Argentorum

Strong Enough 5.2

Super 5.2

The door to Sasha’s room opens with a hiss and Taylor slips inside. She moves slowly for once, avoiding noise.

The overhead lights glimmer just low enough to fuzz the edges of the furniture and the loosely grouped wires running along the wall and floor. A computer chair, high-backed and neon, still sits in its plastic wrap at the wide desk, and on the bedside table a pink and black pistol flashes once in the light next to a large bottle of water with a...

Strong Enough 5.1

Super 5.1

About an hour after clearing the scav den in the basement, David tells Taylor a story.

His mother chimes in at points, growing visibly more upset as she comes to terms with how much danger David was in as part of Taylor’s crew. That comes second though, to the part Gloria played in another story.

“David.” Taylor leans back on one of the horrendously uncomfortable staged couches. “Why is your family so intimately involved with Maine’s deat...

Strong Enough 5.0

Interlude: Choosing Beggers

“That’s a nice chair,” Becca says.

David nods. “Thought this was more of a scav ‘outpost,’ yeah?”

Taylor sighs, pinching her nose. “That’s the thing about scavs. Always digging in deeper.”

“Hey, we found the other elevator, didn’t we?” Becca replies.

They did find the other elevator. It lies in the back of the scav den in the basement. Or maybe ex-scav den fits better. David watched Scar clear...

God Save the Queen: Book 2 Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Path to…

“That concludes my report,” said Obi-Wan.

Dooku’s jaw clenched at the knight’s carefree smile. Qui-Gon was always so relaxed with his pupils—even young Skywalker. That was not the source of his disquiet, however.

Dooku was ensconced in his study with Qui-Gon and Anakin, communicating with  Obi-Wan over a secure comm-frequency. Obi-Wan’s report on the friendship growing between Amidala and the Duchess of Ma...

Strong Enough Shot Caller Finale

Shot Caller Arc Finale

“Pop the bottle and kiss it up to whatever god you believe in, chooms!”

Becca puts words to action, breaking off the neck of the champagne with a deft flick of her revolver. Glass tinkles against the quick tarp they threw down right in front of the elevator, a designer table was dragged over to hold whatever cups and glasses they could find. Becca fills them gleefully.

David is a few floors down, helping his mom move into their new...

Strong Enough 4.6

Shot Caller 4.6

Bravado covers a multitude of fears, especially those a man can’t even speak to himself.

Aaron Lombard isn’t afraid.

He watches the ‘Saka bitch who hacked his car—his car—for any sign that she’s afraid, and she must be, overstepping like this. The pause, noticeable, the twitch when Aaron calls out Yorinobu Arasaka by name proves it. The emperor’s little brat doesn’t deserve respect if he gets so upset over a little wh...

Strong Enough 3.1

Refugee 3.1

“Becca! Time to delta!”

Scarlet slides around the corner, placing the barrel of her gun against of a gangoon creeping up on her friend. One round sends his headless corpse tumbling forward. Time to retreat.

Becca grins over her shoulder. “Find your little lamb?”

“She’s not my anything,” Scarlet snaps. Becca has the most pieces of her relationship with Emma, and won’t keep her electric-alice blue mouth shut about it. “And w...

Strong Enough 3.2

Refugee 3.2

“Get the fuck out.”

Maine sits hunched forward, fists clenched tight.

“I—” The words tie knots in Taylor’s throat.

Maine stands, couch tipping backwards, fists trembling. “I said get the FUCK OUT!”

His roar sends Taylor flying backwards in null time. She slips out the door, into the hallway leading to the rest of the building. They’re at Dorio’s apartment.

They’re at…what used to be Dor...

Strong Enough 4.5

Shot Caller 4.5

<Target is move-moving>

Taylor straightens, hand ghosting to her new revolver. The grip feels sinful in her palm, a shame she only now has cause to use it.

“Is he leaving?” Taylor asks.

Sasha doesn’t reply for a long second. Then she sighs over the call.

<Negative> Lucy says. <Just taking a shit>

Taylor groans, leaning back in her seat.

“Stakeouts never lasted this l...

Strong Enough 4.4

Shot Caller 4.4

“Welcome to Casa del Becca!” The woman throws her arms wide, electric-alice blue skin shimmering in the mood lighting. “Mi casa ass su casa. So, pop a squat, chooms. We got shit to do!”

Becca’s apartment is like Becca. Small, messy, and full of life. Gun bits—receivers, casings, firing pins—lie scattered around the floor between dirty laundry and old takeout. A standing screen blocks off part of the room for privacy, and while the who...

Strong Enough 4.3

Shot Caller 4.3

Taylor and Emma stare at the eviction holo blocking their door.

“You have got to be fucking with me,” Emma says.

Taylor sucks in a deep breath, eyes flashing red. “It’s never the hit you see coming…”

Emma shoves her shoulder. “Don’t start. We’re locked out of our apartment!”

The two of them stand on the main concourse, staring at the door. It’s a Friday afternoon; they just got back from the last day...

Strong Enough 4.2

Shot Caller 4.2

“Scarleeeeeet.” Sasha smirks at Taylor from her bed. “I didn’t know you named yourself after your old spark.”

Taylor slaps the door shut with a groan. “Becca got to you. And she’s my old nemesis.”

“Mrrow.” Sasha smiled, catlike and satisfied. “Friends to enemies to lovers?”

“If you’re just gonna make fun of me, I can go,” Taylor says.

“And leave me alone for another three months?” Sasha l...

Strong Enough 4.1

4.1 Shot Caller

Lucy’s voice buzzes in Taylor’s ear. <I h-have cameras>.

Taylor rises, pulling her lab coat snug over her shoulders. “We’re in. Becca on me.”

“You got it, boss!”

Over her agent, Taylor adds, “David, you’re on the back door.”

<Got it,> he replies.

They exit the bombed-out store front in outer Watson, Becca leading. She has a too-big gun to match her too-big grin.

“Any ...

Strong Enough 3.6

Refugee Arc Finale

Two girls stumble back into their first-floor studio apartment.

The TV bolted to the ceiling blares some nonsense commercial before flicking over to two minutes of news at the top of the hour. Taylor sinks onto the couch. The remote sits just out of her reach. She would just download the digital remote, but according to forums the code for this model TV contains a loadbearing bitcoin miner. No one even has bitcoin anymore.

Taylor slumps ov...

Strong Enough 3.5

Refugee 3.5

Lucyna Kushinaga hates Arasaka.

“I told you to bring a third,” she says. “Not to bring a baby corpo.” The little boy at Scarlet’s side glares, but he keeps his mouth shut.

Scarlet turns to Lucy, eyes flashing red, and it’s all the netrunner can do not to flinch. She sits, back straight, perfect relaxed, like the teashop they’re in should be pleased it was constructed around her.

“We can do the job,” Scarl...

Strong Enough 3.4

Refugee 3.4

Refugee 3.4

You can corner little rats easily in Arasaka tower. Taylor knows that, the lessons written on her skin with bruises.

She feels dirty, physically unclean, when she places a hand on the freshie’s chest and shoves him into the empty break room. She picked this one because the cameras don’t work. Emma cleared it for her with a winsome smile to the security guard, and a lie about ‘class projects.’ Emma is too fucking good at that, ...

Balm in Gilead: Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Nobody Special

Chapter 24: Nobody Special

“And that’s how my trip to Rivira ended,” I said.

“So you didn’t get to the 20th floor?” Hestia didn’t even try to hide her relief. “Phew—I mean, i-it’s good that my beloved daughter knows when to turn back.”

“Favorite child,” Lili murmured.

In response, Hestia tackle-hugged her onto the couch.

The three of us sat in the annex of Hestia’s Church, no longer the...

Strong Enough: 3.4 Interlude

Interlude: Who’s Ready for Tomorrow

You cannot feel the rain.

It pings off metal, trailing in rivulets down the channels and divots. With each stride, it sprays, kicked high like wisps of breath off of too broad shoulders.

Accelerate.

The ground pushes up through your feet. Cracking, brittle strength. Lights flash, horns blare.

Dip shoulder. Accelerate. Activate. Activate. ACTIVATE.

You cannot feel the rain.

The car lands in two pie...

Strong Enough 3.3

You can catch up on this story HERE

I will be uploading any missing chapters and organizing the Patreon collection this week (6/17/25).

A/N Reminders:

The Storm—The name for Maelstrom’s doomed rampage across Night City, and the damage that it left behind

Kikiyo—Taylor’s ripper doc, an o...

God Save the Queen Book 2: Chapter 17

This chapter was edited by J4Numbers and commissioned by Everdusk.
Please enjoy!

Chapter 17: A Mask of Iron and Bone

Bo’s glare could boil the Living Waters.

“You told my sister.”

“You told me to make a choice.” I tilted my head towards Satine.

The three of us, plus one anxious but increasingly fascinated metalogist, stood in a rarely used room in a rarely used wing of the Sundari Palace. The ‘old armory’ where the ruler...

Balm in Gilead: Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Taylor vs Goliath

The towering monster pushed itself to its feet. Between gargantuan limbs, I could see flashes of Lili’s worried face.

I twisted the hammer in my hands, steel fingers against steel haft.

The Goliath’s arena formed a rough circle, with walls of jagged rock leading up to a domed roof. I stood just where the walls started to curve in towards the exit door, about halfway past the midpoint. The floor boss barred me from the other ...

God Save the Queen Episode II: Chapter 16

This chapter was edited by Maji and Commissioned by Everdusk! Please enjoy

Chapter 16: Ask and Ye Receive

“Thank you,” Padme Amidala said, “for the meeting.”

“Of course we must have a meeting.” Satine looked out of the long windows lining the hall, over Mandalore, her home. “I doubt you came here to stare at plinths.”

After their first day on Mandalore, Amidala and her entourage had made good on the idea of a pilgrimage. They had visite...

Balm in Gilead: Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Is it Wrong to Bossrush the Dungeon?

I smashed the orc into the ground with a smile.

After planning this dive for so long, it felt good to finally make progress.

The monsters on this level moved so slowly, and my new war hammer felt so light in my hands. With a spin, I sent another pair of orcs flying back into the bone white trees that filled this floor of the dungeon. Orcs here looked like white lumpy creatures molded from clay. They h...

Balm In Gilead: Chapter 21

We return to this story after four years, in a more uncertain world than once had been. I dedicate this next arc to Hestia, and being kind to those who come to us with nothing. Please enjoy.

This chapter was edited by EVASaiyajin

Interlude: Cruelty Has a Human Heart, The Human Form Divine

Freya had many plans in motion.

She walked now in the gutters of Orario’s pleasure district to advance several of those plans, for a lady never served only one end....

God Save the Queen Episode II: Chapter 15

This chapter was beta'd by Maji! Hope you all enjoy a return to one of my longest ongoing projects

Episode II Chapter 15: Worlds Near and Far

The bright Serreno sun cast evening shadows across the valley, a tapestry of brilliant greens and deep darkness that drew my eyes from the balcony. My hand dangled on the edge of the warm adobe, loosely holding a holopad with a single message over the twenty-story drop.

“Still surprised?” Sabé asked.

I pulle...

Legend Yet Grown: Chapter 4

This chapter was edited by EVASayajin and commissioned by Georgio

Chapter 4: As Way Leads to Way

I woke feeling well rested.

My feet still ached, and my mouth tasted like dead and dying things, but for the first time since waking up bound in the back of a cart, I felt ready to face the challenges that stretched out in front of me. The first, being a bath.

“There’s the creek,” Valga told me. I looked at her with dismay. “Best go early, to avoid ...

Legends Yet Grown: Chapter 1

A/N: This is a backpost. This chapter has already been posted on other websites that I am adding to the collection here for convenience

Chapter One: Hey, You

I woke up in the back of a cart, to the sound of hoofbeats against cobblestone.

“Hey, you,” a rough voice said. “You’re finally awake.” A pause. “Guards sure worked you over.” My head lolled back as he spoke, eyes blinking rapidly. As my vision cleared, I found myself look...

Legends Yet Grown: Chapter 3

This chapter was edited by EVASayajin

Chapter 3: The Dragonborn Comes

I peered through a dense thicket, ignoring the thistles poking against my skin.

“What do you think?” I asked Brutus.

He shifted, pulling against my grip with a whine. I had a hand buried deep in his scruff, or else he’d already be halfway up the hill. I saw hints of a wooden watchtower half hidden through the trees.

I’d started this morning with a face full of stinky do...

Story Poll Results

Hello Everyone!

I'm happy to announce that Balm in Gilead has officially won the story poll I posted a few weeks ago. Thank you everyone for participating! Even if your story didn't win, I'll keep the results of this poll in mind for next time while I work on finishing Balm in Gilead.

I have a few chapters of commissioned work to share with you all over the next few weeks, but I've already started on Balm, and I hope everyone will enjoy the way the story progresses.

I'll see...

Legends Yet Grown: Chapter 2

This chapter was edited by Maji and commissioned by Georgio!

Chapter 2: Fangs and Foes

It would be the second time I took a dragon’s eye, which I felt was twice more than most.

The heat of the dragon’s breath licked at my feet, rushing over the snow-covered ground. Those baleful red eyes tracked me through my leap, and I brought the sword in my hands down with all I could.

The dragon flicked its head, and a wicked horn caught the edge of my blade a...