23.2

February 12, 2070, 0719

Badlands, Rocky Ridge Overlook, Nameless Hill #4

With a vampire’s eye for detail, Crystal monitored the NCPD's maneuvers through strategically positioned cameras around the farmhouse. The NCPD elite team known as S.W.I.F.T. showed deft and coordinated movement. Not far behind them were four NCPD detectives who meticulously scanned the scene.

"Do you think they'll appreciate our...generosity?" Crystal mused aloud, catching sight of a detective picking up a card emblazoned with 'The Phantom.'

Fluffyfeathers, engrossed in her shape-shifting practice, transformed into a captivating yellow baby chick who managed to draw a smile from Crystal. "Gift-wrapping a notorious serial killer with evidence of their heinous acts? I'd say they should be sending us thank-you cards."

Crystal huffed. "It took them years to realize he existed. We finished it in days. But yes, perhaps they're not fond of looking incompetent."

Fluffyfeathers, now struggling to perfect her wing proportions, quipped, "The NCPD's prowess seems more in securing funds than actual detective work. The Phantom isn’t even in their database yet. We aren’t even famous with the police, but we already have a ten million eddy bounty from the Corpos."

As Crystal continued her surveillance, she noticed a detective dialing a number. Seconds later, her encrypted Net phone buzzed to life.

"Good morning. This better not be a sales pitch," Crystal answered with feigned age-induced irritation.

"Miss Cry Last? Detective Gonaghal here. Everything alright?"

Suspicion lacing her voice, Crystal responded, "Why wouldn't it be? Unless something's happened at my new property?"

Detective Gonaghal hesitated briefly, "We've had reports of a break-in at the farmhouse. We'd appreciate your presence at the station for some clarity."

She scoffed, "Send the report to my attorney, Elizabeth Peralez. I bought the property as an investment. Seems like it's more trouble than it's worth. I'll be selling it." She cut the call with a snort.

Fluffyfeathers chirped, "Elizabeth is on board. A cut from the sale to handle the legalities. They might peg you as a lead for The Phantom, but one look at 'aging' you, and they'll drop it."

Crystal smirked, shutting off the farmhouse camera feed. It was then that she caught sight of the military procession outside. "Is that a caravan convoy?" she wondered aloud.

From her perch on Crystal's shoulder, Fluffyfeathers observed the advancing troops. "Looks military to me."

Crystal's attention was momentarily pulled away by the state-of-the-art camouflage tech of their RV. No matter how many spells or runes she tried, decoding its magic eluded her.

She sighed, "Eldritch magic is an absolute pain to reverse engineer."

Looking out the window, her eyes narrowed. The advancing NUSA forces puzzled her. They were unlike any military unit she'd seen in the history books at school. Pristine uniforms, advanced vehicles, and state-of-the-art equipment; something was amiss. Allegedly, the military was rife with corruption. Where was the funding? "That vehicle there," she pointed, "is probably the CO's." It had all sorts of lethal apparatus and was three times the size of others. Like leaders everywhere, comfort was paramount.

Fluffyfeathers, now snugly nestled, queried, "You think they've spotted us?"

Crystal shrugged, "If they had, Rabbit would've said something."

As if on cue, Rabbit, the RV’s new AI, intoned, "No immediate threat detected unless their surveillance intensifies dramatically."

With a sly grin, Crystal leaned back. "Well, then. All's well." Her crimson eyes, however, didn't leave the troops as they continued their maneuvers. The distance away was nothing to her enhanced vampiric senses.

The sun, draped in a cybernetic orange haze, gradually began its descent, casting long shadows over the military convoy. As the minutes trickled by, more vehicles joined the formation, causing a visible increase in activity. Troops began to set up a perimeter while engineers swiftly assembled communication arrays and relay stations.

"Seems like they're setting up for a longer stay," Fluffyfeathers observed, tilting her small feathery head to get a better view.

Crystal frowned. "Or preparing for something bigger. The NCPD, and now this? Ridiculous."

Crystal could tell that these weren't standard troops from the advanced machinery and swift coordination. The NUSA forces were elite, possibly even specialized in dealing with supernatural or cyber threats. Her crimson eyes didn’t fail to note the glowing runes on some of the equipment. It looked like nothing more than the scribbles of companies claiming gear, but Crystal knew better.

The military convoy stood out, not for its vibrant aesthetics but its menacing presence and advanced technology.

The leader’s vehicle was an armored AV, its matte-black, sleek design reflective of anti-detection measures. Its hover engines emit a low hum, their blueish glow contrasting the dark underbelly of the machine. Occasionally, the AV's mounted laser turrets adjust their positions, scanning the surrounding Badlands hinting at autonomous AI capabilities.

Trailing the AV surrounding it like servants were a series of armored ground vehicles, not the typical wheeled transports but six-legged, insect-like armored crawlers. Their flexible, articulated legs allow for quick maneuverability in all types of terrain. Each crawler was equipped with a top-mounted drone deployment system, from which surveillance drones sporadically took flight, their tiny rotors buzzing like electric wasps.

Soldiers accompany the convoy, moving with purpose around on foot. Crystal examined them closely; they were not standard infantry but cybernetically enhanced troopers. Their bodies, clad in exoskeletons, displayed an array of both organic and inorganic components. Eyes gleamed with infrared vision, and arms fitted with interface jacks and modular weapon systems gave a sense of palpable threat. The chrome and steel of their enhancements shimmered under the fading sun, with occasional holographic interfaces flickering to life around them, indicating real-time communication or data access.

The vehicles had extensive reactive digital camouflage that could mimic the surrounding environment. It was an inferior version to her own RV, but it made them blend into the Badland’s backdrop and almost seem invisible to the naked eye sometimes. Occasionally, one could hear the encrypted radio chatter distorted by electronic scramblers.

She pondered, "Why here, though? And now? Aren’t they afraid of Arasaka? This level of technological menacing can mean only one thing."

Fluffyfeathers ruffled her feathers, a sign of her unease. "War? Or, perhaps our recent activities didn’t go as unnoticed as we hoped? This is the kind of overkill Militech could go for. On the other hand, who would deploy such forces for two individuals? Contrary to popular stories, one doesn’t use a cannon to kill mosquitoes."

Crystal drummed her fingers against the RV's control panel. "Let's not jump to conclusions. The city is a melting pot of troubles. It could be anything. There have been rumors of Unification swirling around. They might be here to bring the city to heel."

Crystal observed the cameras on her vehicle, tracking every possible avenue of profit. As the military’s night preparation activities intensified, more surveillance drones began to buzz the perimeter, but the RV’s camouflage showed no sign of strain. The once smooth surface was as solid as the void, revealing nothing to searchers.

Rabbit’s voice cut through the thickening tension, "The electromagnetic interference is increasing. Prolonged exposure may compromise our camouflage."

“How long?” Crystal clenched her jaw. She had planned for many contingencies, but an elite force setting up shop on her doorstep wasn't one of them.

“I calculate we can hold safely at this position for eight hours. Past that, their current search patterns will recognize our present anomaly.” Rabbit replied.

"Time to relocate, perhaps?" Fluffyfeathers chirped, her voice edged with caution.

Crystal nodded, activating the RV’s internal systems. "Yes, but carefully. We don't want to tip them off."

Fluffyfeathers hopped closer to the central console. "I can boost our stealth by infiltrating their systems."

With a nod of agreement, Crystal began prepping the RV for a silent move. Like the military leader’s vehicle, her own could use the earth’s magnetic field to move. It resulted in silent yet rapid speed.

The duo of F.F. and Rabbit worked in tandem, their synergy perfected from countless practice sessions over the last week. F.F.’s eyes stared off in the distance, flashing red as she quietly hacked the network. At the same time, Rabbit drove the RV with perfect mechanical precision, keeping the military blind. With a delicate combination of skills, the RV retreated, slipping away undetected toward the labyrinthine alleys and shadows of the sprawling metropolis of Noir City.

As they moved away from the site, the tension in the air gradually eased. Fluffyfeathers reverted to her original form, sprawling on one of the RV's luxurious couches. "That was too close."

"We need to find out what they’re after. And more importantly, if it's us," Crystal said, her voice firm with resolve.

They may have evaded immediate detection, but the presence of such forces hinted at an evolving game, and Crystal knew they had to be several moves ahead if they hoped to stay in it. Nobody moved troops like those unless they had already decided the endgame.

There was a slight blip as F.F. forged credentials for the Noir City security. Clearly, they were not aware of the military NUSA presence yet, a failing that would be drastic if Crystal took no action to inform them.

Crystal navigated the RV through the city's underbelly, using back routes and maintenance tunnels to obscure their movement. The vast underground network, left from earlier eras of infrastructure projects and updated with the latest tech, provided an invaluable escape route for those in the know.

Rabbit's interface buzzed to life, displaying a map with various locations. "These are safe points with minimal surveillance, based on the latest data scans. I suggest we stay mobile until we can ascertain the reason behind the NUSA forces' deployment."

"Agreed," Crystal replied, guiding the RV toward the closest waypoint. She needed time to think, strategize, and perhaps get in touch with some old contacts.

Fluffyfeathers, now in her adorable baby chick form, began accessing various feeds and underground chat networks on a holographic interface. "I'm going to reach out to the Padre. If anyone knows about sudden military deployments, it would be him."

As the RV moved silently through the tunnels, the dark, damp environment was occasionally pierced by neon graffiti, a testament to the city's ever-resilient spirit.

An encrypted communication channel opened, signifying a successful connection with the Padre. His avatar appeared, a shimmering hologram of an enigmatic priest with soulful eyes. "Good evening. It's been a while. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"We've got NUSA elite forces on our tail, setting up camp right on our doorstep," Crystal began, summarizing their recent encounter.

The Padre’s eyes narrowed. "I've been hearing chatter. Word on the grid is that there's been an unidentified leak revealing the existence of supernatural entities and their tech. The government is alarmed and clamping down, attempting to control or eradicate the 'anomalies.' That’s a beautiful smokescreen for their operation, bringing Noir City to heel."

Fluffyfeathers exchanged a glance with Crystal. "That aligns with the uptick in military presence. But what's their endgame?"

The Padre responded, "From what I've gathered, they're searching for the source of the leak—a specific individual or artifact. Whoever they believe is powerful enough to threaten the status quo. Truthfully, they will cordon off the city and try to choke us into submission. Standard NUSA doctrine is to strangle the monetary pipeline of Corporations before cutting out the rot."

Crystal's thoughts raced. Their recent activities were not the trigger for this witch-hunt. But there was something larger at play. "We should find this source before they do. Not only to divert their attention but to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. I have an effective way to get rid of such things."

Patron-powered blood alchemy for the win.

The Padre nodded slowly. "I can help. Let me dig deeper and get back to you. Lay low, stay mobile. "

The transmission ended, leaving Crystal and Fluffyfeathers in the semi-darkness of the RV, the weight of the situation heavy in the air. They were now in a race against time, with higher stakes than ever. An artifact would provide enough to push her straight into Noble with some work. Snipping it out from under the Powers that Be was worth the risk.

The RV rumbled quietly through the lower tunnels of the city, every so often passing by underground bazaars and cyberpunk dens, bathed in the glow of neon and holo-projections. Fluffyfeathers tapped into the RV's holo-terminal as they traveled, bringing up Rabbit’s intricate web of known contacts, safe houses, and potential leads.

"We need an advantage," Crystal mused. "Information is power, and we're playing catch-up right now."

Fluffyfeathers' holographic fingers flicked through a set of dossiers. "We've got underground networks, old alliances, black market dealers… But honestly, Padre or Lucy is our best chance for intel on this. In the meantime, we should work on solidifying our defenses."

Crystal nodded, her crimson eyes reflecting determination. "Agreed. I'll contact Lucy. If the NUSA forces are deploying tech and magic counters, we'll need a way to bypass or nullify them. If they can disable my Shroud, things will get all too dicey."

Lily was a talented hacker in her own right. Her ability to swim through the digital universe made her a formidable ally. Even better, she was one of the few people Crystal would trust.

As they initiated the call, Lucy’s avatar — a swirl of digital code forming a masked face on a short munchkin — shimmered into view. "Crystal," her voice echoed, synthesized but not devoid of warmth. "This is about the NUSA brigade outside the city?"

Crystal raised an eyebrow before quickly briefing Lucy on the situation, highlighting the urgency. Lucy's digital eyes pulsed thoughtfully. "This is... concerning. I've been tracking odd fluctuations in the digital ether, anomalies that now appear arcane. It makes sense now what I was seeing. I’m willing to bet this is related to the Old Net. After the Silver Sword cut through the Blackwall, people have been going places they shouldn’t. It wouldn’t surprise me if some idiot screwed the livewire socket. The rogue AI outside the city is always hungry in many unhealthy ways."

Fluffyfeathers interjected, "What can you do?"

After a brief pause, Lucy replied, "I would suggest you craft an array that can merge with your gift, essentially making your digital footprints 'invisible' to tech and magic detection. I can source the components you ask for from my end. They won't be easy to come by, but I have excellent street cred."

Crystal nodded. "Three favors and one insurance policy. Send the drop-off location when you have these ingredients." It was the work of a moment to send a list of what would be needed.

Lucy received the data, a scroll of ancient glyphs juxtaposed with modern coding and component names flowing across the call. Some items were mundane, others esoteric — from quantum processors to dragon bone dust.

"The underground bazaar at Sixth Street should have most of these," Fluffyfeathers remarked. "But it's risky. That place is a haven for spies and double agents. Not to mention the remnants of the gang war lurking."

"We don't have a choice," Crystal declared, ending the call with a grin. "We'll gear up, stay low, and find the artifact before sacrificing it to my Patron. With this extra touch, I’ll be even more of a Phantom than before. My patron isn’t stingy. The big game brings big rewards.”