24.2

March 2, 2070, at 0207

Otherworld Seattle, Outer District

Crystal surveyed the aftermath with magically enhanced vision, her crimson gaze cutting through the neon haze. The Draco Foundation's security squad, donned in avant-garde exosuits, carried out their operation with icy precision. Each maneuver was a brutal demonstration of tactical skill in reclaiming assets. Defeated enemies were exposed, their cybernetic augmentations and armor dismantled – a cache of mystical tech awaiting analysis. The dragon-like operative Kanematsu, now in custody, was an ideal subject for intense information retrieval, his psyche a stronghold to be infiltrated by top-tier cyber-interrogators.

Nadja Daviar’s gaze mirrored the frosty intensity of her Banshee race's enduring vendetta against the living. With razor-edged haste she directed the flow dispassionately. In Crystal’s eyes, the elimination of the deceased was a vivid indication of the relentless nature of megacorporate dynamics. The corpses, even in demise, were resources – dissected for components, their vital liquids siphoned as per clandestine pacts, effectively erasing any sign of the conflict.

As the VTOL aircraft, its exterior marked with ancient runes, descended into the deserted backstreet, Nadja gestured to Crystal, indicating it was time to board. Inside, the aircraft was an impressive fusion of formidable weaponry and advanced technology. The interior was designed with a sleek, modern aesthetic, where every inch spoke of cutting-edge innovation and tactical efficiency. High-resolution screens displaying tactical data lined the walls, while control panels with glowing buttons and holographic interfaces indicated the presence of state-of-the-art navigation and surveillance systems.

Crystal saw the cabin was spacious, with ample room for movement and strategizing. Dominating the space were two plush synth-leather sofas, their design blending luxury with functionality. It was to the sofa on the right that Nadja, with her characteristic poise, settled back effortlessly. The sofa's material was without question the highest quality, offering comfort without compromising the aircraft's combat-ready ethos. Above them, recessed lighting provided a soft glow, creating an ambiance that was both calming and focused.

Amidst this blend of luxury and utility, Nadja's voice cut through the silence, her words tinged with a blend of curiosity and skepticism. "A sword in our time? It appears... outdated." Her gaze lingered on the traditional weapon Crystal had carried in, juxtaposed against the backdrop of the aircraft's futuristic interior. The high elf banshee's posture, relaxed yet alert, conveyed a sense of readiness and confidence that complemented the aircraft's formidable presence.

Crystal's grin matched the sharpness of her weapon. "Kanematsu had gunners.” Implicit in her words was the fact that all those fancy shooters were nothing more than recycled research materials now.

“Spell or Spell-Like-Abilities would be effective, perhaps?” Nadja asked with a gently raised eyebrow. Crystal shook her head slightly and said, “Kanematsu had those, too.” In a sarcastic monotone. Her employer sighed and shrugged in acquiesce to both points.

Crystal took a breath and said with an ecstatic almost holy tone, "The true thrill in wielding bladed weapons – is for that singular moment, a reverent, gore-spattered dance in the abyss. In comparison to the deftness and sophistication of my blade’s other weapons pale to me. It doesn’t hurt that I have enhanced this aspect of myself to the extreme. The blade is an extension of will to me. Think of it as exactly like the Blood Magic I don’t have." A smirk flashed across Nadja’s face at the words.

Privately, Crystal acknowledged that in a gun-dominated society, her preference for a sword appeared warped. Yet, her Patron and vampiric nature endowed extraordinary abilities: the aptitude to deflect both magical assaults and mundane bullets, and the precision to cleave through formidable foes with unparalleled accuracy. She knew it was a level of skill that far exceeded that of any ordinary firearm-wielding adversary. Using the sword was a declaration – skill mattered more than blunt force bullets.

“The way I see it, a sword never runs out of ammo. I can sever the strings of magic with ease and carve through enchantments. A gun would take a hundred times the effort, and a million times the cost, to even touch my level.” Crystal thought in amusement. Certainly, without her Patron, or her mental issues with firearms she might not be of the same opinion. However, with those two and her personal love of the ideal of edged weapons, it was a foregone conclusion she would favor them.

“Care for a drink?” Nadja asked as she ordered something for herself with a mere flicker of electronic implant expertise. A green flash in her eyes denoted the use of cybernetic augmentation.

Crystal’s eyes lit up at the chance to taste truly delicious things. There was no way a high-class elf like Daviar would keep garbage drinks around. That would just be beyond weird. “What would you recommend?” Crystal asked.

“A Bloody Mary would be best to start off.” Nadja said silently indicating she was well aware of Crystal’s eccentrics.

As Nadja's words echoed in the sleek cabin, Crystal's attention was drawn to a feature of the aircraft's interior that melded luxury with functionality: a state-of-the-art drink dispenser. Like the rest of the vehicle, it was black with traced silver outlines. Integrated seamlessly into the design of the aircraft, the dispenser boasted an array of enticements, from energizing beverages to more exotic concoctions.

With a spark of interest lighting up her eyes, Crystal examined the dispenser. Its sleek interface was illuminated with soft, inviting lights, highlighting a variety of options customizable to individual preferences. The device sent out a selection for her through the Matrix that her chicken routed with automated ease. Crystal was impressed, the machine was a marvel of convenience and technology, capable of crafting anything from a simple hydrating drink to complex, flavor-infused beverages using molecular recombination and mana manipulation.

"Wow, this is impressive," Crystal remarked, her curiosity piqued. She scanned the choices, her eyes flickering through the options with rapid speed. “Only the best for Dunkelzahn.” Nadja said. Crystal didn’t miss how the high elf banshee watched her expression like a hawk before relaxing.

“I have no idea who that is other than suspecting it is the Dragon you were employed by?” Cyrstal said as she took her expertly dispensed drink from the device.

“Correct. I wasn’t sure, but that level of response means you are either a masterful spy, or simply clueless.” Nadja said as she sipped her own iced drink with a light vanilla scent. The high elf banshee’s eyes flickered bright green for a moment before a grin crossed her face. “Shun Lee sold you out for a pittance.”

Crystal shrugged, “Confidentiality clauses are all well and good, but I doubt a mercenary operator will hold out against you.” Nadja nodded as her eyes gained the unfocused look of one viewing things not visible in the physical world. “An Outworlder, well, that explains it.” The banshee muttered finally.

Crystal sipped her drink as her employer appeared to grapple with something before finally making a decision. “I noticed during the earlier fight with Kanematsu; you had a pair of what could be described as silver eyes appearing behind you.” Nadja finally stated after she finished reading the information Shun provided.

Crystal paused, delving inward for a moment before she nonchalantly shrugged and gestured with her synth-glass. Her features transitioned smoothly into an expression of serene composure. "Those spectral visions," she began, her voice measured and deliberate, "are not simply figments of imagination. They are the physical manifestations of my Patron, an embodiment of her formidable arcane powers."

Nadja's face was an intriguing tapestry of caution and inquisitiveness. "Not a dragon, then. Is it an entity from another realm?" she inquired, her gaze hardening with a frosty intensity.

"Yes," Crystal clarified, her crimson eyes flickering with a trace of perplexity. "Is there a problem?"

Nadja's expression turned icy, betraying a calculating intellect beneath. "Our world has seen its share of interlopers from other dimensions," the banshee declared after a moment of contemplation.

Crystal, keen to cut through the mounting confusion, delivered her words with precision, slicing through the ambiguity with sharp logic. "Why the sudden concern? You showed no discomfort with me being an Outworlder earlier. Something's clearly amiss now. Speak freely; I have no secrets to keep."

Acknowledging Crystal's forthrightness, Nadja raised her glass in a subdued gesture of respect, her eyes gleaming with a blend of expectation and resolve. "Is your Patron one of the Horrors? A Nightmare Lord that only the Dragons can contain?" she asked, her voice echoing hauntingly in the cybernetic confines of their VTOL craft.

Crystal exhaled a sigh of relief, realizing her employer had misconstrued her Patron as a foe. "No, Mrs. Daviar, my Patron is not an adversary. If you require proof, I can offer it, though it will entail a small sacrifice from me and your open-mindedness."

"Explain," Nadja demanded, her tone resolute.

"I can invite my Patron to intervene, to alleviate your concerns. This would mean allowing her to possess my body. It's not a proposition I make lightly. I'm more adept with blades and battle, less so with eloquence and diplomacy," Crystal admitted candidly.

Nadja took a deep draught from her drink, her eyes closing in contemplation. After a moment, she opened them and decided, "Proceed. But be warned, at the first sign of danger, I will withdraw and terminate our contract."

"Uh, Mistress? Patron? Eve?" Crystal reached out mentally, seeking her Patron's assistance. "Help?"

Suddenly, the air in the vehicle crackled with the scent of ozone, reminiscent of a lightning strike. Crystal felt enveloped in a familiar presence, her consciousness softening into a dreamlike state, aware yet distant.

As her Patron manifested, Crystal's appearance transformed. The vampire with fiery hair and crimson eyes was replaced by a figure with silver hair, eyes like molten silver, and skin speckled with starlight. Her attire morphed into a tunic and pants adorned with mystical runes, resembling the garb of a mage with a touch of peasant simplicity.

"Good evening," Eve greeted her voice unable to keep the weight of her presence at bay. The silver witch paused allowing time for Nadja's trembling hands to steady. Remarkably, the spilled liquid from the banshee's drink reversed its course, returning to the glass as if guided by an unseen will.

"You're not a Horror," Nadja observed, regaining her composure. "You're something else, something Other."

Eve lounged languidly on the sofa, floating just above it, her gaze on Nadja akin to an empress inspecting an intriguing artwork. "Indeed. I hail from another plane of existence. Picture reality as a stack of cracked plates; my realm would be atop this stack, accessible through the fissures between these layers."

As Nadja visibly shuddered at the explanation, Eve continued, "Alternatively, envision realities as marbles intertwined in a sack, each connected and vying for dominance."

Nadja shook her head, taking a hefty sip of her drink. "Those analogies are mind-boggling."

"And they should be," Eve concurred. "Rest assured, I am no Horror. However, your mention of them intrigues me. I am familiar with dimensional beings known as Reapers, though these seem distinct." With a casual gesture, Eve suspended Crystal's drink in midair and summoned a soda for herself, complete with a floating straw. Sipping it, she flashed a broad smile. "The introduction of mana here has evidently induced some sort of viral mutation. The resulting advantages and drawbacks are much more diverse than the process my Pactee underwent. I expended considerable effort ensuring she didn't dissolve into a pool of sanguine sludge."

At Eve's words, a fleeting wave of fear washed over Crystal, quickly dissipating under her Patron's calm influence.

Nadja's expression deepened into a more pensive state, her gaze sharpening as she weighed her forthcoming words. "I've been harboring a growing suspicion," she revealed, her voice a blend of apprehension and determination. "I suspect that the Arasaka Corporation is plotting to unleash this virus in Crystal’s realm. Their notorious history of unethical experimentation and their insatiable hunger for dominion make them prime suspects for orchestrating such a perilous scheme. Ever since their establishment in our world, they've been a catalyst for unrest and instability."

Eve, contemplating the gravity of the situation, responded with measured concern. "Introducing such a virus to my Pactee’s world would be akin to setting off explosives under the foundation of a skyscraper. It would not only threaten the immediate vicinity but also have far-reaching repercussions."

Nadja leaned in, her eyes a reservoir of insight and suspicion. "Arasaka’s reputation for pushing the boundaries of research and technology, often at the expense of ethics and morality, is well-known. Their arsenal of resources and technology, coupled with a blatant disregard for ethical conduct, primes them for initiating such a high-risk venture. The rumors of them dabbling in unconventional tech and hiring trans-dimensional science experts were initially dismissed by many as mere corporate propaganda. However, such actions, if true, could prompt an unprecedented response from the Corporate Court."

Eve, her silver eyes reflecting a thoughtful intrigue, added, "The balance between worlds is both fragile and fundamental, dead elf. Moreover, the Horrors you've alluded to may also be playing a part in this, working behind the scenes in ways you can't immediately perceive. Arasaka is unlikely to know where the levers of reality are without outside aid."

Crystal, still in her trance-like state, felt an overwhelming sense of urgency. The scope of this situation transcended anything she had previously undertaken, with implications spreading across multiple dimensions.

Nadja, after finishing her drink leaned back and placed the glass down with a definitive sound. "Further investigation is imperative. If Arasaka is indeed orchestrating this, they must be stopped. The stakes are too high to be ignored. Your power is evident, surpassing even that of the Dragon I once served," Nadja remarked, discarding her glass in a discreet waste unit. "Which raises the question: why don't you intervene directly, as the Dragons do?"

Eve explained, sipping her carbonated drink, "The answer lies in the fundamental laws governing each reality. Each dimension is protected by its inherent structure, laws that prevent external forces from consuming it. These laws, such as the Law of Sharpness, Fire, and others, restrict direct intervention from entities like myself. My current manifestation is only possible due to this reality's laxer constraints, a side effect of the disturbances caused by the Horrors. They create loopholes that allow for my presence here. The Dragons get around these by having existed and established themselves here for longer. It is no coincidence they have been asleep for so long, merely part of a careful plan to increase their influence and the power they are able to wield."

Nadja's eyes widened, a subtle tremor in her fingers betraying her inner turmoil. "Is there anything you can do against those from the life and mana devouring invading species? My former master, Dunkelzahn, sacrificed himself to shield our world from the intrusion of Greater Horrors. If, as you say, they are creating loopholes to enter, then is it not just a matter of time before his noble sacrifice becomes futile? I cannot stand by and watch his memory and efforts be rendered meaningless."

Eve's response to Nadja Daviar, known in shadowed circles as the Wailing Warcrime, was laden with an understanding of the complexities of power and the cost of actions. "Indeed, there are a multitude of things within my power, each with its own price. You, Nadja, have undoubtedly not ascended to your current esteemed position through sheer altruism and kindness alone," Eve remarked, her voice tinged with a hint of recognition for the darker paths Nadja had trodden.

Nadja's demeanor shifted to one of calm control, her composed face masking the undercurrents of her thoughts. "Your point is noted. It's curious how Crystal communicates outside this vehicle without leaving any trace of mana manipulation. Unless your methods of communication are so advanced, they evade our detection, or perhaps your insight stretches far beyond our understanding," she speculated, her tone implying a mix of curiosity and respect for Eve's abilities.

Eve's shrug was nonchalant, yet her words carried weight. "Crystal's journey with her powers is just beginning. She has yet to fully harness the weapon I bestowed upon her, and her utilization of Sword Dance is still in its infancy. Her proficiency in alchemy, though, shows promise. But her true potential is vast, transcending the scope of your world and beyond. In the grand scheme of things, where time is a mere concept, it's the potential that is worth investing in, not fleeting gains."

Nadja smoothly transitioned the conversation, reflecting on her own limitations and responsibilities. "Since my Master's departure, I've endeavored to safeguard America, yet there are boundaries to my influence. The constraints imposed by the Corporate Court limit my reach. However, you and Crystal, as beings from other realms, are unencumbered by such restrictions. Your capabilities are such that you could, hypothetically, annihilate this world if it served your purpose, without the hindrance of the consequences we face here."

Eve's smile was a complex tapestry of knowledge, secrets, and unspoken thoughts, a smile that Crystal, even in her subdued state, recognized and understood. It was a smile that held layers of meaning and insight.

Eve's dismissal of such a drastic action was casual yet significant. "To undertake such an extreme measure would be an unjustifiable expenditure of power, the consequences exceeding and outweighing any perceived benefits."

Nadja's response, accentuated by a gracefully raised eyebrow and a composed posture, was incisive. "Yet, you haven't outright denied the possibility. It seems we both operate on scales vastly different from the ordinary. Any misdeeds I may have committed in pursuit of a greater purpose pale in comparison to the magnitude of impact you could achieve with a mere flicker of your power."

As Nadja's attire transformed seamlessly, rippling and reshaping with the fluidity of water, Crystal’s perception, through Eve’s senses, discerned the subtle workings of advanced nanotechnology. The nanites, operating at a microscopic level, orchestrated the change in her clothing, a showcase of technological prowess and sophistication visible only to a being of Eve's caliber.

“It is merely a matter of scale and proportion.” Eve replied as she took a sip of her soda before draining the entire drink dry. A series of vellum parchment appeared between both individuals in the VTOL as it routed through the air.

Nadja watched as silver letters wrote themselves into existence before the multiple sheets dropped into her lap still glowing with rune-written light.

“Here are the deals I offer. Accept at your leisure if you so desire. I have expended all the effort I have accumulated for now.” Eve said finishing her drink before departing.

Crystal’s body shifted and altered returning once more into her ownership, her Patron’s possession removed entirely. Even as Eve returned to slumber the words spoken had created a thirst in Crystal.

“I’ve been lacking Thankfully; guidance has been provided.” Crystal thought in relief as Nadja looked over the sheets of vellum.

“A contract. How very demonic.” Nadja said with a grin as she moved through the pages with careful attention. “I don’t see any written traps, or anything detrimental. Which only means your Patron will benefit enough that such are not needed.”

“Sounds similar to my own offer.” Crystal said as she gently fell onto the sofa from the floating lounge position Eve had maintained. Her reflexes were easily able to turn the short fall into an upright seated position. Grabbing her own drink from the air where it had still been in place, Crystal took a long pull. “I get a very, don’t piss off the employees you depend on vibe from her, totally out of place in our worlds, to be sure. At least in mine they attempt to extract every ounce of value, like a strip-mining operation without care of cost.”

“The sense that I get from these is, your not a corporately inclined individual.” Nadja said waving the parchments. “Almost every single one of these deals being offered has a point in common.”

Crystal paused for a moment in thought and then said excitedly, “They all have something to help me take over the Free Cities in my world?”

A withering look from Nadja told the vampire she was right.

“Eve Patron, Best Patron!” Crystal thought as the banshee rolled her eyes to the heavens before selecting one of the pages of vellum parchment. “Correct. They all have provisions for assisting you in the takeover of a more corporate nature. While I cannot personally, nor would I personally attend to such matters I do have a variety of individuals that could assist.”

Nadja Daviar finally selected one of the contract pages after a long period of silence as the VTOL began to descend. With a soft sigh she took a small knife from within her dress and punctured her thumb causing a few drops of blood to well up. Pressing her thumb to the box on the contract page the blood mana within it took effect. In a gentle glimmer of silvered light, the chosen contract, as well as all other pages, vanished into sparkling specks.

“Now that that’s done, let’s talk about something more crucial.” Nadja said looking at her employee with a critical gaze. “Your taste in clothing for the upcoming party is atrocious, we’ll need to fix that.”