed to joke, though her face was pale, blue eyes serious.

“…but everyone’s got their own lines they won’t cross. Just like you pair and kids. Even if they are on the wrong path, you can’t justify it to yourselves.”

“Kids, innocent won. Though fuck n. In Trey’s case, literally.” Aliyah smirked. “Seriously… the world ain’t fair, and it ain’t equal. I don’t agree with everything you do, Akio, but… I like that you’re trying to be as fair as your conscience will let you be. And fuck , if you want to offer second chances to won more than n, well, that just makes you human, and I don’t disagree. After all, won are far more likable.”

“So, yeah.” I agreed with Aliyah to an extent. It’s not like I don’t believe in second chances for everyone, assuming there’s certain lines they haven’t crossed, but… it stings my heart more to see a woman grieving. My sis would laugh, calling a virgin loser… oh wait, she can’t anymore. “If it makes you feel safe, you can stay here.” I told Christina. “But I’m not suddenly going to fall for you. Conversely, I’m not going to show you special treatnt either, so you’ll just have to accept this is my room. My problem is, I know what you’ve done and why. Others… others have likely done worse, but…”

Hyacinth. In the long years before she was captured and put in the box and found her way to us, what terrible deeds did she do in her madness? Like the child soldiers, she was made that way, but the dead and hurt still grieve the sa. But… to , Hyacinth deserves my love and forgiveness. Hypocrisy, but… yeah, Aliyah and Trey are right. I’m not claiming to be perfect. I just want a world where there’s as much happiness as possible for as many as possible, but… happiness for those I want to protect counts far more than the joy of others. Otherwise… how can I truly say I love them?

“I understand.” Christina bowed her head. “And… that’s actually sothing rather novel for . Of course…” her pale face flushed with colour, though it seed forced. “…I don’t believe you can resist forever. I asked Scryer for so tips, so… look forward to that! Yes, I think logically that Adam won’t be reckless, but then I feel he could act anyway. If he sees through our ruse, works out that you actually wouldn’t go so far for as he thinks, or if he decides that making an example of is worth risking your enmity. Now I’m back… things I was so certain would be fine before now seem terribly… nebulous. I hate it when I can’t calculate the numbers, follow the logic. But now… I think I understand the irrationality of people far better. Whether that will be good for , or bad for … I don’t regret it.” Her smile seed genuine for once, lacking her usual sly nature. “I really don’t want to die, leave my work undone. If… if I have to die in the end to make ands, I can live with that, but at least let feel what it is to be a normal woman first.” Oh no, there her perversions are. Way to spoil a genuine mont. But then, it seems she wouldn’t be Christina Bakker is she was capable of following social norms,

“So yes, I don’t feel it’s safe to return to my apartnt, I have to stay here. It’s not logical, but it’s a gut feeling. Sothing I’d have laughed at before. Anyway… I’m kind of hoping we can work sothing out with Adam… have seconded out to you in Japan, as so sort of reconciliation package. Maybe throw in a few bits of harmless information as a bribe? I know you probably don’t want to work with us here in Arica after everything we’ve done, but… honestly, we didn’t do it to be evil. We believed in the work. That surely counts for sothing?”

“A little.” I agreed. “Anyway, that ran long.” I sighed. “So, Aliyah, Trey, I’ll see you later this evening?”

“Yeah. I ain’t missing Buck plying with free booze.” Aliyah agreed. “But before that…” she glanced at her brother, who explained.

“It’s been too long, so we’re eting up with a few of the heads of so other PMC’s that are in the area. Got to reestablish our credentials, if we’re going to ever do any missions again like you planned. Besides… get the bastards drunk, and they have loose lips. We can’t share any mission info, but… we keep our ears to the ground. They’ll know a lot of rumours and mysterious happenings going down around the US and wider world.”

“Yeah, because a rc who ain’t curious is soon a dead rc. Oh sorry, contractor.” Aliyah corrected, ribbing her brother.

“Sounds good. If we run into any problems, I’ll let you know.” I promised. “Although…” I glanced at Trey, back at Aliyah, then at Trey again, and he guffawed, amused.

“Yeah, I know my sister gets a bit crazy when she’s drunk, but… she says that since you can purge her system of the booze any ti you want, it’s on you if she acts up…”

“Shit, Trey!” she cursed, thumping his shoulder firmly with one fist. “I never said it like that. It’s just… fuck. This is a mission, I get it, but also a holiday. We’re back in the US of A, at least for a couple of days. I’ll be damned if I ain’t enjoying myself while I’m here. You owe that much, right?”

With a smile I nodded. I guess so. I guess so…

***

“Nice place.” I whistled. The NSA headquarters was an impressive-looking series of massive, rectangular buildings, every inch of the sides covered in windows, which were reflecting the faint rays of the sun trying to break through the snowy clouds.

After Aliyah and Trey had left, Christina, who was exhausted ntally from thinking about thoughts and emotions she was clearly unsuited to, claid one side of the large bed for her own, though she did clumsily try and insinuate… no, insinuate made it sound subtle… she said outright I could co over and ravage her if I wanted. As if to prove a point, she started to change right there, and with a grimace, I made good on my threat not to care. I didn’t ogle her, but I made no effort to look away, figuring she’d break first and get embarrassed.

Rembering gives a headache. She broke first, all right. But only into a red, quivering ss. Her masochistic tendencies are rather annoying.

Adelheid had enough in the end, unable to bear watching the tragic romantic cody of an idiotic woman who barely understood emotions trying to seduce a guy who had no liking for her. She also took issue to Christina’s clothing and makeup, and with a quick phone call to hotel reception, they had a rather fetching suit delivered from an upmarket tailor. It was off-the-shelf, of course, but still excellent. The only issue was that Christina insisted on pairing it with a lab coat, so we had one of those delivered as well, which was certainly a challenge that the hotel rose to. Yeah, costs a fortune, but the service is godly.

Spoiler