![[ACE 215_ Ensimmäinen ovi.png]] ## Chapter 1 — A Perfectly Ordinary Morning The Watson safehouse was enjoying a remarkably peaceful morning. No alarms. No unexpected visitors. No corporate emergencies. No supernatural entities attempting to force their way through the walls. And, perhaps most astonishingly, nobody had broken anything. Yet. Ace sat at the kitchen table, cradling her enormous coffee mug between both hands. Across from her, Mai was preparing breakfast while Shammy watched the proceedings with the relaxed amusement of someone who had already decided not to intervene. Yukari, in her magnificent nine-tailed fox form, occupied the chair beside Ace. She was studying Mai's breakfast. Very carefully. "Don't even think about it," Mai said without turning around. Yukari's ears twitched. "My dear Mai, I haven't done anything." "You're staring at my toast." "I am appreciating its aesthetic qualities." "It's toast." "An excellent example of the culinary arts." Ace hid her smile behind her mug. Mai placed the plate on the table. "Your breakfast is over there." Yukari glanced toward her own plate. Then back at Mai's. "Yours looks better." "It's exactly the same." "Appearances can be deceptive." "Yukari." "Mai." "Don't." "I wouldn't dream of it." Mai turned toward the coffee machine. A russet paw moved. A piece of toast disappeared. Ace made a strangled noise. Shammy calmly took another sip of coffee. Mai turned back. Her plate contained one fewer piece of toast. The fox was chewing. Very delicately. Mai stared. Yukari swallowed. "Delicious." "YOU STOLE MY TOAST!" "Such an ugly accusation." "It was on my plate!" "An unfortunate choice of location." Ace lost the battle. She bent forward, laughing helplessly. Shammy put her mug down before joining her. Mai pointed at the fox. "You're making me another one." Yukari considered this. "I could." "Good." "However, Marco makes much better toast." "Marco isn't here!" "Then our household clearly has a staffing problem." Ace nearly fell off her chair. --- Five minutes later, Yukari was still a fox. She had made no attempt to assume human form. Instead, she sat in front of the toaster, examining it with the air of an ancient scholar confronted by an unusually stupid invention. "This device has a remarkably limited imagination." Mai leaned against the counter. "It makes toast." "Precisely. Thousands of years of human technological progress, and you've produced a machine that heats bread." "Would you prefer to use an open fire?" "At least fire has personality." Shammy laughed softly. "Careful, Yukari. You'll hurt its feelings." Yukari glanced at the toaster. "Good." The machine clicked. Two slices of toast sprang upward. Yukari jumped. All nine tails flared. Ace burst into fresh laughter. The fox turned toward her. "Not. One. Word." Ace held up both hands. "Wouldn't dream of it." "You are laughing." "I'm admiring your combat reflexes." "Against a toaster?" "Magnificent performance." Mai retrieved the toast. "Well, at least we've established something." Yukari narrowed her golden eyes. "And what might that be?" "You can defeat an oni, but household appliances remain a serious threat." Shammy actually snorted into her coffee. Yukari regarded all three women with profound disappointment. "I have chosen a terrible family." Ace reached down and scratched behind her ears. "And we love you too, sweetheart." The fox leaned into her hand. "Unfortunately, I love you dreadful people very much." Mai set the replacement toast on her plate. "Good. Then stop stealing my breakfast." "No promises." --- The morning settled into its usual comfortable disorder. Shammy moved to the sofa with her coffee. Mai sat at the table, reviewing a few messages. Ace was considering whether a third cup of coffee constituted a medical emergency. Yukari had curled up across the empty chair beside her, nine tails arranged in a luxurious russet cloud. From somewhere deeper in the safehouse came the faint sound of Brenda arguing with a malfunctioning diagnostic program. "NO, YOU STUPID PIECE OF SHIT, THAT IS NOT A VALID RESULT!" Ace looked toward the hallway. "Brenda's having a productive morning." Mai didn't look up. "She'll fix it." A distant thump. Then Brenda's voice again. "HA! FUCK YOU!" Shammy smiled into her cup. "Apparently she has." Yukari raised her head. "Does she always speak to machinery like that?" "Only when she's being polite," Ace replied. "Fascinating civilization." Ace's holo chimed. She glanced at the display. Then stopped smiling quite so broadly. "Well, that's unexpected." Mai looked up. "What?" "Rogue." Shammy's expression sharpened. Yukari opened one golden eye. "Is that unusual?" "Not unheard of," Ace said. "But she doesn't generally call to ask how my breakfast went." "Her loss," Yukari replied. Ace accepted the call. "Rogue! To what do I owe this extraordinary pleasure?" "Morning, Ace." "That sounded almost friendly. Are you dying?" "Keep talking and you will be." "There's the Rogue I know and love." Mai rolled her eyes affectionately. Rogue ignored the greeting. "Are you busy?" Ace glanced at the fox beside her. "We're recovering from an attempted breakfast robbery." Yukari raised her head. "Alleged robbery." Rogue paused. "Do I want to know?" "Probably not." "Good. I need you at Afterlife." Ace straightened slightly. "What kind of job?" "That's what I'm trying to establish." "Oh, I love those." "No, you don't." "Fair. What's happening?" There was a pause. Not the theatrical kind. Rogue sounded like someone deciding how much she could responsibly say before she had all the facts. "I've been getting reports. Missing people. Suspicious deaths. Strange gatherings. A number of new organizations appearing in different districts." "Organized crime?" "Possibly. Some of them look like religious groups." "Cults?" "Yeah." Ace glanced toward Mai. Mai had already stopped reading her messages. "How many?" Ace asked. "Enough that I'm starting to dislike the pattern." "Connected?" "Unknown." "Violent?" "Some of them." "Any immediate threats?" "Nothing confirmed that requires you to drop everything this second. But I've got three missing-person cases that aren't sitting right, and some of my contacts have started refusing to discuss certain incidents." Ace's expression changed. "Refusing because they're scared?" "That's one possibility." "What's the other?" "I don't know. That's the problem." Shammy quietly set down her coffee. Yukari was listening attentively now. Rogue continued. "I need someone who can separate the ordinary Night City bullshit from whatever else might be happening." Ace leaned back. "And naturally, you thought of us." "Naturally, I thought of people who have a long history of surviving things other people don't understand." "Such flattery." "Don't get used to it." "Too late." "Bring Mai and Shammy. And anyone else you think might be useful." Ace glanced at the women around her. "That could become quite a crowd." "Then bring a crowd." Now that was interesting. Rogue rarely encouraged unnecessary company. "All right," Ace said. "We'll be there." "Today." "Yes, Mother." "Fuck you, Ace." "Love you too." The connection ended. --- For several seconds, nobody spoke. Then Yukari broke the silence. "She seems charming." Ace laughed. "She grows on you." "Like a fungal infection?" Mai asked. "Exactly." Shammy rose from the sofa. "She sounded worried." Ace nodded. "Yeah. More than she wanted to admit." Mai leaned forward. "Did she mention anything specific about the organizations?" "Nothing useful yet. Cults, missing people, strange incidents. She doesn't know whether they're related." "Good," Mai said. Ace looked at her. "Good?" "Good that she isn't pretending to know. Too many investigations go wrong because someone decides what the answer is before checking the evidence." Yukari nodded approvingly. "A remarkably sensible principle." Shammy looked toward her. "Does the mention of cults mean anything to you?" "Only that humans have been gathering around peculiar beliefs for as long as I can remember." "Some of them not entirely mistaken," Shammy observed. "Indeed." Ace looked between them. "Please tell me neither of you is about to announce that you've recognized the beginning of the apocalypse." Yukari's tails shifted. "My dear Ace, I haven't even seen the evidence." "Wonderful. Let's keep it that way." "Besides," the fox added, "most apocalypses are terribly overrated." Mai stared. "Most?" "Yes." Ace slowly turned toward Shammy. "Darling?" Shammy smiled. "Don't look at me. She's older than most of the things I've had to explain to you. That doesn't make her older than me." Yukari made a pleased little sound. "Finally, some respect." Ace shook her head. "Goddammit. I need more coffee." --- Kiro answered Mai's call on the third ring. "Morning." "Morning, sweetheart." "That sounds suspiciously cheerful." Mai smiled. "Rogue wants us at Afterlife." A pause. "Ah. There it is." "Some unusual missing-person cases. Possible cult activity. Financial connections we haven't seen yet." "Data?" "Apparently quite a lot." "Any credible anomalies?" "Unknown." "Good." Mai laughed. "You're enjoying this already." "I'm enjoying the possibility of a complicated problem. There's a difference." "Of course." "Who's coming?" "The Triad, Yukari, Reyes, and hopefully you." "I'm in." "Breakfast first." Kiro sighed. "You are a terrible influence." "An excellent influence." "That's what I said." Mai's expression softened. "See you soon." "Looking forward to it." The connection ended. Ace watched her. "That was adorable." Mai didn't even look up. "Don't start." "I haven't said anything." "You have that expression." "What expression?" "The one that says you're about to become insufferable." Ace grinned. "Darling, that expression is permanent." Yukari, still lying in her chair, opened one eye. "I can confirm this." "Traitor." "Observant fox." --- Reyes answered immediately. "Ace." "Morning, beautiful." "What's happened?" Ace blinked. "Why does everyone assume something's happened when I call?" "Experience." "Rude." "Accurate." Ace laughed. "Rogue wants us at Afterlife. Unusual disappearances, cult activity, things that don't quite add up." Reyes was silent for a moment. "How bad?" "Unknown." "Who's going?" "Mai, Shammy, Yukari, Kiro and me." "Full investigative circus, then." "Naturally." "Armed?" "Wouldn't hurt." "All right. I'll meet you there." Ace smiled. "Bring your winning personality." "That's extra." "Put it on Rogue's bill." Reyes laughed. "See you soon." The call ended. Ace turned back toward the kitchen. "Well. That's everyone." Yukari stood, stretched luxuriously and shook out all nine tails. "Excellent. I shall prepare myself." Mai looked at her. "Are you changing into human form?" "Eventually." "Eventually?" "I haven't finished being a fox." Ace scratched her ears as she passed. "Take your time, sweetheart." Yukari smiled up at her. "Why, thank you." Mai shook her head. "She's going to make us late." "Rogue already thinks we're late." "We haven't even left." "Exactly." --- An hour later, the household had moved into departure mode. Ace checked her gear, then secured her twin emerald-frequency katanas with the familiar care of someone who regarded her weapons as considerably more than equipment. Mai inspected her rune-marked disruptor pistol, verified its condition and returned it to its holster. Shammy was ready with considerably less fuss. Yukari had finally assumed her familiar human form, her long dark hair falling over her shoulders, copper-red streaks catching the light. She watched Mai finish checking her weapon. "Your people do like their firearms." "Night City encourages practical habits," Mai replied. "I've noticed." Yukari glanced at Ace's swords. "Although some of you prefer more traditional solutions." Ace smiled. "Some traditions are worth keeping." "Indeed they are." Shammy stepped close to Ace and Mai. "Ready?" Ace nodded. "Ready." Mai took her hand. For a moment, the three stood together, their familiar closeness as natural as breathing. Shammy brushed a kiss against Ace's cheek. Mai gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Yukari watched them with a warm expression. Then Ace looked toward the door. "Let's go find out what Rogue has managed to get herself involved in." Mai chuckled. "You make it sound like she caused the problem." "It's Rogue. Statistically, she probably knows someone who did." Yukari laughed. "I do believe I'm going to enjoy this investigation." Ace looked at her. "Sweetheart, we don't even know whether there's anything supernatural involved." "Of course not." "Or whether it's dangerous." "Naturally." "Or whether you'll recognize any of it." Yukari smiled. "That, my dear Ace, is what makes it interesting." Shammy shook her head. "You two are going to be impossible together." Mai looked at her. "Going to be?" They all laughed. Then the four women left the kitchen behind, heading out to meet Kiro and Reyes. --- Elsewhere in Night City, a private corporate meeting was coming to a close. The executive presenting the proposal had begun to sweat. He was accustomed to negotiating with difficult investors, hostile shareholders and men who believed that the size of their bank accounts made them gods. The gentleman sitting across from him was different. Immaculately dressed. Perfectly composed. His skin was so profoundly black that the room's expensive lighting seemed almost reluctant to touch it. The executive had never seen anything quite like it. "And with the acquisitions completed," he said, "we'll control nearly forty percent of the relevant market." The gentleman regarded him with mild interest. "An impressive ambition." "We believe the returns could be extraordinary." "I'm sure they could." "Then you'll support the proposal?" The gentleman considered the question. "My dear fellow, I have very little interest in owning forty percent of anything." The executive's smile faltered. "But the potential financial power..." "Yes, yes. I understand." The gentleman raised one elegant hand. "You find it desirable. That much is abundantly clear." "Very desirable, sir." "Then by all means, pursue it." The executive blinked. "You're agreeing?" "I see no reason to discourage your enthusiasm." "Thank you, sir." "Not at all." A moment later, the executive had departed, visibly delighted. The gentleman remained seated. He lifted his glass of wine and regarded the city beyond the enormous windows. Night City. Millions of human beings chasing wealth, prestige, security, vengeance, love and pleasure. An endlessly fascinating place. He had no particular interest in the executive's acquisitions. Whether the venture succeeded, failed, or collapsed into a spectacular commercial disaster was entirely beside the point. He took a sip of wine. "Such an interesting city." Then the Black Pharaoh smiled. --- ## Chapter 2 — Rogue's Problem The Afterlife was having one of its quieter afternoons. Which meant the music was merely loud enough to make ordinary conversation inconvenient, half the customers were armed, and nobody had started shooting. Yet. Ace considered that a perfectly respectable atmosphere. "Home sweet home," she announced. Mai glanced toward the bar. "Your standards remain astonishingly flexible." "I appreciate tradition." "You appreciate trouble." "Also tradition." Reyes, walking just behind them, looked around with professional interest. "Place hasn't changed much." "Neither has Rogue," Ace replied. "That's what worries me." Kiro was studying the club's security arrangements. Mai noticed. "Don't." Kiro looked innocent. "I haven't done anything." "You're thinking about it." "Thinking isn't illegal." "In Night City?" Reyes asked. "Give them time." Shammy laughed. Yukari, meanwhile, was enjoying herself immensely. She had never visited Afterlife before, and the legendary mercenary establishment apparently offered an endless supply of interesting details. The architecture. The people. The weapons. The remarkable quantity of alcohol being consumed by individuals who would presumably be operating dangerous machinery later. "Your city has a very distinctive attitude toward personal safety," she observed. Ace grinned. "We prefer to think of it as optimism." "Armed optimism," Reyes corrected. "Exactly." Shammy leaned closer to Yukari. "Just remember, half the people here have stories about surviving things that should have killed them." "And the other half?" "Are exaggerating." Ace looked offended. "Darling, that's unfair." Shammy smiled. "You're right. Some of them are doing both." --- Rogue was waiting at her usual table. Several encrypted data shards lay beside her drink. A portable display showed a darkened map of Night City, with numerous markers scattered across its districts. She looked up as the six women approached. Her eyes moved from Ace to Mai, Shammy, Yukari, Kiro and Reyes. "Well." Ace spread her arms. "Try to contain your excitement." "I asked for the Triad." "And anyone useful." Rogue looked at Reyes. Then Kiro. Then Yukari. "Fair." Ace placed a hand dramatically over her heart. "Your confidence in me is touching." "Sit down, Ace." "Yes, Mother." "Call me that again and I'll charge you double." "For what?" "Existing in my establishment." Reyes chuckled. "Seems reasonable." Ace gave her a wounded look. "Et tu, sweetheart?" "Especially me." They settled around the table. Yukari took a moment to study Rogue. Rogue returned the look. "And you are?" "Yukari O'Sullivan." "Another O'Sullivan?" Mai smiled. "The family has grown." "Clearly." Yukari inclined her head. "A pleasure to meet you." Rogue studied her for another moment. "Likewise." She then looked directly at Ace. "Does she know what she's getting into?" Yukari answered before Ace could. "Almost certainly not." Rogue gave a short laugh. "Good. At least someone's honest." --- Rogue activated the display. A map of Night City appeared above the table. Twenty-three red markers illuminated across several districts. "Eight weeks," Rogue said. "Twenty-three incidents that caught my attention. Missing persons, suspicious deaths, unauthorized gatherings, unexplained injuries and a few reports that are frankly ridiculous." Ace leaned back. "Night City. Business as usual." "That's what I thought." Rogue enlarged the first cluster. "Then people started disappearing." The display changed. Three photographs appeared. One woman and two men. Ordinary people. Not mercenaries. Not corporate executives with private armies. Just three Night City residents whose lives had apparently crossed the wrong people. "Watson," Rogue said. "All three attended gatherings organized by something calling itself the Ascendant Prosperity Circle." Mai frowned. "That sounds like an investment scam." "Possibly. Their public material promises financial independence, exclusive investment opportunities, spiritual enlightenment and access to influential business contacts." Ace stared. "That's four scams wearing one expensive coat." "Exactly." Kiro leaned forward. "Are these confirmed disappearances?" "Confirmed missing. Not confirmed dead." "When were they last seen?" Rogue brought up a timeline. "Within twelve days of one another. All three attended private meetings before vanishing." Reyes examined the locations. "Any evidence they were taken?" "Not yet." "Financial distress?" "Two of them, yes. The third had recently inherited a respectable amount of money." Mai's expression sharpened. "How respectable?" "Enough to make someone interested." "Did the inheritance disappear?" Rogue looked at her. "That's one of the questions I'd like answered." Kiro was already making notes. "Membership lists?" "Partial." "Payment records?" "Some." "Surveillance?" "That's where things get irritating." Ace grinned. "I love irritating." "You'll love this, then. Two cameras went offline near the last known location of one victim." Kiro sighed. "Please tell me someone preserved the original recordings." "They did." "Good." "One recording is corrupt." "Less good." "The other shows nothing useful." "Wonderful." Mai glanced at Kiro. "We'll examine both." Kiro nodded. "Absolutely." --- The next group of incidents was in Westbrook. Two deaths officially recorded as accidents. A private spiritual organization operating out of expensive rented properties. And four witnesses who claimed to have seen one of the victims walking after her death. "Walking?" Ace repeated. "Through a locked door," Rogue said. Reyes folded her arms. "Convenient." "Three separate sightings," Rogue continued. "Different locations." Kiro looked at the photographs. "Could be falsified footage. Face-mesh. An impersonator." "Could be," Rogue agreed. Yukari studied the information. "Was the body identified conclusively?" Rogue nodded. "According to the medical report." "According to," Reyes repeated. "Yes." Shammy examined the witness statements. "Did anyone describe anything unusual about the woman?" "Besides the fact that she was supposed to be dead?" "Yes." Rogue expanded the reports. "One witness said she moved strangely. Another said she looked normal. The third claimed she didn't cast a shadow." Ace looked toward Yukari. "Anything?" Yukari considered the statements. "Nothing definitive." "Really?" "My dear Ace, people have been telling stories about the dead returning for thousands of years. Some are true. Most are mistaken. And the rest are considerably more complicated." Reyes nodded. "Finally, an answer I like." Shammy smiled. "We need better evidence." Rogue looked relieved. "Thank you." --- The list continued. Pacifica. A violent confrontation between rival religious groups. Several unexplained electrical failures. A body recovered from an apparently inaccessible room. Heywood. An abandoned building used for clandestine meetings. Strange symbols painted on the walls. A witness who claimed the symbols moved when nobody was looking. Ace studied that report. "Did anyone check what the witness was drinking?" Rogue gave her a flat look. "Yes." "And?" "Nothing unusual." "Well, that's disappointing." Mai shook her head. "Darling." "What? I'm trying to eliminate possibilities." "By insulting the witnesses?" "Only a little." Yukari chuckled. "A time-honored investigative method." Shammy looked at her. "Don't encourage her." "I wouldn't dream of it." Ace glanced at her. "That phrase sounds familiar." Yukari smiled. "Does it?" --- The atmosphere changed when Rogue brought up the financial records. Kiro straightened. Mai stopped teasing Ace. Reyes leaned forward. A network of companies filled the display. Holding corporations. Security contractors. Consultancies. Investment firms. Charitable foundations. Several were perfectly legitimate. Others were considerably less transparent. "One of my contacts assembled this," Rogue said. "He's been following money connected to some of these organizations." Mai studied the structure. "Not an obvious network." "No." "Shared ownership?" "Not consistently." "Common directors?" "Some." Kiro enlarged a set of transactions. "That's interesting." Mai leaned closer. "Which part?" "These transfers. They're disguised as ordinary business expenses, but several different companies use the same intermediary." Mai examined the pattern. "Logistics." "Security." "Event management." "Consulting." Reyes looked at the amounts. "That's a lot of money moving around." "More than most religious groups need," Rogue said. Ace folded her arms. "Unless they're buying a cathedral." "Or a corporation," Mai replied. Ace looked at her. "That's more your kind of religion." "Very funny." Mai enlarged another transfer. "Whoever organized this knows enough about corporate structures to make tracing beneficial ownership difficult." Kiro nodded. "And enough about financial systems to spread transactions across multiple jurisdictions." "Can you follow it?" Rogue asked. Kiro smiled. "Probably." Mai returned the smile. "Together?" "Obviously." Their shoulders brushed. Ace noticed. Reyes noticed Ace noticing. "Don't," Reyes murmured. Ace looked innocent. "I haven't said anything." "You're about to." "Am I?" "Yes." Ace sighed theatrically. "You're taking all the fun out of life." "Somebody has to." --- "There's something else," Rogue said. A photograph appeared. A middle-aged man with tired eyes and an expensive suit. "This is the analyst who assembled the financial information." Mai studied the image. "Where is he?" "Missing." Silence. "Since when?" Reyes asked. "Yesterday." "Last known location?" "Outside his office. His vehicle was found six hours later." "Signs of violence?" "None reported." Ace's expression hardened. "Family?" "A sister. I've got someone keeping an eye on her." "Good." Mai looked at the records again. "Did he know he'd found something dangerous?" "Possibly. He requested a meeting with me the day before he disappeared." "And?" "He never made it." Kiro's face lost its earlier amusement. "We need his original working files." "You'll have them." "Everything," Mai added. "Including material he may have considered irrelevant." Rogue nodded. "Already prepared." Ace looked at the man's photograph. An ordinary analyst. Not a soldier. Not someone who had volunteered to fight a cult. Just a person who had followed numbers until someone apparently decided he had followed them too far. "All right," Ace said quietly. "He's a priority." --- The next map centered on Dogtown. Reyes recognized the highlighted routes immediately. "Interesting." Ace looked at her. "Good interesting or bad interesting?" "Dogtown interesting." "That's not an answer." "It's the only honest one." Rogue displayed several shipping manifests. "These are connected to some of the financial transfers. Material purchases, private consignments, specialist equipment." Mai examined the descriptions. "Some of these classifications are unusual." "Some are military surplus codes," Reyes said. Kiro pointed at another. "And some don't match any normal commercial category." Yukari leaned forward. "May I?" Mai shifted the display toward her. The kitsune studied the list. For the first time since arriving at Afterlife, her expression became genuinely thoughtful. "That's curious." Ace looked at her. "What?" "This description." "Recognize it?" "Not precisely." Shammy examined the same entry. "Neither do I." Rogue looked between them. "Should that worry me?" "Not yet," Shammy replied. Yukari nodded. "An unfamiliar description is not proof of anything supernatural." Reyes smiled faintly. "I like the way you think." "Thank you." "But you'd like to investigate?" "Very much." Ace glanced at Mai. "Dogtown?" Mai nodded. "Eventually. First we establish whether the shipments actually connect to our missing people." Rogue looked pleased. "Someone here understands restraint." Ace raised her hand. "I understand restraint." Reyes snorted. Mai laughed. Shammy shook her head. Yukari smiled. Rogue stared. "Why do I bother?" --- They spent another hour organizing the available evidence. Mai separated confirmed facts from allegations and unverified reports. Kiro established a secure investigative workspace. Reyes identified locations requiring physical reconnaissance. Shammy reviewed the unusual phenomena. Yukari considered the historical and symbolic references, identifying several possibilities but refusing to make premature conclusions. Ace kept returning to the missing people. Twenty-three incidents. Several potentially unrelated organizations. And at least four people whose whereabouts were unknown. Finally, she leaned back. "All right." Rogue looked at her. "All right what?" "We start with the people." "Meaning?" "Families. Friends. Witnesses. The ones who actually knew the missing people before they became entries in your dossier." Mai nodded. "The financial investigation continues in parallel." "Kiro?" "Already have a working plan." "Reyes?" "I'll check the security patterns and whether any of these groups have hired the same personnel." "Shammy? Yukari?" Shammy glanced at the unusual reports. "We'll examine the cases that might involve something outside ordinary explanations." Yukari smiled. "And resist the temptation to identify every strange symbol as evidence of an ancient evil." Ace grinned. "That's my girl." Rogue watched the six women for a moment. Then nodded. "Good." Ace held out her hand. "Now." Rogue narrowed her eyes. "What?" "Payment." Rogue stared. Reyes covered her face. Mai started laughing. Kiro whispered, "There it is." Rogue transferred a credit authorization. Ace inspected it. Whistled softly. "Well, well." "Don't spend it all on swords." Ace looked offended. "Rogue, I would never." "You're smiling." "I'm touched by your generosity." "Get out." "Love you too." --- The six women made their way toward the exit. Yukari glanced back at the club. "An interesting woman." "Rogue?" Ace asked. "Yes." "That's one description." "She cares more than she wishes people to know." Ace looked at her. Then smiled. "Yeah. She does." Reyes checked a message on her holo. "I've got a contact who might know something about the Watson gatherings." Mai turned toward her. "Reliable?" "Reliable enough to ask questions." Kiro was already reviewing the financial files. "I've got a few leads too." "Not while walking," Mai said. "I'm perfectly capable of walking and reading." "You walked into a door last month." "That door was badly positioned." Ace laughed. "Welcome to the club." Shammy took Yukari's hand. "Ready?" "Quite." They stepped out into the sunlight. Night City stretched before them. Crowded. Noisy. Unpredictable. A place where human greed, ambition and desperation were ordinary facts of life. And somewhere within it, people were disappearing. Ace looked at the others. "Let's find out why." --- Elsewhere in Night City, the gentleman with the impossibly black skin was enjoying a late lunch. His dining companion was an investment executive whose enthusiasm for corporate acquisitions bordered on religious devotion. The executive was explaining a particularly aggressive strategy for absorbing several smaller competitors. "...and by the end of the quarter, we'll have effective control of the entire distribution network." "How ambitious," the gentleman observed. "With your backing, it becomes inevitable." "Inevitable?" "Practically." The gentleman smiled. "My dear fellow, I've always found inevitability rather disappointing." The executive hesitated. "Sir?" "Nothing. Please continue." The executive resumed his enthusiastic explanation. The gentleman listened politely. He had no particular desire to control the distribution network. He did not especially care whether the proposed acquisitions succeeded. He found the executive's certainty rather charming. And if the man's ambitions eventually produced something unexpected? Well. That might be entertaining. He raised his glass. "To prosperity." The executive beamed. "To prosperity!" The Black Pharaoh smiled. --- ## Chapter 3 — A Very Expensive Promise The first witness lived in Watson, six floors above a convenience store that had apparently given up on convenience several years ago. Its sign advertised fresh food, cold drinks, and immediate delivery. The windows were covered in reinforced steel mesh. The delivery terminal had been shot. Twice. Ace looked up at the building. "Charming." Reyes stood beside her, checking the address. "Could be worse." "How?" "Could be seven floors." Ace grinned. "Always the optimist." "Someone has to balance you." Their contact was named Zofia Velez. Thirty-four years old. Freelance accounting technician. Sister of one of the missing people. She had agreed to speak with Rogue's representatives, but had insisted upon meeting in her own apartment. Reyes had already checked the building's basic security arrangements. Nothing particularly reassuring. Nothing immediately alarming, either. "Ready?" she asked. Ace adjusted the position of her katanas. "Always." Reyes glanced at the swords. "You're not planning to intimidate her, are you?" "Sweetheart, I can't exactly leave these in the car." "You could try looking less dangerous." Ace considered that. Then smiled sweetly. "Better?" "Worse." "Excellent." --- Zofia answered after the second knock. She was a small woman with tired eyes, dark hair pulled into a practical knot, and the unmistakable expression of someone who had been sleeping badly for far too long. Her gaze went immediately to Ace's weapons. Then to Reyes. "You Rogue's people?" "Yes," Reyes answered. "I'm Reyes. This is Ace." Ace offered a friendly smile. "Thanks for agreeing to see us." Zofia hesitated. Then stepped aside. "Come in." The apartment was small, clean, and carefully maintained. A work terminal occupied one corner of the living room. Several unpaid bills were scattered across the table. Beside them stood a photograph of Zofia with a younger man. Both were smiling. Ace noticed the photograph. "Your brother?" Zofia nodded. "Daniel." She sat down. Reyes took the chair opposite her. Ace remained standing until Zofia gestured toward the sofa. "He's been gone seventeen days," Zofia said. Reyes opened her notebook. "Tell us about him." Zofia looked surprised. "What do you want to know?" "What kind of person he is." For the first time, Zofia's expression softened. "He's an idiot." Ace smiled faintly. "Most brothers qualify." "He works too much. Trusts people too easily. Thinks every problem can be solved if you just find the right opportunity." She looked down. "And he's always trying to help me." Reyes waited. Zofia continued. "We've been behind on rent for months. Daniel found this investment group. Said they had connections. People who could help us get ahead." "The Ascendant Prosperity Circle?" Reyes asked. "Yeah." "How did he find them?" "Someone at work invited him." "Who?" "A man named Felix Rann. They worked together at a warehouse in Kabuki." Reyes noted the name. "Did Daniel tell you what the group actually did?" "Financial mentoring. Investment opportunities. Business contacts." Zofia laughed bitterly. "Same shit everyone promises in Night City." "Did he give them money?" Ace asked. "At first, a few hundred eddies. Then more." "How much more?" "Eight thousand." Ace's expression changed. "That was his money?" "Mostly borrowed." Reyes glanced at her. "From whom?" "Private lenders. One of those online credit services." Zofia rubbed her face. "He said it didn't matter. That he was about to get access to an opportunity worth hundreds of thousands." Ace leaned forward. "Did he say what kind?" "No. Just that somebody important had noticed him." --- Zofia showed them her brother's messages. At first, they were ordinary. Enthusiastic. Hopeful. Occasionally embarrassingly cheerful. Daniel had described networking sessions, mentorship seminars, expensive refreshments, and meetings with people who supposedly understood how wealth actually worked. Then his tone had changed. Not suddenly. Gradually. _They're offering me something bigger._ _I can't talk about it yet._ _It's important that I prove I'm committed._ And finally: _Don't worry about the money. Soon none of this will matter._ Ace read the last message twice. "Committed to what?" Zofia shook her head. "He wouldn't tell me." "Did he seem frightened?" "No." "Excited?" "At first." "And later?" Zofia hesitated. "He sounded tired." Reyes looked up. "How tired?" "Like he hadn't slept. He kept saying he had things to do. People to meet. Promises to keep." "Did he mention anyone by name?" Zofia opened another message. "Felix. Some woman called Ms. Calder. And somebody he called the Benefactor." Ace looked at Reyes. Reyes made a note. "The Benefactor?" "That's what he said." "Did he describe this person?" "No." "Did he ever meet them?" "I don't know." Zofia looked between the two women. "Do you think Daniel joined some kind of cult?" Ace answered carefully. "We think he became involved with an organization that's worth investigating." "That's not an answer." "No," Ace agreed. "It isn't." Zofia's eyes filled. "I don't need you to make me feel better. I need someone to tell me what's happening." Ace leaned forward, resting her forearms on her knees. "Then I'll tell you exactly what we know." Zofia looked at her. "Your brother is missing. We don't know whether he left voluntarily or whether someone hurt him. We do know this group took a substantial amount of his money and that his behavior changed before he disappeared." Ace paused. "That's enough for us to take it seriously." Zofia swallowed. "Can you find him?" "We're going to try." There was no grand promise. No guarantee. Zofia seemed to appreciate that. --- Reyes examined the last confirmed location where Daniel had been seen. A private meeting facility near the edge of Kabuki. The building had once been a commercial office. Now it operated as a members-only investment lounge. "Did Daniel go there regularly?" "Three times a week toward the end." "Always at the same time?" "Usually evenings." "Did he ever bring anyone home from the group?" "Once." Ace looked up. "Who?" "Felix. The man who recruited him." "What was he like?" Zofia frowned. "Friendly. Too friendly." Reyes gave a small nod. "Explain." "He kept asking about our finances. Whether I owned anything. Whether Daniel had any other family. Whether we'd ever considered starting a business." Ace's expression cooled. "Did he ask about your debts?" "Yes." "Your income?" "Yes." "Your bank accounts?" Zofia looked uncomfortable. "Not directly." Reyes exchanged a glance with Ace. They both recognized the pattern. Recruitment. Financial profiling. Potential exploitation. Not proof of anything supernatural. Plenty of ordinary predators worked exactly this way. "Did Felix ever threaten you?" Reyes asked. "No." "Did he make you uncomfortable?" "Yes." "Why?" Zofia looked down at her hands. "Because he talked about us like we were numbers." --- They spent another twenty minutes establishing Daniel's movements. Reyes asked precise questions. Ace listened, occasionally returning to details that Zofia had mentioned without recognizing their possible significance. The warehouse. The borrowed money. The weekly meetings. A sudden change in Daniel's work schedule. A new account he had opened three days before disappearing. Then Zofia remembered something. "There was a document." Reyes looked up. "What document?" "Daniel asked me to witness his signature." Ace frowned. "On what?" "Some kind of financial authorization. He said it was for the investment." "Did you sign?" "No." "Why not?" Zofia gave a humorless laugh. "Because I can read." She opened a folder on her terminal. "I took a copy before he got angry and left." Reyes leaned forward. Zofia displayed the document. It was lengthy. Dense. Full of corporate language. Ace read the first few paragraphs. Then stopped. "Mai is going to love this." Reyes examined the signature block. "That's not an investment agreement." "No," Zofia replied. "That's what I told him." Ace looked at her. "What did you think it was?" "A transfer of authority. It gave some company permission to manage assets on his behalf. Loans, business interests, accounts. Everything." Reyes's expression hardened. "Everything?" Zofia nodded. Ace looked at the document again. "Can we have a copy?" "Take it." --- Outside, the city seemed offensively ordinary. Traffic moved along the street. A food vendor shouted at someone trying to steal a packet of noodles. Two children were arguing over a broken toy. Reyes waited until they were clear of the building. "That document." "Yeah." "Not subtle." "Not even slightly." Ace called Mai. She answered almost immediately. "Darling?" "We found something." "Good something?" "Potentially ugly something." Mai's tone shifted. "Tell me." Ace summarized the interview. The investment group. The debt. The recruitment. The transfer agreement. Mai listened without interrupting. Then asked: "Did Zofia preserve the original file?" "Yes." "Send it." Ace transferred the document. A few seconds passed. Then Mai spoke again. "Oh." Ace smiled faintly. "That kind of oh?" "That kind." "What is it?" "A very aggressively drafted authorization. I'd like to examine the actual entity structure before saying more." "Could it let someone take Daniel's money?" "Potentially much more than that." Ace looked at Reyes. Reyes was already watching her. Mai continued. "If this was properly executed and combined with other agreements, the organization might gain control over assets, accounts, future earnings, or legal interests." "Even if he disappears?" "Especially if the documents include provisions triggered by incapacity or absence." Ace closed her eyes. "Fuck." "Exactly." "Can you trace the company?" "Kiro and I are already working on it." "Love you." "Love you too. Be careful." The connection ended. Reyes looked at Ace. "Financial cult." "Looks that way." "Nothing supernatural required." "Nope." Ace glanced back toward Zofia's building. "And somehow that's not reassuring." --- Across town, Kiro was staring at the document on Mai's display. "That's nasty." Mai nodded. "Very." "Legal?" "Parts of it might be. Other parts are questionable. The problem is determining how it was used." Kiro enlarged the corporate registration. "Found the managing entity." "Name?" "Meridian Ascendant Holdings." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Subtle." "Wait until you see the ownership structure." A network of companies unfolded across the display. Holding companies. Trusts. Private lenders. Investment vehicles. Several overlapping jurisdictions. Mai studied the structure. "Somebody spent real money building this." "Or hired someone very good." "Probably both." Kiro opened another window. "Interesting." Mai leaned closer. "What?" "One of the directors is also listed on an event management company." "Which company?" "Vesper Meridian Events." Mai stopped. She pulled up Rogue's original files. Then highlighted a transaction. The same company. The same intermediary. A payment made six days before Daniel disappeared. Kiro looked at her. "Well, that's not nothing." "No," Mai said quietly. "It isn't." --- At another location, Shammy and Yukari were working through the symbolic material Rogue had collected. Yukari had chosen to remain in human form for the afternoon. A selection of photographs floated above the table. Modern occult symbols. Imitations of older traditions. A few obvious fakes. One particularly enthusiastic attempt at reproducing an Egyptian funerary inscription using characters copied from a commercial advertising font. Yukari stared at it. Then started laughing. Shammy looked up. "What?" "This." She enlarged the image. "Whoever made this had absolutely no idea what they were doing." "How bad?" "Imagine writing a wedding invitation using the instructions from a washing machine." Shammy laughed. "That bad?" "Worse. At least the washing machine might contribute something useful." They moved on. A second image showed a decorative pendant. A third, a ritual arrangement. A fourth, an unusual figurine. Yukari's amusement faded. Shammy noticed. "Something?" "Perhaps." "Recognize it?" "Not precisely." Yukari studied the figurine. It was dark, almost featureless, wearing a stylized crown. The proportions were unusual. Not convincingly ancient. Not entirely modern, either. "The design bothers me," Yukari said. "Why?" "Because it imitates several traditions without belonging properly to any of them." Shammy considered the image. "Someone inventing a religion?" "Possibly." "Or copying something they've seen?" Yukari nodded. "Also possible." Shammy folded her arms. "Do you recognize the figure?" Yukari was quiet for a moment. "No." It was a perfectly honest answer. And yet she continued looking at the image long after Shammy had moved on. --- Reyes and Ace reached the second witness shortly before evening. Felix Rann's former supervisor worked at the same warehouse as Daniel. He had agreed to speak with them during his break. The man was broad-shouldered, tired, and deeply unimpressed by the prospect of being questioned. "Felix?" he repeated. "Yeah, I know him." Reyes showed him the photograph. "Still working here?" "Quit three weeks ago." "Why?" "Got rich." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "That's what he said." "Did he look rich?" The supervisor considered that. "New clothes. New car. Expensive watch. Started talking like he owned the place." "Did he?" "Fuck no." Reyes almost smiled. "Did he mention the Ascendant Prosperity Circle?" "All the fucking time." "Recruiting?" "Trying to." "Successful?" "A few people listened." "Daniel Velez?" The supervisor's expression changed. "Yeah." Ace noticed. "What?" "Daniel was a good kid." "Was?" The man looked uncomfortable. "Is. I mean, I hope he is." He rubbed his face. "Felix got into his head. Told him he was wasting his life hauling cargo." "Did Felix threaten anybody?" Reyes asked. "No." "Offer money?" "Sure." "Did anyone else disappear?" The supervisor hesitated. Then nodded. "One other guy stopped showing up." Ace straightened. "Name?" "Anton Saye." Reyes immediately checked Rogue's file. Anton Saye. One of the three Watson disappearances. Ace exchanged a look with her. Two missing men. One recruiter. One workplace. That was a real connection. --- The supervisor glanced toward the warehouse entrance. "Look, I don't know what those people are doing." "That's fine," Ace said. "But Felix said something before he left." Reyes waited. "He said people like us spend our lives working for other people. That the Circle was going to change that." "Anything else?" "Yeah." The man frowned. "He said the old rules didn't apply anymore." Ace looked at Reyes. "What old rules?" "No idea." He shrugged. "Probably some rich asshole bullshit." Reyes closed her notebook. "Thank you. You've been helpful." The supervisor nodded. "Hey." Ace turned. "Yeah?" "If Daniel's still alive..." "We'll do what we can," Ace replied. The man held her gaze. Then nodded once. "Good." --- They walked back toward the street. Reyes looked at her notes. "Two victims recruited through the same workplace." "Same man." "Same organization." "Same financial promises." Ace glanced at her. "That's enough to justify a closer look." "Agreed." Reyes's holo chimed. A message from Mai. She opened it. Then stopped walking. Ace noticed immediately. "What?" Reyes turned the display toward her. A financial transfer. A private account. A deposit made twenty-four hours after Daniel Velez disappeared. Recipient: **Felix Rann.** Amount: **250,000 eddies.** Ace stared at the figure. "Well." Reyes folded her arms. "That's a hell of a recruitment bonus." Ace looked toward the darkening city. "Let's find out who paid him." --- ## Chapter 4 — Follow the Money "Two hundred and fifty thousand eddies." Ace looked at the amount on Reyes's display for the third time. "Somebody is paying remarkably well for warehouse recruitment." Reyes stood beside her on the sidewalk, studying the transaction details. "Assuming that's what the payment was for." "Fair." "Could be something else." "Also fair." "But the timing is interesting." "Very." The warehouse district was settling into evening. Cargo trucks rumbled through the streets, their drivers apparently united in the belief that traffic regulations were a personal insult. A nearby vendor was closing his food stall. Someone was arguing loudly with a parking enforcement drone. Ordinary Night City. Ace glanced toward the warehouse entrance. "Felix Rann recruits two men. Both disappear. Felix receives a quarter-million eddies." "Correlation," Reyes replied. "Not proof." "Exactly." Ace smiled. "Goddammit, I love working with you." Reyes looked at her. "Because I stop you jumping to conclusions?" "Among other reasons." "Behave." "Not promising anything." Reyes's expression softened for a moment. Then she returned to the display. "Let's find out who authorized the transfer." --- Mai and Kiro had commandeered a table in a quiet café. Commandeered was perhaps an unfair description. They had paid for their drinks. They had even ordered food. But the amount of processing power Kiro was quietly borrowing from several authorized remote systems might have qualified as an industrial operation. Mai studied the transfer record. "Originating account?" "Private commercial account registered to a subsidiary of Meridian Ascendant Holdings." "Directly?" "No. Through two intermediaries." "Naturally." Kiro enlarged the transaction history. "The money moved through a consultancy, then a payroll services company, then into Felix's personal account." Mai frowned. "That's an unnecessarily elaborate route for ordinary compensation." "Unless they're trying to conceal who actually paid him." "Or distinguish the payment from the Circle's regular operations." Kiro nodded. "Exactly." She opened another window. "Here's something interesting." Mai leaned closer. "What?" "Felix's transfer wasn't unique." A series of payments appeared. Different recipients. Different amounts. All originating from the same financial network. Mai studied the dates. "Recruitment bonuses?" "Possibly." "Do we have names?" "Some." "Any connected to known disappearances?" Kiro compared the list with Rogue's dossier. Then stopped. "One." Mai looked up. "Who?" "Anton Saye." "The second missing warehouse worker?" "Yes." Mai examined the transaction. "Recipient?" "Not Anton. Someone listed as his referring sponsor." "How much?" "One hundred and eighty thousand." Mai sat back. "Well." Kiro glanced at her. "That sounds expensive." "It sounds systematic." --- Ace's holo chimed. Mai. "Darling?" "We found another payment." Ace straightened. "Another recruiter?" "Possibly. A sponsor associated with Anton Saye received a substantial transfer after his disappearance." Reyes leaned closer. "Amount?" "One hundred and eighty thousand." Ace whistled. "Quite the incentive program." "That's what concerns me," Mai said. "If these are recruitment rewards, someone is paying extraordinary sums for people whose financial resources appear relatively modest." Reyes frowned. "Then the people themselves may be worth more to the organization than their assets." "Precisely." Ace looked toward the warehouse. "Which means we don't yet understand what they're buying." "Exactly." Mai paused. "How did the interview go?" "We found a former supervisor. Felix recruited Daniel and Anton from the same workplace. He apparently became wealthy very suddenly." "Do we know where he lives?" "Working on it." "Good. Don't approach him yet." Ace grinned. "Darling, you wound me." "I know you." "Fair." Kiro's voice came through in the background. "Tell Ace we found something else!" Mai turned. "What?" "The consultancy! It's connected to Vesper Meridian Events!" Mai became quiet. Ace noticed immediately. "What's that?" "One of the companies in Rogue's original financial network." "Meaning?" "Meaning we have a potential connection between the missing workers and the corporate event business." Reyes folded her arms. "That's worth following." "Yes," Mai replied. "But carefully." Ace smiled. "Always." Reyes gave her a look. Ace sighed. "Oh, stop that." --- The café had begun filling with evening customers. Mai closed the least relevant displays, leaving only the financial network visible. Kiro took a bite of her sandwich. Then frowned. Mai glanced at her. "What?" "Something doesn't make sense." "Only one thing?" "At least one thing." Kiro pointed at the payments. "Look at the amounts." Mai examined the figures. Two hundred and fifty thousand. One hundred and eighty thousand. Another payment for ninety thousand. A fourth for three hundred and ten thousand. "No consistent scale," Mai said. "Right. Not based on recruitment volume. Not obviously based on income." "Could be negotiated individually." "Could be." Kiro opened the recipient profiles. "One recipient is a corporate consultant. Another is a warehouse supervisor. One runs a private lending service." Mai considered the pattern. "Different positions within the acquisition chain." "Exactly." "Recruiters, intermediaries, financial facilitators." Kiro smiled. "Now you're speaking my language." Mai returned the smile. "Always happy to oblige." Their hands touched briefly on the table. Neither moved away. For a moment, the investigation waited. Kiro leaned closer. "You know, we're supposed to be having dinner together later." Mai smiled. "We still are." "Assuming this doesn't turn into a disaster." "We can investigate and eat dinner." "That's an attractive quality in a woman." Mai laughed. "One of many, I hope." "Quite a few." Mai kissed her gently. A passing waiter very carefully pretended not to notice. Then Kiro's display chimed. Both women looked down. Kiro sighed. "Of course." Mai chuckled. "Romance interrupted by corporate fraud." "Night City should put that on a postcard." --- Elsewhere, Shammy and Yukari had moved their research to a quieter room in the safehouse. A collection of photographs hovered above the table. Symbols. Figurines. Ceremonial arrangements. A few photographs of gatherings that appeared to involve nothing more dangerous than expensive robes and poor theatrical judgment. Yukari studied one image. "That is appalling." Shammy looked up. "What?" "The headdress." "What's wrong with it?" "Everything." Shammy enlarged the photograph. A middle-aged man stood before a group of followers wearing an elaborate black ceremonial outfit. The headdress was shaped vaguely like an ancient crown. Very vaguely. Yukari stared. "I have seen more convincing religious authority on drunken goats." Shammy burst out laughing. "That's terrible." "It's accurate." "Do you recognize the tradition?" "No. Someone has mixed several unrelated designs together." "So theatrical invention?" "Most likely." Shammy moved to the next photograph. Another ceremony. Another group. Different symbols. Yukari considered it carefully. "This one is more interesting." "Why?" "Because the people involved seem to understand what they're imitating." "Does that mean it's genuine?" "Not necessarily." Yukari glanced toward Shammy. "Knowledge and power are not the same thing." Shammy nodded. "Agreed." They examined the images in silence for several minutes. Then Shammy stopped. "Yukari." "Hmm?" "This symbol." Yukari turned. A stylized black figure appeared in the corner of a ceremonial photograph. Its outline was indistinct. A human shape. An elaborate crown. No facial detail. Yukari studied it. Her expression became thoughtful. "Another imitation." "Of what?" "I'm not certain." Shammy looked at her. "Does it remind you of something?" "Yes." "What?" Yukari hesitated. "An old memory." Shammy waited. Yukari looked at the symbol again. Then shook her head. "Nothing I can identify responsibly from this photograph." Shammy smiled faintly. "Fair enough." Yukari exhaled. "Sometimes it is terribly inconvenient having so many memories." Shammy leaned against her shoulder. "I can imagine." Yukari smiled. "Can you?" "More than most people." The two women sat together for a moment, comfortable in the silence. Then Yukari looked back at the photograph. "Still an appalling headdress." Shammy laughed. --- Reyes found Felix Rann's current address shortly before nine. A luxury apartment complex in Westbrook. Recently leased. Paid six months in advance. "Well," Ace said, studying the building information, "somebody's enjoying his recruitment bonus." Reyes examined the security records. "Private guards. Controlled entry. Corporate-grade surveillance." "Expensive." "Very." "Do we knock?" "No." Ace looked disappointed. "Not even politely?" "Not until we know whether he's connected to actual criminal conduct." "We have two missing people and suspicious payments." "We have enough to investigate. Not enough to start threatening him." Ace sighed. "You're very reasonable." "Occupational hazard." They remained in the vehicle while Reyes reviewed the available public and legitimately obtained commercial records. Felix had leased the apartment twelve days earlier. His old vehicle had been sold. A new executive-class car was registered through a corporate account. His previous employment history showed no obvious reason for his sudden wealth. "He's either very lucky," Ace said, "or very useful to someone." Reyes nodded. "Or both." "Can we put eyes on the building?" "Discreetly." "Good." Reyes turned toward her. "You're not going in." "I wasn't going to." "Ace." "Reyes." "Don't." Ace smiled. "You're adorable when you're suspicious." "I'm suspicious because I know you." "Then you know I'd never do anything reckless." Reyes stared at her. Ace considered the expression. "All right. I couldn't say that with a straight face." "Progress." --- A few minutes later, they received a message from Kiro. **FELIX RANN — ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ACTIVITY IDENTIFIED.** Ace opened the summary. Several large payments. An apartment lease. An expensive vehicle. And a recent purchase of a minority interest in a small logistics company. Reyes frowned. "Why buy into logistics?" Ace considered the question. "Money laundering?" "Possibly." "Access to shipments?" "Also possible." Reyes checked the company. Small. Privately held. Operating commercial transport routes between Night City and several restricted trading zones. One of its registered destinations caught her attention. Dogtown. Ace looked at the screen. "Well, hello." Reyes smiled without humor. "Now that's interesting." --- Back at the café, Kiro had found the same connection. She highlighted the logistics company. "Small operator. Nothing remarkable on its own." Mai studied the route information. "But its transport permits overlap with several shipments in Rogue's dossier." "Exactly." "Can we establish whether Felix's investment gave him operational access?" "Not yet." "Then we need the ownership documents." Kiro nodded. "Already requested through the commercial registry." Mai smiled. "Excellent." The response arrived. Kiro opened it. Then stopped smiling. Mai noticed. "What?" "Felix didn't just purchase shares." "What did he purchase?" "An option to acquire controlling interest." Mai stared. "How much?" "Fifty-one percent." "And the payment?" "Deferred." "To whom?" Kiro enlarged the contractual schedule. A subsidiary of Meridian Ascendant Holdings. Mai slowly leaned back. "Well." Kiro looked at her. "That's becoming a familiar word." "Because this is becoming a familiar structure." "Explain." Mai pointed at the agreement. "Felix receives substantial money. He acquires influence over a logistics company without immediately paying the full purchase price. The financing comes from the same network that paid him." "So the network gains practical influence through Felix." "Potentially." "And if Felix disappears?" Mai studied the clauses. "Control could revert through the financing arrangement." Kiro frowned. "That's a very strange way to build a business empire." "Unless the objective is to acquire control without the original organization appearing as the owner." Kiro looked at the wider financial map. Then smiled grimly. "That's a very expensive shell game." Mai nodded. "And someone is playing it on a substantial scale." --- The six women regrouped by holo conference later that evening. Ace and Reyes remained in their vehicle. Mai and Kiro were finishing dinner. Shammy and Yukari joined from the safehouse. Ace looked at the assembled faces. "All right, ladies. What have we got?" Mai summarized the financial connections. Kiro explained the logistics ownership structure. Reyes reported Felix's new residence and unexplained wealth. Shammy described the symbolic material. Yukari emphasized that nothing they had examined established a definite supernatural connection. Ace listened. Then nodded. "So far, we've got a financial organization using questionable contracts, unusually large payments, aggressive recruitment and possibly shell companies to acquire assets." "Yes," Mai said. "Two missing workers connected to the same recruiter." "Correct." "And a logistics connection to Dogtown." "Potentially," Reyes corrected. Ace grinned. "You're going to make me say that every time, aren't you?" "Yes." "Fair." Kiro leaned forward. "There's one more thing." Mai glanced at her. "What?" "I compared the acquisition dates with the missing-person reports." "And?" Kiro displayed a timeline. Several transfers occurred shortly after people associated with the Circle disappeared. Not all. Not enough to establish a universal pattern. But enough to warrant attention. Ace studied the information. "How many?" "Four possible correlations." "Out of?" "Twenty-three incidents." Reyes frowned. "That's not enough to prove anything." "No," Kiro agreed. "But it gives us something specific to investigate." Mai nodded. "Exactly." --- Yukari had been unusually quiet. Ace noticed. "Sweetheart?" The kitsune looked up. "Hmm?" "Something on your mind?" Yukari glanced toward the symbolic photographs. "Only that one of these groups has borrowed imagery from something I have encountered before." Shammy looked at her. "You said you couldn't identify it." "I still cannot identify the specific source from the material we have." "Then what changed?" Mai asked. "Nothing. I simply dislike the familiarity." Ace considered that. "Bad memory?" Yukari smiled faintly. "Not necessarily." "That's reassuring." "Would you prefer that I invent certainty?" "No." "Then patience, my dear Ace." Ace sighed. "Everyone keeps telling me that." Reyes smiled. "There's a reason." --- They agreed upon the following day's priorities. Mai and Kiro would continue tracing ownership and financial transfers. Reyes would investigate the logistics company and its Dogtown connections. Ace would accompany her. Shammy and Yukari would continue examining the unusual evidence, including the possibility of interviewing people associated with the Westbrook gatherings. No one would approach Felix Rann directly until they understood more about his role. No one would assume that the financial network and occult incidents were necessarily part of the same operation. And no one would underestimate what human greed could accomplish without supernatural assistance. The conference ended. Ace leaned back in the passenger seat. "Well." Reyes looked at her. "Another one?" "Apparently." "What's this one mean?" Ace glanced toward Felix's apartment building. "It means we're getting somewhere." Reyes considered that. Then nodded. "Slowly." "Slowly is fine." Ace smiled. "As long as we keep moving." --- High above Night City, another evening was coming to an end. The Black Pharaoh stood beside an enormous window, listening as a corporate guest enthusiastically described a plan to acquire several independent businesses. The guest had become increasingly animated. "And once they're all under the same holding structure, nobody will be able to compete with us." "How delightful," the Black Pharaoh replied. "You understand the significance?" "Of course." "We'll control the market." "Possibly." "Possibly?" The Black Pharaoh smiled. "My dear fellow, nothing is quite as certain as an ambitious man believes." The guest laughed uncertainly. "Well, that's business." "Indeed." A moment later, the guest excused himself. The Black Pharaoh remained by the window. He had no particular interest in the acquisition. He had no desire to control the market. He did, however, find the extraordinary confidence of wealthy human beings endlessly entertaining. Below him, Night City glittered. Somewhere, people were making promises. Others were believing them. Some would become rich. Others would lose everything. And occasionally, something entirely unexpected would happen. He smiled. "Such marvelous ambition." Then he returned to his wine. --- ## Chapter 5 — Membership Has Its Privileges The Ascendant Prosperity Circle had a very impressive website. That was the first warning sign. The second was the photograph of its founder standing in front of a building he almost certainly didn't own. The third was the slogan. **WEALTH IS NOT A PRIVILEGE. IT IS A STATE OF MIND.** Kiro stared at the screen. Then slowly turned toward Mai. "Can I delete it?" Mai smiled into her coffee. "No." "Please?" "No." "Just the slogan?" "Kiro." "It's a crime against language." "Unfortunately, not one we're authorized to prosecute." Kiro sighed. "Night City desperately needs better laws." They were sitting in an office rented by O'Sullivan SAS, surrounded by displays containing corporate records, financial summaries and an increasingly elaborate map of the Circle's business relationships. The public website promised prosperity, exclusive networking opportunities, personal transformation and access to a community of successful individuals. Membership applications required extensive financial information. Kiro scrolled through the form. "Income. Assets. Outstanding loans. Employment history. Next of kin." Mai leaned closer. "Next of kin?" "Right there." "That's rather intrusive for a networking club." "Wait. It gets better." Kiro opened the membership agreement. "Applicants consent to additional financial verification, background assessment and evaluation of their economic potential." Mai read the relevant section. "That's a remarkably broad authorization." "Would you sign it?" "Not without a lawyer, a complete audit and a very large glass of wine." Kiro grinned. "So that's a maybe." Mai kissed her cheek. "Absolutely not." --- The Circle's public founder was a man named Pavel Sokolov. Forty-eight. Former financial consultant. Previously employed by two mid-sized investment firms. No convictions. Several civil disputes. One bankruptcy that had apparently been resolved under circumstances worth examining. Mai studied his photograph. "Does he actually own the building?" Kiro checked. "No." "Thought so." "Leased through Meridian Ascendant Holdings." "Naturally." Kiro opened the Circle's public corporate filings. "There's something interesting about his appointment." Mai looked up. "What?" "He became the registered director seven months ago." "And before that?" "The organization operated under a different name." "Which?" "The Prosperity Initiative." Mai considered that. "Rebranding?" "Looks like it." "Why?" Kiro brought up archived advertising material. "Poor reviews. Complaints about expensive membership fees. Allegations that promised investment opportunities never materialized." "Any regulatory action?" "Nothing conclusive." "Then we should be careful about treating complaints as established wrongdoing." Kiro nodded. "Agreed." She opened another file. "But Pavel himself is interesting." "How?" "He doesn't appear to control the money." Mai smiled faintly. "Now that is interesting." --- At the Watson safehouse, Shammy and Yukari had been joined by Iris and Brenda. Iris was studying the photographs from Rogue's dossier. Brenda had brought coffee. And opinions. "That's bullshit." Shammy looked up. "Which part?" "The supposed ritual circuitry." Brenda enlarged a photograph. "Someone has wired decorative copper around a completely ordinary commercial power regulator." Yukari leaned forward. "Is that significant?" "Only if you're trying to impress idiots." Iris smiled. "That seems to be a recurring feature of this investigation." Brenda pointed toward another photograph. "And this? That's a mass-market signal repeater with the casing removed." Shammy examined it. "So the electrical failures could have been caused deliberately?" "Possibly. I'd want the actual hardware before making that call." Yukari nodded. "At least someone in this organization appreciates the value of physical evidence." Brenda grinned. "Darling, I appreciate physical evidence in all sorts of contexts." Iris looked at her. "Brenda." "What?" "We're working." "I can multitask." Shammy began laughing. Yukari shook her head affectionately. "Your household is quite remarkable." "Our household," Iris corrected gently. Yukari's expression softened. "Our household." --- The laughter faded as Iris opened another witness report. "This one concerns the Westbrook gatherings." Shammy leaned closer. "Anything new?" "A woman claims that her husband attended three meetings and then began transferring money into an account he refused to discuss." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "How much?" "Nearly ninety thousand eddies." "Fuck." "Exactly." Yukari studied the accompanying statement. "Did he disappear?" "No," Iris replied. "He's still living with his wife." "Then we may have an opportunity to speak with someone who remains involved." Shammy nodded. "That could be useful." Iris made a note. "I'll ask Rogue whether her contact is willing to arrange an interview." Yukari looked at the photographs again. The strange figurine remained among them. A black, crowned figure with no discernible face. She examined it for a moment. Then moved it aside. Not forgotten. Simply not enough evidence. Yet. --- Ace and Reyes arrived at the Ascendant Prosperity Circle's Kabuki facility shortly after noon. They were not there to storm the building. They were not there to arrest anyone. And, much to Ace's disappointment, they were not there to make threatening speeches. They were there to observe. The building was a renovated commercial property with polished windows, discreet security cameras and a large illuminated sign advertising financial transformation. Ace stood across the street, studying it. "That's a lot of money spent pretending to be respectable." Reyes checked the entrance. "Respectability sells." "Especially when you're selling bullshit." "Apparently." A stream of visitors entered the building. Some wore expensive corporate clothing. Others looked like ordinary workers. A young couple arrived together, speaking excitedly. An older man stopped outside to check his account balance before entering. Ace watched him. "That's depressing." "What?" "Look at him." Reyes followed her gaze. The man was visibly nervous. He hesitated before stepping through the entrance. "He's hoping for something," Reyes said. "Yeah." Ace folded her arms. "And somebody inside knows exactly how to sell it to him." --- A security guard approached them. "Can I help you?" Ace turned with a pleasant smile. "Depends. Are you offering financial enlightenment?" The guard blinked. "Sorry?" Reyes stepped in smoothly. "We're looking for information about membership." The guard looked at them. "Are you registered?" "Not yet." "Then you'll need to contact the reception desk." Ace glanced at the building. "Can't we just walk in?" "Members and invited guests only." "Exclusive." "That's the idea." Reyes nodded. "Thank you." The guard returned to his post. Ace waited until he was out of earshot. "Well, that was illuminating." "You were hoping he'd invite us inside?" "I was hoping he'd say something interesting." "He did." Ace raised an eyebrow. "What?" "He followed a procedure. Didn't ask who we were. Didn't try to recruit us. Didn't overreact." "Very professional." "Exactly." Ace considered that. "Which tells us?" "That the people running the entrance care about controlling access." "Not necessarily criminal." "Not necessarily." Ace sighed. "You're making this investigation terribly reasonable." Reyes smiled. "You're welcome." --- They moved to a nearby café with a clear view of the entrance. Ace ordered coffee. Reyes ordered something that looked suspiciously healthy. Ace examined her drink. "What is that?" "Tea." "Why?" "Because I like it." "That's unsettling." Reyes ignored her. They watched the building. The visitors. The security arrangements. The deliveries. Nothing overtly suspicious. Then a sleek executive vehicle arrived. A woman stepped out. Dark business suit. Expensive shoes. A small security detail. She entered without stopping at reception. Reyes checked the vehicle registration through the records available to them. "Corporate account." Ace glanced at her. "Which company?" "Vesper Meridian Events." Ace looked toward the building. "Well, hello." Reyes nodded. "That's our first direct sighting of someone arriving under an entity connected to the financial network." "Can we identify her?" "Working on it." --- Mai received the image a few minutes later. Kiro enlarged it. "Give me a moment." Mai studied the woman's face. "She looks familiar." "From where?" "One of the corporate records." Kiro pulled up the associated files. Then smiled. "Found her." "Name?" "Renata Calder." Mai's expression sharpened. "Calder?" "Yes." "Daniel mentioned a Ms. Calder." Kiro stopped smiling. "Oh." Mai immediately called Ace. --- Ace answered on the first ring. "Darling?" "We have a possible identification." "Of our elegantly dressed visitor?" "Renata Calder. Corporate event consultant." Ace looked at Reyes. "Calder." Reyes straightened. "The name from Daniel's messages." "Exactly," Mai replied. "Are we certain it's the same woman?" "No. But the name, location and financial association justify further investigation." Ace smiled. "That's my girl." "Don't confront her." "Everyone keeps saying that." "For excellent reasons." Reyes leaned toward the holo. "We'll continue observation." "Good." Kiro's voice came through. "And please don't let Ace decide she's suddenly a member." Ace looked delighted. "Now there's an idea." "No," Mai and Reyes said together. Ace sighed. "You're all terribly restrictive." --- Renata Calder remained inside for nearly two hours. During that time, Ace and Reyes observed ordinary arrivals and departures. A delivery vehicle brought refreshments. Several visitors left smiling. One woman emerged visibly upset. She stood near the entrance for a few minutes, arguing with someone over her holo. Ace watched her. "That looks promising." Reyes nodded. "Potential witness." They waited until the woman had moved away from the entrance before approaching. "Excuse me," Reyes said. The woman turned sharply. "What?" "Sorry to bother you. We're trying to understand the services provided by this organization." The woman laughed bitterly. "Good luck." Ace smiled gently. "Bad experience?" "You could say that." "Would you mind telling us?" The woman hesitated. Then glanced toward the building. "Not here." Reyes nodded. "There's a café across the street." The woman considered them. "Are you police?" "No." "Corporate investigators?" "Independent," Reyes replied. The woman looked at Ace's swords. "Very independent, apparently." Ace grinned. "You should see the rest of the team." --- Her name was Ivana Petrovic. She worked as a systems administrator for a small manufacturing company. She had joined the Circle six weeks earlier. Her membership had cost twelve thousand eddies. Ace nearly choked on her coffee. "Twelve thousand?" Ivana nodded. "For the premium program." "What did that include?" Reyes asked. "Private seminars. Investment consultations. Access to exclusive opportunities." "And what did you actually receive?" "Presentations. Meetings. A lot of talk." "Any financial returns?" "Nothing." Ivana looked angry. "I asked for a refund." "And?" "They told me I hadn't completed the necessary commitment requirements." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Commitment requirements?" "Additional investments. Financial disclosures. They wanted me to transfer some of my assets into a managed account." Reyes exchanged a glance with Ace. "Did you?" "No." "Why not?" "Because I'm not stupid." Ace smiled. "Excellent instinct." Ivana looked down at her coffee. "I wanted to believe them." The anger in her voice faded. "My company might close next year. I've been trying to save money, find something better. They made it sound like I could finally get ahead." Ace's expression softened. "That's what they're selling." "Hope?" "Yeah." Ivana looked toward the Circle's building. "Expensive hope." --- Reyes asked about the organization's internal structure. Ivana identified Pavel Sokolov as the public director. Several consultants handled financial assessments. Members were assigned individual sponsors. A smaller number were invited to private gatherings. "Who decides who gets invited?" Reyes asked. "I don't know." "Did you ever hear the name Renata Calder?" Ivana looked up. "Yes." Ace leaned forward. "Tell us." "She attended one of the premium seminars. Everyone acted like she was important." "Did she speak?" "Briefly." "About what?" "Investment opportunities. Corporate access. The possibility of joining larger business ventures." "Did she mention anyone above her?" Ivana hesitated. "Not directly." "Anything unusual?" The woman frowned. "She kept talking about people who understood that ordinary limitations didn't apply to them." Ace glanced at Reyes. "Financial limitations?" "That's what I assumed." Ivana looked uncomfortable. "But some of the other members seemed to take it almost religiously." "Religiously?" Reyes repeated. "Like they were being chosen for something." --- The interview ended without dramatic revelations. Ivana had not witnessed violence. She had not seen supernatural phenomena. She had not been threatened. But she had provided valuable information about recruitment, financial pressure and the organization's internal hierarchy. Ace thanked her. Reyes gave her a secure contact method in case she remembered anything else. As Ivana stood to leave, she hesitated. "Do you think I'll get my money back?" Ace considered the question. "I don't know." Ivana nodded sadly. "Fair enough." "But if this organization is doing something illegal, we'll do our best to establish what." The woman gave a small, tired smile. "Thanks." Then she left. --- Ace watched her disappear into the afternoon crowd. "Twelve thousand eddies." Reyes nodded. "That's a lot of money." "For someone who's worried about losing her job." "Exactly." Ace looked toward the Circle's building. "These people are parasites." "Possibly." Ace turned. "Possibly?" "We know they're charging large membership fees and pressuring people to transfer assets. We still need evidence of specific crimes." Ace sighed. "Goddammit, Reyes." "What?" "Stop being right." Reyes smiled. "Never." --- Back at the rented office, Mai and Kiro were assembling a much clearer picture. The Circle had multiple membership tiers. Its premium programs generated substantial revenue. But the real financial power appeared elsewhere. In asset management agreements. Investment vehicles. Corporate acquisitions. And the increasingly complicated relationship between Meridian Ascendant Holdings and its subsidiaries. Kiro studied the graph. "They're not just collecting membership fees." Mai nodded. "They're building control." "Over what?" "Assets. Companies. Voting rights. Financial obligations." Kiro leaned back. "That's ambitious." "Extremely." "And potentially very profitable." "Or catastrophically dangerous." Kiro smiled faintly. "Depending on whose money you're using." Mai looked at the network. "Exactly." Her holo chimed. A message from Ace. _We found another witness. Also, your girlfriend is being annoyingly sensible._ Mai smiled. She typed back. _Which girlfriend?_ A moment later: _GODDAMMIT, MAI._ Kiro leaned over to read the exchange. Then burst out laughing. --- At the safehouse, Shammy and Yukari had reached a similar conclusion from a very different direction. Most of the Circle's public symbolism was theatrical. Borrowed. Poorly understood. Designed to impress. But a small number of private images suggested that at least some members believed their wealth-building activities had spiritual significance. Yukari examined one photograph. "A very old human habit." Shammy looked at her. "What?" "Confusing wealth with divine favor." Shammy smiled faintly. "That hasn't changed much." "No." Yukari enlarged the image of the crowned, faceless figure. "And sometimes humans become so convinced of their own importance that they begin inviting things they don't understand into their lives." Shammy studied her. "Do you think that's happening here?" Yukari considered the question. Then shook her head. "I think we need more evidence." Shammy smiled. "You're learning our investigative habits." Yukari gave her an amused look. "My dear Shammy, you were watching civilizations rise and fall long before I was born. I suspect you know a thing or two about patience." Shammy chuckled. "And you've had plenty of time to practice it yourself." "One would think so," Yukari replied. "Yet I still find some humans remarkably determined to test it." Shammy laughed. Yukari glanced at the display. "Although I must admit, the paperwork is occasionally useful." --- That evening, the six women compared findings. A financial organization exploiting ambition and desperation. A recruiter who had become wealthy shortly after two men disappeared. A corporate consultant linked to suspicious financial transfers. A network of holding companies acquiring control over smaller businesses. And a handful of symbolic references that might mean something. Or might mean absolutely nothing. Ace leaned back. "All right. What do we know?" Mai summarized the financial structure. Kiro explained the corporate connections. Reyes reported the observation of the Circle's Kabuki facility. Shammy described the absence of confirmed supernatural evidence. Yukari agreed. Ace nodded. "So we have a very expensive financial cult." "Potentially," Reyes corrected. Ace gave her a look. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Mai smiled. "Tomorrow, we examine the next layer." "Which is?" Ace asked. Kiro enlarged the corporate network. A series of connections converged on one company. **Vesper Meridian Events.** "Whoever is organizing the Circle's private gatherings," Kiro said, "is also connected to corporate receptions involving people with significantly more money than its ordinary members." Ace studied the display. "How much more?" Mai smiled without humor. "Enough to make twelve-thousand-eddie membership fees look like pocket change." --- ## Chapter 6 — The Price of Belonging By Thursday morning, Kiro had developed a personal dislike for Vesper Meridian Events. Not because the company had done anything to her. Not yet. But because its accounting records were, in her professional opinion, an insult to anyone possessing a functioning brain. "Look at this." Mai glanced up from her coffee. "What?" "Four different accounting systems." "That sounds inconvenient." "Four different accounting systems handling transactions for the same group of companies." "Deliberately?" "Either that or someone needs to be shot." Mai smiled. "Preferably not before breakfast." Kiro enlarged the financial records. "They're using different reporting structures to make ordinary comparisons unnecessarily difficult. One company reports services by contract, another by department, another by project." "And the fourth?" "Apparently by the phases of the fucking moon." Mai laughed. "That bad?" "Worse. At least the moon follows a predictable schedule." They were working from the office O'Sullivan SAS rented for administrative and client business. The company did not need a permanent headquarters. Its operations were deliberately flexible, and most of the actual work happened wherever its specialists were needed. Today, however, the rented office provided something valuable. Privacy. And coffee. Lots of coffee. --- Kiro brought up the relevant transfers. "Here's our problem." Mai examined the display. Vesper Meridian Events appeared in dozens of transactions connected to the Circle. Event management. Consulting fees. Venue rentals. Private transportation. Security. All normal business expenses. Individually. "Nothing illegal about any of those," Mai observed. "Exactly." "But together?" Kiro highlighted several entries. "Together they suggest the company is doing considerably more than organizing expensive parties." Mai looked at the amounts. "How considerably?" "Enough that I want to know who's actually authorizing these payments." "Renata Calder?" "Possibly." "She appears to be involved in several of the transactions." "Yes. But the authorization structure goes above her." Mai leaned forward. "Above her how?" Kiro opened another document. "She has operational authority. Somebody else approves the larger transfers." "Who?" "That's what I'm trying to establish." --- Ace and Reyes had begun their day with a less glamorous assignment. They were visiting a former Circle member who had agreed to speak with Rogue's people. The woman lived in a modest apartment in Northside. Her name was Danuta Kowalczyk. She was fifty-six, worked part-time in industrial maintenance, and had spent nearly thirty years saving enough money to retire. Then she had joined the Ascendant Prosperity Circle. Ace listened as Danuta explained what happened. "They said my savings weren't working for me." Reyes sat opposite her. "How much did you invest?" "Forty thousand." Ace winced. Danuta noticed. "Yes. I know." "How long ago?" Reyes asked. "Four months." "And what did they promise?" "Returns. Business opportunities. A chance to become financially independent." Ace looked around the apartment. It was carefully maintained. Old furniture. A few family photographs. Nothing luxurious. Nothing suggesting a woman who could afford to lose forty thousand eddies. "Did you get anything back?" Ace asked. "Some payments. Small ones." "How much?" "About three thousand." Reyes made a note. "Have you requested the rest?" "Yes." "And?" "They told me my investment was committed to a long-term program." Danuta shook her head. "I asked for the contract. They sent me fifty pages of nonsense." Ace sighed. "That sounds familiar." --- Danuta showed them the correspondence. Several polite messages. A series of automated replies. Then an increasingly aggressive exchange with a financial adviser. Reyes read carefully. "Did they threaten you?" "Not directly." "What did they say?" "That withdrawing early would damage my standing with the Circle." Ace looked up. "Standing?" "Membership status. Access to future opportunities." "And you cared about that?" Danuta gave her a tired look. "At the time, yes." Ace softened. "Sorry." Danuta shrugged. "They made it sound like I was part of something important." She looked down at her hands. "I know how stupid that sounds." "It doesn't," Ace replied. Danuta looked at her. "They spent months telling you that you mattered. That your future mattered. Then they convinced you the money was the price of getting there." Danuta was quiet for a moment. Then nodded. "Yes." Reyes looked at Ace. A brief glance. No words needed. --- The conversation became more useful when Danuta mentioned a private meeting. "I attended one of their invitation-only gatherings." Reyes straightened. "Where?" "A rented hall in Westbrook." "When?" "About six weeks ago." "Who organized it?" "Some event company. I don't remember the name." Ace showed her the Vesper Meridian Events logo. Danuta nodded immediately. "That one." "Do you remember who attended?" "Maybe thirty people. Most of them looked wealthy." "Any names?" "A woman named Renata. She gave a speech." Reyes glanced at Ace. "Renata Calder?" "Yes." "What did she say?" Danuta considered. "That wealth wasn't just money. That it was freedom from limitations." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Sounds expensive." Danuta gave a bitter smile. "It was." "Anything else?" "She talked about access. Influence. Power." Reyes asked: "Did she describe any specific investment opportunities?" "Not really." "Then what was the purpose of the meeting?" Danuta hesitated. "To make us want to belong." --- After leaving, Ace and Reyes walked toward their vehicle. Ace was unusually quiet. Reyes noticed. "What?" "Forty thousand eddies." "Yeah." "That's years of savings." "Probably." Ace glanced back toward the building. "And they sold her a promise." Reyes nodded. "An expensive one." Ace took a breath. "These people are beginning to piss me off." Reyes smiled faintly. "Beginning?" "Professionally." "Of course." "Very professionally." They reached the vehicle. Reyes opened the door. "Try not to stab anybody before lunch." Ace looked offended. "Sweetheart, I have excellent self-control." Reyes raised an eyebrow. Ace considered. "All right. Adequate self-control." "Better." --- At the safehouse, Shammy and Yukari were examining another set of photographs. Iris had obtained them through one of Rogue's contacts. The images showed a private Westbrook gathering. Elegant clothing. Expensive decorations. A stage. And, behind the speaker, a large stylized emblem. A crowned figure rendered in black against a gold background. Yukari studied it. "Again." Shammy nodded. "Same design." "Not quite." "What changed?" "The proportions." Yukari enlarged the image. "The crown is different. The shoulders are narrower. The figure's posture has been altered." "Different artist?" "Possibly." Shammy examined the image. "Does any version mean anything to you?" Yukari hesitated. "Not enough." Shammy smiled. "That's becoming a familiar answer." "I prefer honesty to dramatic revelations." "An admirable preference." Yukari leaned back. "Besides, if every badly drawn symbol represented an actual supernatural entity, Night City would have collapsed centuries ago." Shammy laughed. "Fair point." --- Iris entered carrying another data shard. "More financial records." Yukari smiled. "Wonderful. My favorite form of human suffering." Iris laughed. "Brenda says the same thing about tax returns." Shammy accepted the shard. "Anything interesting?" "One of the attendees at the Westbrook gathering is a corporate executive." "Which corporation?" "A mid-sized transportation company." Yukari looked up. "Connected to Dogtown?" "Possibly." Iris brought up the company records. Several commercial routes. Two private security contracts. A recently announced restructuring. Shammy examined the names. "Does Mai know?" "I've forwarded everything." "Good." Yukari studied the restructuring notice. "That seems rather sudden." Iris nodded. "It is." "Financial trouble?" "Apparently." Yukari glanced toward Shammy. "Humans do seem remarkably fond of complicated ways to transfer ownership." Shammy smiled. "They've had plenty of practice." --- By afternoon, Mai and Kiro had identified the company's financial vulnerability. A large outstanding loan. An unfavorable refinancing arrangement. And a set of contractual provisions that could transfer control if certain payments were missed. Kiro stared at the agreement. "That's ugly." Mai nodded. "Very." "Legal?" "Potentially." "Ethical?" "Not particularly." Kiro looked at the ownership structure. "Who benefits?" Mai highlighted the creditor. A subsidiary of Meridian Ascendant Holdings. Kiro sighed. "Of course." Mai studied the arrangement. "They're positioning themselves to acquire a controlling interest." "Without buying it outright." "Exactly." "How many companies have they done this to?" "That's what we need to establish." Kiro opened a fresh search. Then froze. Mai noticed. "What?" "Three more." "Three more what?" "Companies with similar financing arrangements." Mai leaned closer. Different industries. Different locations. Different management teams. But the same underlying structure. Debt. Financial pressure. Conditional transfers of control. Kiro looked at her. "That's not coincidence." Mai considered the records. "No." She paused. "But we still need to establish whether these agreements were knowingly negotiated, fraudulently induced, or enforced through improper pressure." Kiro nodded. "Fair." "Because aggressive acquisitions aren't automatically criminal." "Even when they're breathtakingly unpleasant." "Especially then." --- Ace answered Mai's call while standing beside Reyes's vehicle. "Darling?" "We found something." "Please tell me it's good news." "That depends on your definition." "Mine usually involves someone buying me dinner." Kiro laughed in the background. Mai continued. "Meridian Ascendant Holdings appears to be building a portfolio of companies through debt arrangements that could give it controlling interests." Ace frowned. "How many?" "At least four that we've identified." "Same pattern?" "Similar." Reyes leaned toward the holo. "Any connection to the missing people?" "Not directly. Yet." Ace considered that. "But the Circle recruits people, takes money, and the corporate side acquires companies." "That's what the available evidence suggests." "Sounds like a business empire." Mai's expression hardened slightly. "One being assembled very quietly." --- The conversation ended. Ace looked at Reyes. "Well." Reyes smiled. "There it is again." "What?" "That word." Ace grinned. "Well?" "Yes." "Well, what can I say?" Reyes shook her head. "You're impossible." Ace leaned closer. "And yet you love me." Reyes smiled. "Unfortunately." Ace kissed her cheek. "Fortunately." For a moment, the investigation gave way to something softer. Then Reyes's holo chimed. She checked the message. Her expression changed. Ace noticed. "What?" "One of my contacts found Felix Rann's vehicle." "Where?" "Outside a private warehouse near the industrial waterfront." "Interesting." "Very." "Can we observe?" Reyes considered the information. "Yes." Ace smiled. "Excellent." --- The warehouse looked ordinary. Which, in Night City, meant almost nothing. A fenced compound. Security cameras. Two guarded entrances. Several commercial vehicles. Ace and Reyes parked at a discreet distance. Reyes examined the activity. "Private security." "Professional?" "Reasonably." "Any sign of Felix?" "His vehicle is inside." Ace watched a truck move through the entrance. "What's the company?" Reyes checked the registration. A small logistics operator. The same company Felix had recently acquired an option to control. Ace nodded. "That fits." "Possibly." Ace looked at her. "You're doing that deliberately." "Yes." Ace laughed. They watched for another twenty minutes. Then a second vehicle arrived. Executive class. Dark windows. Two security escorts. The gate opened immediately. Ace leaned forward. "Someone important?" Reyes examined the registration. Then stopped. "What?" "Vesper Meridian Events." Ace smiled slowly. "Well, well." Reyes sighed. "Don't." "Don't what?" "Say anything dramatic." Ace watched the vehicle disappear into the compound. "Wouldn't dream of it." --- A few minutes later, the executive vehicle left. Reyes obtained a clear image of one passenger. A woman. Dark business suit. Expensive shoes. Renata Calder. Ace stared at the image. "Now that's interesting." Reyes nodded. "Very." "Felix Rann. His logistics company. Renata Calder." "All in the same place." "During a private meeting." "Apparently." Ace leaned back. "That gives us a much stronger connection." "Yes." "Still not proof of wrongdoing." Reyes smiled. "You're learning." Ace sighed. "Goddammit." --- As evening approached, the six women regrouped by holo. Mai and Kiro summarized the corporate acquisition patterns. Shammy and Yukari described the repeated symbolic imagery. Ace and Reyes reported the warehouse meeting. The picture was becoming clearer. Not complete. Not yet. But clearer. A financial network was using recruitment, investment structures and corporate financing to accumulate influence. Its public-facing organization promised prosperity. Its private operations involved substantial money and increasingly complicated ownership arrangements. And several people connected to it had disappeared. Ace studied the information. "All right." Mai smiled. "Another all right?" "Yes." "What have you decided?" "We need to understand what happens inside their private meetings." Reyes nodded. "Agreed." Kiro considered the security arrangements. "That won't be easy." Ace grinned. "Nothing worthwhile ever is." Mai looked at her. "Darling." "Yes?" "You're not going to infiltrate the Circle by pretending to be a wealthy investor." Ace looked disappointed. "You take all the fun out of life." Shammy laughed. Yukari smiled. "Actually, my dear Mai, I suspect Ace would make a rather entertaining wealthy investor." Ace pointed at her. "Thank you!" Reyes shook her head. "Absolutely not." Kiro laughed. "I'd pay to watch." Mai sighed. "Of course you would." --- They ended the meeting with a practical plan. More financial tracing. More witness interviews. A closer examination of Vesper Meridian Events. And, eventually, a legitimate way to observe the organization's private gatherings. No reckless infiltration. No premature accusations. No assumptions about supernatural involvement. Not yet. --- Elsewhere in Night City, the Black Pharaoh was enjoying another corporate dinner. His companions were discussing mergers, acquisitions and the extraordinary opportunities available to sufficiently ambitious people. He listened politely. Occasionally asked a question. And smiled when one executive confidently predicted that a rival corporation would collapse within the month. "How certain you sound," he observed. The executive laughed. "Confidence is everything." "Is it?" "In business, absolutely." The Black Pharaoh considered that. "How fascinating." He raised his glass. "Then I wish you an interesting month." The executive smiled. "Thank you, sir." The Black Pharaoh returned the smile. He had no particular interest in the rival corporation. Or its survival. Or its destruction. But he had always found human confidence entertaining. Especially when reality eventually offered its own opinion. --- ## Chapter 7 — Welcome to Dogtown "Tell me again why we're going to Dogtown." Ace was checking the straps securing her twin katanas. Reyes looked up from the vehicle's navigation display. "Because someone is moving expensive cargo through a company connected to our investigation." "Right." "And because Felix Rann appears to have acquired an interest in that company." "Right." "And because the shipping records are suspicious." "Right." Reyes narrowed her eyes. "You weren't listening yesterday, were you?" "I was listening." "Then why did you ask?" Ace grinned. "Because I like hearing you explain things." Reyes stared at her. Then slowly shook her head. "You're impossible." "And yet." "Don't." "You love me." "Unfortunately." Ace leaned across the console and kissed her cheek. "Fortunately." --- The drive toward Dogtown was uneventful. By Night City standards, that meant only one traffic accident, two armed arguments, and a police drone pursuing someone who had apparently stolen an entire vending machine. Ace watched the last incident with considerable interest. "Now that's ambition." Reyes glanced at the speeding vehicle ahead. "Stealing a vending machine?" "Think of the logistical challenge." "Think of the criminal stupidity." "Also impressive." Reyes laughed. They continued south. The familiar commercial streets gradually gave way to heavier security, damaged infrastructure, and the unmistakable atmosphere of a district that had spent years developing its own rules. Dogtown. --- The checkpoint was busy. Vehicles waited beneath reinforced barriers. Armed guards inspected cargo. A pair of trucks stood to one side while their drivers argued with an official over some apparent discrepancy in their documentation. Ace looked around. "Friendly neighborhood." Reyes handed over their credentials. "Behave." "I always behave." The guard looked at Ace's swords. Then at Reyes. Then back at Ace. "Those staying with you?" Ace smiled. "Usually." The guard did not smile back. "Purpose of visit?" "Commercial inquiries," Reyes replied. "Which company?" "We're reviewing several private logistics operators." The guard studied her credentials. "Got appointments?" "Some contacts." "Names?" Reyes supplied the ones relevant to their legitimate inquiries. The guard checked his terminal. Then waved them through. "Don't make trouble." Ace smiled sweetly. "Wouldn't dream of it." Reyes waited until they were clear of the checkpoint. "Why do you keep saying that?" "Because it's technically true." "How?" "I don't dream of trouble." Ace looked delighted with herself. "Trouble dreams of me." Reyes groaned. "Goddammit." --- Inside Dogtown, Night City seemed to have been taken apart and reassembled by someone with questionable intentions. Old military structures stood beside improvised markets. Barricades served as architecture. Advertising displays flickered above buildings that had clearly not received proper maintenance in years. Armed patrols moved through streets crowded with traders, mechanics, mercenaries, and residents who had learned to coexist with the district's particular form of instability. Ace looked around with genuine interest. "I like it." Reyes glanced at her. "Of course you do." "It's got personality." "It's got armed checkpoints." "Also personality." They parked near an established commercial area. Reyes checked the vehicle's security systems. Ace examined the surroundings. "Where first?" "Logistics." "Of course." "Then we can look around." Ace smiled. "Promise?" Reyes rolled her eyes. "Yes, sweetheart." --- Their first contact operated a small freight brokerage near the stadium. His name was Tomasz Nowak. Fifty-two. Former long-haul driver. Current owner of an office that seemed to contain more paperwork than furniture. He greeted Reyes with professional caution. "You said you were looking into shipping contracts?" "Yes." "Commercial or private?" "Both." Tomasz studied Ace. "And she's security?" Ace smiled. "Something like that." He glanced at the swords. "Traditional." "Very." Tomasz nodded approvingly. "My grandfather would have liked you." Ace grinned. "Your grandfather sounds sensible." "Wasn't always." Reyes placed the company information on the table. "Do you recognize this operator?" Tomasz examined it. "Yes." "What can you tell us?" "Small company. Decent equipment. Expanding faster than I'd expect." "How fast?" "New contracts. Better vehicles. More secured shipments." "Who owns it?" Tomasz shrugged. "Depends which week you ask." Ace looked at Reyes. "That's reassuring." --- Tomasz brought up several public freight records. "Used to handle ordinary commercial deliveries. Industrial components, electronics, replacement parts." "And now?" Reyes asked. "More private consignments." "Such as?" "Specialized equipment. Things that require additional security." "Military?" "Sometimes." "Medical?" "Sometimes." "Anything unusual?" Tomasz hesitated. "Define unusual." Ace smiled. "Something that makes you wonder whether the customer is paying more for secrecy than for delivery." Tomasz looked at her. Then chuckled. "That's half of Dogtown." "Fair." He considered the question. "There have been some specialist shipments." "What kind?" "Materials. Small crates. High insurance values." "Any origin information?" "Not that I can share without authorization." Reyes nodded. "Understood." Tomasz looked relieved. Then added: "But I can tell you this. Someone is spending serious money securing those deliveries." Ace leaned forward. "Someone specific?" Tomasz shook his head. "Don't know." Reyes examined the records. "Would you be willing to preserve relevant manifests if we obtain authorization?" "Certainly." "Good." They left him with a secure contact method. No threats. No bribes. No dramatic revelations. Just another small piece of the puzzle. --- Outside, Ace looked toward the stadium. "Now?" Reyes smiled. "You've been waiting to ask that." "Possibly." "Fine. We've earned a look around." Ace beamed. "I knew there was a reason I loved you." "Only one?" "Several." "Name three." Ace leaned closer. "Intelligence. Professionalism. Extremely attractive eyes." Reyes laughed. "You're shameless." "Completely." They headed toward the market. --- Dogtown Stadium was alive. Not merely busy. Alive. The sprawling market occupied spaces that had once served entirely different purposes. Weapons dealers displayed carefully arranged merchandise beneath improvised lighting. Food vendors competed with one another using smells rather than advertising. Mechanics worked on cyberware beside stalls selling military surplus. Merchants argued over prices in several languages. Music spilled from portable speakers. Somewhere nearby, a man was loudly insisting that a damaged military drone was a priceless collector's item. Ace stopped. "Oh, I love this place." Reyes looked around. "Try not to buy anything that explodes." "No promises." "Ace." "Fine. Nothing that explodes accidentally." "That is not reassuring." --- They passed a stall selling old ammunition. Another offering specialized armor components. A third displayed an assortment of knives that Ace examined with professional interest. The vendor noticed her katanas. His expression changed. "Those are unusual." Ace smiled. "They are." "Emerald-frequency?" She nodded. He leaned forward slightly. "May I ask where you got them?" Ace considered him. "Long story." The vendor nodded. "Fair enough." He did not ask to touch them. He did not offer to buy them. He merely gave them another appreciative glance. "Beautiful work." Ace smiled warmly. "Thank you." Reyes noticed. They continued walking. After a moment, she said: "That made your day." Ace grinned. "Maybe." "Someone appreciates your swords." "Someone appreciates good craftsmanship." Reyes smiled. "Same thing, apparently." --- Farther into the market, the atmosphere changed. The stalls became more specialized. Less ordinary military surplus. More unusual equipment. Experimental optics. Rare ammunition components. Customized firearms. A few items that Reyes recognized immediately as the sort of thing reputable dealers would never stock without extraordinary documentation. Ace examined a display of polished metal projectiles. "Interesting." Reyes leaned closer. "What?" "Those aren't standard rounds." The vendor looked up. "You're observant." Reyes studied him. "Specialized ammunition?" "Depends what you're hunting." Ace smiled. "That's a very loaded question." The vendor chuckled. "Sometimes." He gestured toward several sealed containers. "People come here looking for things normal manufacturers don't make." "Such as?" Reyes asked. "Armor-piercing compounds. Exotic materials. Specialized ballistic solutions." Ace examined one container. "And those?" The vendor's expression became more guarded. "Those are for customers with unusual problems." Reyes glanced at Ace. Ace glanced back. Neither said anything. The vendor smiled faintly. "Thought so." --- They did not buy anything. Not yet. But Reyes obtained the vendor's contact details. Ace examined several nearby stalls. One displayed carefully forged blades. Another offered custom grips and weapon modifications. A third sold ammunition with handwritten labels in languages neither woman immediately recognized. Reyes looked at Ace. "Mai would enjoy this." Ace smiled. "Oh, very much." "And Kiro?" "She'd either hate it or start asking questions until somebody offered her a discount." Reyes laughed. "Probably both." Ace glanced toward the specialized ammunition stall. "We should bring them." "Yes." "Shammy too." "Probably." "And Yukari." Reyes considered that. "Definitely." Ace smiled. "Full family shopping trip." Reyes shook her head. "Only you could turn an investigation into a shopping expedition." --- They continued through the stadium. At one stall, an elderly woman was selling handmade jewelry. At another, a group of teenagers had assembled a surprisingly sophisticated repair workshop. A nearby food counter served grilled meat that smelled considerably better than anything Ace had eaten that morning. She stopped. Reyes noticed immediately. "No." Ace looked wounded. "What?" "We just ate." "That was hours ago." "Two." "Exactly." Reyes sighed. "Fine." Ace smiled triumphantly. They ordered skewers from the vendor. The meat was excellent. The sauce was better. Ace looked delighted. "Oh, that's dangerous." Reyes tasted hers. Then nodded. "Very." The vendor smiled. "Good?" Ace raised her skewer. "Outstanding." The woman behind the counter laughed. "Come back anytime." Ace looked at Reyes. "We're coming back." "I gathered." --- They found a quiet place near the edge of the market to review the information they'd collected. Reyes brought up the logistics company. Ace studied the contracts. "Still no clear evidence of illegal shipments." "No." "But the security costs are unusual." "Yes." "And the company's ownership is becoming increasingly complicated." "Also yes." Ace smiled. "You're going to say it." Reyes looked at her. "Say what?" "Potentially." Reyes laughed. "Potentially." Ace shook her head. "Goddammit." --- Mai answered their call from the rented office. "How's Dogtown?" Ace grinned. "Wonderful." Mai narrowed her eyes. "Have you bought anything?" "Not yet." "Not yet?" "Darling, you would love this market." Kiro leaned into view. "Is that the stadium?" "Yes." Kiro smiled. "Oh, excellent." Reyes joined the call. "We found several specialist equipment dealers. Some potentially relevant to the unusual shipping classifications." Mai became interested. "What kind of equipment?" "Specialized ammunition. Exotic materials. Custom weapon work." Ace added: "And an excellent food stall." Mai laughed. "Of course." Kiro looked thoughtful. "Could be worth a closer examination." Reyes nodded. "Agreed." "Any progress on the logistics operator?" Mai asked. "Some. The company is expanding rapidly and handling more secured shipments, but our contact couldn't release detailed manifests." "Reasonable." "We're pursuing authorization." "Good." Ace leaned forward. "Also, Mai?" "Yes, darling?" "Bring your pistol next time." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Ace smiled. "Because I think I found someone you'd like to meet." --- Later that afternoon, Reyes received a message from Tomasz Nowak. He had found a public commercial filing connected to the logistics company's recent expansion. Not confidential. Not restricted. Merely obscure. He forwarded it. Reyes examined the document. Then stopped. Ace noticed. "What?" "One of the company's new contracts." "Yes?" "It involves secured transportation for private events." Ace frowned. "Private events?" "Corporate gatherings. High-value deliveries. Specialized equipment." "Which event company?" Reyes turned the display toward her. **Vesper Meridian Events.** Ace smiled slowly. "Well." Reyes laughed. "There it is." "Again." "Again." Ace looked toward the stadium. "Seems our shopping trip wasn't entirely recreational." "Apparently not." --- As evening approached, the market began changing character. Some traders closed their stalls. Others opened for the night. Security patrols became more visible. Music grew louder. The smell of cooking drifted through the crowded corridors. Ace looked around one last time. "Definitely coming back." Reyes nodded. "With the others." "Absolutely." She glanced toward the specialized weapons stalls. "Mai is going to have a wonderful time." Reyes smiled. "And you're going to spend a fortune." Ace looked innocent. "Me?" "Yes." "I am the very soul of financial responsibility." Reyes stared. Ace laughed. "All right, perhaps not." --- They returned toward the checkpoint. Dogtown remained behind them. A strange, dangerous, fascinating place. Full of people making a living under difficult circumstances. Some honest. Some less so. Some simply trying to survive. And somewhere among the market stalls and secured warehouses, there were answers waiting to be found. Not all of them unpleasant. Ace looked at Reyes. "Good day." Reyes nodded. "Productive." "And delicious." "Also that." Ace smiled. "Tomorrow?" Reyes considered the information. "Probably." "Excellent." --- Back at the safehouse, Yukari was curled in her nine-tailed fox form on the sofa. Shammy sat beside her, reading. When Ace and Reyes arrived, Yukari raised her head. "Well?" Ace grinned. "Dogtown." Yukari's ears perked up. "Interesting?" "Very." "Food?" "Excellent." "Weapons?" "Extremely interesting." Yukari considered this. Then looked toward Shammy. "I believe we should accompany them next time." Shammy smiled. "I was thinking the same thing." Ace laughed. "Full expedition, then." Yukari settled back into the cushions. "Wonderful." She closed her eyes. "Wake me when the shopping begins." --- ## Chapter 8 — Things That Go Through More Than Armor "Absolutely not." Yukari raised her head from the sofa. Ace stood in front of her, arms folded. "We are not leaving you behind." The nine-tailed fox considered this announcement with evident amusement. "My dear Ace, I never suggested you should." "You said you were comfortable." "I am comfortable." "You said you didn't want to move." "I don't." "We're leaving in twenty minutes." "Then you have twenty minutes to persuade me." Mai, standing in the kitchen doorway with her coffee, began laughing. Ace turned. "Don't encourage her." "I'm not doing anything." "You're smiling." "Because you're negotiating with a fox who's already decided she's coming." Yukari's ears twitched. "An astute observation." Ace looked back at her. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." Shammy appeared from the hallway. "Sweetheart, give her a minute." Ace sighed. "Fine." Yukari stretched. Her front paws extended across the cushions. Her back arched. Nine enormous tails unfolded in a splendid, utterly unreasonable display of russet fur. Then she stood. "Very well. I am ready." Ace stared. "You're coming like that?" "Why not?" "Because we're going to Dogtown." "Yes." "Through a checkpoint." "Indeed." "With armed guards." "How exciting." Mai slowly lowered her mug. "Yukari, you do realize someone might object to a nine-tailed fox entering Dogtown?" Yukari considered this. "Then I suppose I shall have to be charming." Shammy laughed. "Or human." The fox sighed theatrically. "Your civilization is so terribly restrictive." Her form shifted. A moment later, Yukari stood before them in her familiar human appearance, dark hair falling over her shoulders, copper-red streaks catching the morning light. Ace smiled. "Beautiful." Yukari kissed her cheek. "Flattery will get you everywhere." "Even breakfast?" "Especially breakfast." Mai pointed at her. "Stay away from my toast." Yukari smiled. "No promises." --- The group met Reyes and Kiro near the Dogtown checkpoint. Six women. Three vehicles. An assortment of weapons. And enough collective experience to make the guards distinctly uncomfortable if they knew exactly whom they were admitting. Reyes looked at the assembled company. "Everyone ready?" Ace nodded enthusiastically. "Shopping!" "We're investigating." "Shopping and investigating." "Investigating first." "You're no fun." Kiro checked her holo. "Actually, I'm hoping to look at something practical." Mai glanced toward her. "What?" "A personal-defense weapon." Reyes looked interested. "Finally." Kiro raised an eyebrow. "Finally?" "You spend far too much time relying on everyone else to keep trouble away from you." "I have a perfectly respectable collection of defensive software." "Which is excellent against people whose primary method of attack involves a network connection." Kiro considered that. "Fair." Mai smiled. "Let's find you something suitable." Reyes nodded. "Compact. Reliable. Comfortable in your hand. Something you'll actually carry." Ace grinned. "And preferably something that discourages unpleasant people from continuing to be unpleasant." "That's generally the idea," Reyes replied. --- Dogtown Stadium was even busier than the previous day. The morning crowds moved between improvised storefronts. Traders shouted over music. Mechanics argued about parts. Food vendors competed fiercely for attention. A man was attempting to sell what he described as an authentic pre-war military navigation system. It was plainly a dismantled domestic appliance. Ace stopped to admire it. Kiro glanced over. "That's a dishwasher controller." The vendor looked offended. "Military-grade!" Kiro pointed at the manufacturer's label. "It literally says _KitchenPro_." "Military kitchen!" Mai burst out laughing. Reyes took Kiro gently by the arm. "Come on." "But he's trying to sell a dishwasher as battlefield equipment!" "Yes." "That's outrageous!" "Welcome to Dogtown." Yukari watched the exchange with delight. "I do believe I'm going to enjoy this place." Shammy smiled. "I had a feeling." --- Their first destination was the specialist ammunition vendor Ace and Reyes had met the previous day. The man recognized them immediately. "Back again." Ace smiled. "Brought friends." His gaze moved across the group. Mai. Kiro. Shammy. Yukari. Then back to Ace. "Quite a collection." "You have no idea." Reyes placed a small sample case on his counter. "We wanted to discuss compatibility." The vendor opened it. Inside was one of the specialized rounds used by Mai's rune-marked disruptor pistol. He examined it carefully. Then looked at Mai. "That's an unusual weapon." "Yes." "Where'd you get the ammunition?" "Existing specialist supply." "Good answer." Mai smiled. "I thought so." The vendor introduced himself as Andrzej. He had been making unusual ammunition for years, supplying people whose problems occasionally required more than ordinary metallurgy. He listened carefully while Mai explained what she needed. "Not more penetration against conventional armor," she said. "The weapon already performs well in that role." "Then what?" "Improved effectiveness against targets that don't respond predictably to ordinary physical damage." Andrzej considered that. "You're asking for something rather specific." "Yes." "Good." Ace smiled. "Good?" "I prefer customers who know what they're trying to accomplish." --- Andrzej brought out several sealed cases. He did not open them immediately. Instead, he asked about the disruptor's operating characteristics. Its ammunition tolerances. Its existing rune geometry. Its discharge behavior. Mai answered precisely. Reyes listened. Kiro watched the exchange with interest. Yukari examined the cases. Shammy remained quiet. Finally, Andrzej nodded. "I may have something compatible." He opened the first case. Inside were several small batches of ammunition, each marked with a different technical designation. "The important thing," he said, "is understanding what these rounds cannot do." Ace smiled. "Always encouraging." He glanced at her. "Anyone promising you a universal solution to supernatural threats is either a fool or a salesman." "Possibly both," Reyes said. "Usually both." Mai leaned forward. "Go on." "These are designed to improve interaction with targets that exhibit unusual resistance to ordinary projectile effects. Certain manifestations. Certain forms of nonstandard material cohesion. Some anomalous protective structures." Kiro frowned. "How do you test that?" "Carefully." "That's not very informative." "It's the honest answer." Mai smiled. "I like him." --- Andrzej explained the limitations. The ammunition would not make Mai's pistol universally effective against every supernatural entity. Its performance depended on the nature of the target. Some effects could be disrupted. Others merely disturbed. Still others would remain entirely unaffected. "Think of it as expanding the range of problems your weapon can address," he said, "not removing the need to understand the problem." Shammy nodded approvingly. "An excellent distinction." Yukari examined the markings. "These are not ordinary decorative runes." Andrzej glanced at her. "No." "Nor are they from a single tradition." He smiled faintly. "You have a good eye." "Thank you." "Some materials work because of their physical properties. Others require a particular symbolic arrangement. Mixing them badly is worse than useless." Brenda, had she been present, would undoubtedly have approved of the phrase _worse than useless_. Mai examined the technical information. "Can we test compatibility without damaging my pistol?" "Yes. Controlled bench testing first. No live firing until we're certain." Reyes nodded. "Good." Ace grinned. "Now that's professionalism." --- The testing took considerably longer than Ace had hoped. Which was probably a good thing. Andrzej examined the ammunition. Measured tolerances. Compared its geometry with the disruptor's existing chamber design. Performed several controlled checks. Rejected one batch. Modified nothing on Mai's weapon. Then selected a compatible type. "These should work." "Should?" Mai asked. "On the basis of the tests we've conducted, yes. I'd still recommend a controlled firing evaluation before operational use." Mai nodded. "Agreed." Andrzej smiled. "Good. Sensible customers are rare." Ace looked wounded. "I'm sensible." Reyes coughed. Kiro suddenly became fascinated by a display case. Shammy covered her mouth. Yukari looked serenely innocent. Andrzej glanced around. Then back at Ace. "Of course you are." Ace sighed. "Nobody respects me." Mai kissed her cheek. "We adore you, darling." "That's not the same thing." "No," Reyes agreed. "It really isn't." --- The controlled firing evaluation took place at a compact test facility behind the workshop. Andrzej had access to several specialized targets. Most were designed to measure ordinary ballistic performance. One was distinctly different. A suspended test medium surrounded by a containment frame. Kiro studied it. "What exactly is that?" "A controlled surrogate for certain nonstandard material interactions." "That sounds expensive." "It was." "How expensive?" Andrzej looked at her. "I prefer not to remember." The first test established baseline performance. Mai fired a standard round. The target registered the expected conventional interaction. Then she loaded one of Andrzej's specialized rounds. Ace watched attentively. Reyes monitored the safety indicators. Shammy and Yukari stood behind the protective barrier. Mai fired. The target flashed. A brief distortion rippled across its suspended surface. Then the containment frame registered a measurable loss of cohesion. Kiro leaned forward. "Interesting." Andrzej examined the readings. "That's promising." Mai studied the display. "More effective than the standard load." "Against this particular surrogate, yes." Yukari nodded. "An important qualification." Andrzej smiled. "Exactly." --- Reyes took her turn. She did not require an entirely new weapon. She wanted ammunition compatible with the firearms she already trusted. Andrzej examined her specifications. Asked questions. Rejected several options. Then identified a limited selection suitable for her existing equipment. "Different behavior from Mai's disruptor rounds," he explained. Reyes nodded. "Expected." "These emphasize physical reliability first, with a secondary effect against certain anomalous resistances." "That suits me." "Good." They performed the same controlled testing. Reyes's shots were precise. Unhurried. Methodical. Ace watched her with unconcealed admiration. Yukari leaned toward Shammy. "She is very good." Shammy smiled. "Yes." Ace glanced at them. "I heard that." Reyes lowered the weapon. "Of course you did." Ace grinned. "And I agree." --- Kiro's turn came next. She looked at the selection of compact defensive pistols. Then at Reyes. "All right." Reyes smiled. "All right what?" "I admit I probably should have done this earlier." "That's a sentence worth preserving." "Don't start." Mai stood beside her. "Take your time, sweetheart." Kiro picked up the first pistol. Tested its balance. Rejected it. Tried another. Too bulky. A third. Awkward grip. Reyes watched without interfering. Finally, Kiro selected a compact model with straightforward controls and a comfortable grip. "This one." Reyes nodded. "Good starting point." "You're not going to tell me which one I should choose?" "No." Kiro blinked. "Really?" "You're the one who has to carry it. You're the one who needs to use it under pressure. My job is to make sure you understand your options." Kiro looked at her for a moment. Then smiled. "Thank you." Reyes shrugged. "That's what friends are for." Ace leaned closer to Mai. "She's adorable." Mai smiled. "I know." --- The next hour involved safety instruction, supervised handling and a basic assessment of Kiro's comfort with the weapon. No dramatic transformation. No instant mastery. No sudden discovery that Kiro was secretly a legendary gunfighter. She was a highly skilled netrunner learning another practical means of protecting herself. She listened. Asked questions. Made a few mistakes. Corrected them. And gradually became more comfortable. After the final supervised exercise, she lowered the pistol. "Well." Ace grinned. "Welcome to the club." Kiro smiled. "I don't think I'm joining your particular club." "Why not?" "Yours appears to require an alarming enthusiasm for personal violence." Ace considered that. "Fair." Reyes examined the test results. "Good start." Kiro looked at her. "Really?" "Really. Practice regularly. Don't carry it until you're comfortable with the basics." Mai kissed Kiro's cheek. "Proud of you." Kiro smiled warmly. "Thanks." --- Andrzej recommended a limited supply of specialized ammunition for Kiro's chosen pistol. Nothing extravagant. Nothing requiring advanced weapon modifications. Just a carefully selected option with known limitations. "Personal defense first," he said. "Understood," Kiro replied. "Your primary skill is still whatever you do with that impressive collection of cyberware." Kiro smiled. "Among other things." "Then use the pistol to create time and distance, not to turn yourself into somebody else." Reyes nodded approvingly. "Exactly." Yukari watched the exchange with interest. "An admirable philosophy." Andrzej smiled. "Survival tends to encourage practicality." --- By the time they finished, the group had spent a substantial amount of money. Ace examined the total. "Well." Mai glanced at her. "Problem?" "No." "Then why that expression?" "Just appreciating the financial commitment." Kiro laughed. "You wanted to come shopping." "Yes, but I wasn't expecting everyone else to be so enthusiastic." Reyes raised an eyebrow. "You haven't bought anything." Ace grinned. "Yet." Mai closed her eyes. "Oh, God." Shammy began laughing. Yukari looked delighted. "Now this promises to be entertaining." --- They thanked Andrzej and arranged for any remaining documentation to be delivered securely. The specialized ammunition had been tested against controlled targets. Its capabilities were better understood. Its limitations were documented. No one had discovered a miraculous solution to every supernatural threat. But Mai, Reyes and Kiro now had meaningful new options. That was enough. Outside, the stadium market was busier than ever. Ace stretched. "Food?" Reyes laughed. "Of course." Kiro looked up. "Actually, yes." Mai nodded. "Definitely." Shammy smiled. "Works for me." Yukari considered the question. Then announced: "I would like something involving a great deal of meat." Ace grinned. "That's my fox." --- They found a food stall not far from the weapons market. The vendor recognized Ace and Reyes. "Back again!" Ace smiled. "Brought the family." The woman looked at the group. Then at Yukari. Then back at Ace. "Big family." "Getting bigger." The vendor laughed. "What'll you have?" Yukari examined the menu. Very carefully. Then looked at Ace. "May I order?" "Of course." Yukari smiled at the vendor. "Everything containing grilled meat, please." Silence. Ace stared. Mai slowly turned. Kiro began laughing. Reyes closed her eyes. Shammy covered her mouth. The vendor blinked. "Everything?" Yukari nodded. "Yes." "That's a lot of food." "Wonderful." Ace looked at her. "Sweetheart." Yukari turned. "Yes?" "How hungry are you?" The kitsune smiled sweetly. "My dear Ace, I've been listening to weapons specialists discuss ammunition for several hours." "Yes?" "I believe I deserve compensation." Shammy burst out laughing. Mai leaned against the counter. Reyes shook her head. The vendor grinned. "All right. I'll see what I can do." Ace sighed. "Goddammit." Yukari kissed her cheek. "I love you too." --- By the time the food arrived, the table looked as though they were catering a small military operation. Skewers. Grilled cuts. Spiced vegetables. Several sauces. Bread. And an alarming quantity of meat. Yukari looked delighted. Ace stared at the spread. "This is ridiculous." "Yes," Mai agreed. Kiro picked up a skewer. "Deliciously ridiculous." Reyes smiled. "Could be worse." Ace looked at her. "How?" "We could have brought Marco." Shammy laughed. "He'd have wanted to inspect the kitchen." Yukari nodded thoughtfully. "And improve the recipes." Ace considered that. "Actually, that sounds wonderful." Mai shook her head. "One thing at a time, darling." --- They ate. Talked. Laughed. And allowed themselves the simple pleasure of being together. For a little while, the investigation remained in the background. The missing people. The financial network. The strange symbols. All still waiting. But not every moment needed to belong to the case. Ace watched Yukari finish another skewer. Then another. Then reach for a third. "Sweetheart?" Yukari looked up. "Hmm?" "Are you absolutely certain you aren't secretly feeding an entire fox colony?" Yukari smiled. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Shammy laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink. --- Eventually, they began making their way back through the market. Ace walked beside Mai. Reyes and Kiro were discussing the practicalities of carrying Kiro's new pistol. Shammy and Yukari followed a little behind, admiring the shops. Then Ace stopped. A small storefront stood between two larger weapons dealers. Unlike the surrounding stalls, it displayed no flashy advertising. No exaggerated claims. No enormous price tags. Only a few beautifully made blades. Knives. Short swords. A long, elegant weapon in a simple wooden stand. Ace looked through the window. Mai noticed. "Something?" Ace smiled. "Look at that workmanship." Mai examined the display. "Beautiful." They stepped closer. Inside, an older man was polishing a blade. He looked up. His eyes moved to Ace's katanas. And he went very still. Not frightened. Not greedy. Simply astonished. For several seconds, he said nothing. Then he set down his polishing cloth. "Excuse me." Ace looked toward him. "Yes?" The man stepped closer. His gaze remained on the emerald-frequency blades at Ace's side. "Forgive my asking, but..." He paused. Then smiled with something approaching reverence. "May I ask you about those swords?" Ace's expression changed. Not alarm. Not suspicion. Recognition. The unmistakable excitement of someone discovering a fellow enthusiast who might understand something precious. Mai noticed immediately. Ace smiled. "Of course." The bladesmith inclined his head. "I don't believe I've ever seen their equal." Ace glanced at Mai. Mai returned her smile. Then the bladesmith added quietly: "And I've seen some extraordinary weapons." --- ## Chapter 9 — A Bladesmith's Courtesy The bladesmith looked at Ace's katanas for several seconds. Then he looked at Ace. "Forgive me," he said. "That was rather impolite." Ace blinked. "What was?" "Staring at your weapons without introducing myself." He gave a small, courteous bow. "Stefan Zielinski. Bladesmith." Ace smiled. "Ace Watanabe." "An honor." "Likewise." Mai stood beside her, watching the exchange with growing amusement. Stefan noticed. "And your companion?" "Mai." "Welcome to my workshop." "Thank you," Mai replied. Stefan gestured toward the interior. "Would you care to come inside? There's no obligation to purchase anything." Ace glanced at Mai. Mai smiled. "Go on, darling." Ace's grin broadened. They stepped inside. --- The workshop was unlike most of the weapons stalls in Dogtown Stadium. There were no enormous advertisements. No holographic models promising impossible performance. No sales assistants trying to convince customers that a particular knife would make them invincible. Instead, the room contained carefully arranged tools, several workbenches, a small forge and an assortment of blades in various stages of completion. Everything had a place. Everything appeared to be used. Ace looked around with genuine appreciation. "This is beautiful." Stefan smiled. "Thank you." She examined a short sword resting on one of the display stands. The blade was understated. Balanced. Its workmanship spoke more eloquently than any advertising could have. "Yours?" "Yes." Ace leaned closer. "Excellent geometry." Stefan looked pleased. "You know blades." "A little." Mai laughed softly. Stefan glanced at her. "A little?" Mai smiled. "She's being modest." Ace gave her an affectionate look. "Darling." "What? You are." Stefan chuckled. "Then perhaps we have something in common." --- He offered them tea. Ace accepted. Mai accepted. Stefan brought three cups to a small table near the forge. Then, rather than immediately returning to the subject of Ace's katanas, he asked what had brought them to Dogtown. "Business," Mai answered. "And a little shopping," Ace added. Stefan nodded. "An excellent combination, if one can afford it." Ace laughed. "We've been discovering just how expensive that second part can become." "Dogtown has a talent for separating enthusiastic visitors from their money." "That," Mai said, "is becoming painfully clear." Stefan smiled. "Then I hope you enjoyed yourselves." "Oh, very much," Ace replied. He glanced toward her swords again. "May I ask something?" "Of course." "Are those blades of your own design?" Ace considered the question. "No." "I thought not." "Why?" Stefan hesitated. "Because I don't believe they were designed in the ordinary sense." Ace's expression sharpened. Mai noticed immediately. "What do you mean?" Ace asked. --- Stefan set down his cup. "I have spent most of my life studying edged weapons." He gestured toward the workshop. "Traditional forging. Modern alloys. Ceramics. Composite structures. Experimental treatments. Every method I could find." Ace nodded. "And?" "And occasionally one encounters something that doesn't fit." He looked toward her katanas. "Most unusual weapons are merely unusual. An unconventional material. An ingenious design. A clever manufacturing process." "But not these?" "No." He smiled faintly. "Not these." Ace studied him. Stefan continued. "I recognized the frequency signature before I properly understood what I was seeing." Mai leaned forward. "You can recognize it visually?" "Not exactly. The emerald emission is distinctive, certainly. But it's the way the surrounding light behaves." Ace looked down at her swords. Stefan did not ask her to draw them. Did not move closer. He simply explained. "Light interacts with their surfaces in a way I've seen described in a very small number of historical accounts." "What accounts?" Ace asked. "Accounts of weapons that were not merely forged, but invested with something beyond ordinary material properties." Mai regarded him thoughtfully. "Supernatural weapons?" "That is one description." "Do you have another?" Stefan paused. "Divine." --- For a moment, nobody spoke. The word seemed to settle in the workshop. Not dramatically. Not accompanied by thunder or impossible visions. Just a quiet statement from an elderly craftsman who understood the significance of what he had said. Ace looked at him. "Divine?" Stefan nodded. "Divine weapon-class." Mai glanced toward Ace. Ace was no longer smiling. Not because she was offended. Quite the opposite. Stefan continued carefully. "I cannot tell you who made them." He looked toward the katanas. "I cannot tell you where they originated, or what power is responsible for their unusual characteristics." Ace listened without interrupting. "But I can tell you this. I have studied descriptions of weapons whose properties cannot be accounted for by the ordinary limits of metallurgy or engineering." He paused. "Your swords belong in that category." Ace took a slow breath. "You're certain?" "Of their classification? As certain as I can reasonably be without examining them directly." Then he added: "And I would not presume to ask." --- Ace blinked. "You wouldn't?" Stefan smiled. "They are yours." "Well, yes." "And weapons such as these are rarely ordinary possessions." He glanced at her. "Some things deserve respect before curiosity." Mai's expression softened. Ace looked at the bladesmith for a long moment. Then smiled. Not her usual reckless grin. Something quieter. "Thank you." Stefan inclined his head. "For what?" "For understanding." --- Mai knew that expression. She had seen Ace face things that should have terrified an ordinary person. She had seen her laugh in the middle of danger. She had watched her stand between the people she loved and threats that would have broken less determined souls. But she had also seen how deeply Ace valued certain things. Not because they were expensive. Not because they were powerful. Because they meant something. Her katanas were among them. And now an elderly craftsman in a small Dogtown workshop had recognized their extraordinary nature without immediately trying to possess, improve or exploit them. Mai reached for Ace's hand. Ace squeezed it. Stefan noticed. He smiled. Then changed the subject. "Would you like to see something I've been working on?" Ace's eyes brightened. "Absolutely." --- Stefan led them to a workbench. An unfinished short sword lay upon it. The blade was slender, its geometry elegant. Mai examined it. "Beautiful." "Thank you." Ace studied the edge. "Interesting profile." Stefan nodded. "Designed for a customer who values control over brute force." "Good choice." He explained the design. The balance. The intended handling characteristics. The reason for its unusual curvature. Ace asked questions. Stefan answered. Mai listened, occasionally joining the conversation when a detail caught her interest. It was the kind of conversation that could only happen when enthusiasm met genuine expertise. No competition. No posturing. Just the pleasure of discussing something both parties understood. --- "How long have you been here?" Ace eventually asked. "In Dogtown?" "Yes." "Long enough." Stefan smiled. "I was working in a proper workshop before the district became what it is today." "Why stay?" He considered the question. "People still need things made properly." Mai smiled. "Fair answer." "And here, occasionally, a customer brings me something interesting." Ace grinned. "Like today?" Stefan laughed. "Exactly like today." --- Outside, the stadium continued its noisy business. Somewhere nearby, someone shouted about discounted cyberware. Another vendor was advertising military-grade equipment of questionable provenance. Inside the workshop, Stefan poured more tea. Ace glanced at a display of traditional blades. "Do you get many customers interested in craftsmanship?" "Fewer than I'd like." "Most just want something sharp?" "Most want something impressive." Mai chuckled. "Not always the same thing." "Precisely." Stefan looked at Ace. "Your swords are both." Ace smiled. "You're making me blush." Mai laughed. "Oh, that's rare." "Darling!" "What?" "I'm perfectly capable of blushing." "Under very specific circumstances." Stefan wisely decided not to ask. --- The others found them nearly forty minutes later. Reyes arrived first. Kiro followed. Then Shammy and Yukari. Yukari looked around the workshop with evident interest. "How lovely." Stefan rose. "Welcome." Ace turned. "Everyone, this is Stefan Zielinski." She gestured toward the bladesmith. "He makes beautiful weapons." Stefan inclined his head. "You're very kind." Reyes examined one of the display blades. "She's right." Kiro studied the workshop. "I like the absence of advertising." Stefan chuckled. "Advertising attracts the wrong kind of customer." Shammy smiled. "A sensible philosophy." Yukari approached a display of traditional knives. She studied one carefully. "May I?" "Of course." She did not pick it up. Instead, she examined the workmanship from where it rested. "Beautifully balanced." Stefan looked surprised. "You can tell?" Yukari smiled. "Somewhat." He regarded her thoughtfully. Then returned the smile. "Then you have a good eye." Ace nearly laughed. Mai noticed and nudged her gently. "Behave." "I'm behaving." "For once." --- Stefan's attention returned briefly to Ace's swords. Shammy noticed the glance. "So you recognized them." Ace looked at her. "Wait, you knew he would?" "No." Shammy smiled. "But I wondered whether someone here might." Stefan looked between them. "You know what they are?" Shammy considered the question. "I know enough to appreciate that they're extraordinary." Yukari nodded. "And that their owner is rather fond of them." Ace grinned. "Very." Stefan smiled. "Then they're in good hands." --- Eventually, Ace glanced toward the entrance. "We should probably let you get back to work." Stefan nodded. "Of course." She hesitated. Then looked at the unfinished short sword. "Would you mind if I visited again?" The bladesmith's expression brightened. "Miss Watanabe, I would be delighted." "Ace." "Then Stefan." Ace extended her hand. He shook it. A firm, uncomplicated gesture. Two craftspeople acknowledging one another. Mai smiled. Stefan glanced toward the katanas. "And should you ever wish to discuss their history, rather than their construction, I would be honored." Ace nodded. "I'd like that." "Excellent." --- They left the workshop together. The noise of the stadium swallowed them almost immediately. Reyes glanced at Ace. "You look happy." Ace grinned. "I am." Mai slipped an arm around her waist. "He recognized the katanas." Reyes raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Divine weapon-class," Ace replied. Kiro stopped walking. "Seriously?" Ace nodded. Kiro stared at her. "Well, shit." Shammy laughed. Yukari smiled serenely. "An elegant assessment." Reyes looked impressed. "That's quite something." Ace smiled. "It is." Mai kissed her cheek. "And he didn't even ask to touch them." Ace shook her head. "No." She glanced back toward the workshop. "That's what made it special." --- They continued through the market. Kiro was still thinking about the classification. "Divine weapon-class." Ace smiled. "Yes." "That suggests a rather unusual origin." "Probably." "Do you know what it is?" "Not entirely." Kiro considered that. "Doesn't bother you?" Ace glanced toward Mai. Then Shammy. Then the others. "No." She smiled. "I know what they mean to me." Yukari nodded approvingly. "Sometimes that is enough." --- They stopped for drinks at a small stall near the stadium's central market. Reyes checked her messages. A new report had arrived from Tomasz Nowak. She opened it. Then frowned. Ace noticed. "What?" "More information about the logistics company." "Good?" "Interesting." Kiro leaned closer. "Let's see." Reyes expanded the document. A series of secured shipments had been registered under contracts associated with Vesper Meridian Events. Several were routine. Others involved unusually high security fees. One entry caught Mai's attention. "That classification." Kiro looked. "Specialized materials." "Yes." Reyes nodded. "That's what our contact mentioned." Mai examined the supporting documentation. "Can we identify the destination?" "Not from this filing." "Origin?" "Partially." Kiro studied the record. "There's a commercial identifier here." Mai leaned closer. "Can you trace it?" "Maybe." Ace grinned. "Now we're getting somewhere." Reyes looked at her. "Potentially." Ace sighed. "Goddammit." --- The investigation had not become any simpler. They still had missing people. Suspicious financial transfers. An increasingly complex corporate network. And a series of secured shipments whose contents remained unclear. But they had also found something unexpected. A competent specialist willing to explain the limitations of unusual ammunition. A new personal-defense weapon for Kiro. And an elderly bladesmith who had recognized the extraordinary nature of Ace's katanas without seeking anything in return. Not every discovery in Dogtown was dangerous. Some were simply worth making. --- As they prepared to leave the stadium, Yukari stopped beside Ace. "May I tell you something?" Ace smiled. "Always." Yukari glanced toward the distant workshop. "That man has a good heart." Ace nodded. "Yeah." "He recognized something precious to you and treated it with respect." "Exactly." Yukari smiled. "Such people are worth remembering." Ace looked at her. Then reached out and gently brushed a copper-red strand of hair from her face. "I intend to." Yukari kissed her cheek. "Good." --- That evening, at the safehouse, Ace placed her katanas carefully in their usual place. Mai stood beside her. "Happy?" Ace smiled. "Very." Mai wrapped her arms around her. "I'm glad." Ace leaned into her. "Funny, isn't it?" "What?" "All the places we've been. All the things we've seen." Mai waited. "And then some old bladesmith in Dogtown makes my day just by understanding what he's looking at." Mai kissed her. "That's not funny, darling." "No?" "No." She smiled. "That's beautiful." Ace held her close. For a moment, the investigation could wait. --- ## Chapter 10 — The Cargo Nobody Asked About The following morning, Mai found Ace in the kitchen studying a photograph. Not a crime scene. Not a suspicious warehouse. Not even one of Rogue's increasingly unpleasant financial diagrams. A sword. "Darling." Ace looked up. "Morning." Mai leaned over her shoulder. "That's Stefan's work." "Yes." "The short sword he showed us?" "Yes." Mai smiled. "You've been looking at that photograph for ten minutes." "Have not." "At least ten." Ace considered denying it. Then shrugged. "It's beautiful." "It is." "Look at that line." Mai examined the image. "The balance?" "Exactly. He understands why a blade has a particular shape. Not just how to manufacture it." Mai kissed the top of Ace's head. "You found someone who speaks your language." Ace smiled. "Yeah." Across the table, Yukari lifted her head. She was in fox form, curled comfortably on a chair with nine tails spilling over its edges. "Does this mean you'll be buying another sword?" Ace looked at her. "No." "How disappointing." "I have two perfectly good swords." "Extraordinary swords," Yukari corrected. "Thank you." "Although three would be a pleasing number." Mai narrowed her eyes. "Don't." The fox's ears twitched. "I merely appreciate mathematical elegance." Shammy entered carrying coffee. "What's she trying to sell you now?" "A third sword," Mai replied. Shammy looked at Yukari. "Sweetheart, Ace doesn't need encouragement." Yukari sighed. "Everyone in this family is terribly resistant to artistic expression." Ace laughed. --- The morning's peace lasted until Reyes called. Ace answered while Yukari was negotiating for a piece of toast. "Morning, beautiful." "Morning. Tell Mai we have something." Mai looked up. Ace activated the shared display. Reyes appeared beside a freight manifest. "Remember the secured shipments we found yesterday?" "Absolutely." "Tomasz managed to identify a discrepancy in the public documentation." Mai moved closer. "What kind?" "Weight." Yukari paused with one paw resting suspiciously close to Mai's breakfast. Mai moved the plate. The fox looked offended. Reyes continued. "One consignment was declared as specialist electronic components. Eight sealed crates. Total recorded weight, four hundred and eighty kilograms." Kiro's voice came from somewhere beside her. "But the receiving terminal logged a gross weight of nearly nine hundred." Mai frowned. "That's a significant discrepancy." "Yes." "Different weighing systems?" "Possible." "Packaging?" "Already included in both figures." Ace leaned forward. "Could be a clerical error." Reyes smiled. "Look who's being reasonable." "I have my moments." "Rarely," Mai murmured. Yukari nodded. "Exceptionally rarely." Ace pointed at both of them. "Traitors." --- They regrouped at the rented office later that morning. Kiro had assembled a comparison of the relevant manifests. Three consignments. All transported within the past six weeks. All connected to contracts involving Vesper Meridian Events. All declared as specialist equipment. And all exhibiting differences between their stated cargo weights and the figures recorded at receiving terminals. Mai examined the data. "Are the discrepancies consistent?" "No," Kiro replied. "That's what bothers me." "How so?" "One shipment is heavier than declared. Another is lighter. The third has two different receiving weights depending on which record you trust." Reyes folded her arms. "Could be deliberate manipulation." "Could also be incompetent logistics," Kiro said. Ace grinned. "Night City's second-largest industry." "What's the first?" Shammy asked. "Profiting from incompetent logistics." Yukari laughed. Mai shook her head. "Darling, focus." "Focused." --- Kiro expanded the relevant entries. "The shipments aren't going to the Circle's Kabuki facility." Mai nodded. "Different destination?" "A private storage compound near Dogtown's industrial waterfront." Reyes recognized the address. "That's where Felix's vehicle was seen." Ace stopped smiling. "The warehouse?" "Same compound." Mai studied the records. "Do we know who operates it?" "Legally, a storage-services subsidiary." "Of?" Kiro highlighted the ownership chain. "Several intermediaries. Ultimately, Meridian Ascendant Holdings appears to have a financial interest." Ace sighed. "There it is again." Reyes nodded. "Yes." "The same network." "At least on paper." Mai looked at Kiro. "Can we establish who actually controls the warehouse?" "Not yet. Ownership and operational control aren't necessarily the same." "Then that's our next question." --- Brenda arrived with a mug of coffee. She examined the display. "Somebody's accounting is fucked." Kiro smiled. "That's our professional assessment." Brenda leaned closer. "What's the declared cargo?" "Specialist electronic components." "Meaningless." "Yes." "Any manufacturer codes?" "Several." "Let me see." Kiro enlarged the first manifest. Brenda studied it. Then frowned. "That designation isn't an electronic component." Mai looked up. "What is it?" "A material classification." "Which material?" "Depends on the supplier." Brenda examined the surrounding codes. "Someone's using a legitimate commercial category to describe something much more specialized." "Illegal?" Reyes asked. "Not necessarily." Brenda took another sip. "But it's certainly fucking vague." --- Yukari was examining the shipping descriptions. Shammy stood beside her. "Anything familiar?" "Perhaps." "From what?" "Some of the terms have older meanings." Kiro looked up. "Occult meanings?" "Not necessarily. Words often survive long after their original contexts disappear." She indicated one designation. "This term could refer to a mineral preparation, a ceremonial material, or simply a supplier's unfortunate attempt at sounding mysterious." Ace grinned. "Marketing?" "An ancient human disease." Shammy laughed. "That one I can confirm." Yukari smiled at her. "I suspected you might." --- Reyes enlarged the warehouse's public site plan. "There's another problem." Mai turned. "What?" "The facility isn't particularly large." "Storage capacity?" "Limited. Very." Kiro compared the recorded shipments. "Enough for the declared consignments." "But?" "But the security expenditures suggest something considerably more valuable than ordinary electronic components." Ace leaned back. "High-value storage." "Possibly." "Protected deliveries." "Yes." "Felix Rann." "Connected." "Renata Calder." "Also connected." Ace looked around the table. "At what point do we stop saying 'possibly'?" Mai smiled. "When we can prove what happened." Ace sighed. "Everyone's a critic." --- By early afternoon, they had arranged another meeting with Tomasz Nowak. This time, Mai and Kiro accompanied Ace and Reyes. Shammy and Yukari remained at the safehouse to examine the symbolic material alongside the newly discovered cargo descriptions. Tomasz greeted the four women with a somewhat resigned expression. "More questions?" Ace smiled. "Naturally." "Should've charged you for yesterday." Reyes chuckled. "Send an invoice." "Careful. I might." He led them into his office. The paperwork had apparently multiplied overnight. Kiro looked around. "Do you actually enjoy this?" Tomasz followed her gaze. "Paper?" "Yes." "No." "Then why so much?" "Because people who lose paperwork eventually lose their businesses." Mai smiled. "An excellent principle." Tomasz looked pleased. "Finally. Someone understands." --- They reviewed the shipping discrepancies. Tomasz examined the figures. "That's odd." Kiro nodded. "Exactly." "Could be incorrect terminal calibration." "Across three shipments?" "Unlikely, but possible." Mai asked: "Who performed the receiving inspections?" Tomasz brought up the commercial records. "Different contractors." Reyes frowned. "All three?" "Yes." "Then the discrepancy isn't obviously tied to one receiving team." "Correct." Kiro considered the problem. "Could the stated cargo categories be deliberately misleading?" Tomasz shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time." "Wouldn't that raise regulatory problems?" He laughed. "You're in Dogtown." "Fair." --- Tomasz opened another document. "There's one thing I can tell you." Mai leaned forward. "What?" "Those shipments were insured for extraordinary amounts." Ace raised an eyebrow. "How extraordinary?" "Several million eddies each." Silence. Reyes looked at the manifests again. "For electronic components?" "Precisely." Kiro frowned. "Insurance fraud?" "Possible." Mai studied the coverage terms. "Or the cargo genuinely is valuable." Tomasz nodded. "Exactly." Ace considered that. "And somebody doesn't want to describe it accurately." Tomasz smiled without humor. "That's Dogtown." --- They thanked him and left. Outside, the stadium market was busy as ever. Ace looked toward the workshops. "While we're here..." Mai laughed. "No." "I wasn't going to say anything." "You were thinking about Stefan." "Maybe." Reyes smiled. "We're working." "So is Stefan." Kiro started laughing. Mai shook her head. "Later, darling." Ace sighed theatrically. "Nobody respects craftsmanship." --- They stopped near a public freight terminal. Kiro examined the shipping network. "There's something else." Reyes looked over. "What?" "One of the receiving contractors has a history of handling sensitive commercial materials." "Such as?" Mai asked. "Industrial research samples. Experimental components. Restricted prototypes." "That could explain the insurance." "Possibly." Ace glanced at her. "You too?" Kiro smiled. "Apparently it's contagious." --- Meanwhile, at the safehouse, Yukari was looking at an enlarged photograph of one of the cargo containers. It was a poor image. Taken from a distance. The crate was mostly obscured. But a marking on its side caught her attention. "Shammy." Shammy moved closer. "What?" "This." She indicated the marking. A small emblem. Not the black crowned figure from the Circle's gatherings. Something else. A geometric arrangement of intersecting lines. Shammy studied it. "Recognize it?" Yukari considered the question. "Not exactly." Shammy smiled faintly. "You're becoming very fond of that answer." "Because it remains accurate." She enlarged the image. "The geometry resembles certain older containment markings." "Containment?" "Or warding. Or identification. The distinctions vary." Shammy examined it more closely. "Could be modern imitation." "Absolutely." "Could be meaningless." "Also possible." Yukari leaned back. "But if someone is shipping materials marked with protective geometry, I'd like to know what they're protecting." Shammy nodded. "Agreed." --- The discovery reached Mai shortly afterward. She examined the marking. "Could it indicate hazardous materials?" Brenda answered from the background. "Potentially. But it doesn't match any industrial hazard labeling I recognize." Kiro looked interested. "Can we identify the supplier?" "Not from the photograph," Yukari replied. Mai nodded. "Then we need better documentation." Ace smiled. "Or a closer look." Reyes turned toward her. "Don't." Ace sighed. "I merely said a closer look." "And I know what you were thinking." "That's unfair." "Accurate." Mai laughed. --- They spent the rest of the afternoon pursuing ordinary, legitimate ways to establish the warehouse's operations. Commercial filings. Transport contracts. Property records. Security licenses. Public procurement notices. Nothing dramatic. Nothing illegal. But enough to reveal that the warehouse's operating contractor had changed twice in four months. Each time, the new company was linked through financing arrangements to the same corporate network. Mai examined the timeline. "That is unusual." Kiro nodded. "Very." "Why change operators so frequently?" "Could be tax arrangements. Liability management. Contract disputes." "Or concealment." "Or concealment." Reyes folded her arms. "Any evidence of actual illicit activity?" "Not yet." Ace sighed. "Goddammit." --- The real breakthrough came from an unexpected source. Ivana Petrovic. The former Circle member they'd interviewed outside the Kabuki facility. She contacted Reyes in the early evening. "I remembered something." Reyes activated the shared connection. "What?" "At one of the seminars, they showed us a presentation about the Circle's business interests." "Do you still have it?" "Yes." Ace leaned closer. "Can you send it?" "Already did." Reyes opened the file. A series of polished corporate slides. Investment opportunities. Market forecasts. Growth projections. And a photograph of a warehouse. The same warehouse. Ace stared. "Well." Reyes looked at her. "Don't." "Sorry." --- The presentation described the facility as a strategic logistics asset supporting the Circle's future commercial expansion. Mai examined the relevant slide. "That connects the warehouse to their investor-facing operation." Kiro nodded. "Not just through ownership records." "Exactly." Reyes looked at Ivana. "Did they explain what the warehouse actually stored?" "Not really." "Did anyone ask?" "Yes." "What happened?" Ivana hesitated. "They said the details were confidential." Ace smiled without humor. "Of course they did." Ivana looked uncomfortable. "One man asked too many questions." Reyes straightened. "What do you mean?" "He kept asking about the investments. Where the money went. Whether the shipments were real." "What happened to him?" "They asked him to leave." Ace leaned forward. "Do you remember his name?" Ivana frowned. "Not his full name." "Anything?" "His first name was Daniel." Silence. Ace and Reyes exchanged a look. "Daniel Velez?" Reyes asked. Ivana stared. "Yes." --- The call ended several minutes later. Ace remained still. Then looked at Reyes. "Daniel was asking questions." Reyes nodded. "About the warehouse." "And the shipments." "Yes." Ace looked at the financial records. The missing warehouse worker. The suspicious recruiter. The transfer agreement. The secured shipments. The unusually expensive cargo. And a man who had apparently begun questioning the organization before disappearing. Mai joined the call. "That changes things." Ace nodded. "Yeah." Kiro looked at the timeline. "His questions may have been connected to his disappearance." "May have," Reyes emphasized. Ace smiled faintly. "You're right." Reyes looked surprised. Ace shrugged. "But it's enough to make finding him our priority." Mai nodded. "Agreed." --- That evening, the six women gathered at the safehouse. The financial network was becoming clearer. The shipping operation was no longer merely an unrelated commercial curiosity. Daniel Velez had attended a presentation involving the warehouse. He had questioned its operations. Then disappeared. And somewhere in Dogtown, several highly insured shipments remained unexplained. Ace studied the evidence. "All right." Mai smiled. "Another all right?" "Yes." "What have you decided?" "We need access to better records." Kiro nodded. "And I know where to start." Reyes looked at her. "Where?" "The receiving contractor." Mai leaned forward. "Explain." Kiro displayed the company's registration. "One of its senior administrators is scheduled to attend a corporate event next week." Ace grinned. "Vesper Meridian?" Kiro smiled. "Naturally." --- ## Chapter 11 — A Question of Contents Kiro had a problem. Not a technical problem. Those she generally enjoyed. Not a financial problem. Mai had already taken responsibility for that particular headache. Kiro's problem was a man named Emil Baranowski. Specifically, the fact that he appeared to be the only senior administrator at the Dogtown receiving contractor who had managed to retain his position through three consecutive changes of ownership. "Either he's exceptionally competent," Kiro said, "or somebody considers him exceptionally useful." Mai looked over the rim of her coffee mug. "Possibly both." Kiro pointed at her. "Don't start using Reyes's favorite word." Mai smiled. "Which one?" "Possibly." "Potentially?" "That's worse." They were working at the office O'Sullivan SAS rented for client meetings and administrative work. The morning's first task was establishing what Emil Baranowski actually did. His official job description was remarkably unhelpful. _Senior Operations Administrator._ "That could mean anything," Kiro complained. Mai examined his employment records. "Not quite. He's authorized to approve receiving certificates, verify discrepancies and release shipments into storage." Kiro stopped scrolling. "Which means he would have seen the weight discrepancies." "Or at least had responsibility for records that contained them." "Right." Mai leaned forward. "What's his background?" "Seventeen years in freight operations. Started with a conventional shipping company. Worked in customs documentation. Moved into private logistics." "Any complaints?" "Two contract disputes. One employment tribunal. Nothing particularly remarkable." "Financial difficulties?" Kiro checked. "Not obvious." "Sudden wealth?" "Also not obvious." Mai nodded. "Good." Kiro glanced at her. "Good?" "If he's an ordinary administrator doing an ordinary job, he may be more useful as a witness than as a suspect." "Assuming he's willing to talk." "Exactly." --- At the Watson safehouse, Yukari was attempting to eat breakfast. Unfortunately, Mai had taken the unreasonable precaution of leaving for work with her toast. The kitsune lay across the kitchen bench in fox form, her tails occupying considerably more space than was strictly necessary. Shammy sat opposite her, studying the latest images of the marked cargo containers. "You're staring at the refrigerator," Shammy observed. Yukari did not move. "I'm considering its contents." "There's food in your bowl." "I know." "Good food." "Yes." "Food you specifically asked Marco to prepare." "Indeed." Shammy looked at her. "Then why are you staring at the refrigerator?" Yukari turned her head. "Because I suspect there may be something better inside." Shammy laughed. "You're impossible." "I have been told." She stretched, extending one paw toward the table. "Now, show me that marking again." Shammy enlarged the photograph. The small geometric emblem appeared on the container's side. Yukari studied it without speaking. For several minutes, the only sounds were the ventilation system and the occasional movement of nine enormous tails. Then Shammy asked: "Have you recognized it?" "No." "Something similar?" "Yes. But similarity is dangerous." Shammy nodded. "Particularly when the original may not be what the person copying it thinks." "Precisely." Yukari sat up. "Look at the outer lines." Shammy enlarged them. "Three intersecting shapes." "And the empty center." "Yes." Yukari tilted her head. "If this is a protective mark, it's an incomplete one." Shammy regarded the image. "Incomplete deliberately?" "Perhaps. Or whoever drew it misunderstood its purpose." "Could the missing elements be hidden by the crate's angle?" "Certainly." Yukari considered the photograph again. "Or it could be no more than a decorative company emblem." Shammy smiled. "Still not giving me a dramatic revelation?" "My darling, you've lived far longer than I have. You know perfectly well how often a confident interpretation turns out to be nonsense." Shammy laughed softly. "Unfortunately, yes." Yukari's ears flicked. "However, I would very much like to examine the original." --- By late morning, Reyes had located Emil Baranowski's current employment contact. A corporate event was scheduled for the following week, but there was no reason to wait that long merely to ask whether the man would speak. She called his office. A receptionist answered. "Baranowski Logistics Administration." "Good morning. I'm Reyes. I'm reviewing several commercial freight discrepancies and would like to speak with Mr. Baranowski." "Which client?" "We're conducting an independent inquiry." "Are you representing a regulatory authority?" "No." "Then you'll need to submit a written request." Reyes nodded. "That won't be a problem." The receptionist provided a contact address. No hostility. No panic. No suspicious refusal. Just an administrator protecting another administrator's calendar. Ace, listening beside her, looked disappointed. "Well, that was terribly civilized." Reyes ended the call. "Most people have jobs, sweetheart." "I know." "And most don't want strangers appearing unannounced." "I know." "And sometimes a written request is the correct approach." Ace sighed. "You're ruining my reputation." Reyes smiled. "Improving it." "Debatable." --- Mai prepared the inquiry. Not as an official accusation. Not as a demand for confidential customer information. A narrowly framed request concerning discrepancies in recorded receiving weights for shipments in which their client had a documented investigative interest. Rogue had authorized them to pursue the matter, but Rogue's authority was not a regulatory warrant. Mai was careful about that distinction. Kiro reviewed the final draft. "Polite." "Yes." "Professional." "Yes." "Extremely boring." "Deliberately." Kiro smiled. "I love watching you work." Mai looked at her. "Even when I'm being boring?" "Especially then." Mai leaned closer. "That's a very strange compliment." Kiro kissed her. "Get used to it." --- The reply arrived two hours later. Emil Baranowski was willing to meet. Tomorrow morning. At his office. With a company lawyer present. Ace read the message. "Well." Reyes smiled. "Don't." "I didn't say anything." "You were about to." "Possibly." Reyes laughed. "Now you're stealing my vocabulary." Ace grinned. "Occupational hazard." --- The afternoon took them back to Dogtown. Not to Baranowski's office. Not yet. Instead, Reyes wanted to examine the public access roads around the waterfront storage compound. She and Ace drove through the industrial district while Kiro reviewed the commercial site plan remotely. The area was busy with freight traffic. Cargo haulers moved between fenced properties. Workers crossed the roads carrying equipment. Security patrols stood near several entrances. Nothing about the activity appeared unusual at first glance. Ace watched a heavily loaded truck pull away from a warehouse. "That's a lot of security." Reyes glanced at the guards. "For an expensive shipment, not necessarily." "Right." "Don't sound disappointed." "I'm not." "You are." Ace grinned. "Maybe a little." --- They stopped at a public parking area overlooking part of the industrial waterfront. From there, they could observe vehicles entering and leaving the storage compound without interfering with operations. Kiro's voice came through the holo. "Can you see the eastern loading entrance?" Reyes adjusted the display. "Yes." "There's a public freight schedule showing a collection at sixteen hundred." Ace glanced at the time. "That's fifteen minutes." "Exactly." Reyes frowned. "Who's collecting?" "Carrier registered to an independent subcontractor." "Client?" "Not listed." Mai joined the conversation. "Are we sure this is one of the relevant shipments?" "No," Kiro replied. "But the timing and location make it worth observing." Ace nodded. "Finally, something everyone agrees on." --- The truck arrived at sixteen hundred and seven minutes. An ordinary commercial hauler. No unusual markings. No armed escort. It entered through the eastern gate. Reyes noted the registration. Ace watched the loading area. For nearly twenty minutes, nothing happened that they could see. Then the truck emerged. Its suspension sat slightly lower than when it had entered. Ace looked at Reyes. "Loaded." "Apparently." "Can we follow?" Reyes considered the circumstances. "At a distance. Public roads only." Ace smiled. "Music to my ears." --- The truck traveled through Dogtown toward the stadium's commercial district. It made no attempt to conceal its movements. It obeyed traffic signals. Stopped once for a security inspection. And finally entered a small industrial facility near the edge of the market. Reyes checked the address. "Independent materials processor." Kiro examined the company registration. "Interesting." Ace grinned. "Good interesting?" "Actually, yes." "What?" "They handle metal reclamation and specialty material recovery." Mai's voice came through. "From what?" "Industrial equipment. Research components. Some unusual manufacturing waste." Reyes parked where they had a legal view of the facility entrance. Ace watched the truck disappear inside. "So the cargo could be perfectly ordinary." "Yes," Kiro replied. "Or valuable." "Also yes." Ace sighed. "Goddammit, I hate reasonable explanations." --- A short while later, a worker emerged from the facility and crossed toward a nearby food stall. He wore stained overalls and carried the exhausted expression of someone whose shift had become substantially longer than advertised. Ace looked at Reyes. Reyes nodded. They approached without attempting to conceal themselves. "Excuse me," Reyes said. The worker turned. "Yeah?" "We're trying to identify the operator of that facility." He pointed over his shoulder. "That's where I work." "Materials recovery?" "Mostly." "Do you handle specialist consignments?" "Sometimes." Ace smiled. "Anything interesting recently?" The worker laughed. "Define interesting." "Expensive enough that somebody cares what happens to it." He shrugged. "That's most of our work." Reyes nodded. "Fair." The man glanced at Ace's swords. "Those yours?" Ace smiled. "Yes." "Nice." "Thank you." He took another bite of his food. "Anyway, if you're looking for work, talk to management." "Not looking for work," Reyes replied. "Then I can't help you much." "Understood. Thanks." They left him to his meal. --- Back in the vehicle, Ace frowned. "Nothing." "Not nothing," Reyes replied. "What did we learn?" "That the facility exists, operates openly, and handles specialist materials." "We knew most of that." "Now we have confirmation from someone who works there." Ace considered. "Fair." Reyes smiled. "Investigations aren't always dramatic." "I've noticed." "Sometimes they're mostly paperwork." "I've noticed that too." "And occasionally you get useful information by asking politely." Ace sighed. "You're making me sound terribly unprofessional." Reyes leaned over and kissed her cheek. "You're very professional when it matters." Ace smiled. "Thank you." "Just occasionally impatient." "Occasionally?" "Frequently." "Rude." "Accurate." --- At the safehouse, Yukari was finally getting something interesting. Not food. Information. Brenda had examined the cargo-container photograph and compared its visible marking with several industrial labeling databases. "No match," she announced. Shammy looked up. "None?" "Not in the datasets I checked." Yukari sat beside her in human form. "Does that mean it's not an industrial symbol?" "No. It means I didn't find it." Yukari smiled. "An important distinction." Brenda nodded. "Exactly." She enlarged the mark. "There's something else." "What?" "The outer shape isn't symmetrical." Shammy examined it. "Could be damage." "Could be." Brenda adjusted the image. "But the asymmetry appears deliberate." Yukari leaned forward. "May I?" "Go ahead." She studied the marking. Then slowly smiled. "Oh." Shammy turned. "What?" Yukari pointed to the outer line. "I was reading it in the wrong direction." Brenda frowned. "Direction?" "Yes." She rotated the image. The three intersecting shapes formed a different arrangement. Not a conventional geometric emblem. Something closer to a sequence. Shammy leaned forward. "That's interesting." Yukari nodded. "Very." "Do you recognize it now?" "Not completely." Brenda sighed. "Goddammit, you two are infuriating." Yukari laughed. "My dear Brenda, uncertainty is not a personal insult." "Feels like one." Shammy smiled. "I know." --- Yukari studied the rotated design again. "If this is what I suspect, it may not be intended to protect the contents." Shammy looked at her. "What would it protect?" "The people handling them." Brenda stopped smiling. "That's a different problem." "Potentially." "From what?" Yukari considered. "I don't know." Brenda stared. Then threw up her hands. "Wonderful. Fucking wonderful." Shammy laughed softly. Yukari smiled apologetically. "Would you prefer a comforting lie?" "No." "Then we're making progress." --- The group regrouped that evening. Mai and Kiro had obtained the appointment with Emil Baranowski. Ace and Reyes had identified a materials-recovery facility handling cargo from the storage compound. Shammy and Yukari had developed a new interpretation of the container marking. Brenda had established that it did not match the industrial codes she had checked. None of those discoveries proved the existence of supernatural cargo. But together they justified further investigation. Ace studied the evidence. "All right." Reyes sighed. "There it is." Mai smiled. "What's the plan?" "Tomorrow morning, we meet Baranowski." Kiro nodded. "With his lawyer." "Naturally." Reyes looked at Ace. "And everyone behaves." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Everyone?" "Especially you." "Goddammit." Yukari laughed. --- The following morning, Emil Baranowski's office was waiting. It occupied the second floor of a modest commercial building near Dogtown's industrial district. No armed guards. No elaborate security theater. Just a receptionist, several overworked employees and a meeting room. Emil greeted them personally. A tall man in his late forties, with thinning hair and the slightly weary expression of someone who had spent far too much of his life solving other people's logistical mistakes. His lawyer sat beside him. "Good morning," Emil said. Mai offered her hand. "Thank you for meeting us." "You're welcome." He looked at the group. "I understand you have questions about several consignments." "Yes." "Then perhaps we should begin." He sat down. Opened a folder. And placed three receiving certificates on the table. "Before you ask," he said, "I noticed the weight discrepancies too." Silence. Ace slowly turned toward Reyes. Reyes looked back. Mai leaned forward. "You did?" Emil nodded. "Of course." He tapped the first certificate. "And I can tell you exactly why they're there." --- ## Chapter 12 — The Man Who Checked the Numbers "And I can tell you exactly why they're there." Emil Baranowski tapped the three receiving certificates on the table. Ace leaned forward. Reyes folded her arms. Mai examined the documents. Kiro was already comparing them with the records on her holo. Emil's lawyer, a woman named Katarina Wojcik, watched the proceedings with the cautious expression of someone who expected the conversation to become unpleasant. It didn't. At least not immediately. "The first discrepancy," Emil said, "is a classification issue." Mai looked up. "Explain." "The declared weight covered the cargo itself. The receiving terminal recorded the cargo together with its transport frame." Kiro frowned. "Four hundred kilograms of transport frame?" "Approximately." "That's a very substantial frame." "Yes." Emil opened a photograph. Eight sealed crates rested inside a reinforced steel support structure. The framework was unusually elaborate. Braces. Additional supports. Shock-absorbing mounts. And several components that did not resemble ordinary freight hardware. Ace studied the image. "What's the cargo?" "Specialist material." "Which material?" Emil looked at Katarina. She nodded. "You may discuss the classification," she said. "Not the customer's proprietary specifications." Emil returned his attention to Ace. "Industrial research samples." Mai examined the photograph. "Why the additional support?" "Unusual handling requirements." "Such as?" "Low vibration. Stable orientation. Controlled environmental conditions." Reyes glanced at Kiro. "Fragile?" "That was my assumption," Emil replied. "Did you inspect the crates yourself?" "The external packaging. Not the contents." Mai nodded. "Understood." --- Kiro enlarged the second certificate. "And this one?" Emil smiled faintly. "An ordinary error." Ace blinked. "Really?" "Yes." He showed them the supporting documentation. "The carrier's original manifest included a temporary handling assembly. That assembly was removed before the receiving weight was recorded." Kiro compared the figures. Then sighed. "That explains it." Emil nodded. "I corrected the documentation three weeks ago." Mai looked at her display. "The amended record wasn't included in the commercial dataset we obtained." "Apparently not." "That happens," Kiro admitted. "Frequently," Emil replied. Ace looked disappointed. Reyes noticed. "Don't." "I didn't say anything." "You were thinking something." Ace smiled. "That paperwork is a terrible invention." Emil chuckled. "On that, we agree." --- The third discrepancy was less straightforward. Emil opened the remaining certificate. "This is the one I haven't resolved." Mai leaned closer. "The two receiving weights?" "Yes." "Different terminals?" "Same terminal." Kiro frowned. "That's unusual." "Very." Emil displayed the recorded measurements. The first weight had been logged when the cargo arrived. The second had been recorded after it was moved into the receiving area. A difference of nearly sixty kilograms. Ace examined the numbers. "Could something have been removed?" "Possibly." "Packaging?" "According to the handling records, no." "Equipment?" "Also no." Reyes looked at Emil. "Did you investigate?" "Of course." "What did you find?" "Nothing conclusive." He looked frustrated. "I had the terminal checked. Calibration was within tolerance. We reviewed the handling logs. No recorded removal of material." Kiro studied the timestamps. "How long between measurements?" "Twenty-three minutes." Mai considered that. "Did the cargo remain sealed?" "According to the inspection team." "Any sign of tampering?" "None reported." Ace leaned back. "So a sealed shipment apparently changed weight while being moved across the warehouse." Emil looked at her. "That's what the records say." Reyes asked: "And what do you believe?" Emil sighed. "That somebody made a mistake we haven't identified." --- The explanation was sensible. It was also incomplete. Mai appreciated both facts. "Did you file an incident report?" "Yes." "May we see it?" Emil glanced at Katarina. The lawyer considered the request. "A redacted version." "That would be helpful," Mai replied. Emil transferred the document. Kiro reviewed it. A routine discrepancy investigation. Equipment checks. Staff interviews. Reconciliation attempts. No evidence of theft. No documented cargo removal. No identified cause. Kiro looked up. "You did a proper investigation." Emil seemed almost offended. "Of course I did." Ace smiled. "Sorry. We've been looking at some very questionable paperwork lately." "Then you have my sympathy." --- Reyes examined the receiving personnel. "Who handled the shipment?" Emil opened the staff roster. "Two warehouse technicians and a shift supervisor." "Are they still employed?" "One technician is. The other transferred to another facility. The supervisor resigned." Ace raised an eyebrow. "When?" "Four days after the incident." Reyes made a note. "Reason?" "Personal circumstances." "Anything more specific?" Emil hesitated. Katarina intervened. "Employment records are confidential." "Understood," Reyes replied. She did not argue. Mai turned to the photographs. "Could we have copies of the external packaging images?" Emil nodded. "Those are part of the incident report." He transferred them. Several photographs appeared. Different angles. Different lighting. And, on the side of one reinforced crate, a small geometric marking. Mai recognized it immediately. "That symbol." Ace leaned closer. "The one Yukari was examining." Kiro enlarged the photograph. This image was much clearer than the previous surveillance still. The emblem consisted of three intersecting shapes surrounding an apparently empty center. Except the center wasn't entirely empty. There was a fourth element. Small. Nearly invisible. A narrow line running inward. Mai looked at Emil. "Do you know what this marking means?" He shook his head. "Customer handling designation." "Not a standard industrial code?" "No." "Did you ask?" "Yes." "And?" "They told us it identified a special orientation requirement." Reyes studied the mark. "Did they explain the orientation?" Emil looked uncomfortable. "Not in a way I found particularly helpful." --- He opened another document. A handling instruction sheet. It contained ordinary requirements. Temperature range. Vibration limits. Authorized lifting points. Storage restrictions. Then a final section. **MAINTAIN MARKED SURFACE FACING OUTWARD DURING ALL HANDLING OPERATIONS.** Ace frowned. "That's unusual." Emil nodded. "Not entirely unprecedented. Some equipment has orientation-sensitive components." "But why must the marked surface face outward?" Mai asked. "That's precisely what I asked." "And their answer?" "Contractual requirement." Kiro stared at him. "That's not an answer." "No," Emil agreed. "It isn't." --- The lawyer leaned forward. "I should clarify something." Everyone turned toward her. "Mr. Baranowski's company was contracted to receive and document sealed cargo. It was not authorized to inspect proprietary contents or challenge the customer's technical handling instructions unless they created a demonstrable safety issue." Mai nodded. "Understood." Katarina continued. "And when a discrepancy appeared, Mr. Baranowski documented it according to the applicable procedures." "Which is why we're speaking with him," Reyes replied. The lawyer gave a small nod. The atmosphere relaxed. A little. --- Kiro asked for the receiving terminal's diagnostic logs. Emil provided the available records. She examined them carefully. No obvious malfunction. No evidence of data tampering. No unexplained software activity. The terminal had recorded two different weights. That was all. Kiro frowned. "I don't like this." Mai glanced toward her. "Because?" "Because the obvious explanations are all plausible, but none of them matches the available records." Emil nodded. "Welcome to my problem." Ace smiled. "You're going to get along." Kiro looked at him. "Do you have a copy of the raw sensor output?" Emil hesitated. Then smiled. "As a matter of fact, yes." Kiro brightened. "Oh, I like you." Mai laughed. Ace looked at Reyes. "See? Friendship through paperwork." Reyes smiled. "Stranger things have happened." --- The raw data took another twenty minutes to examine. Kiro found no evidence of deliberate manipulation. But she did identify something unexpected. The second weighing had recorded a brief disturbance in the terminal's stabilization process. Not enough to invalidate the result. Not enough to trigger an equipment alarm. Just an unusual fluctuation. "Could be environmental," Emil said. "Could be," Kiro agreed. "Vibration?" "Possible." "Electrical interference?" "Also possible." Kiro enlarged the graph. "But I'd like to compare this with the facility's environmental sensor logs." Emil nodded. "I can request those." "Thank you." Mai examined the timeline. "Do you know whether anything else unusual happened during those twenty-three minutes?" Emil considered. Then frowned. "Actually." Ace leaned forward. "Yes?" "There was a temporary access restriction." Reyes straightened. "Why?" "Customer request." "Which customer?" Emil looked at the relevant entry. "Vesper Meridian Events." --- Silence settled over the room. Kiro checked the timestamp. The access restriction began four minutes after the first weighing. It ended six minutes before the second. Mai studied the record. "Who authorized it?" "A representative of the customer." "Name?" Emil read from the document. "Renata Calder." Ace glanced at Reyes. Reyes remained expressionless. "Was Ms. Calder present?" "According to the visitor log, yes." "Did she enter the receiving area?" "With two members of her security detail." "Did your staff accompany them?" Emil checked. "No." Kiro looked up. "Then the cargo was unattended by your employees during the restriction?" "Yes." Mai folded her hands. "That changes the interpretation of the discrepancy." Emil looked uncomfortable. "I suppose it does." Katarina leaned forward. "Let's be precise. A customer access restriction is not evidence of improper conduct." "Agreed," Mai replied. "But it establishes an interval during which someone outside the receiving team had access to the cargo." "That is correct." Reyes nodded. "And the weight changed afterward." "According to the records." Ace smiled faintly. "Now that's interesting." --- They concluded the meeting without accusations. Emil agreed to preserve the relevant records. Katarina agreed to review requests for additional documentation. Mai thanked them both. As the group prepared to leave, Emil hesitated. "There's something else." Ace turned. "Yes?" "The supervisor who resigned." Reyes waited. Emil glanced toward his lawyer. She nodded. "You may describe your personal recollection. Avoid confidential employment details." Emil took a breath. "He was upset." "About the shipment?" Reyes asked. "Yes." "How upset?" "Enough that he asked to be removed from any future assignments involving that customer." Mai frowned. "Did he explain why?" Emil shook his head. "Not clearly." "Did he mention the weight discrepancy?" "No." "Then what?" Emil looked at the photograph of the marked crate. "He said the handling instructions were wrong." Ace looked toward the display. "Wrong how?" Emil hesitated. "He said the mark wasn't supposed to face outward." --- Outside, the afternoon sun was bright enough to make Dogtown look almost respectable. Ace walked beside Reyes. Mai and Kiro followed. For several moments, nobody spoke. Then Ace said: "Well." Reyes looked at her. "That one you earned." Ace grinned. "Thank you." Mai examined the photograph again. "The supervisor believed the mark should face inward." Kiro nodded. "Which might be a technical misunderstanding." "Or something else." Reyes looked toward the industrial waterfront. "We need to speak with him." Ace smiled. "Agreed." --- At the safehouse, Yukari was once again in fox form. She had appropriated most of the sofa. Shammy had accepted this with admirable patience. Brenda had not. "Nine tails," Brenda complained. "Nine fucking tails, and every single one of them is in my way." Yukari opened one eye. "My dear Brenda, you're welcome to sit closer." "I was sitting there first!" "An unfortunate choice of location." Shammy began laughing. Brenda pointed at the fox. "You're doing that deliberately." "Of course." Brenda stared. Then laughed despite herself. "Goddammit." Yukari smiled. "Love you too." --- Mai's call interrupted the domestic negotiations. Shammy activated the shared display. "Hello, darling." Mai smiled. "We have better photographs." Yukari sat up immediately. "Excellent." Kiro transferred the images. The crate appeared. Then the marking. Clear. Detailed. Complete. Yukari went very still. Shammy noticed. "Sweetheart?" The fox leaned closer to the display. Her ears angled forward. All nine tails became motionless. For several seconds, she said nothing. Then she spoke. "That is not a decorative mark." Brenda stopped smiling. Mai leaned forward. "You're certain?" "Yes." Shammy studied the image. "What is it?" Yukari took her time. "The outer geometry is protective." "And the center?" Shammy asked. "The center indicates direction." Mai frowned. "Direction of what?" Yukari looked toward her. "Containment." Silence. Then Ace asked: "Containment of what?" Yukari shook her head. "I don't know." Brenda sighed. "Wonderful." Yukari continued. "But I can tell you this." She indicated the narrow line in the center. "If the mark is oriented inward, it serves as a warning and a boundary." Shammy leaned forward. "And outward?" The kitsune's golden eyes narrowed. "Outward, the same arrangement may function as an invitation." --- Nobody spoke. Then Kiro broke the silence. "Invitation to what?" Yukari regarded the image. "Whatever the marking was designed to address." Ace folded her arms. "So somebody might be transporting something dangerous using the wrong orientation." "Possibly." Reyes glanced at Mai. "Or deliberately reversing the intended function." Yukari nodded. "Yes." Shammy examined the photograph again. "Do you recognize the exact tradition?" "No." "Can you establish whether the symbol actually works?" "Not from a photograph." "Then we still don't know whether it's anything more than an imitation." "Correct." Ace sighed. "Goddammit." Yukari smiled gently. "My dear Ace, I know you would prefer a clear enemy you can introduce to your beautiful swords." Ace considered that. "Well." "But sometimes the first responsibility is understanding what you're looking at." Shammy nodded. "She's right." Ace smiled. "I know." --- That evening, they reviewed the case. The weight discrepancy was real. The receiving company had investigated it. Renata Calder had requested access to the cargo between measurements. A supervisor had resigned after expressing concern about the handling instructions. And Yukari had identified the crate marking as resembling a directional containment symbol. None of those facts established what was inside the crates. But the connections were becoming harder to ignore. Mai looked at the group. "Tomorrow, we find the former supervisor." Reyes nodded. "I'll handle that." Kiro raised a hand. "And I'll continue comparing the raw sensor records." Shammy looked toward Yukari. "We'll research the marking." The kitsune nodded. "Thoroughly." Ace glanced around the table. "All right." Reyes smiled. "Again?" Ace grinned. "Again." --- Later that night, Yukari stood alone in the safehouse kitchen. She had returned to human form. The photograph hovered above her holo. She examined the marking one final time. Not because she recognized the entity it might concern. She didn't. Not because she knew what was inside the crates. She had no idea. But because the geometry was disturbingly familiar in principle. A boundary. A direction. A distinction between keeping something contained and inviting it beyond the boundary. She closed the image. Then looked toward the hallway. Shammy was standing there. "Still thinking about it?" Yukari smiled faintly. "Yes." Shammy approached. "Something bothering you?" "The possibility that someone has confused power with understanding." Shammy considered that. "An old mistake." "Very." Shammy took her hand. "We'll find out." Yukari smiled. "I know." They stood together for a moment. Then Shammy glanced toward the refrigerator. "Are you hungry?" Yukari looked delighted. "Always." Shammy laughed. "Come on, then." --- ## Chapter 13 — The Other Side of the Mark The first thing Ace heard that morning was a crash. Not an explosion. Not gunfire. Just the unmistakable sound of something metallic hitting the kitchen floor. She opened one eye. Beside her, Mai was still asleep. Shammy lay on her other side, one arm resting comfortably across Ace's waist. At the foot of the bed, Yukari's nine tails shifted. Ace stared at the ceiling. "Please tell me that wasn't the coffee machine." Yukari lifted her head. "I believe it was a saucepan." Ace turned toward her. "How do you know?" "I heard it." "Did you cause it?" "No." Ace considered this. "That was a very fast answer." The fox looked offended. "My dear Ace, must every household accident be attributed to me?" "Not every one." "How generous." Mai stirred. "What's happening?" Ace kissed her shoulder. "Domestic catastrophe." Mai opened one eye. "Yukari?" "An outrageous assumption," the fox replied. From downstairs came Brenda's voice. "WHO THE FUCK PUT THIS THING UP THERE?" Yukari's ears twitched. Ace slowly looked at her. The fox smiled. "I may have assisted with the arrangement of certain kitchen utensils." Mai buried her face in her pillow. "Oh, God." Shammy began laughing. --- Breakfast was accompanied by an unusually detailed explanation from Brenda concerning the proper storage of cookware. Yukari listened with impeccable courtesy. In fox form. While eating. Very enthusiastically. "And furthermore," Brenda concluded, "pans belong in cupboards, not balanced on top of the refrigerator." Yukari swallowed. "An excellent principle." Brenda stared. "You put it there." "I was exploring the available storage space." "WHY?" "Curiosity." Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris calmly drank her coffee. "She's a fox." "She can turn into a woman!" "Also true." Yukari nodded. "A remarkably versatile arrangement." Ace nearly choked on her coffee. --- The domestic comedy ended when Reyes called. "I found the former supervisor." Ace straightened. "Good morning to you too." "Morning, beautiful." "Better." Reyes smiled briefly. "His name is Viktor Kaczmarek. Forty-three. Former receiving supervisor. Left the company four days after the third shipment." "Current location?" "An apartment in Santo Domingo." "Any sign he's in trouble?" "Nothing obvious. But he hasn't taken another job." "Financial situation?" "Ordinary. No suspicious transfers that we've identified." Ace glanced toward Mai. "Can we talk to him?" "I contacted him this morning." "And?" "He said no." Ace blinked. "No?" "Quite firmly." "Did he say why?" "Yes." Reyes paused. "He said he wanted nothing to do with those crates ever again." --- An hour later, the six women were gathered in the safehouse living room. Reyes's call had changed the day's priorities. Mai examined the man's employment record. Kiro reviewed the publicly accessible details of his resignation. Shammy studied the container marking. Yukari lay beside her in fox form, watching the display with intense concentration. Ace paced. Reyes watched her. "Sit down." "I'm thinking." "You can think sitting down." "Less effectively." "Try." Ace sat. "Happy?" "Immensely." Mai smiled faintly. "We shouldn't pressure him." Reyes nodded. "Agreed." Kiro looked up. "Did he refuse all contact, or just an interview?" "An interview." "Would he accept a written question?" "Possibly." Ace glanced at her. "You too?" Kiro smiled. "Apparently I've joined the club." --- They composed a short message. No threats. No demands. No reference to supernatural phenomena. Just a clear explanation that they were investigating several missing people and unusual commercial shipments, and that his knowledge might help them establish what had happened. The message ended with a simple question. _Did anything about the third shipment make you believe someone was in immediate danger?_ Reyes sent it. Then they waited. Five minutes. Ten. Twenty. Ace made another cup of coffee. Yukari stole a biscuit. Mai pretended not to notice. Finally, Reyes's holo chimed. A reply. **YES.** Nothing else. Ace looked at the message. "Well." Reyes closed her eyes. "Don't." --- A second message arrived. _You don't understand what you're asking._ Reyes answered carefully. _Then help us understand._ Several minutes passed. Then: _I told them the markings were wrong. They laughed._ Shammy leaned forward. Yukari sat up. Reyes typed: _Who laughed?_ The answer came almost immediately. _The woman. Calder._ --- Nobody spoke for a moment. Then Mai asked: "Can we establish whether he means Renata Calder?" Reyes nodded. "Let's ask." The reply came. _Yes. Renata Calder. She was there._ Ace looked toward Yukari. The fox's golden eyes remained fixed on the display. "What do you think?" Yukari considered the information. "That he recognized something about the marking." "Something you recognize?" "Perhaps." Shammy glanced at her. "But we shouldn't assume he interpreted it correctly." "Exactly." Yukari's tails shifted. "However, I would very much like to hear his explanation." --- Reyes sent another message. _We won't ask you to return to the facility or approach anyone connected to the shipment. We would only like to hear what you saw. You can choose the location and end the conversation whenever you wish._ The response took nearly half an hour. Then: _One hour. Public place. No recording._ Reyes nodded. "Acceptable." Ace smiled. "Finally." The location arrived. A small café in Santo Domingo. Two hours from now. --- Viktor Kaczmarek was already seated when Ace and Reyes arrived. He looked like a man who had spent several nights trying unsuccessfully to convince himself that something hadn't happened. Broad shoulders. Work-worn hands. Unshaven. A cup of untouched coffee. His eyes moved toward Ace's swords. Then Reyes. "You the people who contacted me?" Reyes nodded. "Yes." "Sit." They sat. Viktor glanced around. "You're not recording?" "No," Reyes replied. "Good." Ace looked at him. "Thank you for meeting us." He gave a humorless laugh. "Don't thank me yet." --- For several minutes, Viktor said very little. Reyes didn't push. Ace let the silence stand. Finally, he spoke. "I worked freight receiving for twenty years." Reyes nodded. "That's a long time." "Seen everything. Hazardous materials. Classified equipment. Military shipments. People trying to hide contraband inside legitimate cargo." Ace smiled faintly. "Sounds educational." "It was." Viktor looked down at his coffee. "But those crates..." He stopped. Reyes waited. "Those crates weren't right." "How?" Ace asked. Viktor looked at her. "Ever handled equipment with directional hazard markings?" "A few times." "You know what happens when somebody ignores them?" "Sometimes nothing," Reyes replied. "Sometimes somebody dies." "Exactly." Viktor looked relieved that she understood. --- He described the third shipment. Eight crates. Reinforced transport frames. Unusual handling instructions. And the geometric markings on the outer surfaces. "I'd seen something similar before," he said. Reyes leaned forward. "Where?" "Years ago. Different company. Specialist containment cargo." "Same symbol?" "No." "Similar function?" "That's what I thought." Ace nodded. "What bothered you?" "The direction." He took a breath. "Those markings were supposed to face inward. Toward the contents." Reyes glanced at Ace. "How did you know?" "Because the geometry was reversed." He looked at them. "Like somebody had copied the design from the wrong side of a transparent sheet." --- Ace leaned forward. "Did you tell anyone?" "Of course." "Who?" "My manager." "What happened?" "He forwarded the complaint to the customer." "Renata Calder?" "Yes." Viktor's expression hardened. "She came down personally." "To the receiving area?" "Yes." "What did she say?" "That the markings were correct." "Did she explain why?" "No." "What did you do?" "I told her I wouldn't authorize movement until someone explained the discrepancy." Reyes nodded. "Reasonable." Viktor laughed bitterly. "Apparently not." --- Renata Calder had arrived with two security personnel. Professional. Quiet. Uninterested in argument. She had reviewed the handling instructions and told Viktor that the customer accepted full responsibility for the orientation. "And then?" Ace asked. "She told me to leave the receiving area." "Did you?" "Eventually." "Why?" "Because management ordered me to." Reyes frowned. "Was that the access restriction Emil documented?" "Yes." "How long were you excluded?" "About ten minutes. Maybe a little more." "Did you see anyone open the crates?" "No." "Did you hear anything?" Viktor hesitated. "Yes." Ace became still. "What?" He looked toward the café window. "A sound." "What kind?" "Low. Almost like machinery." "Machinery?" "That's what I thought." Reyes waited. Viktor swallowed. "Except it didn't sound like it was coming from the crates." Ace frowned. "Then where?" He looked at her. "From the room." --- For a moment, the café seemed unusually quiet. Then Ace asked: "Could it have been ventilation?" "Maybe." "Heavy equipment?" "Maybe." "Electrical interference?" "Maybe." Viktor looked frustrated. "I know how this sounds." Reyes shook her head. "You're describing what you heard. That's useful." He nodded. "Thank you." "Did anything else happen?" "Yes." Viktor stared at the table. "The lights dimmed." Ace glanced at Reyes. "During the access restriction?" "Yes." "Power fluctuation?" "That's what the maintenance report said." "Was there one?" "Yes." Reyes made a note. "Can we obtain it?" "Emil should have it." --- Viktor continued. "When they let us back inside, the crates were in the same positions." "Still sealed?" Reyes asked. "Yes." "Any visible damage?" "No." "But the weight had changed." Viktor nodded. "That's when I demanded another inspection." "Was it performed?" "External inspection." "Nothing found?" "Nothing." Ace leaned forward. "Why did you resign?" Viktor looked at her. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then: "Because I didn't want to be there when the next shipment arrived." --- Reyes let the silence settle. Then asked: "Did anyone threaten you?" "No." "Offer you money?" "No." "Pressure you to resign?" "No." "Then why leave?" Viktor looked toward the window again. "I've worked with dangerous materials for twenty years. I know when I don't understand something." He looked back at her. "And I know when the person telling me everything is safe doesn't understand it either." Ace nodded slowly. "Renata Calder?" "She understood the paperwork." "Not the cargo?" Viktor shook his head. "That's what frightened me." --- Ace considered that. "Did she seem frightened?" "No." "Angry?" "Impatient." "Confident?" "Very." "Did she seem to know what the markings were supposed to do?" Viktor hesitated. "I don't know." Reyes made a note. "Anything else you remember?" He considered. Then nodded. "She said something strange." Ace leaned forward. "What?" "When I complained about the orientation, she told me I was thinking too narrowly." "Too narrowly?" "Yes." Viktor frowned. "She said boundaries were for people who didn't understand opportunity." Ace and Reyes exchanged a glance. --- They thanked Viktor. He refused payment. He also refused to provide a formal recorded statement. Reyes accepted both decisions. Before leaving, Ace asked one final question. "Viktor?" He looked up. "Yes?" "If we discover that something dangerous is being moved through that warehouse, would you help us prevent anyone else getting hurt?" He considered her. Then nodded. "Yes." Ace smiled. "That's all I needed." --- Outside, the afternoon traffic rolled past. Reyes and Ace walked toward their vehicle. For several moments, neither spoke. Then Reyes said: "That was useful." Ace nodded. "Very." "Still not proof of supernatural cargo." "No." "But the handling discrepancy is real." "Yes." "And Calder personally overrode the supervisor." "Yes." Ace looked toward the street. "And somebody with no understanding of the problem was apparently convinced the rules didn't apply to her." Reyes smiled faintly. "That's becoming a theme." "Unfortunately." --- At the safehouse, Shammy and Yukari listened to the interview summary. Yukari was still in fox form. She had remained unusually quiet throughout the call. Finally, she spoke. "May I see the photograph again?" Mai enlarged it. The marking appeared. Clear. Complete. Yukari studied it. Then looked toward Shammy. "What do you think?" Shammy considered the geometry. "The reversal matters." "Yes." "But the question is whether the copied design retains its original function." "Exactly." Ace frowned. "Explain." Yukari looked toward her. "Imagine a door." Ace nodded. "All right." "Imagine a lock designed to prevent something from crossing the threshold." "Yes." "Now imagine someone reproducing the mechanism backward." Reyes leaned forward. "Would it open the door?" "Not necessarily." "Then what?" Yukari's golden eyes narrowed. "It might simply fail." Shammy nodded. "Or it might change which side of the boundary is being protected." Silence. Ace considered that. "So instead of keeping something inside..." "It could protect whatever is inside from something outside," Yukari said. "Or it could cease functioning entirely. We cannot know without understanding the actual construction." Mai nodded. "Then what do we need?" Yukari looked toward the photograph. "The original materials." "Meaning the crates?" Kiro asked. "Or a reliable description of their construction." Shammy added: "And the source of the marking." --- Brenda leaned against the kitchen counter. "So the symbol might be dangerous, harmless, or completely fucking useless." Yukari smiled. "An admirably concise summary." Brenda sighed. "I hate occult engineering." Shammy laughed. "You're a specialist in ordinary engineering." "Exactly. Ordinary engineering has the decency to explain why something works." Yukari tilted her head. "Does it always?" Brenda opened her mouth. Stopped. Then narrowed her eyes. "Don't." The fox smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it." --- The investigation had reached an awkward point. They knew the shipments were unusual. They knew the handling instructions had been disputed. They knew Renata Calder had personally intervened. They knew the receiving weight had changed during the same period. And they knew Daniel Velez had questioned the warehouse's operations before disappearing. But they still did not know what the cargo contained. Mai studied the evidence. "One thing is becoming clear." Ace looked at her. "What?" "We need to separate the financial investigation from the cargo question." Kiro nodded. "The financial network may be committing crimes regardless of what those crates contain." "Exactly." Reyes folded her arms. "And if the cargo is genuinely dangerous, we need qualified evidence before taking action." Shammy smiled. "Agreed." Yukari nodded. "Very much agreed." --- Later that evening, a message arrived from Emil Baranowski. He had found the maintenance report Viktor mentioned. A short electrical fluctuation. Within ordinary tolerances. No equipment failure. No identified cause. Nothing particularly dramatic. Except for one detail. Kiro noticed it immediately. "The timestamp." Mai looked up. "What?" "The electrical fluctuation began during the customer's restricted access period." "How long?" "Seven seconds." Mai considered that. "Could be coincidence." "Absolutely." Kiro enlarged the maintenance record. "But it happened at almost the same time the weighing terminal recorded its stabilization anomaly." Reyes leaned forward. "Same power source?" "Different circuits." Ace frowned. "So two unrelated systems registered unusual behavior during the same period." Kiro nodded. "Yes." Mai studied the data. "That gives us a specific event to investigate." "Exactly." --- The following morning, Rogue called. Ace answered. "Morning, sunshine." "Don't start." "Love you too." Rogue sounded irritated. More than usual. "I've got another missing person." Ace stopped smiling. "Connected to the Circle?" "Possibly." "Who?" "A junior financial analyst." Mai leaned closer. "Name?" Rogue sent the file. The photograph appeared. A young woman. Twenty-seven. Employed by a private investment consultancy. Last seen leaving her office two days earlier. Ace examined the details. "Connection?" Rogue's voice hardened. "She'd been reviewing transactions involving Meridian Ascendant Holdings." Silence. Then Ace asked: "Did she report anything?" "Yes." "What?" Rogue paused. "She told her supervisor she believed someone was systematically acquiring control of companies through fraudulent debt arrangements." Mai's expression changed. "That's important." "Very," Rogue replied. Ace leaned forward. "Anything else?" Rogue hesitated. "She said the people behind the transactions weren't interested in profits." Mai frowned. "Then what?" Rogue answered quietly. "Control." --- ## Chapter 14 — An Invitation Worth Accepting The missing analyst's name was Natalia Brzezinska. Twenty-seven years old. Employed by a private investment consultancy in City Center. Her last confirmed activity was a routine meeting with her supervisor on Tuesday afternoon. She had not returned home. Her personal holo had stopped responding. And the company had reported her absence to the authorities with a degree of bureaucratic enthusiasm that Rogue found deeply suspicious. "They filed the report," Rogue said, "and then immediately refused to discuss her work." Ace stood beside Mai in the safehouse living room. Shammy and Yukari were listening from the sofa. Kiro occupied one end of the table. Reyes leaned against the wall. "Lawyers?" Mai asked. "Of course." "Confidential client information?" "Naturally." "Have the authorities requested access?" "Yes." "And?" "Apparently that's going to take time." Ace sighed. "Goddammit." Rogue looked at her. "That's why I called you." --- Natalia's employment history was ordinary. Business degree. Several years in corporate financial analysis. Two previous employers. Nothing suggesting she had deliberately involved herself with organized crime or occult organizations. Mai studied her personnel summary. "What exactly was she investigating?" "Debt restructuring," Rogue replied. "Which companies?" "Several. Meridian Ascendant Holdings appears in at least three transactions." Kiro leaned forward. "Did she identify a common creditor?" "She claimed she had." "Which?" "That's what we don't know." Reyes folded her arms. "Any reason to believe she was abducted?" "No confirmed evidence." "Could she have disappeared voluntarily?" "Yes." Ace looked toward the photograph. "But the timing worries you." Rogue nodded. "It does." --- Mai examined the available information. The acquisitions were complicated. Not unusually so for Night City, but complicated enough that determining who actually controlled the businesses required careful work. "Somebody is accumulating influence," she said. Kiro nodded. "And hiding it behind legitimate structures." "Not necessarily hiding," Mai corrected. "Obscuring." Ace glanced at her. "Difference?" "Intent." Kiro smiled. "And evidence." Ace sighed. "You're both enjoying this." "Immensely," Kiro replied. --- Rogue transferred another file. "There's one more thing." Ace looked at the display. A corporate event announcement appeared. **NIGHT CITY STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FORUM** A private reception. Corporate executives. Investment advisers. Business owners. Senior representatives of several financial and logistics organizations. The event was scheduled for the following week. Mai studied the host list. "Vesper Meridian Events." Rogue nodded. "Among the organizers." Kiro leaned forward. "Meridian Ascendant Holdings?" "Several affiliated companies are attending." Ace smiled slowly. "Well." Reyes closed her eyes. "Don't." --- Rogue continued. "I've got contacts who attend these things. They say the investment forum has been gaining influence." Mai looked thoughtful. "That's not unusual." "No." "Any evidence it's directly connected to the disappearances?" "Not yet." "Then what's the significance?" Rogue smiled faintly. "Your corporate identities." Ace looked at Mai. Mai looked back. Then both smiled. "Amber and Maeve," Ace said. "Exactly," Rogue replied. --- O'Sullivan SAS had become increasingly visible in Night City's corporate security market. Not because of aggressive advertising. Not because of extravagant promises. Because the company delivered. Its integrated security services had attracted substantial attention from executives who cared about keeping their operations functioning when Night City behaved like Night City. And the company's recent contracts had made Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan increasingly recognizable names in the right business circles. Mai studied the invitation list. "We may already have received something." Ace grinned. "Really?" "Possibly." Reyes sighed. "There's that word again." --- They returned to the office O'Sullivan SAS rented for corporate business. Iris joined them. Brenda arrived shortly afterward. And for the first time that morning, the investigation became distinctly more enjoyable. Iris opened the company's correspondence archive. "Let's see." Several routine messages. A contract amendment. An insurance inquiry. An invitation to a technology conference. Then: **NIGHT CITY STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FORUM — PRIVATE RECEPTION** Iris smiled. "There it is." Ace leaned forward. "Well, well." Mai laughed. "You can stop saying that now." "Never." --- The invitation was entirely legitimate. Addressed to: **Amber O'Sullivan** **Maeve O'Sullivan** Principals, O'Sullivan SAS. The accompanying letter praised the company's contributions to corporate security and operational resilience. It invited both principals to attend a private reception featuring senior business leaders, investors and selected guests. Iris examined the details. "Professional." Brenda leaned over her shoulder. "Expensive." Ace grinned. "Promising." Mai looked at her. "Darling." "What?" "You're not going there to steal the silverware." Ace looked offended. "Of course not." Brenda smiled. "She's going for the food." "Also true." --- Iris reviewed the guest provisions. "Each principal may bring one invited companion." Mai looked up. "Interesting." Ace smiled. "Very." Brenda glanced between them. "You're thinking what I'm thinking." "Probably," Mai replied. Iris opened the RSVP form. "Companion identities?" Ace looked toward the safehouse holo connection. Yukari was watching from the sofa in human form. Shammy sat beside her. "Yukari?" Ace asked. The kitsune smiled. "Yes?" "How would you feel about a corporate reception?" Yukari considered the question. "Expensive clothing?" "Naturally." "Interesting people?" "Almost certainly." "Excellent food?" Ace grinned. "We can hope." Yukari smiled. "Then I believe I would be delighted." --- Mai turned toward Shammy. "And you, darling?" Shammy smiled. "As Sera?" "Of course." "Then yes." Ace grinned. "Perfect." Iris entered the guest details. **Yukari O'Sullivan** **Sera** Four attendees. All properly invited. All operating under their established public identities. No improvised cover stories. No last-minute deception. And no need to pretend that the O'Sullivans were anything other than successful businesswomen attending a professional event. --- Brenda examined the guest list. "Have you seen who's attending?" Iris enlarged it. Several executives from major corporate organizations. Investment advisers. Financial consultants. Logistics specialists. Private security representatives. And a number of wealthy individuals whose financial interests stretched across multiple industries. Kiro joined the discussion by holo. "Oh, that's interesting." Mai looked at her. "What?" "Renata Calder." Ace leaned forward. "Attending?" "Listed among the event advisers." "Of course she is." Kiro continued scrolling. "Pavel Sokolov is also on the list." Mai raised an eyebrow. "The Circle's director." "Exactly." Reyes joined the connection. "Felix Rann?" Kiro checked. "Not on the published list." "Not surprising." --- Iris opened the forum's official program. A series of presentations. Investment discussions. Private networking sessions. A reception. And an evening address by a special guest. Ace examined the final entry. "Who's the guest?" Iris looked closer. "The program doesn't say." "Secret speaker?" "Apparently." Brenda laughed. "God, I hate corporate theater." Mai smiled. "Sometimes it's useful." "Sometimes it's just expensive bullshit." "Also true." --- Yukari was examining the program from the safehouse. Something about the evening address caught her attention. Not the title. Not the description. Simply the absence of a named speaker. She looked toward Shammy. "Curious." Shammy glanced at her. "What?" "The final address." "Unknown speaker." "Yes." "That happens." "Indeed." Yukari studied the program for a moment longer. Then closed it. Nothing to conclude. Not yet. --- The next several days were occupied by preparation. Not frantic preparation. Not an elaborate undercover operation. Just the ordinary work required when successful business owners attended a significant corporate reception. Iris confirmed their attendance. Brenda reviewed the event's security arrangements through authorized channels. Mai examined the companies represented on the guest list. Kiro continued tracing financial connections. Reyes monitored the investigation into Natalia Brzezinska's disappearance. And Ace... Ace examined the dress code. Then sighed. "Formal." Mai looked up. "Yes." "Very formal." "Yes." Ace considered. "Does that mean I can't bring the katanas?" Mai smiled. "Not into the reception." "Goddammit." --- Yukari found this deeply amusing. "My dear Ace, surely you can survive one evening without wearing swords." Ace looked at her. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." "Traitor." "Observant fox." Shammy laughed. Mai kissed Ace's cheek. "You'll look beautiful." Ace sighed. "That wasn't the problem." "I know." --- By the weekend, the investigation had produced a more detailed picture of the forum's organizers. Vesper Meridian Events handled most of the practical arrangements. Meridian Ascendant Holdings and several affiliated businesses had significant financial interests in the event. The Ascendant Prosperity Circle appeared to use the forum as a means of connecting wealthy individuals with its broader network. Not every attendee was necessarily involved. Not every investment opportunity was fraudulent. And the event itself was a perfectly normal corporate gathering on paper. That distinction mattered. Mai emphasized it during their final planning meeting. "We're not treating the entire guest list as suspects." Reyes nodded. "Agreed." "We're there to observe, talk to people and understand the relationships." Kiro smiled. "And collect any information they're willing to share." Ace grinned. "Naturally." Mai looked at her. "Darling." "What?" "No interrogations." "I wasn't planning any." "No dramatic accusations." "Certainly not." "And absolutely no threatening anybody." Ace sighed. "You're taking all the fun out of corporate networking." --- On the evening before the reception, the safehouse living room had become an informal fashion workshop. Iris was reviewing clothing options. Brenda was offering entirely unsolicited opinions. Yukari was studying several elegant dresses with the intense concentration of someone selecting a weapon. Shammy watched with amusement. Ace stood before a mirror. Mai examined her. "Beautiful." Ace smiled. "You haven't even seen the final outfit." "I don't need to." Yukari looked up. "An excellent answer." Brenda grinned. "Ten points to Mai." Iris laughed. --- Eventually, the four women settled on their choices. Amber and Maeve would attend as the confident principals of O'Sullivan SAS. Yukari would accompany them as a member of the family. Sera would attend as an invited companion and recognized public figure in her own right. Nothing unusual. Nothing suspicious. Exactly the sort of guests the forum's organizers wanted in attendance. Ace examined the final plan. "Well." Mai laughed. "Again?" "Again." She looked toward the others. "Tomorrow night." Yukari smiled. "Tomorrow night." --- Elsewhere in Night City, a private conversation was taking place in an exceptionally expensive office. A corporate executive stood before a seated gentleman. The gentleman's skin was profoundly black, so dark that the room's carefully arranged lighting seemed almost unable to define its surface. The executive was reviewing the upcoming investment forum. "Everything is prepared." "How diligent." "The reception should provide excellent opportunities." "I'm sure it will." "And your address?" The gentleman considered the question. "Ah, yes." The executive looked nervous. "Have you decided what you'd like to discuss?" "Not particularly." "Sir?" The gentleman smiled. "I thought I might see what interests me when the moment arrives." The executive hesitated. Then nodded. "Of course." "Wonderful." The gentleman looked toward the city beyond the windows. Night City. Always changing. Always striving. Always full of fascinating people. He smiled faintly. "An evening among ambitious friends." The executive beamed. "Exactly, sir." The Black Pharaoh lifted his glass. "How delightful." --- ## Chapter 15 — An Evening Among Friends The first problem was Ace's shoes. "They're trying to murder me." Mai looked up from fastening her earrings. "Darling." "I'm serious." "You've worn them before." "And survived. Barely." Yukari, seated before the bedroom mirror, smiled. "Perhaps they're offended by your attitude." Ace looked at her reflection. "My shoes?" "Some objects respond poorly to hostility." Shammy laughed. "Sweetheart, they're shoes." "Precisely. One must never underestimate the ambitions of footwear." Ace stared at her. Then slowly smiled. "You're enjoying this." "Immensely." --- By the time they were ready, the safehouse had witnessed an extraordinary transformation. Amber O'Sullivan stood before the mirror in an elegant black evening suit, its clean lines emphasizing her confident bearing. Her hair was styled with understated precision. No visible weapons. No emerald katanas. A deeply unnatural state of affairs. Maeve O'Sullivan wore a sophisticated evening gown in a rich, dark shade that suited her beautifully. She examined Amber. "Perfect." Amber looked at her. "You're biased." "Absolutely." They kissed. Behind them, Yukari adjusted one final detail of her own appearance. Her dress was elegant without being ostentatious, its subtle copper accents complementing her dark hair and natural red streaks. She looked magnificent. And knew it. Sera stood beside her in a gown of understated elegance, smiling at the proceedings with affectionate amusement. Yukari glanced toward Amber. "Well?" Amber looked at the two women. Then at Maeve. Then back. "Goddammit." Maeve laughed. "What?" "I am surrounded by impossibly beautiful women." Sera smiled. "An ongoing hardship." "Terrible." Yukari stepped closer and kissed Amber's cheek. "Try to endure it." --- Iris gave the four women a final briefing in the living room. "Transportation is arranged. Invitations confirmed. Security credentials cleared through the event organizer." Brenda leaned against the kitchen doorway. "And I've reviewed the published security provisions. Nothing unusual." Amber looked disappointed. "Nothing?" "Sorry. Just ordinary corporate paranoia." "How dull." Maeve glanced toward her. "Darling." "What?" "We're going to a reception." "I know." "Not a raid." "I know." Brenda grinned. "She looks like she needs a sword." Amber pointed at her. "Thank you." Iris sighed. "No swords." "Everybody's against me." Yukari smiled. "Not everybody." Amber brightened. "Thank you, sweetheart." "I simply think you look quite charming when you're deprived of your usual toys." Sera began laughing. --- The venue occupied the upper floors of a prestigious City Center tower. Private elevators. Expensive lighting. Discrete security. A reception hall overlooking Night City's glittering skyline. The kind of place where people discussed enormous sums of money while pretending not to notice the cost of the furniture. Amber examined the entrance. "Well." Maeve smiled. "Don't." "Didn't say anything." "You were about to." "Possibly." Sera laughed softly. Yukari looked around with genuine interest. "Quite lovely." Maeve nodded. "Expensive." "Also lovely." --- Their arrival was handled with practiced efficiency. The invitations were verified. Their names appeared on the guest registry. **Amber O'Sullivan.** **Maeve O'Sullivan.** **Yukari O'Sullivan.** **Sera.** No complications. No suspicious questions. No awkward explanations. Simply four invited guests entering a corporate reception. Amber smiled at the receptionist. "Thank you." "Enjoy your evening, Ms. O'Sullivan." "Oh, I intend to." --- The reception hall was magnificent. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked Night City. Elegant arrangements decorated the tables. A discreet orchestra provided music. Servers moved through the crowd carrying champagne and carefully prepared appetizers. The guests were a fascinating collection of wealth, ambition and expensive tailoring. Amber looked around. "Now this is more like it." Maeve smiled. "Better than Dogtown?" "Different." "How?" "Fewer people selling stolen military equipment." Yukari glanced toward the buffet. "Better food?" Amber considered the offerings. "Possibly." Sera laughed. "There's that word again." --- They began the evening exactly as ordinary corporate guests would. Talking. Listening. Exchanging introductions. Discussing business. Amber and Maeve were immediately recognized by several attendees familiar with O'Sullivan SAS. Their recent security work had attracted considerable attention. An executive approached them. "Amber O'Sullivan?" Amber turned with a professional smile. "Yes?" "Martin Schneider. We've heard excellent things about your company's work." "Thank you." "I understand you specialize in integrated security solutions." "Among other things." Maeve joined the conversation. "Physical, digital and operational resilience. We prefer to address the complete risk environment rather than isolated components." Schneider looked impressed. "Exactly what our company needs." Amber smiled. "Then perhaps we should talk." --- For nearly twenty minutes, the conversation remained entirely professional. Security concerns. Operational vulnerabilities. Supply-chain risks. Corporate resilience. Nothing related to the investigation. Nothing suspicious. Just business. And business, as Amber and Maeve had learned, could be very good indeed. When Schneider finally departed, Amber looked at Maeve. "Potential client." Maeve nodded. "Definitely." Sera smiled. "You're enjoying yourselves." Amber grinned. "Immensely." Yukari examined a passing tray of appetizers. "I am enjoying myself as well." Maeve laughed. "Food?" "Excellent." --- Renata Calder appeared shortly afterward. Elegant. Confident. Perfectly at ease among wealthy executives. Amber recognized her immediately. Maeve did too. Neither reacted. Renata approached with a welcoming smile. "Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan." Amber offered her hand. "Ms. Calder." "Renata, please." "Amber." Renata smiled. "I'm delighted you could attend." Maeve nodded. "Thank you for the invitation." "We've heard impressive things about O'Sullivan SAS." "That's always pleasant to hear." Renata glanced toward their companions. "And these lovely ladies?" Amber gestured. "Yukari O'Sullivan." Yukari smiled. "A pleasure." "And Sera." Sera inclined her head. "Lovely to meet you." Renata's smile broadened. "Welcome. I hope you're enjoying the evening." "Very much," Yukari replied. --- The conversation was pleasant. Perfectly ordinary. Renata discussed the forum's business objectives. Networking. Investment opportunities. Corporate partnerships. The familiar language of money seeking more money. Maeve asked several questions. Not aggressive ones. Not accusatory ones. Just the sort of informed questions any successful business owner might ask. Renata answered smoothly. Sometimes directly. Sometimes with elegant generalities. Amber listened. Smiled. Occasionally contributed. And noticed something interesting. Renata was exceptionally comfortable discussing financial control. Less comfortable discussing operational responsibility. Maeve noticed too. Neither mentioned it. Not here. Not yet. --- Eventually, Renata excused herself. Amber watched her depart. Then turned toward Maeve. "Interesting." Maeve nodded. "Very." Sera smiled. "Anything useful?" "A little," Maeve replied. Yukari glanced after Renata. "She seems confident." Amber smiled faintly. "Very." "Perhaps a little too confident." Maeve nodded. "Perhaps." --- The evening continued. They met more executives. Discussed business. Enjoyed the food. And listened. Most conversations were ordinary. Some involved extraordinary sums of money. A few contained the sort of casual arrogance that only people accustomed to enormous wealth seemed capable of producing. Yukari found the entire experience fascinating. At one point, an elderly investor explained to her that modern finance was far too complicated for ordinary people to understand. Yukari listened politely. Then smiled. "How fortunate, then, that ordinary people continue to produce the wealth you invest." The investor blinked. Sera nearly laughed into her champagne. Amber turned away to hide her grin. Maeve looked profoundly satisfied. --- The announcement came shortly after nine. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention." The room gradually quieted. A senior organizer stepped onto the small stage. "Thank you all for joining us this evening." Polite applause. A few appreciative smiles. Then: "We have the extraordinary privilege of welcoming a special guest." Yukari continued examining the room. Sera set down her glass. Neither expected anything remarkable. Not yet. --- The organizer continued. "Our guest has been a source of inspiration to many of the individuals whose vision has shaped this forum." Amber leaned slightly toward Maeve. "Here comes the expensive speech." Maeve smiled. "Behave." "Always." The organizer gestured toward the stage entrance. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our honored guest." And the gentleman stepped into the light. --- The first thing Amber noticed was his skin. Not merely dark. Not any ordinary shade of black. It was a profound, almost impossible blackness, so deep that the stage lighting seemed to vanish into it. His face remained perfectly visible. His expression composed. His clothing immaculate. But the depth of that blackness was extraordinary. Almost Vantablack. Amber glanced toward Maeve. Maeve had noticed too. Then Amber looked toward Yukari. And stopped. --- The kitsune was motionless. Not frightened. Not shocked into helplessness. Simply still. Utterly still. Her golden eyes were fixed on the man standing beneath the lights. For the first time that evening, her customary amusement had vanished. Beside her, Sera had become equally quiet. Her expression was different. Calm. Thoughtful. But unmistakably attentive. Amber leaned closer. "Sweetheart?" Yukari did not answer immediately. Then, very softly: "Oh." Sera turned toward her. "You recognize him." Yukari nodded. "Yes." Sera looked back toward the stage. "So do I." --- The Black Pharaoh smiled at the audience. He was perfectly at ease. Not imposing himself upon the room. Not demanding attention. Simply accepting the welcome offered to him. The applause faded. He waited. Then spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen." His voice was warm. Cultured. Almost gentle. "What a pleasure to find myself among so many ambitious people." A ripple of appreciative laughter moved through the audience. He continued. "I have always admired ambition." Amber listened. Maeve watched the crowd. Yukari remained completely still. Sera's expression had become unreadable. --- "Humanity has a remarkable talent," the Black Pharaoh said, "for imagining a future larger than the present." He paused. "Sometimes those dreams succeed." A few smiles. "Sometimes they fail." More laughter. "And sometimes..." He smiled. "...they become considerably more interesting than anyone expected." The audience laughed again. He inclined his head. "I wish you all a fascinating evening." That was all. No elaborate manifesto. No demand for loyalty. No announcement of an extraordinary new business strategy. Just a brief, elegant address. The audience applauded enthusiastically. Amber looked toward Maeve. "Well." Maeve did not smile. She was watching Yukari. --- The Black Pharaoh stepped down from the stage. Several executives approached him immediately. He greeted them warmly. Shook hands. Exchanged pleasantries. Accepted a glass of wine. And moved through the room with effortless ease. Yukari watched. Sera watched. Neither approached. Not yet. Amber leaned closer. "Yukari." The kitsune turned. Her expression softened immediately. "Yes, darling?" "Who is he?" Yukari considered the question. Then answered quietly. "Someone I knew a very long time ago." Amber glanced toward Sera. "And you?" Sera nodded. "Yes." Maeve leaned closer. "Should we leave?" Yukari looked toward the gentleman. Then shook her head. "No." Sera smiled faintly. "Not unless something changes." Amber studied them both. "All right." --- The Black Pharaoh was speaking with a group of executives when his attention shifted. Only briefly. His gaze moved across the room. Past several familiar faces. Past a cluster of investors. Past a woman wearing an extraordinarily expensive necklace. Then stopped. Yukari. For a fraction of a moment, his expression changed. Not alarm. Not anger. Recognition. A slow smile appeared. Then his gaze moved to Sera. And the smile broadened. --- Yukari met his eyes. Sera did the same. The Black Pharaoh inclined his head. A small gesture. Perfectly courteous. Almost amused. Yukari returned the acknowledgment. Sera smiled. Amber looked between them. Then toward Maeve. Maeve leaned close enough that only Amber could hear. "Well, darling." Amber swallowed. "Yes?" "I think our evening just became considerably more interesting." Amber looked toward the gentleman with the impossibly black skin. Then at Yukari. Then Sera. And slowly smiled. "Goddammit." --- Several minutes later, the Black Pharaoh approached. Not hurriedly. Not dramatically. He finished his conversation. Excused himself with impeccable courtesy. Then crossed the room. Amber and Maeve stood with their companions near one of the enormous windows. The city glittered behind them. The gentleman stopped at a respectful distance. He smiled. "Ladies." Amber offered a professional greeting. "Good evening." "Good evening." His attention moved to Yukari. The smile deepened. "Well." The kitsune regarded him calmly. "Indeed." He inclined his head. "We meet again, little fox." --- Yukari's expression softened into something that was not quite a smile. "After all this time." The Black Pharaoh chuckled. "Time has always been such an accommodating thing." Sera watched him with open amusement now. He turned toward her. "And you." Sera smiled. "Hello." "How delightful." He looked between the two women. "What an extraordinary city." Yukari glanced toward Amber and Maeve. Then back at him. "Extraordinary indeed." --- For a moment, nobody spoke. Then the Black Pharaoh looked toward Amber. "And I don't believe we've been introduced." Amber smiled. "Amber O'Sullivan." She gestured toward Mai. "Maeve O'Sullivan." He inclined his head. "A pleasure." "Likewise," Maeve replied. His gaze moved briefly toward their companions. "And I see you travel in excellent company." Amber smiled. "We try." The Black Pharaoh chuckled. "A most admirable habit." --- A server passed. The gentleman accepted another glass of wine. Then looked toward Yukari. "My dear, I would very much enjoy a private conversation." Yukari considered him. Then smiled. "I believe that could be arranged." He glanced toward Sera. "And perhaps you as well." Sera nodded. "Certainly." Amber and Maeve exchanged a look. The Black Pharaoh noticed. His expression became almost apologetic. "Forgive me. I seem to have surprised your companions." Yukari smiled faintly. "Only a little." He chuckled. "How refreshing." --- The four women followed him toward a quieter part of the reception hall. Not a hidden chamber. Not a secret ritual room. Simply a private lounge reserved for invited guests. Comfortable seating. Soft lighting. A view of the city. The Black Pharaoh gestured toward the chairs. "Please." They sat. He remained standing for a moment, looking toward the windows. Then turned. "My dear Yukari." The kitsune met his eyes. "Yes?" "I must confess, I had not expected to find you here." Yukari smiled. "The feeling is mutual." He chuckled. "And Sera." Shammy inclined her head. "A pleasant surprise." "Very pleasant indeed." --- Amber looked at Maeve. Then back at the gentleman. There was a question on the tip of her tongue. A very large question. But Yukari spoke first. "Perhaps introductions are in order." The Black Pharaoh smiled. "Of course." Yukari turned toward Amber and Maeve. "My loves, allow me to introduce someone whose acquaintance I made a very long time ago." She paused. Then looked directly at the gentleman. "Nyarlathotep." --- The room became very quiet. Amber stared. Maeve's expression changed. Sera watched their reactions with gentle amusement. And the Black Pharaoh smiled. "At your service." --- ## Chapter 16 — Old Acquaintances "At your service." The gentleman smiled. Amber O'Sullivan stared at him. Then at Yukari. Then back at him. "Well." Maeve closed her eyes. "Darling." "I know." "Do you?" "Not remotely." Sera laughed softly. The gentleman's smile broadened. "Oh, I like her." Yukari looked at Amber with undisguised affection. "So do I." Amber considered the situation. A private corporate lounge. Four women in formal evening wear. Excellent wine. A spectacular view of Night City. And apparently, Nyarlathotep. She looked at her glass. Then at the gentleman. "All right. I have a question." "Only one?" "Several thousand, actually. I'm starting with the easy ones." "How sensible." Amber pointed gently toward the reception hall. "Are you the guest speaker?" "I was." "And you're Nyarlathotep." "Yes." "The actual Nyarlathotep." "Rather than an impersonator?" "That would be the distinction, yes." He chuckled. "Then I believe we've established the essential facts." Amber took a sip of wine. "Goddammit." --- Maeve recovered first. Or, more accurately, she had never entirely lost her composure. "May I ask what brings you to Night City?" Nyarlathotep turned toward her. "An excellent question." He settled comfortably into an armchair. "I was interested in visiting." Maeve waited. He smiled. "That is the complete answer." Amber blinked. "You just decided to come here?" "Indeed." "Why?" "Why not?" Amber considered that. Then looked at Yukari. "He's serious." The kitsune smiled faintly. "Quite." Nyarlathotep glanced toward the windows. "Your city is fascinating. So many people. So many ambitions. So many extraordinarily inventive methods of pursuing them." "You've been attending corporate meetings?" Maeve asked. "Several." "Investing?" "Occasionally." "Any particular industry?" "Whatever interests me at the time." Amber leaned back. "That's surprisingly ordinary." "My dear Amber, the ordinary can be wonderfully entertaining." --- Sera had been watching him with quiet amusement. "You're enjoying yourself." Nyarlathotep turned toward her. "Immensely." "Night City does have that effect." "On those with a taste for novelty, certainly." He studied her for a moment. "And you appear to be flourishing." Sera smiled. "I am." "How delightful." His attention shifted to Yukari. "And you, little fox." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Still calling me that?" "Would you prefer something else?" She considered. "No." "Excellent." He lifted his glass. "Some things deserve continuity." Yukari chuckled. "Coming from you, that is a remarkable statement." He laughed. A genuinely pleasant laugh. Amber watched them. The ease between the two was unmistakable. So was the history. And yet there was something else. Neither Yukari nor Sera seemed particularly concerned about being in his company. That told Amber considerably more than any dramatic warning might have. --- Maeve glanced toward Yukari. "You've met before." "Yes." "Recently?" Yukari smiled. "No." Nyarlathotep regarded her affectionately. "Not recently at all." Amber looked between them. "How long ago?" Yukari turned toward her. "Darling, that's a story for another evening." Nyarlathotep nodded. "And one upon which we might remember certain details rather differently." Yukari's eyes narrowed with amusement. "Oh, I remember the important details." "I have no doubt." "Particularly your expression." He laughed again. "My dear, you wound me." "Not this evening." Amber nearly choked on her wine. Maeve looked toward Sera. Sera was smiling into her glass. "Should we ask?" Maeve murmured. "Not unless you want a very long conversation." Yukari nodded. "An extremely long one." Nyarlathotep raised his glass. "Then let us preserve the mystery." --- For a while, they discussed the reception. The guests. The speeches. The extraordinary expense of the venue. Amber found herself relaxing. Not entirely. She was perfectly aware of whom she was speaking with. But Nyarlathotep was an attentive conversationalist. He listened. He remembered details. He asked intelligent questions. And when Maeve explained O'Sullivan SAS's approach to corporate security, he seemed genuinely interested. "Integrated resilience," he repeated. "Exactly," Maeve replied. "Physical, digital and operational systems considered together." "Yes." "How refreshing." Amber smiled. "Most people prefer to discover their security problems one catastrophe at a time." "An expensive educational method." "Very." Nyarlathotep chuckled. "Humanity does have an extraordinary fondness for learning through disaster." Maeve smiled. "Which keeps us employed." "Naturally." --- He asked about their recent work. Amber and Maeve described their business in appropriately general terms. No confidential client information. No operational details. Nothing that would compromise their professional responsibilities. Nyarlathotep seemed to appreciate that. "Discretion," he observed. "An admirable quality." Amber smiled. "Rather important in our line of work." "Indeed." He glanced toward the reception hall. "Not everyone here possesses it." Maeve followed his gaze. Several executives were gathered around a table, speaking loudly enough that their supposed private conversation could probably be heard in the next district. Amber grinned. "Corporate networking." Nyarlathotep laughed. "Quite." --- Yukari had been studying him. Finally, she spoke. "You haven't changed." Nyarlathotep turned toward her. "Neither have you, little fox." Yukari smiled. "That is not entirely true." "No?" "No." Her expression softened. "I have a family now." He looked at the four women. Then smiled warmly. "So I see." Amber glanced at Yukari. The kitsune reached for her hand. Maeve took Sera's. For a moment, the gesture said more than any explanation could. Nyarlathotep regarded them thoughtfully. "How wonderful." There was no mockery in his voice. No hidden threat. Only interest. Yukari smiled. "It is." --- Sera leaned back comfortably. "And you? Have you found anything particularly interesting here?" Nyarlathotep considered. "Many things." "Such as?" "Your city's extraordinary confidence in its own permanence." Amber laughed. "That's optimistic." "Isn't it?" Maeve smiled. "Night City has survived quite a lot." "Indeed." He looked toward the windows. "And yet everyone continues behaving as though tomorrow will be precisely what they expect." Sera nodded. "People need plans." "Certainly." "Even when the plans don't survive contact with reality." "Especially then." They exchanged amused smiles. --- The conversation turned toward the evening's hosts. Maeve had been waiting for a natural opportunity. "Are you closely involved with the investment forum?" Nyarlathotep looked at her. "Not particularly." "You were introduced as an important supporter." "Was I?" Amber smiled. "Very enthusiastically." "How flattering." Maeve continued. "Do you have financial interests in the organizing companies?" "Some, perhaps." "Some?" He smiled. "I find the administrative details rather tedious." Amber looked amused. "That's a luxury." "An enormous one." "Most business owners have to understand where their money goes." "An unfortunate burden." Maeve nodded. "Indeed." She did not press further. He had answered politely without providing useful specifics. And that, in itself, was worth remembering. --- Nyarlathotep glanced toward the reception hall. "Your hosts are ambitious people." Amber followed his gaze. "That's putting it mildly." "Ambition is a fascinating quality." Maeve studied him. "Do you approve of what they're doing?" He considered the question. "That depends upon what you mean by approve." "Do you support their financial activities?" "I enjoy observing interesting enterprises." "Even if people are harmed?" His expression became thoughtful. "My dear Maeve, people are harmed by a great many things." "That's true." "And I suspect you have a more specific concern." Maeve met his gaze. "Perhaps." For a moment, the conversation became very quiet. Not hostile. Simply careful. Then Nyarlathotep smiled. "You are an interesting woman." Maeve returned the smile. "Thank you." --- Amber watched the exchange. She knew Mai. Knew the way her mind worked. Knew when she was asking an ordinary question and when she was testing the edges of an answer. Nyarlathotep appeared to know the difference too. He did not seem offended. Quite the opposite. He appeared entertained. Amber leaned forward. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Do you actually like these people?" Nyarlathotep laughed. "Which people?" "The executives." "Some of them." "The investors?" "Some of them." "The people trying to own half the city?" He considered that. "Some are delightful company." Amber raised an eyebrow. "And the others?" "Are also interesting." "Even when they're complete assholes?" "Sometimes especially then." Amber laughed despite herself. "Well, at least you're consistent." --- Yukari smiled into her wine. "Still collecting interesting acquaintances?" Nyarlathotep turned toward her. "Naturally." "Some of them rather questionable." "My dear, you once found me questionable." "Once?" He laughed. "Fair." Sera shook her head affectionately. "Some conversations truly never change." Nyarlathotep regarded her. "And some acquaintances remain delightful regardless of how much time passes." Sera inclined her head. "Thank you." --- A discreet chime sounded from Maeve's holo. A message from Kiro. Maeve glanced at it. No emergency. Just a short update. **Renata Calder appears on the receiving contractor's authorization records for another shipment. Different date. Same private-access procedure. Details pending verification.** Maeve closed the message. Amber noticed. "Business?" "Nothing urgent." Nyarlathotep smiled. "Please don't let me interrupt your responsibilities." "Thank you," Maeve replied. She did not elaborate. Nor did he ask. --- Eventually, Amber glanced toward the reception hall. "We should probably mingle." Nyarlathotep nodded. "Of course." He rose. The others followed. For a moment, he stood beside Yukari. His expression was warm. Almost nostalgic. "It really is a pleasure to see you again, little fox." Yukari smiled. "And you." He inclined his head toward Sera. "And you as well." Sera smiled. "Likewise." Amber offered her hand. "An interesting conversation." Nyarlathotep shook it. "An excellent one." Maeve nodded. "Thank you for your time." "The pleasure was mine." --- As they turned to leave, Nyarlathotep spoke again. "Amber?" She looked back. "Yes?" He smiled. "Do keep enjoying your city." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Planning on leaving?" "Not particularly." "Then I imagine we'll cross paths again." His smile broadened. "I would be delighted." --- They returned to the reception. The orchestra was playing. The guests were drinking. A group of executives had begun arguing about market valuations. Everything appeared perfectly ordinary. Amber waited until they were well away from the private lounge. Then stopped. Turned toward Yukari. And stared. Yukari smiled. "Yes, darling?" Amber took a breath. "Nyarlathotep." "Yes." "The Black Pharaoh." "Yes." "At a corporate networking event." "Indeed." Amber looked at Maeve. Then Sera. Then back at Yukari. "Goddammit." Sera burst out laughing. --- Maeve gently guided them toward a quieter corner. "We should discuss this." Amber nodded. "Yes." Yukari looked thoughtful. Sera remained calm. Maeve spoke quietly. "First question. Are we in immediate danger?" Yukari shook her head. "Not from anything he has said or done tonight." Sera nodded. "Agreed." "Second. Is he connected to the Circle?" Yukari considered. "He appears to know people involved with the forum." "That isn't necessarily the same thing," Maeve said. "Precisely." Amber folded her arms. "Third. Should we tell Rogue?" Sera smiled faintly. "Eventually, yes." Maeve nodded. "But not in the middle of the reception." "Agreed." --- Amber looked toward the private lounge. "There's something I don't understand." Yukari turned. "What?" "He was... pleasant." Sera smiled. "He can be." "Very pleasant." "Yes." Amber frowned. "That's not what I expected." Yukari regarded her gently. "My dear Ace, the universe is full of beings who are far more complicated than the stories people tell about them." Amber considered that. Then nodded. "Fair." Maeve smiled. "Being pleasant doesn't tell us everything about someone's actions." "Exactly," Yukari replied. "And being dangerous doesn't require someone to behave unpleasantly." Sera nodded. "Also true." --- They continued the evening. Talked with more executives. Exchanged business contacts. Listened. Observed. And, occasionally, looked toward the gentleman whose skin seemed to absorb the room's light. He appeared entirely comfortable. Sometimes speaking with wealthy investors. Sometimes listening to an enthusiastic executive. Sometimes simply enjoying his wine. He did not summon anything. He did not threaten anyone. He did not make demands. And he showed no particular interest in directing the forum's business. For him, the evening appeared to be exactly what he had described. An enjoyable gathering of interesting people. --- Near midnight, the four women prepared to leave. Amber and Maeve had acquired several promising business contacts. Yukari had enjoyed the food. Sera had found the entire evening fascinating. And all four had learned something that would make the next investigative meeting considerably more complicated. As their vehicle carried them away from City Center, Amber leaned back. "Well." Maeve laughed. "Darling." "I know." Yukari smiled. "An interesting evening." Amber turned toward her. "Interesting?" "Very." "We met Nyarlathotep." "Yes." "At a corporate reception." "Yes." "And you two were chatting like old friends." Sera smiled. "Old acquaintances." Amber stared. Then laughed. "Goddammit. I love my life." --- At the safehouse, Iris and Brenda were still awake. Brenda looked up as the four women entered. "Well?" Amber slowly removed her shoes. "Excellent business contacts." Maeve nodded. "Very productive evening." Yukari smiled. "Lovely food." Sera added: "And an unexpected reunion." Iris raised an eyebrow. "With whom?" Amber looked at her. Then at Brenda. Then at the others. She took a breath. "Nyarlathotep." Silence. Brenda blinked. "Sorry?" Amber nodded. "The Black Pharaoh." Brenda stared. Then slowly set down her coffee. "YOU MET WHO?" Brenda stared at Amber. "The Black Pharaoh," Amber repeated. "At a corporate reception?" "Yes." "With champagne and fucking canapés?" "Excellent canapés," Yukari supplied. Brenda looked at her. Yukari smiled pleasantly. Brenda turned toward Iris. "I need another drink." Iris was looking at Shammy. Unlike Brenda, she wasn't laughing. "How dangerous?" Shammy's expression became serious. "Very." The room quieted. Yukari settled beside Shammy on the sofa. "There's something all of you need to understand." Ace, no longer particularly concerned with maintaining Amber's corporate mannerisms, sat beside Mai. "All right." Yukari looked around the room. "Nyarlathotep is extraordinarily powerful. That much is obvious. But his power is not what concerns me most." Brenda frowned. "Then what does?" "Manipulation." Shammy nodded immediately. "That's the part everyone underestimates." Iris folded her arms. "Explain." Shammy considered her words. "He doesn't need to threaten someone. He doesn't need to lie. Often, he doesn't even need to ask them to do anything." Mai leaned forward. "Then how does he manipulate them?" "He understands what people want," Yukari replied. "Sometimes better than they understand it themselves." Shammy continued. "He can make a person feel understood. Appreciated. Important. He can recognize exactly which part of someone's ambitions they most desperately want another person to validate." Ace thought about the reception. The easy conversation. The warmth. The attentive listening. The way the Black Pharaoh had seemed genuinely interested in everyone around him. "Fuck." Yukari looked at her gently. "Exactly." --- Mai considered the warning. "Are you saying he was manipulating us tonight?" "No," Shammy replied. "Not necessarily." Yukari nodded. "He may simply have enjoyed our company. I believe he did." "Then how do we distinguish one from the other?" Iris asked. "By remembering that a pleasant conversation creates no obligation," Shammy answered. Yukari added, "And by refusing to let his approval become a reason to abandon your own judgment." Brenda frowned. "So he can tell you exactly what you want to hear." "Yes," Yukari said. "But the most effective manipulation is rarely that crude." Shammy looked toward Mai. "Imagine someone who listens carefully, asks thoughtful questions and helps you reach a conclusion." Mai nodded slowly. "Except the conclusion was the one he wanted me to reach." "Perhaps. And you might never notice that the conversation had been arranged around your own assumptions." Kiro's voice came from the holo terminal. "That's considerably more worrying than someone trying to take control of my systems." Reyes appeared beside her. "Because you know when to look for a hostile intrusion." "Exactly," Kiro replied. "But an idea can feel like your own." Yukari nodded. "And that is precisely why you must be careful." --- Ace looked toward Shammy. "Can he manipulate you?" Shammy met her eyes. "Of course he can try." The answer was immediate. Without pride. Without embarrassment. Yukari nodded. "Neither of us is immune." Brenda stared at them. "That's comforting." "It isn't meant to be," Shammy replied gently. Yukari folded her hands. "Age and experience help us recognize certain methods. They do not make us incapable of mistakes." Mai reached for Ace's hand. "Then we keep talking to one another." "Exactly," Shammy said. "Especially if one of us begins making decisions that seem unusually urgent or out of character," Reyes added. Iris nodded. "And nobody makes significant commitments to him without discussing them first." "Financial, personal or otherwise," Mai agreed. Yukari smiled. "An excellent precaution." --- Brenda leaned back. "Let me get this straight. He could offer us something wonderful, genuinely mean the offer, and still be manipulating us?" "Yes," Shammy replied. "That's fucked." "A little," Yukari agreed. "A little?" The kitsune smiled faintly. "My dear Brenda, I am trying to remain polite." That earned a reluctant laugh. Ace considered the evening again. "He didn't try to convince us to join anything." "No," Shammy replied. "He didn't ask for favors." "No." "He was just... nice." Yukari nodded. "Yes." Ace looked at her. "And that might have been completely genuine." "It might." "Goddammit." Shammy leaned closer and kissed Ace's cheek. "There's no need to distrust every pleasant moment, darling. Just don't confuse pleasantness with safety." --- For a while, nobody spoke. Then Mai asked the question that had been bothering her. "Does he actually want the Circle to succeed?" Yukari shook her head. "I have no reason to believe that." Shammy nodded. "He doesn't need their success." "Or their failure," Yukari added. "He may enjoy speaking with them. He may find their ambitions fascinating. He may even help someone simply because the idea appeals to him." "And if it all goes terribly wrong?" Iris asked. Yukari's expression became still. "He may find that fascinating too." Ace exhaled slowly. "So we can't assume his kindness means he has good intentions." "Nor can we assume every kindness conceals a trap," Shammy replied. "Both assumptions would give him too much influence over how we think." Mai smiled faintly. "Judge what he actually does." "Yes," Yukari said. "And never surrender your ability to say no." --- Brenda looked around the room. "Right. So the rules are: don't make deals without thinking, don't let him flatter you into stupidity, and don't assume the nicest bastard in the room is harmless." Reyes laughed. "That's a surprisingly good summary." "Thank you. I have my moments." Iris smiled. "Occasionally." "Fuck you, darling." "Love you too." Ace laughed. The tension eased. Not because the warning had become less serious. Because everyone understood it. --- Later, as the others began drifting toward bed, Ace remained beside Yukari and Shammy. "One more question." Yukari looked at her. "Of course." "Are you glad you saw him again?" Yukari considered that. Then smiled. "Yes." Shammy nodded. "So am I." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Even knowing all this?" "Especially knowing it," Yukari replied. "We know enough to be careful, and we don't have to pretend the encounter was unpleasant." Shammy took Ace's hand. "He's dangerous, darling. That doesn't mean every conversation with him has to be a battle." Ace looked between them. Then smiled. "Good." Yukari tilted her head. "Good?" "Because I rather enjoyed talking to him." Shammy laughed softly. "I noticed." Ace grinned. "Just wanted to make sure I wasn't being an idiot." Yukari leaned over and kissed her cheek. "My dear Ace, you can enjoy someone's company without handing them the keys to your life." Ace laughed. "Fair." --- When the lights finally went out, the safehouse was peaceful. Yukari returned to her fox form and curled up at the foot of the Triad's bed. Ace settled between Mai and Shammy. For a few moments, there was only comfortable silence. Then Yukari spoke from beneath her magnificent collection of tails. "By the way, Ace?" "Hmm?" "I believe he likes you." Ace opened one eye. "Nyarlathotep?" "Yes." "Wonderful." Mai began laughing. Shammy covered her face. Ace stared at the ceiling. "Goddammit." Yukari's tails rustled. "Sleep well, darling." --- ## Chapter 17 — The Ownership Problem The next morning, Brenda discovered that the Black Pharaoh had become a breakfast topic. This was, in her opinion, deeply unreasonable. She stood in the safehouse kitchen with a coffee mug in one hand and a piece of toast in the other. "Just so we're clear," she said, "we're talking about Nyarlathotep." Ace nodded. "Yes." "At breakfast." "Yes." "While discussing corporate finance." Mai smiled. "Also yes." Brenda stared at them. "Some families talk about the weather." Shammy looked up. "Would you prefer that?" "Frankly?" Yukari, curled in fox form beside the table, lifted her head. "The weather is behaving quite well today." Brenda pointed at her. "See? Perfectly normal conversation." Shammy smiled. "Sunny intervals. Mild wind. Occasional existential threat." Ace nearly spat out her coffee. Brenda closed her eyes. "I hate all of you." Iris kissed her cheek. "No, you don't." "Unfortunately." --- Mai had already begun examining the latest financial records. Kiro joined remotely, looking suspiciously awake for someone who had apparently spent much of the night comparing corporate filings. Ace noticed. "Sweetheart, did you sleep?" Kiro smiled. "Some." "Define some." "A sufficient quantity." Mai narrowed her eyes. "Kiro." "All right. Not enough." "Breakfast?" "Yes." "Real breakfast?" "Mai." "Kiro." A pause. Then Kiro sighed. "I'll eat." Reyes appeared beside her on the holo. "I'll make sure." Ace grinned. "Excellent. My girlfriend supervising my girlfriend." Mai looked delighted. "Efficient arrangement." Kiro covered her face. "Goddammit." --- The first significant discovery came from the records Natalia Brzezinska had been reviewing before her disappearance. Her employer had not released its confidential client files. But Mai and Kiro had reconstructed part of the relevant corporate structure from public registrations, recorded liens, creditor notices and legitimately available filings. Kiro displayed a list of five businesses. "These are the companies Natalia was examining." Mai nodded. "Different sectors." "Manufacturing. Logistics. Property management. Medical supply distribution. Industrial maintenance." Ace frowned. "Not exactly a focused investment strategy." "That's what interested Natalia," Mai replied. Reyes leaned forward. "Why buy into unrelated industries?" "Sometimes diversification," Kiro answered. "Sometimes access," Mai added. "A company doesn't have to be especially profitable to control something valuable." Ace considered that. "Buildings. Shipping permits. Distribution routes." "Exactly." --- Mai selected the first company. A medical supply distributor. Its owner had taken out a substantial loan to expand operations. The lender had later transferred the debt to a subsidiary associated with Meridian Ascendant Holdings. Then the repayment terms had changed. Kiro highlighted the timeline. "Here's where Natalia noticed something strange." Reyes studied the dates. "Two amendments in one month." "Yes." "Both unfavorable to the borrower?" "Both increased the consequences of missing a payment." Mai opened the security agreement. "The borrower had pledged a controlling share of the company as collateral." Ace frowned. "That seems dangerous." "It is, but not automatically improper." "What happened?" "The company missed a payment." "And?" "The creditor exercised its contractual rights." Kiro enlarged the ownership record. "Fifty-one percent transferred." Ace stared. "Just like that?" "Not quite. There were notices and legal procedures. But the outcome was a transfer of control." Reyes folded her arms. "Do we know whether the borrower understood the terms?" "Not yet," Mai replied. --- The second company followed a similar pattern. Then the third. Not identical contracts. Not the same lenders. Not even the same lawyers. But the same general result. Control passed from the original owners into entities associated with the Meridian financial network. Kiro looked at the chart. "Three companies." Mai nodded. "And a fourth facing an enforcement deadline." Reyes studied the fifth. "What about that one?" "No completed transfer. Not yet." Ace looked thoughtful. "So whoever built this structure isn't simply collecting money." "Correct." "They're collecting companies." "More precisely," Mai said, "they're collecting the ability to direct companies." Yukari's ears twitched. "Ownership without always appearing to be the owner." Mai smiled. "Exactly." --- Iris joined them with another coffee. "That would make the network difficult to identify from the outside." "Very," Mai replied. "And difficult to challenge," Kiro added. "Each transaction looks like an individual business dispute." Brenda examined the chart. "That's a fucking clever way to steal an industrial empire." Mai glanced at her. "Potentially. But we need to establish whether anyone actually used fraud or coercion." Brenda waved a hand. "Fine. That's a fucking clever way to _possibly_ steal an industrial empire." Reyes burst out laughing. Ace pointed at her. "See? That's exactly what I've been dealing with." --- The fourth company interested Mai most. A small transport technology business. Its chief executive was alive. Still employed. And publicly disputing the creditor's attempt to seize control. "Excellent," Mai said. Ace raised an eyebrow. "Excellent?" "A person we can interview who actually participated in the arrangement." Reyes nodded. "Better than guessing from paperwork." Kiro opened the public legal filings. "The executive's name is Aneta Wisniewska." Mai checked the contact information. "Let's see whether she'll talk." --- Aneta agreed to meet that afternoon. She insisted upon bringing her attorney. Mai approved immediately. Ace was less enthusiastic. "Another lawyer." Reyes looked at her. "Yes." "Are they breeding?" "Probably." "Do they have nests?" "Ace." "I'm asking important biological questions." Yukari raised her head. "I believe the collective noun is _a billing department_." For a moment, there was silence. Then Brenda began laughing so hard she had to put down her mug. --- The meeting took place in a quiet private room at a restaurant in City Center. Aneta Wisniewska arrived with her attorney, a composed woman named Dorota Lewandowska. Aneta looked tired. Not frightened. Not confused. Simply furious. "Before we begin," she said, "I want to know whether you're working for Meridian." Mai shook her head. "No." "One of its competitors?" "No." "Then why are you interested?" "We're investigating several financial arrangements that appear to have produced similar changes of corporate control." Aneta considered her. "You're not regulators." "No." "Police?" "No." "Then what are you?" Mai smiled. "Independent security and investigative specialists." Aneta looked toward Ace. "And she's the security part?" Ace smiled brightly. "Among other things." Dorota glanced at the katanas. "Clearly." --- Aneta described her company's financial difficulties. An expansion. A delayed customer contract. An unexpected cash-flow shortage. Then an offer of financing that appeared, at first, remarkably favorable. "They promised to help us through a difficult quarter," she said. Mai nodded. "Who approached you?" "A consultant associated with Meridian Ascendant Holdings." "Name?" "Renata Calder." Ace and Reyes exchanged a glance. Mai did not react. "What did she offer?" "Short-term financing. Business introductions. A restructuring package." "Did you accept?" "Yes." "With legal review?" Dorota answered. "The original agreement was reviewed." Mai looked at her. "Original?" Dorota nodded. "The subsequent amendments are the problem." --- The first amendment had appeared after the company missed a projected revenue milestone. The second had followed a delay in a customer payment. The third had changed how a default could be declared. Mai examined the documents. "Did your client consent to all three?" Dorota's expression hardened. "That is the subject of our dispute." Aneta leaned forward. "They told me the amendments were administrative." "Who told you?" Reyes asked. "Calder." "Did she explain their consequences?" "Not adequately." Dorota added: "We believe certain material terms were misrepresented. We're preparing to challenge the enforceability of the amendments." Mai nodded. "That gives us something specific." Aneta looked at her. "Such as?" "Potential misrepresentation during contract negotiation." "That's what I've been telling everyone!" --- Ace had been quiet. Now she leaned forward. "Ms. Wisniewska, can I ask something?" "Go ahead." "Why did you trust Calder?" Aneta looked surprised. Then uncomfortable. "She seemed to understand our problems." Ace nodded. "How?" "She knew our business. Our competitors. Our supply contracts. She knew exactly what we needed." "Did she make you feel as though she was offering something nobody else could?" Aneta hesitated. "Yes." Ace thought about the previous evening. Nyarlathotep's pleasant conversation. Yukari and Shammy's warning. The way a person could be guided without recognizing it. But she did not confuse Renata Calder with the Black Pharaoh. There was no evidence of anything supernatural about Aneta's experience. Ordinary manipulation was more than sufficient. "Thank you," Ace said. Aneta looked puzzled. "For what?" "Being honest." --- The conversation continued for nearly an hour. Aneta provided copies of documents her attorney authorized them to examine. Correspondence. Meeting summaries. Financial projections. A sequence of assurances that had gradually become harder to reconcile with the actual contract terms. Mai asked careful questions. Kiro reviewed the technical details remotely. Reyes established a timeline. And Ace listened. By the end, they had something more valuable than another suspicious pattern. A specific allegation. A specific transaction. A living witness. And supporting documentation. --- As they prepared to leave, Aneta stopped Mai. "Can I ask you something?" "Of course." "Do you think I was stupid?" Mai looked at her. "No." Aneta's expression tightened. "Because I keep thinking I should have seen it." "You're experienced in running a transport technology business," Mai said. "You aren't required to anticipate every form of financial manipulation." Dorota nodded. "That's why companies employ attorneys." Aneta gave a small, tired laugh. "Apparently I needed more of them." Ace smiled. "Or better timing." Aneta considered that. Then nodded. "Thank you." --- Back at the rented office, Kiro was waiting with a development of her own. "You're going to like this." Mai smiled. "Will I?" "Probably." Reyes groaned. "Please." Kiro laughed. "All right. The fifth company on Natalia's list." "What about it?" Mai asked. "Its ownership hasn't transferred." "We know." "But someone tried to register a voting proxy giving Meridian's subsidiary control of its board decisions." Mai stopped. "Was the proxy authorized?" "That's the question." Kiro displayed the filing. "The document claims authorization from the company's majority shareholder." Ace frowned. "Who?" Kiro opened the shareholder record. A familiar name appeared. **Natalia Brzezinska.** Silence. Mai leaned forward. "She's a shareholder?" "Not a large one," Kiro replied. "But she inherited a minority stake from a relative several years ago." Reyes studied the filing. "Enough to influence the vote?" "Possibly when combined with other holdings." Mai examined the signatures. "Was the proxy executed before she disappeared?" "According to the document, yes." "And filed?" "After she disappeared." Ace's expression hardened. "That's interesting." Reyes nodded. "Very." --- Mai examined the filing. "Can we verify the signature?" "Not yet." "Digital authentication?" "Present, but we need the original audit record." "Who submitted it?" Kiro highlighted the registration. "A legal services intermediary." "Connected to Meridian?" "Through a contractual relationship." Ace looked toward Mai. "Now we're getting somewhere." Mai nodded slowly. "Yes." "But we still need to establish whether Natalia authorized the proxy herself." "Exactly." Reyes folded her arms. "And whether the filing has anything to do with her disappearance." --- They contacted Rogue. She listened without interruption. Then said: "You're telling me the missing analyst was also a shareholder in a company Meridian wanted to control." "Yes," Mai replied. "And a voting authorization appeared after she disappeared." "Correct." "Do you know whether she signed it?" "No." Rogue was quiet. Then: "Fuck." Ace smiled faintly. "That's becoming the official investigative assessment." --- Rogue agreed to help preserve the relevant records and identify any available witnesses. She also promised to pass the specific filing concerns to appropriate contacts who could lawfully obtain the underlying audit information. No instant breakthrough. No miraculous database access. Just another practical step. As the call ended, Rogue looked at Ace. "One more thing." "Yes?" "Your reception." Ace grinned. "Lovely evening." "Don't fuck with me." "Wouldn't dream of it." "Did you learn anything?" Ace glanced toward Mai. Then Shammy. Then Yukari. "Yes." Rogue narrowed her eyes. "What?" Ace took a breath. "We met someone." "Who?" "Nyarlathotep." Silence. Rogue stared. Then slowly leaned back. "You're fucking kidding." "No." "The Black Pharaoh?" "Yes." "At a corporate reception?" "Yes." Rogue closed her eyes. "Of course you did." --- The debrief took longer than expected. Rogue wanted details. Names. Connections. Behavior. Anything suggesting a link between Nyarlathotep and the financial network. Mai gave her a precise account. He attended as an honored guest. He appeared familiar with several executives. He had discussed corporate ambition. But had not claimed responsibility for the forum's activities or expressed a concrete interest in controlling its businesses. Yukari and Shammy confirmed his identity. They also repeated their warning about manipulation. Rogue listened carefully. Then asked: "Did he threaten anyone?" "No," Shammy replied. "Offer you anything?" "No." "Ask for favors?" "No." Rogue frowned. "Then what did he do?" Ace smiled. "Talked." Rogue stared. "Talked?" "Very pleasantly." Yukari nodded. "That is precisely why caution is important." --- Rogue sat back. "Christ." Ace looked amused. "Interesting evening, wasn't it?" "You're a walking disaster magnet." "Love you too." "Don't even start." --- Later that night, the safehouse was quieter. The investigation had progressed. They had a credible contractual dispute. A possible irregular voting proxy. And stronger reasons to examine the financial network's control over businesses. But Natalia Brzezinska remained missing. So did Daniel Velez. And Anton Saye. Ace sat beside Mai on the sofa. Yukari lay in fox form nearby. Shammy occupied the other side. Iris and Brenda were discussing dinner. For a little while, nobody spoke about corporations. Or cults. Or ancient cosmic entities. Then Kiro's holo connection chimed. Mai answered. "Sweetheart?" Kiro looked serious. "I've got something." Mai straightened. "What?" "The voting proxy." "Yes?" "I found another filing associated with the same legal intermediary." "Whose?" Kiro hesitated. Then answered. "Daniel Velez." Ace stopped moving. "Daniel?" "Yes." "Another proxy?" "Not exactly." Kiro displayed the record. A power-of-attorney document. Filed three days after his disappearance. Granting authority over a financial account he had opened shortly before going missing. Mai stared at the date. "Who received the authority?" Kiro highlighted the name. **Meridian Ascendant Holdings.** --- For several seconds, the room was silent. Then Ace slowly looked toward Mai. "Well." Mai did not smile. "No, darling." She studied the screen. "This time, I think we're beginning to understand what the disappearances might be worth." --- ## Chapter 18 — Signatures After Midnight "Tell me that's a mistake." Ace stood behind Kiro's chair, staring at the latest filing. Kiro shook her head. "I can tell you it might be a mistake." "That's not what I asked." "I know." Mai sat beside Kiro, reading the document for the third time. A power of attorney. Daniel Velez. Filed three days after his disappearance. Granting Meridian Ascendant Holdings authority over a financial account Daniel had opened shortly before he went missing. The document looked ordinary. Which was becoming a problem. The more disturbing the financial arrangements became, the less dramatic the paperwork looked. Mai examined the authentication section. "Was it signed before he disappeared?" "According to the embedded signature data, yes," Kiro replied. "How long before?" "Four days." Ace frowned. "So he might have signed it willingly." "Yes." "Then why file it afterward?" Mai looked up. "That's what we need to establish." --- The next morning, they assembled at the rented office. Reyes arrived with coffee. Kiro had brought breakfast. Ace had brought an attitude. "Good morning, everyone. Who are we arresting?" Reyes set down the coffee. "Nobody." "Disappointing." "We're examining records." "Even more disappointing." Mai smiled. "Darling, you love us." "Terribly." Kiro opened a secure workspace. "Then you'll love this." The two documents appeared side by side. Daniel's power of attorney. Natalia Brzezinska's voting proxy. Different legal instruments. Different parties. Different corporate interests. But both had been filed after the respective individuals disappeared. Reyes leaned forward. "Same filing service?" "Different services," Kiro replied. "Same law firm?" "Not directly." "Any common personnel?" Kiro highlighted a name. **Edward Collins.** Mai examined the entry. "Who is he?" "A compliance consultant. Appears as an authorized reviewing officer in both filing chains." Ace looked at her. "That's convenient." "Could be entirely legitimate," Mai replied. "Naturally." Reyes smiled. "You're learning." Ace sighed. "I hate all of you." --- Edward Collins worked for a specialist document-verification firm in City Center. The company handled corporate authorizations, electronic signatures and compliance reviews. Nothing inherently suspicious. Its website was boring. Its public records were boring. Its marketing material was so boring that Kiro briefly considered it an act of professional sabotage. "Look at this." Mai glanced over. "What?" **INTEGRITY THROUGH PROCESS EXCELLENCE.** Ace stared. "That's not a slogan." Kiro nodded. "It's a sleeping aid." Reyes chuckled. "Focus." --- The firm was called **Collins & Fletcher Verification Services**. It operated from a modest but expensive office suite. Its senior partner, Thomas Fletcher, had been in the document-verification business for more than twenty years. Edward Collins handled specialist corporate accounts. Mai examined their professional history. "No obvious red flags." Kiro nodded. "Established clients. Ordinary filings. Some regulatory inspections." "Any enforcement actions?" "Nothing significant." Reyes folded her arms. "Then we request an interview." "Exactly," Mai replied. Ace sighed. "With lawyers?" "Almost certainly." "Goddammit." --- Thomas Fletcher agreed to meet them the following afternoon. Edward Collins would attend. So would the firm's legal adviser. Ace read the confirmation. "Three professionals, two investigators and approximately eight hundred pages of paperwork." Reyes smiled. "Your favorite kind of afternoon." "I'd rather fight an oni." Mai looked at her. "Yes, darling. We know." --- At the safehouse, Shammy was studying the same timeline. Yukari lay beside her in fox form, her tails arranged across the sofa. Iris stood near the window. Brenda was examining the technical documentation with growing irritation. "These signatures are valid if the verification records are genuine," Brenda said. Shammy nodded. "But the records could be incomplete." "Or manipulated." Yukari raised her head. "How difficult would that be?" "Depends on the system," Brenda replied. "Some are very secure. Others are held together by optimism and a prayer." Shammy laughed. "Night City engineering." "Exactly." Iris examined the dates. "What's important is whether the individuals understood what they signed." Yukari nodded. "Consent is not meaningful when the consequences are concealed." Brenda glanced at her. "That's a very modern way of putting it." Yukari smiled. "My dear Brenda, some principles are older than your computers." Shammy chuckled. "And some are older than the fox." Yukari turned toward her. "Indeed. Which is why I appreciate having you around to remind me." Shammy reached over and scratched behind Yukari's ears. The fox closed her eyes. "An excellent arrangement." --- The next day, the meeting at Collins & Fletcher began with tea. Actual tea. Served in proper cups. Ace looked at Reyes. Reyes looked back. Neither spoke. Thomas Fletcher noticed. "Something amusing?" Ace smiled. "Just appreciating the hospitality." Fletcher returned the smile. "One tries." Edward Collins sat beside him. He was a neatly dressed man in his early fifties, with silvering hair and the carefully restrained manner of someone accustomed to handling sensitive documents. Their legal adviser, Claire Beaumont, introduced herself. Mai smiled. "Thank you for agreeing to meet us." "Of course," Claire replied. "We understand you're reviewing several corporate authorizations." "Yes." --- They began with Daniel Velez. Edward Collins explained the verification process. The document had been submitted by a registered client. Its signature certificate appeared valid. The identity checks had been completed. And the filing had been processed according to the firm's ordinary procedures. Mai listened carefully. "When was the document signed?" Collins gave the date. Four days before Daniel disappeared. "And submitted?" "Seven days later." "After he disappeared." "Yes." "Was that unusual?" "Not necessarily. Clients sometimes sign documents before the relevant filing date." Kiro nodded. "Do you retain the original authentication logs?" "Yes." "Could we examine them?" Claire Beaumont leaned forward. "That would require authorization from the relevant parties or an appropriate legal process." Mai nodded. "Understood." --- The discussion moved to Natalia Brzezinska. Her voting proxy followed a similar pattern. Signed before her disappearance. Filed afterward. Reviewed by Edward Collins. But there was one difference. The submitting party was not the same organization that had submitted Daniel's document. Mai examined the records. "Who instructed your firm?" Claire answered carefully. "A registered corporate client." "Which client?" "We can provide the information through the appropriate disclosure process." Ace leaned back. "So we have two documents, two missing people and one reviewing officer." Collins looked uncomfortable. "That does not mean I did anything improper." Ace met his gaze. "I didn't say you did." He hesitated. Then nodded. "Fair." --- Kiro asked about the signature verification technology. Collins explained the system. Device certificates. Cryptographic signatures. Biometric confirmation. Timestamped audit records. Nothing exotic. Nothing obviously defective. Then Kiro asked a simple question. "Does the system establish that the signer understood the document?" Collins paused. "No." Mai leaned forward. "Only that the identity verification and signing procedures were completed?" "Correct." "And whether the signer was under pressure?" "Outside the system's scope." "And whether the document was misrepresented?" "Also outside our scope." Kiro nodded. "Thank you." Ace looked at Mai. Mai looked back. That distinction mattered. A great deal. --- The meeting ended politely. No accusations. No dramatic confrontation. No sudden confession. But Claire Beaumont agreed to preserve the relevant records while the necessary authorizations were pursued. And Edward Collins, before they left, offered one observation. "May I ask something?" Mai nodded. "Of course." "Are the individuals actually missing?" "Yes." Collins looked troubled. "Both?" "Yes." He glanced toward Thomas Fletcher. Then back at Mai. "I wasn't aware of that." Ace studied him. "Does it change anything?" Collins hesitated. "It changes how I feel about those files." --- Outside, Ace walked beside Reyes. "Well." Reyes smiled. "Another one." "That man looked genuinely surprised." "Yes." "You believe him?" "I believe he appeared surprised." Ace laughed. "Goddammit, you're impossible." Reyes leaned closer. "Learned from you." --- Mai and Kiro were already comparing notes. "The documents may have been properly authenticated," Mai said. "Yes." "But neither document proves informed consent." "Correct." "And both were filed after the signers disappeared." Kiro nodded. "Which could be legitimate timing." "Or deliberate." "Exactly." Mai paused. "Now we need the submitting parties." Kiro smiled. "And I think I know how to approach that." --- Their next lead came from a publicly recorded dispute involving Aneta Wisniewska's company. One of its creditors had filed a claim seeking enforcement of an amended financing agreement. The reviewing authority had requested supplementary documentation. Included in the public filing was a correspondence reference. Kiro highlighted it. "Look." Mai leaned closer. "Same verification service?" "Yes." "Same reviewing officer?" "No." "Then what?" Kiro enlarged the metadata. "The correspondence was routed through a specialist compliance coordinator." "Name?" **Isabelle Moreau.** Mai considered the record. "Another consultant?" "Apparently." "Working for whom?" Kiro brought up the professional listing. "Vesper Meridian Events." Ace looked up. "Well, well." Reyes sighed. "Of course." --- Isabelle Moreau was listed as a senior compliance coordinator. Her professional background included corporate event administration, contract management and regulatory documentation. Nothing particularly strange. Except that her name appeared across several transactions linked to the Circle's financial network. Mai studied the pattern. "She's connecting legal documentation with event operations." Kiro nodded. "And possibly helping coordinate the people who need to sign things." Reyes folded her arms. "Could be ordinary administrative work." "Absolutely," Mai replied. Ace grinned. "Potentially." Everyone looked at her. She raised both hands. "What? I'm participating." --- Back at the safehouse, Yukari had finally decided that the sofa was no longer sufficiently comfortable. She moved to the rug. Then to the armchair. Then back to the sofa. Shammy watched. "Having trouble?" Yukari sighed. "A dreadful problem." "What?" "Nothing is quite comfortable enough." Shammy smiled. "Would you like some help?" "Possibly." Shammy reached over and began scratching behind her ears. The fox immediately relaxed. "Ah." Brenda entered carrying a data shard. "Of course." Shammy looked up. "What?" "Nine tails, shapeshifting, ancient supernatural powers, and the solution to everything is ear scratches." Yukari opened one eye. "My dear Brenda, some technologies are timeless." Iris began laughing. --- Brenda set down the shard. "I've been examining the verification systems." Shammy looked interested. "Anything?" "Nothing obviously compromised." "Good." "However, there are several ways someone could obtain a perfectly valid signature under misleading circumstances." Yukari lifted her head. "Without altering the technology?" "Exactly." "Then the technical record might be genuine." "Yes." "But the agreement itself could still be dishonest." Brenda nodded. "Precisely." Shammy smiled faintly. "That sounds familiar." Yukari looked toward her. "Nyarlathotep?" "Manipulation in general." Brenda sighed. "At least this version doesn't require a cosmic entity." Yukari smiled. "Humans are quite capable of managing without assistance." --- By evening, the six women had regrouped. The evidence now suggested a broader pattern. Financial control was being accumulated through debt arrangements. Missing people had signed documents whose consequences were unclear. Those documents had been filed after their disappearances. And several corporate intermediaries connected the legal and financial processes to Vesper Meridian Events. Ace studied the display. "Still no proof the signatures were forged." Mai nodded. "Correct." "Still no proof the disappearances were caused by the agreements." "Correct." "But somebody's getting control of a lot of money." "Yes." "And somebody's doing it through a very complicated system." "Very." Ace leaned back. "Then we keep following the money." Kiro smiled. "Finally. Someone appreciates my work." --- Later that night, Rogue called. Ace answered. "Evening, sunshine." "Shut up." "Love you too." "I've got news." Ace straightened. "Good?" "Depends." Rogue transferred a file. An official notice. A scheduled transfer of controlling interest. One of the companies Natalia had been investigating. The transfer was due to finalize in forty-eight hours. Mai leaned closer. "Which company?" Rogue gave the name. A medical supply distributor. One of the five businesses from Natalia's list. Kiro examined the document. "Who's acquiring control?" Rogue answered. "Meridian Ascendant Holdings." --- Ace stared at the notice. "Can it be challenged?" Mai studied the terms. "Possibly, but not without establishing a basis." Reyes folded her arms. "Then we've got forty-eight hours." Kiro nodded. "To determine whether the transfer is legitimate." Shammy looked toward Yukari. The fox had become unusually still. Not because she sensed anything supernatural. Because she understood the stakes. People had disappeared. Documents had been filed. And now another company was about to change hands. Ace looked around the room. "All right." Mai smiled faintly. "Yes, darling?" "Let's find out whether somebody is stealing a company." --- ## Chapter 19 — Forty-Eight Hours The medical supply distributor was called Harcourt Medical Logistics. It employed two hundred and fourteen people. Operated three warehouses. Supplied hospitals, clinics and independent medical facilities across Night City. And, unless someone intervened, it would have a new controlling shareholder in less than forty-eight hours. Ace stared at the company profile. "Two hundred and fourteen people." Mai nodded. "Yes." "That's not some little investment account." "No." "Those people have jobs. Families." "Exactly." Reyes stood beside the table, arms folded. "And the company supplies medical facilities." Kiro enlarged the ownership diagram. "Which means acquiring control could provide access to contracts, warehouses, procurement decisions and distribution routes." Ace looked at Mai. "And if the new owners decide to squeeze every eddie out of it?" Mai's expression hardened. "Then the consequences could extend well beyond the shareholders." --- The company was not in good financial health. That much was clear. It had expanded too quickly. Several customers had delayed payments. A major supplier had raised prices. And an equipment failure had forced an expensive temporary distribution arrangement. None of this was unusual. Night City businesses encountered worse problems every week. What interested Mai was the financing agreement. "Here," she said. Kiro enlarged a particular clause. The agreement allowed the lender to acquire a controlling interest if certain financial conditions were breached. Ace frowned. "That's what we've been seeing everywhere." "Similar structure," Mai replied. "Same lender?" "Not directly. Different subsidiary." "Same underlying network." "Yes." Reyes studied the timeline. "When did the company supposedly default?" "Nine days ago." "And the ownership transfer?" "Scheduled for Friday." Ace looked up. "Tomorrow?" Mai nodded. "Tomorrow." --- Iris arrived with the company's public contact information. "I've identified the current managing director." Mai looked up. "Name?" "Margaret Bennett." Ace smiled. "That sounds almost reassuringly ordinary." Iris chuckled. "She's been running Harcourt for eleven years." "Does she know what's happening?" "She certainly knows about the transfer. She's filed an objection." Mai straightened. "On what grounds?" "Disputed default calculation." Kiro leaned forward. "That's useful." "Very," Mai agreed. Iris continued. "Her attorneys have requested emergency review, but the filing is still pending." Ace looked toward the clock. "Then perhaps we should speak with her." --- Margaret Bennett answered their call personally. She was in her early fifties, neatly dressed, visibly exhausted and in absolutely no mood for corporate pleasantries. "Yes?" Mai introduced herself. "Maeve O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan SAS." Margaret frowned. "Security company?" "Yes." "Why are you calling?" "We're conducting an independent investigation into several financing arrangements associated with Meridian Ascendant Holdings." A pause. "Who hired you?" Mai answered carefully. "We're working with a private investigative client. We're not representing your creditors." "Are you representing Harcourt?" "No." "Then what do you want?" "To understand the basis of the disputed default and determine whether the relevant transactions overlap with other matters we're investigating." Margaret was silent. Then: "Can you help me stop them?" Mai considered the question. "I can't promise that. But if there's evidence of a material irregularity, we may be able to help your legal team identify it." Another pause. Then Margaret sighed. "Come to my office." --- Harcourt Medical Logistics occupied a practical commercial building near one of its distribution centers. No grand lobby. No expensive sculpture. No theatrical security arrangements. Just a functioning company trying to keep medical supplies moving. Ace watched several delivery vehicles leave the loading area. "Now this is a business." Reyes glanced toward her. "What do you mean?" "They actually do something." "Most businesses do." "Some do a lot more talking about doing things." Reyes smiled. "Fair." --- Margaret met them with her attorney, Catherine Brooks. Catherine was a composed woman with an expression suggesting she had been reading contractual provisions continuously for the past thirty-six hours. "Thank you for coming," Margaret said. Mai shook her hand. "Of course." Catherine looked at the group. "Before we begin, I need to clarify that we cannot disclose privileged legal advice." Mai nodded. "Understood. We only need information your client is authorized to share." Catherine visibly relaxed. A little. Ace noticed. Another lawyer who had apparently expected someone to behave like an idiot. She was beginning to take it personally. --- Margaret explained the financing arrangement. Harcourt had obtained emergency credit to manage a temporary cash-flow problem. The lender had been introduced through a corporate consultant. Renata Calder. Ace kept her expression neutral. Mai asked: "Did Ms. Calder negotiate the terms?" "She facilitated the introduction." "Was she present during negotiations?" "Several." "Did she explain the default provisions?" Margaret's expression tightened. "She told us the provisions were standard." Catherine leaned forward. "That's where our disagreement begins." --- The default calculation was based on a financial covenant requiring Harcourt to maintain a minimum liquidity ratio. Kiro examined the records. "That's not unusual." "No," Catherine agreed. "But the calculation method matters." Mai nodded. "Very much." Catherine displayed the relevant clause. The liquidity ratio excluded certain receivables. Ordinarily, this meant invoices that were too old or too uncertain to count as readily available funds. But the agreement's amendment used a much broader exclusion. Kiro frowned. "That's aggressive." Catherine nodded. "Extremely." Mai read the clause again. "Was the amendment negotiated?" "Signed," Margaret replied bitterly. "That wasn't quite my question." Margaret looked down. "No." --- Catherine explained. The amendment had arrived as part of a routine financing update. Its covering message described administrative adjustments. The actual wording changed which assets counted toward the liquidity requirement. Under the original calculation, Harcourt remained compliant. Under the amended calculation, it was in default. Kiro compared the figures. Then frowned. "Wait." Mai looked at her. "What?" "The excluded receivables." "Yes?" "Several are from customers who paid after the reporting date." Catherine nodded. "Correct." "Then they weren't necessarily impaired." "No." Mai leaned forward. "And the agreement still excludes them?" "Yes." Kiro stared. "That's a hell of a trap." --- Ace had been listening quietly. Now she asked: "Who prepared the amendment?" Margaret looked toward Catherine. Catherine consulted the document history. "An outside compliance team." "Which company?" "Vesper Meridian Events." Silence. Ace slowly smiled. "Well." Reyes closed her eyes. "Don't." --- Mai examined the document metadata. "Do you have the original message transmitting the amendment?" Catherine nodded. "Yes." "May we see it?" She opened the correspondence. The covering letter described the changes as administrative. Minor. Non-substantive. The actual amendment altered a central financial covenant. Mai studied the wording. Then looked at Catherine. "That's potentially significant." Catherine nodded. "Very." "Who signed the covering letter?" Margaret answered. "Isabelle Moreau." Kiro leaned forward. "The compliance coordinator." "Yes." Mai looked at the signature. "Did Ms. Moreau communicate directly with your legal team?" Catherine shook her head. "No. The amendment was delivered to management through the financing administrator." Mai considered that. "So the document was presented as administrative, but materially changed the default calculation." "Exactly." --- Margaret looked exhausted. "Can you prove they did it deliberately?" Mai shook her head. "Not from this alone." "Then what good is it?" "It may establish a material discrepancy between the description of the amendment and its legal effect." Catherine nodded. "And that is relevant to our challenge." Margaret looked between them. "Could it stop the transfer?" Catherine answered. "It could support an emergency application. Whether the reviewing authority grants relief is another matter." Mai added: "But you now have a more specific basis for asking." --- Kiro examined the amendment's electronic signature chain. Something bothered her. "Can I ask about the signing process?" Margaret nodded. "Go ahead." "Who received the signature request?" "I did." "Directly?" "Through our corporate document system." "Did the system display the full amended agreement?" Margaret frowned. "I believe so." Kiro looked at Catherine. "Do you have the transaction logs?" Catherine hesitated. "Some." "Could we compare the document version displayed at the signing stage with the version ultimately filed?" Catherine became very still. Mai noticed. "What?" The attorney slowly opened another file. "We requested those records yesterday." "And?" "They haven't arrived." Kiro looked at Mai. "That's important." --- For the next hour, the conversation became intensely technical. Document versions. Cryptographic hashes. Signature certificates. Attachment records. Audit trails. Not glamorous. Not exciting. But potentially decisive. If Margaret had signed one version while a materially different version was submitted for enforcement, the creditor's position could be seriously compromised. If the versions matched, the dispute would rest on other legal questions. Either result mattered. Ace watched Mai and Kiro work. The two women moved through the documents with effortless coordination. Mai understood what each contractual provision meant. Kiro understood how the document systems recorded its creation, presentation and execution. Together, they could identify exactly which technical evidence Catherine needed to request. Reyes leaned toward Ace. "You're smiling." Ace glanced at her. "Am I?" "Yes." "They're beautiful when they work." Reyes smiled. "They are." --- The meeting ended with a practical arrangement. Catherine would seek urgent preservation and production of the relevant signing logs through the available legal process. Mai would provide a technical summary of the discrepancy. Kiro would identify the specific records needed for independent verification. And Margaret would authorize the release of documents within her own company's control. No shortcuts. No unauthorized access. No guarantees. But a far stronger basis for the emergency application than they had possessed that morning. --- Outside, Ace looked toward the loading docks. Several employees were moving medical supplies onto a truck. One stopped to wave at a colleague. Another carried a box of replacement equipment into the warehouse. Ordinary people doing ordinary work. Ace turned toward Mai. "Two hundred and fourteen." Mai nodded. "I know." "Let's hope the lawyers can move fast enough." Mai smiled faintly. "We've given them something useful." Ace took her hand. "More than useful." --- Back at the rented office, Kiro began assembling the technical report. Mai reviewed the relevant contractual clauses. Iris coordinated the authorized correspondence. Reyes examined the security implications of a possible change of control. And Ace made coffee. A lot of coffee. Brenda looked at the growing collection of mugs. "Are you trying to caffeinate the entire city?" Ace grinned. "Only the competent parts." Brenda laughed. "Then you should probably make more." --- By late afternoon, Catherine Brooks had filed the emergency application. The supporting documents included the disputed amendment, the covering correspondence and a technical request for preservation of the signature audit trail. The application did not accuse anyone of supernatural wrongdoing. It did not mention cults. It did not mention Nyarlathotep. It challenged a specific corporate transaction on specific grounds. Exactly as it should. --- The response arrived in the early evening. The reviewing authority had ordered the relevant electronic records preserved. The ownership transfer would not be finalized until an expedited preliminary review. Margaret called Mai personally. "They've paused it." Mai smiled. "Good." "Not cancelled." "I understand." "But paused." "That's important." Margaret exhaled. "You have no idea." Mai's expression softened. "I think I do." --- Ace was delighted. "WE DID IT!" Mai laughed. "Darling." "What?" "It's a temporary procedural hold." "I know!" "Not a final decision." "I know!" "Then why are you shouting?" "Because it's a temporary procedural hold!" Reyes burst out laughing. Kiro leaned back in her chair. "I have to admit, that feels good." Iris smiled. "Very." Brenda raised her mug. "To paperwork." Ace stared at her. Then slowly raised her own. "To fucking paperwork." --- The celebration lasted approximately twelve minutes. Then Kiro's display chimed. An incoming preservation notice. The original electronic signing records had been placed under legal hold. A limited technical summary was available to the parties. Kiro opened it. Then stopped smiling. Mai noticed immediately. "What?" Kiro enlarged the record. Two document identifiers. Two cryptographic hashes. Two different versions. Mai leaned closer. "Are those both associated with Margaret's signature transaction?" "Yes." "Could one be a routine revised copy?" "Possibly." Kiro examined the timestamps. Then slowly shook her head. "The system reports that the version presented for signature was not the same version later submitted for enforcement." Silence. Ace looked at Mai. Mai looked at Kiro. Reyes straightened. "Are we certain?" Kiro took a breath. "The summary suggests a mismatch. We need the full audit trail before determining why." Mai nodded. "Agreed." But her expression had changed. Because a mismatch, if confirmed and unexplained, was not merely an aggressive contract. It could be evidence that someone had changed what the borrower was made to sign. --- Elsewhere in Night City, Renata Calder was attending a private meeting. Several corporate executives sat around a polished table. Financial projections glowed above its surface. One of the participants looked irritated. "Harcourt's transfer has been delayed." Renata nodded. "Temporarily." "Why?" "An emergency review." "Can it be resolved?" "We're examining the issue." Another executive frowned. "That's not what I asked." Renata regarded him calmly. "Then perhaps you should ask a more precise question." Silence. The executive leaned back. Renata continued. "One delayed transaction does not compromise the entire acquisition program." "Unless it exposes the others." Her expression became very still. "Which is why we will address it properly." --- Back at the safehouse, Ace was sitting with Mai and Shammy. Yukari lay at their feet in fox form. The evening had grown quiet. For once, the investigation was not dominating the entire room. Then Mai's holo chimed. Kiro. Mai answered. "Sweetheart?" "I've been comparing the two document hashes with the available file metadata." "And?" "The mismatch isn't explained by formatting or ordinary file conversion." Mai straightened. "That narrows the possibilities." "Yes." "Does it prove tampering?" "Not yet. But it means the audit trail is going to matter a great deal." Ace looked up. "Good news?" Mai considered. "Potentially." Ace sighed. "Goddammit." --- Yukari raised her head. "May I offer an observation?" Ace smiled. "Always." The fox considered the room. "Your friends have spent the entire day examining contracts, signatures and financial arrangements." Mai nodded. "Yes." "And they have prevented a powerful organization from acquiring a company, at least for the moment." "Yes." Yukari smiled. "How delightful." Ace grinned. "You're impressed?" "Very." Shammy scratched behind her ears. Yukari closed her eyes. "Sometimes, my loves, civilization produces genuinely useful inventions." Ace looked at Mai. "Such as?" Yukari's tails shifted. "Lawyers." Silence. Then Brenda shouted from the kitchen: "DON'T LET THEM HEAR YOU SAY THAT!" Everyone burst out laughing. --- ## Chapter 20 — The Second Version The first thing Kiro said that morning was: "Somebody's going to have a very bad day." Mai looked up from her coffee. "Good morning to you too, sweetheart." "Morning." "Breakfast?" "Yes." "Sleep?" "Also yes." Mai smiled. "Excellent. Continue." Kiro turned her display around. Two documents appeared side by side. The original financing amendment presented to Margaret Bennett. And the version Meridian Ascendant Holdings had submitted for enforcement. At first glance, they were identical. Same title. Same formatting. Same signature block. Same page count. Even the same rather ugly corporate logo. Ace examined them. "Spot the difference?" Kiro grinned. "Exactly." "Is there a prize?" "Potentially an entire medical supply company." Ace sat down. "All right. I'm interested." --- The expedited review had produced a limited release of the signing records. Both Harcourt and its creditor had been given access to the relevant evidence. Catherine Brooks had authorized Mai and Kiro to examine Harcourt's copy. That distinction mattered. Kiro wasn't breaking into anyone's systems. She was analyzing evidence obtained through an ordinary legal process. And she was enjoying it immensely. "Look at page seventeen," she said. Mai enlarged the document. "Liquidity covenant." "Yes." In the version presented for signature, certain outstanding receivables could be included when calculating the company's available liquidity. In the version submitted for enforcement, those same receivables were excluded. Mai read the clauses carefully. Then read them again. "One sentence." Kiro nodded. "One very expensive sentence." Ace frowned. "How expensive?" Mai looked at her. "Potentially the controlling interest in Harcourt." --- Reyes examined the audit summary. "Could someone have changed the document after Margaret signed it?" Kiro considered the question. "That would be one explanation." "Others?" "A technical fault in the document-management process. An incorrect attachment. A file substitution during submission." "Accidental?" "Possibly." Ace leaned forward. "How do we establish which?" "By tracing the document's custody through the signing and filing systems." Mai nodded. "And identifying who introduced the second version." Kiro smiled. "Exactly." --- The next hour passed in a surprisingly peaceful fashion. Kiro compared the signing records. Mai examined the contractual language. Reyes reviewed the access-control information. Ace made coffee. Eventually, Ace looked at the others. "I have a question." Mai smiled. "Of course." "Why do I feel like I'm watching a particularly complicated burglary?" Kiro laughed. "Because someone may have stolen an entire company by changing a sentence." Ace considered that. Then nodded slowly. "That's actually impressive." Reyes raised an eyebrow. "Impressive?" "Criminally impressive, if deliberate." Mai chuckled. "An important qualification." --- The first useful result came from a document-handling reference. Kiro highlighted an entry. "Here." Mai leaned closer. "Submission package." "Yes. The version presented for signature was archived correctly." "And the enforcement version?" "Entered through a separate processing step." "Authorized by whom?" Kiro opened the metadata. A compliance account associated with Vesper Meridian Events. Mai studied the identifier. "Individual user?" "Not in this summary." "Then we need the named operator." "Already requested through Catherine." Reyes folded her arms. "Could it have been Isabelle Moreau?" "She's one possibility," Kiro replied. Ace smiled. "And here I was hoping to meet her under more cheerful circumstances." --- At the Watson safehouse, Yukari was engaged in a very different investigation. She had discovered that Brenda had purchased an unusually expensive package of imported smoked fish. Brenda had discovered that the package was no longer where she'd left it. The discussion was becoming heated. "YUKARI!" The fox raised her head. "Yes, darling?" "Where's my fish?" Yukari considered the question. "That depends." "On WHAT?" "Whether you're asking about its former location or its present condition." Iris put down her coffee. Shammy covered her mouth. Brenda stared. "You ate it." Yukari's ears twitched. "I prefer to think of it as a successful culinary experience." "THAT WAS MINE!" "Was." Shammy lost the battle and burst out laughing. --- The argument ended when Iris received a message. "Girls." Brenda turned. "What?" "Rogue." The room quieted. Iris opened the report. An update concerning Natalia Brzezinska. Not a confirmed sighting. Not a body. A financial transaction. Natalia's personal account had been used to pay a storage fee two days after she disappeared. Shammy frowned. "Storage?" Iris nodded. "A private document repository." Yukari sat up. "Interesting." Brenda leaned closer. "Who authorized the payment?" "That's unclear." "Can we identify the repository?" "Yes." Iris enlarged the record. **Beaumont Private Archives.** Brenda looked at the name. "Any relation to the lawyer?" "None established," Iris replied. Yukari tilted her head. "Then perhaps we should avoid assuming one." Shammy smiled. "An excellent beginning." --- Mai received the information shortly afterward. She examined the transaction. "Why would Natalia rent document storage?" Kiro considered. "Ordinary professional reasons." "Or to preserve evidence." "Possibly." Ace looked interested. "Could be her working files." Reyes nodded. "Or completely unrelated." Mai examined the payment date. "Do we know whether she had an existing account with the service?" "Not yet," Iris replied. "Then let's find out." --- The archive company occupied a small building in City Center. Its public reputation was excellent. Discreet. Professional. Expensive. Exactly the sort of organization a financial analyst might use to preserve sensitive personal records. Reyes made the initial inquiry. The receptionist was polite. The answer was firm. Without authorization, they would not disclose whether Natalia held an account. Ace listened. Then smiled. "At least they're serious about security." Reyes ended the call. "Yes." "Frustratingly serious." "That's what you want from a private archive." "Unless you're investigating one." "Especially then." --- Meanwhile, Catherine Brooks called Mai. "We have the supplementary document-handling records." Mai straightened. "Anything useful?" "Possibly." Kiro leaned toward the connection. "That's our favorite word." Catherine sounded puzzled. "I'm sorry?" "Never mind," Mai said. "Please continue." "The enforcement package was prepared through a Vesper Meridian Events compliance account." "Can you identify the operator?" "Yes." A document appeared. Mai read the name. **Isabelle Moreau.** Ace slowly smiled. "Well." Reyes sighed. "Of course." --- Catherine continued. "Ms. Moreau's account uploaded the version later submitted for enforcement." Mai nodded. "Does that establish she personally altered the document?" "No." "Could someone else have used the account?" "That's one of the questions." "Do we have the original uploaded file?" "Yes." Kiro leaned forward. "Excellent." "However," Catherine added, "there's another complication." Mai frowned. "What?" "The creditor claims the enforcement version was the version agreed by all parties." Silence. Ace looked up. "Despite the signature record?" "Yes." Mai considered that. "Then they're disputing which version represents the agreement." "Exactly." --- The distinction was significant. A mismatch between document files was evidence of an irregularity. It was not, by itself, proof of deliberate fraud. The creditor might argue that the wrong version had been presented during signing. Harcourt might argue that the creditor had replaced the signed version. Both positions required evidence. And somebody would have to explain why the same transaction had produced two materially different documents. Mai examined the records. "Do we know who drafted the disputed clause?" Catherine paused. "Not yet." Kiro smiled. "Then that's our next question." --- That afternoon, Mai and Kiro met Catherine at Harcourt's office. Margaret Bennett was waiting. She looked as though she had slept for the first time in several days. "Thank you," she said. Mai smiled. "We haven't finished." "I know." "But you've bought us time." "That's what the interim order was intended to do." Margaret nodded. "Still. Thank you." --- Catherine spread the documents across the table. The original agreement. The amendment. The two digital versions. The filing records. The correspondence. Mai studied the sequence. "Who initiated the amendment?" Margaret frowned. "Renata Calder." "Who drafted it?" "We were told the financing administrator." "Who transmitted it?" "Isabelle Moreau." "Who reviewed it?" "Edward Collins." Kiro looked up. "And who submitted the altered version?" Catherine nodded. "Moreau's compliance account." Ace, who had been listening, raised a hand. Everyone looked at her. "What?" Mai asked. "That's a lot of people." "Yes." "Does anybody actually know who wrote the fucking thing?" Silence. Then Catherine laughed. A brief, surprised laugh. "No," she admitted. Ace nodded. "Then that's where I'd start." Mai smiled. "Darling, that's exactly right." --- They examined the document's creation metadata. Several entries had been stripped during export. Others were preserved. One identified a drafting system used by a specialist corporate services provider. Kiro checked the information. "Not Vesper Meridian directly." Mai looked up. "Who?" "A contract drafting service." "Name?" **Fletcher Corporate Documentation.** Catherine frowned. "That's connected to Collins & Fletcher." Kiro nodded. "Same ownership group." Ace leaned back. "So the verification company also has a drafting business." Mai considered that. "Potentially a conflict of interest, depending on the services provided and disclosed." Catherine nodded. "At minimum, something we'll need to examine." --- The investigation had grown another branch. But this one was grounded in specific records. A named drafting service. A named compliance coordinator. A named reviewing officer. And two versions of a contract whose differences could transfer control of a company. Mai looked at the documents. "Now we're getting somewhere." Kiro smiled. "Finally." --- The next development came from an unexpected direction. Margaret Bennett's assistant entered the room. "Sorry to interrupt." Margaret looked up. "What is it?" "There's someone downstairs asking to speak with you." "Who?" "A woman named Sophie Delacroix." Margaret frowned. "Do I know her?" "She says she used to work for Vesper Meridian Events." The room became very quiet. Reyes straightened. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai nodded slowly. "Did she say what she wanted?" The assistant hesitated. "She said she knows who changed the contract." --- ## Chapter 21 — The Woman Who Kept a Copy "She says she knows who changed the contract." Margaret Bennett stared at her assistant. Then looked at Catherine Brooks. Catherine was already closing the confidential documents on the table. "Did she identify herself?" "Sophie Delacroix." "Anything else?" "She said she worked for Vesper Meridian Events until last month." Mai glanced at Kiro. Kiro checked the name against their existing records. There it was. Sophie Delacroix. Former contract administration specialist. Her employment had ended three weeks earlier. Ace looked toward the door. "Well, that's convenient." Reyes folded her arms. "Perhaps." Ace smiled. "I didn't say suspicious." "You were thinking it." "Naturally." Margaret looked at Catherine. "Should we see her?" "Yes," Catherine replied. "But we don't know what she wants, so I'd prefer to establish the terms before she says anything substantive." Mai nodded. "A sensible precaution." --- Sophie Delacroix was waiting downstairs. She was a slim woman in her late thirties, wearing a practical dark coat and carrying a small handbag. Her appearance was unremarkable. Her expression wasn't. She looked as though she had spent the entire journey arguing with herself about whether coming here was a terrible idea. When Catherine approached, Sophie stood. "Ms. Brooks?" "Yes. You're Sophie Delacroix?" "Yes." Catherine introduced Mai and Reyes. Sophie looked toward Ace, then Kiro. "How many people are involved in this?" "Several," Mai replied. "But we can keep this conversation limited." Sophie swallowed. "Good." Catherine gestured toward a quiet meeting room. "Before we begin, I need to understand whether you're seeking legal representation, reporting misconduct, or providing information relevant to our client's dispute." Sophie looked at her. "All I know is that somebody is trying to steal this company." Margaret, who had followed them downstairs, stopped walking. Sophie met her eyes. "And I helped prepare the paperwork." --- The meeting began with a simple question. "Why did you leave Vesper Meridian?" Catherine asked. Sophie sat with her hands clasped tightly. "Because I found out what they were doing." Mai waited. Sophie looked at her. "That's a dramatic answer, isn't it?" "A little," Mai admitted. "Perhaps you could tell us exactly what you discovered." For the first time, Sophie smiled. A small, nervous smile. "Fair enough." She opened her handbag and removed a data shard. "I was responsible for distributing draft agreements between the financing teams, legal reviewers and client representatives." Kiro leaned forward. "Version control?" "Among other things." "Who approved revisions?" "That depended on the client." "And Harcourt?" Sophie looked toward Margaret. "Renata Calder." --- Margaret closed her eyes. Catherine remained composed. Mai asked: "Did Ms. Calder personally draft the disputed liquidity clause?" "No," Sophie replied. "It came from the contract drafting service." "Fletcher Corporate Documentation?" "Yes." "Then what was Calder's role?" "She selected which terms the borrower would be offered and approved the final package." Kiro opened the existing document history. "Do you know why two versions were used?" Sophie nodded. "Yes." The room became quiet. She looked down at her hands. "Because I was told to send two versions." --- Ace leaned forward. "Two different contracts?" "Two versions of the same amendment." "To whom?" "One to Harcourt for signature. Another for the creditor's enforcement file." Margaret stared. Catherine spoke carefully. "Ms. Delacroix, are you saying you knowingly prepared two materially different documents?" "I distributed them. I didn't write the clause." "Did you know the difference was material?" Sophie hesitated. "Not at first." Mai nodded. "What did you believe?" "That one version was a working draft and the other was final. That happens all the time." "And later?" Sophie looked toward Margaret. "I found out the version Harcourt signed wasn't the one being used to declare default." --- Kiro studied the shard. "What's on it?" "My original correspondence and the internal revision history." "Have you altered any of the files?" "No." "Did you copy them from a system you were authorized to use?" "Yes. During my employment. I kept a copy when I realized something was wrong." Catherine intervened gently. "Before we examine the contents, we need to address confidentiality, your employment obligations and how the material can properly be used." Sophie nodded immediately. "That's fine." Ace glanced toward Reyes. Reyes gave a tiny nod. The woman hadn't walked in demanding immunity or waving a dramatic confession. She had brought information. And enough common sense to understand that evidence needed to be handled properly. That was encouraging. --- They spent the next hour establishing Sophie's account before examining the files themselves. She had worked under Isabelle Moreau. Moreau coordinated documentation for several companies associated with the Meridian network. Renata Calder approved important commercial terms. Edward Collins reviewed verification records. Different departments. Different responsibilities. And, Sophie explained, deliberately limited visibility. "Nobody saw the entire process," she said. Mai looked up. "Except whom?" Sophie considered. "Calder. Perhaps a few senior people in finance." "Did Moreau know?" "I don't know." Kiro raised an eyebrow. "She supervised document handling." "Yes. But the instructions came through separate approval channels. I can't tell you what she knew beyond what she actually communicated to me." Mai nodded approvingly. "Thank you for being precise." --- Sophie described the moment she became suspicious. Three weeks earlier, a colleague had asked her to retrieve the Harcourt amendment. She opened the archived signature copy. Then opened the enforcement version. The two files differed. One sentence. She assumed it was a clerical mistake. "I contacted Isabelle," Sophie said. "What did she say?" Catherine asked. "That the enforcement version was authoritative." "Did she explain the discrepancy?" "No." "Did you ask Calder?" "Yes." Sophie swallowed. "She told me the borrower had accepted the commercial substance and that the signature file was merely an administrative artifact." Mai frowned. "Those were her words?" "Very close to them." "And you accepted that?" "For about five minutes." Ace smiled faintly. "Then?" "I checked the signature record." --- The record showed exactly what Kiro had already discovered. Margaret Bennett had been presented with the less restrictive version. The enforcement package contained the more restrictive one. Sophie had asked a senior colleague for clarification. The following morning, she was removed from the Harcourt account. Two days later, her access to several client systems was withdrawn. She resigned shortly afterward. "Why not report it immediately?" Reyes asked. Sophie looked at her. "To whom?" "The appropriate regulatory authority." "I considered it." "What stopped you?" Sophie looked embarrassed. "I was afraid." Nobody interrupted. "I'd signed confidentiality agreements. They had lawyers. Money. Contacts. I thought they'd destroy my career." Ace nodded. "Understandable." Sophie looked toward Margaret. "Then I saw the transfer notice." Her voice became steadier. "And I realized they'd actually gone through with it." --- Margaret had been silent for most of the conversation. Now she spoke. "Did they know what this would do to Harcourt?" Sophie looked at her. "Yes." "Two hundred and fourteen employees." "I know." "Medical deliveries." "I know." Margaret's voice trembled with anger. "They knew." Sophie lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry." For several seconds, Margaret said nothing. Then she took a breath. "Are you willing to testify?" Sophie looked toward Catherine. "I'd like legal advice first." "Which is exactly what you should do," Catherine replied. Margaret nodded. "Then get it." --- Kiro and Mai examined the technical description of the material Sophie had brought, without copying or distributing the confidential files before Catherine approved a lawful process. Kiro's expression gradually brightened. "Do you have the original message headers?" "Yes." "Revision timestamps?" "Yes." "Approval identifiers?" "Yes." "Excellent." Sophie looked almost startled. "Really?" "Those can help establish how the two versions were created and distributed." Mai smiled. "Your recollection is useful. Contemporary records may make it substantially stronger." Sophie nodded slowly. "Good." Ace looked at Kiro. "Happy?" "Very." "Should I be worried?" "Only if you've secretly been altering corporate contracts." Ace considered. "Not recently." Reyes groaned. "Goddammit." --- By the end of the meeting, Catherine had arranged a confidential consultation for Sophie with independent legal counsel. Harcourt's lawyers would seek an appropriate route for preserving and presenting her evidence. Mai and Kiro would continue providing technical assistance within the scope of Harcourt's authorization. And Margaret Bennett finally had something she had lacked since the dispute began. A witness who could explain why the two documents existed. When Sophie stood to leave, Margaret approached her. "Thank you for coming." Sophie looked uncomfortable. "I should have come sooner." "You're here now." Sophie nodded. "Yes." Margaret extended her hand. Sophie shook it. --- Outside, Ace and Reyes walked toward their vehicle. "Well," Ace said. Reyes smiled. "That one you definitely earned." Ace laughed. "Thank you." "Still need to verify the records." "Yes." "And determine who knew what." "Yes." "But?" Ace looked toward the Harcourt building. "But now we have a person who can help establish how the contract changed." Reyes nodded. "Exactly." --- Back at the rented office, Mai and Kiro compared the confirmed facts with their larger investigation. The pattern was beginning to look deliberate. Different companies. Similar financing structures. Document revisions. Ownership transfers. And a network of intermediaries that made responsibility difficult to trace. Kiro studied the diagram. "Somebody built a machine." Mai nodded. "A corporate acquisition machine." "With legitimate components." "Yes." "Used in potentially fraudulent ways." "Exactly." Kiro leaned back. "And we still don't know who's directing the whole thing." Mai examined the upper layers of the ownership network. "Not yet." --- Reyes's holo chimed. A message from Rogue. Another development. The medical supply distributor's emergency review had been extended pending examination of the new evidence. The transfer remained suspended. Margaret called Mai. This time, she sounded almost cheerful. "They've extended the hold." Mai smiled. "That's good news." "Very good news." "Still not a final resolution." "I know." "But it gives your legal team time." Margaret laughed. "At this point, I'll take every minute." --- At the safehouse, the afternoon had brought an entirely different sort of development. Yukari had been unusually quiet. This concerned Brenda. Not because a quiet kitsune was necessarily dangerous. But because the previous day's smoked-fish incident remained unresolved. Brenda was sitting at the kitchen table when Yukari entered. In human form. Carrying a small insulated shopping bag. Brenda looked up. "What's that?" Yukari stopped beside her. "Something for you." Brenda narrowed her eyes. "Why?" Yukari smiled faintly. "Because I behaved very badly yesterday." Brenda blinked. Shammy, who had been reading nearby, looked up. Iris stopped preparing coffee. Yukari placed the bag on the table. "Open it." Brenda did. Inside were two packages of imported smoked fish. The same producer. The same variety. The same expensive packaging as the one Yukari had stolen. Both unopened. Brenda stared. Then looked at Yukari. "Two?" "Yes." "Exactly the same?" "Yes." "Where did you find them?" "I asked Iris where you bought the original. The supplier had two packages remaining." Brenda picked one up. "And you bought both?" "I did." --- For once, Yukari's expression held no teasing. "I took something that belonged to you," she said. "And then I treated your annoyance as entertainment." Brenda looked at her. Yukari continued. "That wasn't kind." Silence. "I am sorry, Brenda." Brenda slowly set down the package. Then sighed. "Goddammit, you impossible fox." Yukari smiled a little. "Entirely deserved." Brenda stood. Then pulled her into a hug. "Apology accepted." Yukari wrapped her arms around her. "Thank you." Brenda drew back. "Although next time, just fucking ask." "I shall." "Promise?" "Promise." Brenda regarded her suspiciously. "And you didn't eat either package on the way home?" Yukari looked deeply offended. "My dear Brenda." "That's not an answer." Yukari smiled. "Both seals are intact." Brenda examined them. Then laughed. "Fair." --- Iris approached and kissed Yukari's cheek. "That was thoughtful." Yukari smiled. "It was necessary." Shammy came closer. Brenda glanced toward her. "Did you put her up to this?" Shammy shook her head. "No." "Really?" "Really." Yukari nodded. "My mistake. My apology." Brenda looked at her for another moment. Then smiled. "All right." She picked up one package. "Now, who wants some?" Yukari's eyes immediately brightened. Brenda pointed at her. "Don't push it." The kitsune burst out laughing. --- That evening, the investigation team regrouped. The Harcourt transfer remained suspended. Sophie Delacroix's testimony had opened a credible route toward establishing deliberate document substitution. But Daniel Velez, Natalia Brzezinska and Anton Saye were still missing. Mai reviewed the priorities. "We've made progress on the financial structure." Reyes nodded. "But we can't let the missing-person cases become secondary." "Agreed." Kiro looked at the ownership diagram. "There's another problem." Ace turned. "What?" "If the Harcourt amendment was deliberately substituted, it may not be an isolated case." Mai nodded. "Which means other companies could have been acquired through similar methods." "Exactly." Ace looked toward the list of affected businesses. "Then we need to find out how many." --- Rogue joined them briefly by holo. She listened to the update. Then nodded. "Good work." Ace placed a hand over her heart. "Rogue, was that a compliment?" "Don't get used to it." "Too late." Rogue ignored her. "Keep following the ownership transfers. I'll continue working the missing-person cases from my end." Mai nodded. "Agreed." "And Ace?" "Yes, sweetheart?" Rogue's expression softened almost imperceptibly. "Don't forget why we started this." Ace looked toward the photographs of the missing people. Her smile faded. "I haven't." --- Later, after dinner, Yukari returned to fox form. She curled beside Brenda on the sofa. Brenda looked down at the magnificent collection of tails. "You're taking up most of the fucking couch." Yukari looked up. "Would you like me to move?" Brenda considered. Then sighed. "No." Yukari smiled. "How generous." Brenda reached down and scratched behind her ears. The kitsune leaned into her hand. Iris watched with an amused smile. Shammy sat nearby, reading. For a little while, Night City could keep its corporate conspiracies, missing people and ancient supernatural mysteries. The safehouse was simply home. --- ## Chapter 22 — The Shape of the Machine "Seven." Mai looked up. Kiro was staring at the corporate ownership map. "Seven what?" "Companies." "Acquired?" "Five already transferred. One under dispute. One scheduled for enforcement next week." Mai set down her coffee. "All through the same documentation process?" "Not identical. But close enough that I stopped looking at individual transactions and compared the sequence instead." A timeline expanded across the display. Seven businesses. Seven financing arrangements. Seven changes, or attempted changes, in corporate control. And beneath them, a recurring collection of names. Renata Calder. Isabelle Moreau. Edward Collins. Several creditor subsidiaries. Two contract-drafting services. Mai studied the pattern. "How many of the transactions involve disputed document versions?" "Three confirmed discrepancies. Two more where the filing records are incomplete." "Confirmed how?" "By documents released to the affected companies or included in public disputes. Sophie helped identify which versions we should compare." Mai leaned back. "That's enough for a consolidated investigation." Kiro nodded. "And enough to stop pretending these are unrelated administrative accidents." --- Catherine Brooks agreed. She had spent the morning reviewing the evidence with Sophie's independent attorney and representatives of two other affected companies. The companies had authorized their lawyers to exchange specific documents relevant to the suspected misconduct. When Catherine called, she sounded tired. But pleased. "We've identified a common drafting workflow," she told Mai. "Can you establish deliberate substitution?" "In Harcourt's case, we now have evidence supporting that allegation. Sophie has agreed to provide a formal statement through counsel." "And the others?" "Two companies are preparing their own challenges. One has already obtained an interim preservation order." Mai nodded. "Excellent." "There's something else." "What?" "One of the creditor representatives contacted us this morning." Mai became still. "Offering what?" "To discuss a settlement." --- Ace looked at the message. "Already?" Reyes nodded. "Somebody's getting nervous." "Good." Mai raised a finger. "Or somebody wants to limit exposure before the evidence becomes public." Ace smiled. "Also good." "Not necessarily." "Darling, you're destroying my enthusiasm." Mai kissed her. "Temporarily." --- The settlement proposal was straightforward. Harcourt could retain its current ownership. The disputed debt would be restructured. The creditor would waive certain enforcement rights. In exchange, Harcourt would agree to confidential resolution of the dispute. Margaret Bennett's reaction was immediate. "They want to buy our silence." Catherine considered the documents. "They're offering commercial terms that may be favorable. But we should examine precisely what they're asking you to release." Margaret folded her arms. "Do they want us to withdraw the allegations?" "Yes." "And destroy the records?" "No. The preservation obligations remain in force." "Good." Mai spoke carefully. "Whatever Harcourt decides, the underlying evidence concerning the other companies and missing people still matters." Margaret looked at her. "I know." She glanced toward Catherine. "Then let's negotiate the commercial terms without agreeing to bury anything." Catherine smiled. "That's my recommendation." --- By afternoon, the investigation had finally begun moving faster than the paperwork. Rogue called with an update. "We found Felix Rann." Ace straightened. "Where?" "Not where we expected." A location appeared. A private clinic in Westbrook. Reyes examined the address. "Hospitalized?" "Admitted yesterday. Under his own name." "Condition?" Mai asked. "Stable, according to the information his family authorized us to receive." Ace frowned. "What happened?" "That's the interesting part. He contacted my people." Silence. Kiro looked up. "Felix contacted you?" "Indirectly." "Why?" Rogue's expression hardened. "Because he's afraid." --- They met Felix that evening. Only Ace and Reyes went inside. The others remained available by holo, with Kiro checking the financial records and Mai reviewing the questions. Felix Rann looked considerably less impressive than his expensive apartment and executive car had suggested. His face was pale. His hands trembled slightly. He sat upright in a clinic bed, watching the door. When Ace entered, he stared at her swords. "Jesus Christ." Ace smiled. "Not quite." Reyes took the chair beside his bed. "You asked to speak with Rogue's people." Felix nodded. "Yes." "Why?" He swallowed. "Because I think they're going to kill me." --- Reyes did not react. "Who?" "The Circle." "Why?" "Because I started asking questions." Ace pulled up a chair. "That's a popular activity lately." Felix looked at her. "You're making jokes?" "Not about the missing people." His expression changed. Reyes leaned forward. "Daniel Velez. Anton Saye. You recruited both." Felix closed his eyes. "Yes." "Where are they?" "I don't know." Ace watched him. "Then tell us what you do know." --- Felix explained the recruitment process. He identified financially vulnerable people. Persuaded them to join the Ascendant Prosperity Circle. Introduced them to investment advisers. And, when directed, encouraged them to sign documents granting financial authority to affiliated companies. For each successful recruitment, he received a commission. Ordinary members brought small payments. High-value recruits brought larger ones. Sometimes much larger. "Why was Daniel worth two hundred and fifty thousand eddies?" Reyes asked. Felix stared at the blanket. "Because of what he could give them." "What?" "Access." Ace leaned forward. "To what?" Felix looked up. "The warehouse." --- Daniel Velez hadn't merely been a warehouse worker. He had been temporarily assigned to a freight operation handling specialist consignments. His position gave him knowledge of delivery schedules, loading procedures and internal contacts. Felix had been instructed to recruit him specifically. "Who gave the instruction?" Reyes asked. "Calder's office." "Renata Calder?" "Yes." "Did she contact you personally?" "Once." "What did she want?" "Daniel's cooperation." Ace's expression hardened. "Cooperation with what?" "Obtaining receiving information. Getting access to shipment schedules." "Did Daniel agree?" "At first." "And later?" Felix swallowed. "He started asking what was inside the crates." --- Reyes waited. Felix continued. "He wanted to know why they were paying so much. Why the handling instructions were strange. Why people were being told not to talk." "Did he threaten to report them?" Ace asked. "I don't know." "What happened to him?" Felix looked away. "I arranged a meeting." Reyes became very still. "With whom?" "Someone from Calder's office." "Where?" "A private property near the waterfront." "Did Daniel attend?" "Yes." "Did he leave?" Felix closed his eyes. "I didn't see him leave." --- Ace let the silence stand. Then asked: "And Anton?" Felix looked miserable. "Same arrangement." "Same location?" "No. A different meeting." "Same purpose?" "Anton had access to a shipping subcontractor's internal records." Reyes folded her hands. "Do you know where either man is now?" "No." "Did you witness violence?" "No." "Did anyone tell you they'd been harmed?" "No." Ace studied him. "Then why are you frightened?" Felix hesitated. "Because somebody tried to get me into a car yesterday." --- He described the incident. Two men approached him outside his apartment. They claimed a senior Circle representative wanted to speak with him. Felix refused. One reached for his arm. Felix ran. He fell while crossing a service road and injured his shoulder. A passing driver helped him reach the clinic. He had no evidence that the men intended to kill him. But he was convinced they were connected to the organization. Reyes listened without accepting his conclusion as fact. "Did you recognize either man?" "No." "Vehicle?" "Dark executive sedan." "Registration?" "No." "Any witnesses?" "The driver who helped me." "Have you given a statement?" "Yes." Reyes nodded. "Good." --- Felix began crying when Ace asked about Daniel's sister. "Zofia?" Ace nodded. "She thinks her brother may be dead." Felix covered his face. "I didn't know this would happen." Ace waited until he looked up. "You knew people were signing away financial control." "Yes." "You knew you were getting extraordinary payments." "Yes." "And you knew Daniel was frightened before he disappeared." Felix said nothing. Ace's voice remained calm. "Don't tell us you knew nothing. Tell us what you're willing to do now." Felix looked toward Reyes. "What do you need?" "Documents. Instructions. Names. Dates. Meeting locations. Everything you can lawfully provide or identify for the authorities to obtain." Felix nodded. "All right." --- Before they left, Reyes arranged for Felix's lawyer and the appropriate investigators to receive his account. She also made sure his immediate safety concerns were passed to the clinic's security staff. Ace waited until they were outside. Then looked toward her. "He's a bastard." Reyes nodded. "Yes." "But useful." "Very." Ace glanced back at the clinic. "I hope he tells the truth." "We'll verify it." "Good." --- By midnight, Mai and Kiro had matched three of Felix's disclosed meeting locations to properties leased through the Meridian network. One was the waterfront storage compound. Another was a private office used by Vesper Meridian Events. The third was a residential property near Pacifica. Reyes examined the map. "Three locations." Kiro nodded. "And dates corresponding to several of the disappearances." Mai studied the timeline. "That's enough to bring the appropriate authorities into the evidence-preservation process." Ace looked toward Rogue. Rogue nodded. "Already making calls." --- Shammy and Yukari watched the map in silence. The kitsune was in fox form, curled beside Shammy. Finally, Yukari spoke. "The waterfront compound." Mai looked up. "Yes?" "That's where the marked crates were delivered." "Correct." "And Daniel was taken there after he began asking questions." "According to Felix." Yukari nodded. "Then we may be looking at two activities sharing the same location." Reyes leaned forward. "Financial coercion and unusual cargo." "Exactly." Shammy studied the map. "Which doesn't prove they're part of the same process." "No," Yukari replied. "But we should no longer assume they're unrelated." --- Rogue's next call came shortly after midnight. Her expression was grim. "We've got a preliminary confirmation." Ace straightened. "Of what?" "One of the properties Felix identified has surveillance showing Daniel Velez arriving on the date he described." Mai leaned forward. "And leaving?" Rogue shook her head. "Not on the footage we have." Reyes asked: "Could he have used another exit?" "Yes." "Then we need the complete coverage." "Working on it." Rogue paused. "There's something else." Ace waited. "An internal security incident was logged at the waterfront compound that same night." "What kind?" "A restricted-area alarm." Kiro frowned. "Details?" "Not yet." Rogue looked toward Ace. "But I think we've finally got enough to justify asking much harder questions." --- After the call, the safehouse fell quiet. The friends had spent days following contracts, ownership records and suspicious payments. Now those records had led them to a frightened recruiter. A confirmed meeting location. And a security incident on the night Daniel disappeared. Ace stood beside the table. "All right." Mai looked at her. "Yes, darling?" "We stop chasing individual transactions." Kiro smiled. "And start investigating the people directing them." Reyes nodded. "With evidence." "With evidence," Ace agreed. Shammy looked toward Yukari. The fox's golden eyes were bright. "At last," Yukari said. Ace grinned. "At last." --- ## Chapter 23 — The House with No Visitors By eight the following morning, Reyes had already rejected two plans. Ace was working on a third. "We could simply knock." Reyes looked at her. "On the door of a property potentially connected to three disappearances?" "Yes." "And ask whether they're keeping anyone prisoner?" "Politely." Kiro laughed. Mai didn't. "Ace." "What?" "Let Reyes finish." Ace sighed and leaned back. "Fine. Professional people doing professional things." Reyes smiled. "Thank you." "Terribly dull." "Give it an hour." --- The three properties had different purposes. The waterfront compound handled freight. The City Center office processed corporate documentation and private meetings. The residential property near Pacifica was something else entirely. A substantial detached house, located behind high walls in a neighborhood whose better days had become a matter of historical debate. Its ownership structure was complicated but not unusually so by Night City standards. A property management company held the title. A subsidiary of Meridian Ascendant Holdings paid the lease. Vesper Meridian Events appeared in the maintenance contract. And nobody appeared to live there. Kiro displayed the available utility records. "Electricity consumption is high." Mai studied the figures. "How high?" "More than you'd expect for an empty house." "Climate control?" "Possibly." "Security systems?" "Also possible." Reyes examined the building plans. "Or someone's using it." Ace smiled. "Now we're talking." --- Rogue had secured cooperation from an investigator with authority to pursue the missing-person cases. The investigator, **Eleanor Whitfield**, joined the conference call from her office. She was composed, brisk and entirely unimpressed by Ace's enthusiasm. "I understand you have evidence connecting the property to two missing persons." "One confirmed meeting arrangement," Reyes replied. "The other is supported by the recruiter's statement, but we haven't independently established the visit." Whitfield nodded. "And your concern is unlawful detention?" "Among other possibilities." "We're seeking the relevant records and preparing an application for entry," Whitfield said. "Until that's resolved, I don't want anyone improvising a search." Ace opened her mouth. Reyes touched her arm. Ace closed it. Whitfield noticed. "Thank you." --- When the call ended, Ace stared at Reyes. "You didn't even let me speak." "I know." "I had an excellent suggestion." "It involved a door." "Several, actually." Mai laughed. "Darling, we're trying to locate people, not win a demolition competition." Ace considered. "Can't we do both?" "No," said four women at once. Yukari, lying beneath the table in fox form, lifted her head. "I might have enjoyed watching." Shammy scratched behind her ears. "You're not helping." "I rarely claim to." --- By late morning, Reyes and Ace were examining the Pacifica neighborhood. From public streets. Without crossing the property's boundary. Kiro monitored legally accessible records from the office. Mai coordinated with Whitfield. The house looked abandoned. Its windows were dark. The front garden was maintained just well enough to prevent the place from becoming obviously derelict. A security camera watched the gate. Another covered the driveway. Reyes studied the property. "Someone's maintaining it." Ace nodded. "And spending money to keep people out." "Possibly." Ace smiled. "You're doing that on purpose now." "Absolutely." --- They walked past the neighboring properties. Most were occupied. A few had been abandoned. One elderly man was repairing a motorcycle beneath a sunshade. Ace stopped beside him. "Morning." He looked up. "Morning." "Mind if we ask about the big house?" He glanced toward the property. "What about it?" "Does anybody live there?" "Depends what you mean by live." Reyes smiled. "People coming and going regularly?" "Not regularly." "Deliveries?" "Sometimes." "Visitors?" The man wiped his hands. "Never saw anyone come over for dinner, if that's what you're asking." Ace smiled. "Not quite." --- His name was **Richard Fletcher**. He had lived in the neighborhood for nineteen years. He knew which houses had changed owners, which streets flooded during heavy rain and which neighbors argued loudly enough to be heard through reinforced walls. He also knew something interesting about the house. "Cars arrive after dark," he said. Reyes nodded. "How often?" "Hard to say. Couple times a week, maybe." "Same vehicles?" "Usually black executive cars. Sometimes a van." "People getting out?" "Sure." "Getting back in?" Richard shrugged. "Not always watching." Ace nodded. "Fair." He looked toward the house. "One night, though, there was shouting." Reyes became attentive. "When?" "Couple weeks back." "Can you narrow it down?" Richard considered. "Night before the big power outage over on the southern blocks." Kiro could check that. Reyes noted it. "What kind of shouting?" "Couldn't make out the words. Sounded like an argument." "Any weapons?" "Didn't hear any." "Police?" "Not that I saw." --- Richard looked at Ace's swords. "You're not planning something stupid, are you?" Ace smiled brightly. "Not today." Reyes coughed. Richard stared. "That's not reassuring." "You're telling me," Reyes replied. --- The first meaningful breakthrough came from Kiro. She matched the date of the neighborhood power outage to the period immediately after Anton Saye disappeared. Then she compared it with a vehicle movement record Whitfield had lawfully obtained. A black executive sedan had arrived at the Pacifica property that evening. Its registration matched a vehicle contracted to Vesper Meridian Events. Mai examined the record. "Passenger information?" "Not recorded," Kiro replied. "Driver?" "Registered contractor. We have the company." Reyes nodded. "Whitfield can follow up." Ace looked toward the house. "And we keep watching." --- The security detail changed shortly after noon. A maintenance van approached the gate. The driver entered a code. The gate opened. Two men inside the property assisted with unloading. Ordinary supplies. Food. Cleaning products. And several heavy, sealed containers. Ace watched through a magnified view. "Those don't look like groceries." Reyes examined the containers. "No visible markings." "Could be equipment." "Could be." "Or something else." "Also true." Ace smiled. "You're becoming wonderfully agreeable." Reyes laughed. "Don't get used to it." --- The second breakthrough came from Shammy. Not through some grand supernatural revelation. Through an observation. She was watching the transmitted images beside Yukari when the fox suddenly sat upright. "Go back." Kiro paused the recording. "Where?" "The gate." Kiro reversed the footage. The maintenance van entered. Two men approached. The containers were unloaded. Yukari narrowed her eyes. "There." Kiro enlarged the image. A small marking was visible on one container. Not the elaborate geometry from the waterfront crates. A simpler version. Three intersecting lines surrounding a dark central shape. Shammy leaned closer. "That's familiar." Yukari nodded. "Too familiar." Mai studied the image. "Same symbol family?" "Possibly," Yukari replied. "But the orientation is different again." Reyes looked at her. "What does that mean?" Yukari considered. "I don't know yet." Shammy nodded. "And we're not going to invent an answer because the symbol looks ominous." Ace smiled. "That's my girl." --- Whitfield called an hour later. "We have authorization to search the property." Reyes straightened. "When?" "Today. The entry team is assembling." "Do you need us?" "Your observations have been useful. I want you available for identification and technical consultation, but the authorized team will handle the entry." Ace looked disappointed. Whitfield continued. "And before anyone asks, no, I don't need assistance with the doors." Reyes burst out laughing. Ace stared at the holo. "Does everybody know?" Mai smiled. "Apparently." --- The operation began shortly before evening. Whitfield's team approached the property in marked vehicles. The gate was secured. The occupants were instructed to comply. They did. No firefight. No explosion. No dramatic last stand. Just three surprised employees, a property manager and a building whose interior was considerably more interesting than its exterior. Ace and Reyes waited outside the perimeter. Kiro remained connected. Mai monitored communications. Shammy and Yukari stayed at the safehouse, ready if the strange markings proved to have any significance. --- The first rooms contained ordinary furnishings. A kitchen. Several offices. A small conference room. Bedrooms that appeared unused. Then the entry team discovered a reinforced interior door. Behind it was a corridor. And beyond the corridor, several rooms fitted with electronic locks. Whitfield's voice came over the connection. "We've found restricted accommodation." Reyes straightened. "Occupied?" A pause. "Stand by." Ace stopped breathing for a moment. Then Whitfield spoke again. "One person located." --- The person was a man. Conscious. Weak. Apparently dehydrated. The medical team was called immediately. He gave his name as **Anton Saye**. Ace closed her eyes. Reyes touched her shoulder. "One." Ace nodded. "One." --- Whitfield's team continued the search. A second locked room was empty. The third contained personal belongings. Clothes. A medical kit. A broken holo device. And several papers covered in handwritten notes. The fourth room was occupied. Another man. Disoriented. Frightened. But alive. His name was **Daniel Velez**. --- Ace leaned against the vehicle. For once, she had nothing clever to say. Reyes stood beside her. They listened as the medical team evaluated Daniel. He was exhausted. He had injuries that required treatment. But he was alive. Both men were alive. Ace looked toward Reyes. Then smiled. A slow, enormous smile. "Two." Reyes smiled back. "Two." --- Whitfield contacted Zofia Velez through the appropriate family liaison. Ace did not intrude on that conversation. It belonged to Daniel and his sister. She remained outside the property with Reyes, looking at the darkening sky. For a while, they simply stood together. Then Ace spoke. "You know what?" Reyes looked at her. "What?" "I don't care about the door." Reyes smiled. "I know." --- Inside the property, investigators were collecting records. Security logs. Communications equipment. Storage devices. Medication records. Vehicle movements. Several documents indicated that the occupants had been kept under controlled conditions. The exact legal and medical circumstances would require investigation. But there was no reasonable explanation for two missing men being held behind electronically locked doors in a residential property connected to their recruiters. Whitfield called Mai. "We're treating this as a suspected unlawful detention operation." Mai nodded. "Understood." "Your information was instrumental." "Thank you." "And the markings on the containers?" "We have specialists examining them." Whitfield considered. "Anything I should know?" Mai answered carefully. "Possibly. For now, avoid opening or moving the marked containers until their contents and handling requirements are established." Whitfield nodded. "Already secured." --- Then Kiro noticed something. The building's local systems had been isolated during the search. Its internal communications were now being preserved. But one scheduled transmission had attempted to execute shortly before the entry. A preconfigured message. Not a distress call. Not an alarm to the police. A routine status notification. The destination was a corporate account associated with the waterfront compound. The message contained only six words. **TWO SUBJECTS REMAIN. THIRD TRANSFER COMPLETE.** Mai stared at the screen. "Third transfer." Reyes looked up. "Three people." Ace's expression changed. "Natalia." --- Whitfield had already begun tracing the message. The three employees on site were being interviewed separately. One claimed to know nothing about the occupants. Another admitted responsibility for meal deliveries but insisted he believed the men were undergoing voluntary medical observation. The property manager requested legal counsel. No one offered an immediate explanation for the message. But its timing was important. The system had been configured before the search. It had not been sent as a reaction to the entry. And it indicated that somebody, somewhere, was tracking people as transferable assets. --- Back at the safehouse, Yukari stared at the displayed message. Shammy stood beside her. "Third transfer complete," Yukari repeated softly. Mai nodded. "That's what it says." Ace looked at the photograph of Natalia Brzezinska. "Where?" Kiro examined the recovered communication routing. "We have the destination of the report, but not the destination of the transfer." Reyes nodded. "Then we use the records from the house to reconstruct it." Whitfield's voice returned through the holo. "We found something else." Mai straightened. "What?" "A departure manifest." "From the property?" "Yes." "Who?" Whitfield hesitated. "One female subject. Transferred under an internal identifier matching Natalia's initials." Ace stood very still. "Date?" "Four days ago." "Destination?" Whitfield looked grim. "The waterfront compound." --- Yukari rose from the sofa. In her familiar human form now, her expression was entirely serious. "Then that is where we go next." Shammy nodded. "Yes." Ace looked at Mai. Mai was already studying the compound's layout. Reyes checked her equipment. Kiro began correlating the manifest with the freight schedule. For the first time since Rogue's original call, they knew where two of the missing people were. And they had a strong lead on the third. The investigation had changed. The paperwork had done its job. Now someone needed to open the next door. --- ## Chapter 24 — The Receiving Room Daniel Velez was alive. Anton Saye was alive. Those two facts had changed the atmosphere in the Watson safehouse more than any financial discovery ever could. But Natalia Brzezinska remained missing. And according to the records recovered from the Pacifica property, she had been transferred to the waterfront compound four days earlier. Ace stood before the display, studying the compound's layout. "How many ways in?" Reyes looked up. "Four known vehicle entrances. Two pedestrian gates. The main office connects to the warehouse complex." "Underground access?" "Unknown." "Roof?" "Ace." "What?" "We're not planning an assault." Ace sighed. "I know." "Then stop choosing entry points." "I like knowing my options." Mai touched her shoulder. "And we're going to know them. Before anybody goes inside." --- Inspector Eleanor Whitfield joined the briefing remotely. She looked tired, but her voice was steady. "We have enough evidence from the Pacifica property to seek an immediate search of the waterfront facility. The application is being reviewed." Kiro enlarged the manifest. "Can we establish that Natalia was physically transferred there?" "The departure log identifies a female detainee with initials matching hers. We also have the vehicle registration and destination instructions." "Any confirmation she arrived?" Reyes asked. "Not yet." Yukari folded her arms. "Then we must not mistake the destination on a document for proof that she remains there." Whitfield nodded. "Agreed." Ace leaned toward the display. "And the containers?" Whitfield glanced at her notes. "The marked containers from the house have been isolated. No one has opened them." Shammy nodded approvingly. "Keep it that way." Whitfield studied her. "Is there a particular hazard you're concerned about?" "Possibly," Shammy replied. "We haven't identified it." That answer earned a brief, thoughtful silence. Then Whitfield nodded. "I'll make sure the scene commander knows." --- The call ended. For several moments, nobody spoke. Then Brenda looked at the map. "Those crates are connected to something beyond ordinary smuggling." Mai nodded. "The weight discrepancies. The security incidents. The markings." "And the power fluctuations," Kiro added. Yukari studied the symbol recovered from the Pacifica property. "I've been thinking about the orientation." Ace turned. "Anything?" "Only a possibility." "Go on." "The original symbol appears to mark a boundary. The reversed version might alter the direction in which that boundary functions." Reyes frowned. "Keep something inside?" "Or keep something outside," Yukari replied. "But I don't yet know which." Shammy looked at the diagram. "And if the people handling the containers misunderstood the distinction, they may have created a danger they cannot recognize." Ace considered that. "Lovely." "Quite," Yukari said. --- By early afternoon, Whitfield had obtained the search authorization. The waterfront compound was large. Three principal warehouses. An administrative building. A freight inspection facility. And a restricted receiving area connected to the oldest warehouse. The operation would involve authorized investigators, medical personnel and a specialist hazardous-materials team. Reyes and Kiro were approved as limited technical advisers. Mai coordinated the information they had gathered. Ace, Shammy and Yukari remained available near the perimeter. Ace examined the arrangement. "So I'm officially standing outside." Reyes smiled. "Yes." "With two ancient supernatural beings." "Yes." "And no permission to kick anything." "Correct." Ace looked toward Yukari. "This is a terrible day." The kitsune smiled. "Patience, darling." Shammy kissed Ace's cheek. "Try not to develop a personal feud with the architecture." --- The compound gates opened under official authority. Security personnel were instructed to stand aside. Some complied immediately. Others demanded clarification. A supervisor called a lawyer. Another attempted to contact Renata Calder. Whitfield's team documented everything. There was no immediate violence. The warehouses were searched systematically. Office records were secured. Employees were separated for interviews. The freight inspection facility contained hundreds of ordinary shipments. Medical equipment. Industrial machinery. Replacement components. And several consignments associated with the Meridian network. But Natalia was not in the offices. Nor the main warehouses. Nor the first restricted storage rooms. Ace listened to the updates without speaking. Then Whitfield contacted them again. "We've located the receiving room mentioned in the internal records." Mai straightened. "Occupied?" "Unknown. It's behind a secured industrial door." Reyes examined the plans. "Is that the area associated with the weight discrepancies?" "Yes." Yukari became very still. "Inspector." Whitfield paused. "Yes?" "Before your people open that door, please examine the symbols around it." --- The first image arrived seconds later. A heavy steel door. A concrete threshold. A geometric marking painted above the frame. Yukari leaned toward the display. Shammy joined her. For several seconds, neither spoke. Then Shammy said: "That isn't the same as the markings on the transport containers." "No," Yukari replied. Ace looked between them. "Meaning?" Yukari traced the pattern in the air without touching the image. "The outer lines are similar. The central element is different." Shammy frowned. "It's incomplete." Yukari nodded. "Or deliberately unfinished." Reyes looked toward them. "Is the door dangerous?" Yukari met her eyes. "I believe opening it without understanding the marking could be." --- Whitfield ordered a temporary halt. The scene commander was understandably unhappy. "We have reason to believe a missing person may be inside," he said. "We can't leave a possible victim there indefinitely." Shammy nodded. "Nor should you." "Then what do you suggest?" "Check whether the door has an ordinary observation system. Camera, inspection port, pressure monitoring. Anything that lets you establish conditions inside without disturbing the threshold." Kiro examined the building systems available to the authorized team. "There is an environmental monitoring circuit." Whitfield looked at her. "Can you read it?" "With the building administrator's access and your authorization, yes." The administrator had already provided credentials under the search order. Kiro opened the records. Temperature. Humidity. Air pressure. Electrical load. All apparently normal. Then she found the camera. --- The receiving room appeared on the display. Large. Dimly lit. Almost empty. Three sealed containers stood against one wall. A service trolley sat near the center. And beside the far wall was a woman. Seated on the floor. Her knees drawn to her chest. Ace leaned forward so abruptly that Reyes caught her arm. "Is that Natalia?" Whitfield requested a closer view. The image sharpened. The woman lifted her head. Her face was pale. Her hair disheveled. But the photograph matched. Natalia Brzezinska was alive. --- "Medical team standing by," Whitfield said immediately. Ace closed her eyes. Mai took her hand. For one precious moment, nobody cared about the crates. Or the markings. Or the strange fluctuations recorded by the warehouse equipment. Natalia was alive. That was what mattered. Then Kiro spoke. "Inspector, there's something wrong with the camera timestamp." Whitfield looked back. "What?" "The feed says it's live, but the image is repeating." --- Kiro isolated the sequence. Natalia lifted her head. Lowered it. Shifted her right hand. Then, after thirty-seven seconds, did exactly the same thing again. The movement was identical. Not merely similar. Every frame repeated. Reyes frowned. "Recorded footage?" "Yes." "How old?" Kiro checked the metadata. "The timestamp is current, but the source buffer isn't." "Can you establish the original recording time?" "Not yet." Ace stared at the image. "Then we don't know whether she's still there." "No," Kiro admitted. --- Whitfield issued new instructions. The receiving room would be approached with controlled precautions. The marking would be documented. The team would avoid disturbing any containers. And the medical personnel would be ready as soon as access was established. Shammy looked at Yukari. The kitsune nodded. "Something inside is interfering with observation." Shammy's expression hardened. "Or someone has arranged for it to appear that way." Ace looked between them. "Which?" "We don't know," Shammy replied. Then she looked toward Whitfield. "But I think we should come closer." --- Whitfield allowed them to approach the restricted warehouse, accompanied by Reyes and an authorized escort. Ace's katanas remained secured for the time being. Yukari and Shammy entered the outer service corridor. The air smelled of cold concrete and industrial cleaning chemicals. Nothing visibly supernatural. No chanting. No impossible shadows. Just a corridor leading toward a steel door. Yukari stopped several meters from the threshold. Shammy stopped beside her. Ace watched their faces. "What?" Yukari answered quietly. "The symbol is doing something." "Can you tell what?" "Not completely." Shammy looked toward the floor. "The air changes near the threshold." Reyes checked her instruments. "Temperature is stable." "Yes," Shammy replied. "This isn't temperature." --- Yukari approached another step. Her expression became very serious. "Whoever prepared this marking understood part of what they were doing." Shammy nodded. "But not all of it." Ace looked toward the door. "And what's the missing part?" Yukari turned to her. "Respect for boundaries." A low vibration passed through the corridor. It was almost too faint to hear. The industrial lights dimmed. Then recovered. Reyes looked at her instruments. "Power fluctuation." Kiro's voice came over the connection. "Recorded. Same pattern as the earlier warehouse incident." Shammy studied the marking. "It's reacting to activity on the other side." Ace frowned. "Activity?" "Possibly someone moving the containers," Yukari replied. --- Whitfield approached. "Can we open the door safely?" Yukari considered. "Yes, but not by treating the marking as ordinary decoration." "What do you need?" "Access to the edges of the threshold. And a few minutes to examine the geometry." The inspector looked toward the scene commander. Then nodded. "Proceed. No one crosses until we understand the risk." --- Yukari knelt beside the threshold. She examined the painted lines. Then turned toward Shammy. "See?" Shammy nodded. "The inner boundary is open." "And the outer one is reversed." Shammy looked thoughtful. "Then the marking may be drawing something toward the receiving room rather than containing it." Yukari nodded slowly. "That's my concern." Ace stared at the door. "Drawing what?" Yukari looked up. "I don't know." Then, after a moment: "But I would rather not find out by accident." --- Shammy crouched beside her. Together, they examined the marking. No dramatic incantation. No theatrical display. Just two profoundly old beings studying a dangerous piece of geometry with the patience of people who had seen such things go wrong before. Finally, Shammy pointed toward a small gap. "There." Yukari smiled faintly. "Yes." Reyes looked at them. "What?" "The marking can be interrupted," Yukari replied. "Without opening the door." Whitfield nodded. "Do it." --- Yukari placed two fingers against the painted line. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the black pigment lifted slightly from the concrete. Not scraped away. Not burned. Simply separated. A narrow break appeared in the geometry. The low vibration stopped. The lights steadied. Kiro's voice sounded immediately. "Electrical fluctuations have ceased." Shammy stood. "Good." Yukari rose beside her. "Now the door." --- The entry team opened it. Slowly. Carefully. Medical personnel waited behind them. The receiving room was exactly where the plans said it would be. The containers were there. The service trolley was there. And against the far wall sat Natalia Brzezinska. Not a recording. Not an illusion. The real woman. She looked toward the open door. For a moment, she didn't move. Then she whispered: "Please." The medical team entered. --- Ace remained outside the threshold. Every instinct urged her forward. But the professionals were already doing what needed to be done. One knelt beside Natalia. Another checked her condition. A third prepared transport equipment. Whitfield entered after the medical team. "Natalia Brzezinska?" The woman nodded weakly. "Yes." "I'm Inspector Whitfield. You're safe. We're getting you out." Natalia began crying. --- They brought her into the corridor several minutes later. Wrapped in a thermal blanket. Conscious. Exhausted. But alive. Ace stepped aside to give the medical team room. Natalia's eyes moved across the gathered faces. Then stopped on Yukari. The kitsune smiled gently. "Hello, darling." Natalia stared at her. Then whispered: "You're not with them?" "No." "Good." Yukari's expression softened. "Very good." --- As Natalia was taken toward the waiting medical vehicle, Whitfield looked at the three sealed containers. The scene commander had ordered the room secured. Nobody would open them until a qualified team had assessed the hazard. Kiro examined the recovered local records. "Inspector." Whitfield turned. "Yes?" "The receiving room was accessed shortly before the search began." "By whom?" "A registered facility supervisor." "Name?" Kiro highlighted the record. **Renata Calder.** Ace looked toward Mai. Mai's expression hardened. "Was she physically here?" Kiro shook her head. "Remote authorization. It doesn't establish her location." Reyes nodded. "But it connects her account directly to the restricted room." "Yes." --- Whitfield studied the containers. "What's inside them?" Yukari looked toward Shammy. Shammy's expression was grave. Neither answered immediately. Then Yukari spoke. "I cannot tell you exactly." Whitfield nodded. "But?" "Whatever is inside, someone has been using that marking to influence how it interacts with the surrounding space." The inspector glanced toward the broken line on the threshold. "And you interrupted it." "Yes." "Does that make the containers safe?" "No," Shammy replied. "Then what does it do?" "It prevents the doorway from making the situation worse." --- Outside, the evening had turned cold. The medical vehicle carrying Natalia departed under escort. Another team continued processing the evidence. Daniel and Anton had been rescued the previous day. Now Natalia had been found too. Three missing people. Three survivors. Ace stood beside Mai, watching the vehicle disappear. For a long moment, neither spoke. Then Mai slipped her hand into Ace's. "All three." Ace nodded. "All three." She turned and kissed Mai. A brief, fierce kiss. Then rested her forehead against hers. "That's what matters." --- But the investigation was not over. Inside the warehouse, the marked containers remained sealed. The financial network was still operating. Renata Calder had not been arrested. And somewhere behind the accounts, the coerced signatures and the restricted freight, there were people who believed they could keep doing this. Whitfield approached. "We'll be interviewing the survivors when they're medically fit." Mai nodded. "Of course." "We're also seeking further warrants connected to the corporate records." "Good." The inspector glanced toward the warehouse. "And those containers?" Shammy looked toward Yukari. The kitsune's face was unreadable. "That," Yukari said quietly, "may be a different problem altogether." --- Later, at the safehouse, the news spread through the family. Iris hugged Ace. Brenda kissed Mai. Kiro received an enthusiastic embrace from Reyes. Yukari, back in fox form, was almost buried beneath affectionate hands. Shammy watched them all with a smile. For once, nobody argued about documents. Nobody complained about corporate lawyers. Nobody mentioned the price of imported smoked fish. Three people who had been missing were alive. And tonight, that was enough. --- Much later, after the others had gone to bed, Shammy found Yukari sitting beside the living-room window. In human form. Looking toward the distant lights. "Thinking?" Yukari smiled faintly. "Yes." Shammy sat beside her. "The marking?" "The marking." "Something familiar?" Yukari considered. "Not its exact design. Its purpose." Shammy nodded slowly. "An opening." "Yes." "Not a seal." "No." For a while, they sat in silence. Then Yukari spoke. "Someone in that warehouse is trying to make a door." Shammy looked toward the city. "A door to where?" Yukari shook her head. "I don't know." She reached for Shammy's hand. "But I think we should find out who taught them how." --- ## Chapter 25 — A Door Without a Destination The following morning, Ace discovered that Yukari had not stolen her breakfast. This was sufficiently unusual to warrant investigation. She looked at her plate. Then beneath the table. Then toward the kitchen. "Yukari?" "Yes, darling?" The kitsune appeared in the doorway in her familiar human form, carrying two mugs of coffee. Ace stared. "You're dressed." "An astute observation." "You're awake." "Another." "And you haven't touched my toast." Yukari handed her a mug. "Would you like me to?" Ace narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong?" Yukari smiled. "Nothing is wrong with your breakfast." "That is not what I asked." Shammy entered behind her. "She wants to go back to the warehouse." Ace slowly set down her coffee. "Right." Mai looked up. "The containers?" Yukari nodded. "The markings. The doorway. And whoever designed it." Ace considered that. Then grinned. "Now that's a morning worth getting out of bed for." --- Inspector Eleanor Whitfield was less enthusiastic. "Absolutely not." Ace looked offended. "We haven't even proposed anything yet." "You've proposed returning to an active crime scene containing unidentified hazardous materials." Yukari spoke calmly. "Inspector, the markings are not chemical contamination." Whitfield regarded her. "Then what are they?" "Something that may affect the boundary between this space and somewhere else." A silence followed. Whitfield rubbed her forehead. "Ms. O'Sullivan, I have spent twenty years investigating corporate crime, organized violence and missing persons." "I imagine you've seen a great deal." "I have. But that explanation isn't something I can put into an ordinary evidence report." Shammy nodded. "Then don't. Record what your instruments show. Document what we observe. Keep the containers isolated." Whitfield considered. "And what exactly do you want to do?" "Examine the markings without opening anything," Yukari replied. Whitfield looked toward Reyes. "Can you supervise that?" Reyes smiled. "I can certainly make sure nobody opens anything." Ace sighed. "Everybody's looking at me." "Because we know you," Mai said. --- They returned to the waterfront compound shortly before noon. The scene remained secured. The three containers were untouched. Independent hazardous-materials assessments had found no conventional radiation, chemical release or biological hazard in the receiving room. That did not make them safe. It merely eliminated several ordinary explanations. Kiro examined the environmental data. "The power fluctuations stopped when Yukari broke the threshold marking." Mai nodded. "Completely?" "Yes. No recurrence overnight." "And the containers?" "Each has a separate temperature-monitoring system. All report stable readings." Ace looked at the sealed freight. "Wonderful. Three extremely mysterious refrigerators." Reyes smiled. "Don't touch." "I wasn't going to." "Good." "Probably." "Ace." --- Yukari examined the nearest container without approaching its marked surface. Shammy stood beside her. The container was roughly two meters long, its exterior made of reinforced composite panels. The black geometric marking occupied most of one side. Yukari studied its intersecting lines. "The threshold marking was incomplete." Shammy nodded. "But this isn't." "No." Mai approached. "Meaning?" Yukari pointed toward the outer boundary. "This part establishes separation." Then toward the center. "This part identifies direction." "And the remaining lines?" Kiro asked. Yukari hesitated. "That is what troubles me." Shammy looked at the marking. "Because there is no destination." Yukari nodded. "Exactly." --- Ace frowned. "Explain that to the woman with the swords." Shammy smiled faintly. "Imagine building a doorway." "All right." "A perfectly functional doorway." "Yes." "But instead of deciding where it should lead, you leave that part unspecified." Ace considered. "Then where does it go?" Shammy looked at her. "Wherever the opening happens to connect." Ace stared. "That's a terrible fucking idea." Yukari smiled without humor. "An exceptionally terrible one." --- Kiro studied the pattern. "Could the missing portion be encoded somewhere else?" Yukari turned. "Possibly." "Another marking?" "Or an object. A location. A reference that isn't present on the container itself." Mai glanced toward the warehouse plans. "The threshold." Shammy nodded. "Perhaps." "The container markings and the threshold were meant to work together." "That would explain why the geometry changes between them," Yukari said. Reyes folded her arms. "Then interrupting the threshold broke the connection." "Yes." "And if someone restores it?" Yukari looked at the crates. "The doorway might begin functioning again." --- Whitfield joined them. "I've had the contents manifests examined." Mai turned. "Anything?" "Officially, the containers hold industrial calibration equipment." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Of course they do." "However," Whitfield continued, "the declared weights don't match the receiving records." Kiro nodded. "We've seen that before." "There's more. The serial numbers correspond to equipment models that don't exist." Mai frowned. "Invented model numbers?" "Apparently." Reyes examined the documents. "Then the shipment descriptions were false." "That's how it appears." Whitfield looked toward Yukari. "Can you tell me whether there's anything physically inside?" Yukari considered. "Yes." Everyone turned toward her. The kitsune looked at the container. "Something is inside." Ace stepped closer. "What?" Yukari's expression hardened. "I don't believe it is industrial equipment." --- They examined the external readings. The containers were heavier than their shipping manifests indicated. But the measured weights had varied substantially at different stages of transport. Kiro displayed the history. "At one checkpoint, the first container registered eighty kilograms lighter than at dispatch." Mai frowned. "Equipment error?" "That's what the handling company recorded." "And afterward?" "Weight returned to its original value." Reyes looked toward Yukari. "Could the markings affect how much something weighs?" "Perhaps," Yukari replied. "Or what the measuring equipment perceives." Shammy studied the record. "The distinction may matter." Ace considered. "Can we find out without opening one?" Yukari smiled. "That's what we're trying to do." --- The next clue came from the warehouse's recovered communications. A search of the authorized records revealed repeated references to a technical consultant. Not Renata Calder. Not Isabelle Moreau. Someone employed specifically to oversee the marked consignments. The name appeared in expense reports, scheduling messages and equipment authorizations. **Dr. Philippe Garnier.** Mai examined the profile. "Physicist?" Kiro nodded. "Former corporate research specialist. Currently working independently." "Specialty?" "High-energy field measurement. Industrial containment systems." Ace looked at Yukari. "That sounds relevant." "Very," the kitsune replied. Whitfield checked the records. "He's listed as the technical supervisor for all three containers." Reyes nodded. "Then we need to speak with him." --- They found Garnier's laboratory in an industrial research complex outside the busiest part of City Center. The building was legitimate. The equipment was expensive. And the receptionist looked genuinely surprised to see investigators. Garnier agreed to speak with Whitfield and her authorized advisers. He was a thin man in his sixties, with silver hair, sharp eyes and a manner that suggested he had very little patience for administrative interruptions. He looked at the group. "Which shipment?" Mai smiled. "The three containers at the waterfront compound." Garnier's expression changed. Only slightly. But enough. "What happened?" Whitfield answered. "We're investigating possible offenses associated with their transport and storage." "Are the containers intact?" "Yes." "Have they been opened?" "No." Garnier exhaled. "Good." --- Ace leaned forward. "Why?" Garnier looked at her. "Because opening them would be dangerous." "How dangerous?" He considered. "Potentially catastrophic." Whitfield folded her arms. "Doctor, I need a more useful answer." Garnier looked exhausted. "Then you need to understand what they contain." Mai nodded. "Please." He hesitated. Then sat down. "They're not containers in the conventional sense." --- Garnier explained that he had been approached several months earlier to evaluate an unusual industrial field effect. The client possessed objects that appeared to distort certain measurements. Mass. Temperature. Electromagnetic response. Not continuously. Not predictably. But repeatedly enough to warrant investigation. "Where did the objects come from?" Mai asked. "I wasn't told." "Who employed you?" "A research intermediary acting for Meridian Ascendant Holdings." "Who gave you the technical requirements?" Garnier hesitated. "Renata Calder." Ace looked toward Reyes. Reyes remained still. --- "What did she want?" Whitfield asked. "Containment." "Of what?" Garnier looked toward Yukari. For the first time, his expression became uncertain. "You understand the markings." Yukari met his gaze. "Some of them." His eyes widened. "Then perhaps you understand more than I do." "That is possible," she replied gently. Garnier swallowed. "I was told they were mathematical representations of a spatial boundary." Shammy nodded. "That's one way of describing them." "And that altering their orientation changed the field response." "Yes." Garnier stared. "Good God." --- Mai leaned forward. "Doctor, what did you discover?" Garnier looked at the table. "The containers don't hold ordinary objects." "Then what?" "Each contains a structure that maintains an unstable spatial interface." Kiro frowned. "An interface to where?" Garnier shook his head. "We don't know." Yukari and Shammy exchanged a glance. Garnier continued. "The field measurements suggest that ordinary distances cease to behave consistently near the structures." Reyes studied him. "Meaning?" Garnier looked genuinely frightened now. "Meaning a probe inserted a few centimeters into one aperture returned readings inconsistent with the dimensions of the container." Ace frowned. "How inconsistent?" "The probe cable extended eleven meters." "And?" "The instruments reported that its endpoint was several kilometers away." Silence. --- Garnier looked toward Whitfield. "I told them to stop." "Who?" "The client." "Calder?" "Yes." "Did she listen?" "No." He swallowed. "They wanted the interfaces stabilized." "Why?" Mai asked. Garnier shook his head. "I was never given a satisfactory answer." --- Yukari regarded him carefully. "Did you design the markings?" "No." "Who did?" "I don't know." "Then what was your role?" "To measure the field response and recommend containment procedures." Shammy nodded. "And someone else supplied the geometry." "Yes." "Did they understand it?" Garnier looked toward the window. "I believed they did." "And now?" His expression darkened. "Now I'm not certain anyone does." --- Whitfield continued the interview. Garnier agreed to preserve his research records and provide them through the appropriate legal process. He also disclosed that the waterfront team had repeatedly asked him to approve activation tests. He had refused. "Why?" Reyes asked. "Because the interfaces were becoming less stable." "What did that mean?" "Fluctuations. Increased energy consumption. Distortions extending beyond the containment structures." Yukari nodded slowly. "The threshold marking." Garnier turned toward her. "What?" "The receiving-room doorway. They installed a larger marking around it." Garnier went pale. "They did what?" Shammy watched him. "You didn't know?" "No." He stared at them. "That was never part of the approved containment procedure." --- The return journey was quiet. Ace sat beside Mai. Reyes reviewed the interview notes. Kiro examined Garnier's published research. Yukari watched the city through the window. Finally, Ace spoke. "So somebody found three things that make holes in space." Shammy nodded. "Essentially." "They hired a scientist to contain them." "Yes." "Then somebody added a doorway marking he didn't authorize." "Yes." "And they were keeping Natalia in the same room." Yukari's expression hardened. "That is the part I find most troubling." --- Back at the safehouse, Iris had prepared dinner. Brenda was waiting with a new question. "Please tell me we aren't dealing with another corporate acquisition." Ace smiled. "No." "Good." "We're dealing with holes in space." Brenda stared. Then slowly put down her fork. "Of course we are." Shammy began laughing. --- The evening briefing was concise. Three unstable spatial interfaces. One scientist responsible for measuring them. An unauthorized alteration to the receiving-room boundary. And a corporate network apparently attempting to use the interfaces for purposes nobody had yet established. Mai examined the accumulated evidence. "The financial structure and the spatial research appear to share personnel and facilities." Kiro nodded. "But we still haven't established why." Reyes looked toward the records. "We know what the organization is doing with companies." "Accumulating control," Mai replied. "And the interfaces?" Yukari shook her head. "Unknown." Shammy leaned forward. "Then perhaps we should ask the people who authorized the experiments." --- The answer arrived sooner than expected. Whitfield called shortly after dinner. "We've received a supplemental statement from Garnier." Mai straightened. "What does it say?" "He identified a fourth location." Ace looked up. "Another warehouse?" "No." "What?" Whitfield glanced at her notes. "A private research facility beneath a commercial property in North Oak." Kiro frowned. "Associated with Meridian?" "Through a subsidiary." "What's there?" Whitfield paused. "According to Garnier, that's where the original spatial interface was discovered." Yukari became very still. Shammy looked toward her. Then Whitfield continued. "And he believes it's still active." --- For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Ace slowly smiled. "Well." Mai looked at her. "Darling." "I know." "No doors." Ace sighed. "Everybody's against me." Yukari rose from the sofa. Her expression was serious. "Actually, Ace, I think we may have found the door that matters." --- ## Chapter 26 — The Original Aperture The first thing Ace noticed about the North Oak property was its landscaping. "That's obscene." Mai looked through the windshield. "What is?" "The lawn." Reyes glanced toward the carefully maintained grounds. "What's wrong with it?" "It's perfect." "That's generally considered desirable." Ace pointed. "Look at that grass. Not a single dead patch. Not one weed. I don't trust it." Kiro laughed from the back seat. "You trust warehouses full of armed mercenaries more than lawn maintenance?" "Warehouses are honest about their intentions." Yukari, seated beside Shammy, regarded the grounds with interest. "Perhaps the grass is simply very disciplined." Ace looked at her in the mirror. "Don't encourage it." --- The property belonged to a commercial holding company associated with the Meridian network. Its public description identified it as a private technology development facility. The grounds contained a modern office building, a landscaped courtyard and a discreet service entrance leading toward an underground parking structure. Nothing about the place suggested an ancient mystery. That, Shammy thought, was probably the point. Inspector Whitfield had obtained authorization to inspect the underground research areas, supported by Garnier's statement and the evidence recovered from the waterfront compound. The search team was already assembling. This time, the preparations were considerably more cautious. The three sealed containers remained isolated at the waterfront. No one intended to move them until their relationship to the original interface was understood. And everyone involved had been warned that the underground facility might contain an unstable physical hazard. --- Whitfield met them near the security checkpoint. "Dr. Garnier is inside." Mai nodded. "Has he been cooperative?" "Very." "Anything new?" "He says the underground installation predates his involvement." Yukari looked toward the building. "By how much?" "Several months, at least." Shammy frowned. "And he doesn't know who constructed it?" "No." Ace examined the entrance. "Then we're about to meet somebody's very expensive mistake." Whitfield gave her a look. "Please don't make it more expensive." --- The elevator descended four levels. A security officer accompanied Whitfield, Reyes and the six friends. The underground facility was clean. Quiet. Professionally equipped. Its corridors were lined with instrument cabinets and sealed observation rooms. Ace examined the walls. "No ominous chanting." Reyes smiled. "Disappointed?" "A little." Kiro looked around. "This is serious research equipment." Mai nodded. "Very expensive equipment." Shammy studied the corridor. "Somebody invested heavily in understanding whatever they found." Yukari's expression remained thoughtful. "Or in making use of it." --- Garnier was waiting in the main laboratory. He looked relieved when Whitfield entered. Then considerably less relieved when he saw Yukari and Shammy. "You're here." Yukari smiled. "Indeed." Garnier looked toward Whitfield. "Have they explained what they are?" The inspector glanced at the two women. "They've explained what they're qualified to assess." Yukari's smile deepened. "A diplomatic answer." Shammy nodded. "And sufficient for present purposes." Garnier considered that. Then sighed. "Very well." --- The laboratory contained three major instrument stations. A central monitoring console. An observation chamber. And a sealed access corridor leading deeper underground. Garnier pointed toward the corridor. "The original aperture is beyond that barrier." Kiro examined the readings. "Current activity?" "Low." "Stable?" Garnier hesitated. "Relatively." Ace looked at him. "I hate that word." "So do I," Garnier admitted. --- The first recordings were ordinary enough. A field anomaly. Instrument fluctuations. Unexpected readings. Then the images became stranger. A metal probe extended into a narrow dark opening suspended within a circular apparatus. Its tip disappeared. The cable continued feeding forward. Meters. Then tens of meters. Yet the probe remained visibly only a short distance beyond the opening. Kiro stared. "That shouldn't be possible." Garnier nodded. "No." "How did you establish the distance?" "Multiple independent measurements." "And the results?" "Inconsistent with the visible geometry." Mai leaned forward. "Did the probe return?" "Eventually." "Undamaged?" Garnier hesitated. "Not entirely." He displayed a photograph. The probe had returned twisted. Its outer casing was coated with a fine gray residue. And several components had aged far beyond the duration of the experiment. Reyes frowned. "Corrosion?" "Not conventional corrosion." --- Shammy studied the image. Yukari stood beside her. For several moments, neither spoke. Then Yukari asked: "Who first opened it?" Garnier shook his head. "I don't know." "Was it already active when you arrived?" "Yes." "And the apparatus?" "Already installed." Shammy looked toward the sealed corridor. "Then someone discovered, or created, the aperture before the scientific team began its measurements." Garnier nodded. "That's my understanding." Ace folded her arms. "And nobody thought that was worth mentioning?" Garnier looked embarrassed. "I was told the initial research was proprietary." Ace stared. "Of course you were." --- Whitfield asked for the facility's original construction records. Garnier directed her to the administrative archive. Kiro and Mai reviewed the documents under the search authorization. The underground chamber had been modified extensively. New electrical systems. Additional shielding. Reinforced observation walls. And a circular support structure installed around an older opening in the concrete. Mai examined the original floor plans. "Wait." Kiro looked up. "What?" "The aperture chamber wasn't part of the original building." "No?" "It was excavated later." Kiro compared the dates. "You're right." Reyes leaned closer. "Excavated around what?" Mai highlighted the oldest survey. A small underground cavity. Unusual mineral deposits. And an anomaly recorded as a geological irregularity. Yukari looked at the image. Her expression changed. "That wasn't an ordinary cavity." --- They entered the observation room. Beyond the reinforced window lay a circular chamber. At its center stood an elaborate framework of metal supports and monitoring equipment. Inside the framework hung a narrow vertical darkness. Not a black panel. Not an empty recess. A darkness that seemed to possess depth without revealing anything beyond it. Ace stared. "Well." For once, nobody objected. The aperture was approximately two meters tall. Less than a meter wide. Its edges shifted almost imperceptibly. The surrounding instruments displayed stable readings. But looking at it for too long produced an unpleasant impression. As though the eye were attempting to measure a distance that refused to remain constant. Kiro stepped back from the window. "That is deeply wrong." Garnier nodded. "Yes." --- Yukari approached the glass. Shammy joined her. The kitsune's golden eyes narrowed. "That is not a naturally occurring opening." Garnier turned. "You're certain?" "Yes." Shammy studied the surrounding structure. "Someone shaped it." Yukari nodded. "Someone who knew enough to make the opening persist." "And not enough to define where it leads," Shammy added. Ace looked at them. "So the same problem as the containers." "Yes," Yukari replied. "But this one is much larger." --- Garnier examined his notes. "The aperture has never expanded beyond its present dimensions." Shammy turned toward him. "That you have measured." "Yes." "How frequently?" "Continuously." "And what happens when your instruments fail?" Garnier hesitated. "Backup systems take over." Shammy nodded. "Unless the failure affects the measurement itself." Garnier stared at her. Then slowly looked toward the monitoring console. "I see." --- Reyes studied the emergency procedures. "What's your evacuation plan?" Garnier looked uncomfortable. "We have a conventional laboratory evacuation protocol." "For fire?" "Yes." "Chemical release?" "Yes." "Spatial instability?" He said nothing. Reyes sighed. "Thought so." --- The first genuine alarm sounded eleven minutes later. A low electronic tone. Then another. Kiro looked toward the display. "Field variation." Garnier hurried to the console. "That shouldn't be happening." Ace glanced toward the aperture. Its edges were moving. Not dramatically. Just enough that the darkness appeared wider. Yukari stepped forward. "Everyone away from the window." Shammy's voice was calm. "Now." Whitfield didn't argue. Her team began clearing the observation room. --- The aperture widened. A few centimeters. Then more. The surrounding framework vibrated. Garnier stared at the readings. "The field is responding to something." Kiro examined the instruments. "External input?" "Possibly." "From where?" Garnier shook his head. "I don't know." Mai looked toward the central monitoring system. "Could it be receiving a signal from the waterfront containers?" Kiro checked. "No active network connection." Yukari remained focused on the darkness. "Not an electronic signal." Shammy nodded. "Something on the other side." --- Ace looked toward her. "What?" Shammy considered. "Attention." The word hung in the air. Garnier stared. "Attention?" Yukari spoke quietly. "An opening doesn't have to be large for something to notice it." The darkness shifted. For one terrible instant, Ace had the impression that the space beyond it had turned toward them. Not a face. Not eyes. Nothing she could describe. Simply the sensation of being observed. Then the feeling vanished. --- The instruments began reporting impossible values. Distances became negative. Temperature sensors disagreed by hundreds of degrees. A pressure reading briefly displayed an impossible result before resetting. Kiro swore. "Those systems are no longer trustworthy." Garnier stared at the console. "But they're independent." "Not independent of the phenomenon they're measuring." Shammy looked at Yukari. "Can you close it?" Yukari studied the aperture. "Not safely from here." "Can you interrupt the sustaining geometry?" "Perhaps." Ace stepped closer. "Then what do you need?" Yukari turned. "Time." --- The evacuation continued. Whitfield's personnel secured the upper levels. The underground corridors were cleared. Garnier remained long enough to identify the original control systems before Whitfield ordered him out. He protested. "I built the monitoring apparatus!" "And you're going to survive to explain it," Whitfield replied. He hesitated. Then nodded. --- Only the six friends remained near the observation chamber, with Whitfield maintaining communication from the secure access point. Reyes checked her weapon. Kiro examined the power distribution. Mai studied the structural plans. Ace stood beside Yukari and Shammy. "All right." Yukari looked at her. "Darling?" "Tell me what we're doing." The kitsune smiled faintly. "Something extremely careful." Ace sighed. "Naturally." --- Yukari indicated the framework surrounding the aperture. "The metal supports aren't what keeps it open." Mai nodded. "The markings?" "Yes." Shammy studied the pattern. "They've incorporated the geometry into the apparatus itself." Kiro checked the construction records. "Etched into the support rings." "Exactly," Yukari replied. Reyes frowned. "Can we remove them?" "Not while the aperture is expanding." Ace looked at the structure. "Then we stop the expansion first." Shammy nodded. "Yes." --- She stepped toward the chamber. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the air changed. The vibration in the framework softened. The aperture's movement slowed. Ace watched her. Shammy's expression remained calm. But there was an unmistakable weight to her presence now. Something ancient. Something the room itself seemed compelled to acknowledge. Yukari approached beside her. Not in fox form. Not yet. Her golden eyes shone. She placed one hand against the outer frame. The engraved geometry flickered. A thin line of light appeared. Then vanished. --- Kiro stared at the readings. "Field variation decreasing." Mai looked toward the aperture. "Is it stabilizing?" "For the moment." Reyes glanced toward Shammy. "Can you hold it?" Shammy nodded. "Yes." Yukari looked toward Ace. "Now we need to interrupt the markings." Ace smiled. "Finally." Mai sighed. "Darling." "What?" "Carefully." Ace drew one emerald katana. The blade caught the laboratory light. A vivid green reflection passed across the chamber. The aperture seemed to shift. Yukari looked at the sword. Then at Ace. "Only the engraved line I indicate." Ace nodded. "Understood." --- The first cut was precise. A narrow section of the outer support ring. The emerald blade passed through the engraved metal. The geometric line broke. The framework shuddered. Kiro watched the instruments. "Field strength dropping." Yukari pointed toward another line. "There." Ace moved. One clean strike. Another break. The aperture contracted slightly. Shammy held the surrounding distortion steady. The room's vibration diminished. Then Yukari pointed toward the final section. "That one." Ace stepped forward. Raised her blade. And cut. --- The darkness folded inward. Not like a closing door. More like a depth collapsing upon itself. For one instant, the chamber seemed impossibly large. Then impossibly small. Then ordinary. The aperture vanished. The metal framework stood empty. The instruments went silent. Ace stared at the space where it had been. Then looked toward Yukari. "Did we just close it?" Yukari examined the chamber. "Yes." Shammy exhaled slowly. "That opening, at least." --- Kiro checked the readings. "No field anomaly." Garnier's systems gradually returned to normal. Mai examined the structural sensors. "Stable." Reyes lowered her weapon. Ace looked at Shammy. "You all right?" Shammy smiled. "Yes, darling." Then at Yukari. "And you?" The kitsune smiled. "Quite." Ace sheathed her sword. "Good." For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Kiro laughed. A slightly breathless laugh. "Well, that was an interesting laboratory visit." --- Whitfield returned with the authorized team after the chamber had been assessed. She examined the empty framework. Then looked at Ace's katana. "Do I want to know?" Ace smiled. "Probably." Mai stepped forward. "The aperture was sustained by the engraved geometry. We interrupted the pattern after stabilizing the field." Whitfield studied the cut supports. "That sounds almost reasonable." Yukari smiled. "An encouraging assessment." --- Garnier entered only after the scene was declared stable. He stood before the empty apparatus. For a long time, he said nothing. Then he turned toward Yukari. "You closed it." "Yes." "How?" "By interrupting the structure that sustained it." He looked toward Shammy. "And the instability?" "Temporarily contained while the geometry was broken." Garnier slowly nodded. Then sat down. "Good God." Ace smiled. "That's becoming a popular expression." --- The facility's records were secured. The original research documentation was preserved. And the three waterfront containers remained isolated pending a separate assessment. The immediate danger at North Oak had ended. But the investigation had gained something important. Proof that the spatial interfaces were real. Proof that the sustaining geometry could be interrupted. And proof that someone had constructed a working aperture without understanding where it led. --- Back at the safehouse, the friends gathered around the dining table. Iris listened to the account with growing disbelief. Brenda examined the damaged framework photographs. "That was a very expensive piece of equipment." Ace smiled. "Was." Mai chuckled. "Yes, darling. Was." Yukari, back in fox form, curled beneath the table. Shammy sat beside Ace. For a while, everyone simply enjoyed being home. Then Reyes looked toward the research notes. "We still don't know who supplied the geometry." Mai nodded. "Or what they intended to do with it." Kiro opened the recovered financial records. "Or why the acquisition network was willing to spend so much money on this research." Yukari raised her head. "Those questions may have the same answer." Shammy nodded. "And perhaps not a particularly comforting one." --- Rogue called shortly before midnight. Ace answered. "Evening, sunshine." "Don't." "Love you too." "I heard about North Oak." Ace grinned. "Lovely place. Terrible architecture." Rogue ignored her. "We have a problem." Ace straightened. "What?" "The people funding those experiments have started moving their assets." Mai leaned closer. "Which assets?" "Corporate accounts. Research equipment. Personnel." Kiro frowned. "To where?" Rogue's expression hardened. "We're still tracing it." Then she paused. "But I think they're preparing to disappear." --- Ace looked toward the others. Mai was already reaching for the financial map. Reyes checked the current operational reports. Kiro opened the account records. Yukari and Shammy exchanged a glance. The aperture at North Oak was closed. But the people who built it were still out there. And now they knew someone was coming for them. Ace smiled. A familiar, dangerous smile. "Well." Rogue sighed. "Don't." Ace looked at Mai. Then at her friends. "Looks like we're not finished." --- ## Chapter 27 — Walking War Crimes Rogue's call came at 07:12. Ace answered with one eye open. "If this isn't about breakfast, somebody had better be dying." "Afterlife. Ten o'clock." "Good morning to you too, sunshine." "Bring Mai, Shammy, Yukari, Kiro and Reyes." Ace sat up. "All six?" "All six." "Should I bring the swords?" A pause. "Yes." Ace smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere." "And Ace?" "Yes, darling?" "Eat breakfast first. I don't want you stealing mine." The call ended. Ace stared at the holo. Then burst out laughing. --- By half past nine, the group was approaching the Afterlife. Kiro had already reviewed the previous night's financial movements. Reyes had checked the latest security reports. Mai carried a consolidated evidence package. Shammy and Yukari had spent breakfast discussing the incomplete doorway geometry, occasionally interrupting themselves to argue over who had eaten the last piece of toast. Ace had contributed three cups of coffee and several opinions about the stupidity of corporate cults. All in all, a productive morning. Rogue met them near her private booth. "You're early." Ace kissed her cheek. "Missed you too." Rogue rolled her eyes. "Inside." --- The first thing Ace heard was a man's voice. "Absolutely fucking not." Another voice answered. "I haven't even told you the plan." "That's how I know it's terrible." Ace stopped. Then smiled. "Oh, no." Mai looked toward the booth. "Oh, yes." A third voice spoke. "If this is about the vehicle, I've already checked the weight limit." A fourth answered. "That's not the concern." "Then what's the concern?" "The concern is that Badger wants to put a breach charge on a delivery truck and call it a diplomatic initiative." Ace began laughing. Rogue closed her eyes. "Every fucking time." --- Badger was leaning over the table, arguing with Heavenly Father. Grouse sat beside them, watching the entrance without appearing to look at it. Jello had three separate communications devices on the table and was treating one of them as though it had personally insulted him. Skulker stood near the rear wall. His attention was on the exits. Naturally. Ace took one look at the assembled men and spread her arms. "THE IDIOTS ARE BACK!" Badger turned. For half a second, his expression was blank. Then he grinned. "WATANABE!" The collision that followed qualified as a minor structural event. Ace laughed as Badger caught her in a fierce embrace. "Still an ugly bastard!" "Still a fucking menace!" "Missed you!" "Obviously!" Heavenly Father watched them. "Well. There goes the building insurance." --- Mai received a considerably more civilized greeting. Badger kissed her cheek. "Good to see you, Mai." "You too." He glanced at Ace. "She's still like this?" "Worse, actually." "Excellent." Shammy received a warm embrace. Kiro was immediately intercepted by Jello, who pointed at her equipment. "Tell me you haven't connected that thing to anything interesting." "Define interesting." "Anything that answers back." Kiro grinned. "We may have a problem." Jello sighed. "Of course we do." --- Reyes shook hands with Grouse. He looked at her equipment. Then toward the corridor. Then back at her. "You brought the good ammunition." Reyes smiled. "Some of it." "Expecting trouble?" "With these people?" Grouse considered the room. "Fair." Skulker approached Ace. He glanced at her swords. Then at the door. "Been breaking anything?" Ace smiled. "Several expensive things." "Without me?" "Tragic, isn't it?" Skulker shook his head. "Unacceptable." --- Yukari watched the reunion with evident delight. Badger finally noticed her. "Hold on. We haven't met." Ace put an arm around Yukari. "Yukari O'Sullivan. Family." Yukari smiled. "A pleasure." Badger offered his hand. "Badger." "I gathered." "From my reputation?" "From the shouting." He grinned. "You're going to fit right in." Yukari's smile became positively wicked. "My dear, I rather suspect so." Heavenly Father looked toward Shammy. "Should we be worried?" Shammy considered. "Probably." --- Rogue slammed a data shard onto the table. "ARE YOU FUCKERS FINISHED?" Silence. Badger looked at Ace. Ace looked at Badger. Both smiled. "No," they said together. Rogue stared at the ceiling. "God help me." Heavenly Father quietly moved his coffee out of her reach. --- The briefing began badly. Which, for Theta-24, meant it began normally. Rogue displayed the Meridian financial network. Seven corporate acquisition targets. Three rescued detainees. Suspected document fraud. A private research program. The waterfront containers. The North Oak aperture. And the evidence that the people behind the operation were beginning to move their assets. Badger studied the display. "That's an impressive amount of corporate bullshit." Mai smiled. "We thought so." "How much of it can we prove?" She selected the evidence categories. "Several transactions are under formal challenge. We have a witness to the document-handling process, authenticated records supporting material discrepancies, and evidence from the detention properties." Badger nodded. "Good." Then he pointed at the spatial anomaly photographs. "And that?" Ace grinned. "That's where things get interesting." --- Grouse stood. "Before we discuss the anomaly, what's the immediate threat?" Reyes answered. "Personnel and equipment are moving out of the network's remaining sites." "Armed security?" "Some." "Noncombatants?" "Likely." "Additional detainees?" "Unknown." Grouse nodded. "Then we've got a disappearing organization, unknown civilians in its facilities and people trying to move dangerous equipment." "Exactly," Mai replied. Badger looked toward Heavenly Father. "See? We can work with that." Heavenly Father gave him a long look. "We can work with that provided you don't try to solve the entire problem by detonating the property." "One time." "Three times." "Two and a half." Skulker spoke from the wall. "The third one was mostly structural." Heavenly Father closed his eyes. "Not helping." --- Kiro displayed the aperture measurements. Jello leaned forward. Read them. Read them again. Then quietly disconnected one of his devices. Kiro raised an eyebrow. "Problem?" "Maybe." He turned toward her. "Who has the original recordings?" "Evidence repositories. Garnier's laboratory records. The authorized investigators." "Any public copies?" "None that we know of." "Good. Keep it that way." Mai frowned. "Do you think the images are hazardous?" "I don't know." Jello pointed toward the repeating geometry. "But if the design works, somebody could copy it. And if the symbols themselves carry effects that nobody understands, I'd rather not discover that through a hundred thousand idiots downloading a tutorial." Kiro nodded. "Agreed." "First thing I want is an inventory of every recording, reproduction and diagram." "And the originals?" "Preserved for the investigation, with controlled access. I'm not destroying evidence because it makes me nervous." Badger looked at him. "That's growth." Jello didn't look up. "Badger, I have deleted worse things than your sense of humor." --- Yukari examined the display beside Shammy. "The geometry can be reproduced," she said. "But the markings alone may not be sufficient to create an opening." Jello nodded. "Which means the remaining requirements are important." "Yes." Shammy added, "And the cult may not understand them." Grouse folded his arms. "Then we assume their next attempt will be less stable than the last." Yukari looked at him with approval. "That would be wise." Badger grinned. "Lovely. We've got idiots trying to build doors into places they can't identify." Ace nodded. "Exactly." "Fucking brilliant." "Isn't it?" Heavenly Father looked between them. "Please stop sounding pleased." --- The mood changed when Rogue displayed the missing-person photographs. Daniel Velez. Anton Saye. Natalia Brzezinska. All three alive. All three recovering. And all three apparently used by the financial network for access, leverage or cooperation. Heavenly Father studied their medical reports. "Any evidence of additional prisoners?" "Not confirmed," Mai replied. "Any indication the cult abandoned other people when it began evacuating its properties?" "Possible." He nodded. "Then nobody goes in shooting at shadows." Badger stopped smiling. "Agreed." The change was immediate. No argument. No joke. The others followed the discussion with equal attention. For all their reputation, Theta-24 understood the difference between a hostile combatant and a terrified employee caught inside someone else's disaster. --- Rogue displayed a photograph of the Black Pharaoh. Jello's expression changed. "Where did you get that?" "Corporate reception," Rogue replied. He stared at the image. "You're joking." Ace smiled. "Nope." Badger leaned forward. "That's a hell of a guest." "Very polite," Ace added. Heavenly Father turned toward her. "Polite?" "Impeccably." Yukari smiled. "And exceptionally dangerous." Badger looked at her. "You've met him before?" "A very long time ago." Shammy nodded. "So have I." For a moment, even Badger was quiet. --- They explained the encounter. The reception. The pleasant conversation. Nyarlathotep's lack of any declared investment in the cult's objectives. And the warning that both Yukari and Shammy considered essential. Manipulation. Not necessarily through lies. Not necessarily through threats. Through understanding what someone wanted and helping them arrive at conclusions they might otherwise have questioned. Badger listened without interruption. Then asked: "Did he ask you to do anything?" "No," Shammy replied. "Offer anything?" "No." "Make threats?" "No." Badger sat back. "Then we don't make him our target." Yukari smiled. "Precisely." Grouse looked at the photograph. "But we keep him in mind." "Absolutely," Shammy replied. Jello studied the image one last time. "Nobody is putting that man's face on a recruitment poster." Badger chuckled. "Well, now you've ruined my afternoon." --- Inspector Whitfield joined the secure call. She took one look at the five men and frowned. "These are the specialists?" Rogue nodded. "Theta-24." Whitfield examined the team designation. "Walking War Crimes?" Badger smiled. "Hello." Whitfield stared. "That's your actual callsign?" "One of them." "Should I ask why?" Heavenly Father answered before Badger could. "No." Whitfield considered that. Then nodded. "Very well." --- She outlined the operational situation. Four active properties. Two with probable record-destruction activity. One moving technical equipment. One believed to house the remaining leadership. The authorities were preparing coordinated action. Theta-24 could support the effort under the agreed operational arrangements, with civilian protection and evidence preservation taking precedence. Whitfield looked toward Badger. "Do you understand the conditions?" "Completely." "And will you follow them?" He considered. "If your people identify civilians, we protect them. If suspects surrender, they stay alive. If something anomalous starts eating the building, I reserve the right to stop it." Whitfield paused. Then nodded. "That is reasonable." Heavenly Father looked almost impressed. Badger turned toward him. "Don't look so surprised." "I'm cherishing the moment." --- The discussion shifted to assignments. Grouse studied the reconnaissance material. He noticed something within seconds. "Those two vehicles." Reyes leaned closer. "What about them?" "Same transport company. Different registrations. Their routes intersect near the logistics facility." Kiro checked. "You're right." "Look at the departure times." Mai frowned. "Staggered." "Exactly. Somebody doesn't want the shipments arriving together." Badger smiled. "Good catch." Grouse shrugged. "Not subtle enough." --- Skulker examined the remaining facility plans. He pointed to a corridor connecting the loading area with the offices. "That's wrong." Reyes looked. "Why?" "Too narrow for the equipment they're supposedly moving." Kiro checked the dimensions. "You're right." Skulker indicated another wall. "Then there's another route." Grouse nodded. "Or the plans are incomplete." "Either way, somebody's hiding a passage." Ace smiled. "Now you're speaking my language." Skulker glanced at her. "Your language is usually 'hit it with a sword.'" "Effective language." "Limited vocabulary." --- Jello was already working through the information-handling problem with Kiro. The original anomaly data needed to remain available to investigators. But the reproducible markings were a different matter. "Evidence copies stay controlled," he said. "No casual sharing. No previews in routine briefings. No putting the full geometry in a public indictment." Kiro nodded. "We can provide technical summaries without reproducing the complete pattern." "Good." "And if the cult has already distributed it?" Jello's expression hardened. "Then we find out how far." --- Badger stood. The room became attentive. Not because he demanded it. Because the others recognized the moment. "We've got people destroying records, moving dangerous equipment and potentially preparing more of those fucking apertures." He looked toward Rogue. "You want this operation ended?" "Yes." "Properly?" "Preferably." "Then we stop chasing the symptoms." Mai nodded. "Agreed." "We find who's giving orders, where the money is going and who still knows how to build those things." He glanced toward Jello. "And we make sure the instructions don't become everybody else's favorite new hobby." Jello nodded. "Especially that." --- Heavenly Father stood beside him. "With one addition." Badger sighed. "Here it comes." "We do not confuse destroying the cult's capacity to operate with destroying everyone who ever worked for it." Badger met his eyes. For a brief moment, the humor vanished. "I know." "Good." Skulker checked his equipment. Grouse gathered the reconnaissance package. Jello isolated the technical files. The men were already moving. Not waiting for a Foundation commander who might no longer exist. Not pretending that the abandoned Site-19 had somehow restored the old chain of command. They had been through too much together for that. They still believed in the work. And sometimes the work arrived under the name of a missing-person investigation in Night City. --- Ace approached Badger. "So." He looked at her. "So." "What's the plan?" He grinned. "First, we find out which of these corporate bastards is still sitting in an office thinking this is somebody else's problem." "And then?" "We make it very much his problem." Ace laughed. "Goddammit, I've missed you." "Obviously." --- Yukari stood beside Shammy, watching the five men prepare. "They are quite extraordinary," she murmured. Shammy smiled. "Yes." "Are they always like this?" "Worse when they're hungry." Yukari's eyes brightened. "Then perhaps we should feed them." Shammy turned toward her. For a moment, both women considered the possibilities. Then Shammy began laughing. "Oh, darling." "What?" "You have no idea what you're inviting." Across the booth, Badger looked up. "Did somebody say food?" Jello closed his eyes. "Please don't." Ace began laughing again. And Rogue, realizing precisely what was about to happen to her carefully organized morning, reached for the nearest bottle. --- ## Chapter 28 — An Unfortunate Investment Badger had three questions. "How many sites?" "Four," Grouse replied. "How many contain civilians?" "Unknown." "And how many contain something that'll eat us?" Jello looked up from his equipment. "Unknown." Badger nodded appreciatively. "Excellent intelligence. Really inspiring." They were standing in a temporary operations room adjoining the Afterlife's private facilities. The main display showed four properties connected to the Ascendant Prosperity Circle. Two corporate offices. One private logistics facility. One heavily secured estate used by the organization's senior leadership. Rogue had arranged the room. Whitfield had supplied the authorized investigative material. Theta-24 had supplied a substantial quantity of equipment that nobody had been enthusiastic about inspecting. Ace supplied coffee. Yukari supplied commentary. "Perhaps," she suggested, "the unknown quantities are the exciting part." Badger looked at her. "See? She understands." Heavenly Father sighed. "Of course she does." --- The first target was the logistics facility. Its personnel had begun transferring equipment late the previous evening. Grouse had identified three vehicles whose routes converged near a disused freight interchange. Reyes examined the movement records. "They're splitting the cargo." "Why?" Mai asked. "Could be ordinary distribution." Grouse shook his head. "Not with those routes." He enlarged the schedule. "Each vehicle departs separately, takes a different road and arrives within the same twenty-minute window. The destinations listed on their paperwork are nowhere near the interchange." Kiro studied the timestamps. "Someone wants the cargo to appear scattered." "Exactly." Badger grinned. "Good. They're already doing something stupid." Heavenly Father looked at him. "That doesn't make them harmless." "No," Badger replied. "It makes them predictable." --- The operational arrangements were settled quickly. Whitfield's investigators would handle arrests, evidence and formal searches. Theta-24 would support the entry and manage the anomalous risks. Ace and Reyes would provide tactical assistance where needed. Mai and Kiro would remain connected to the financial and technical evidence. Shammy and Yukari would assess anything that looked capable of opening another hole in reality. Badger examined the assignments. "All right. Who's babysitting Ace?" Ace looked offended. "Excuse me?" Skulker raised his hand. "Apparently me." "Traitor." "Professional responsibility." Reyes laughed. "You two deserve each other." --- The freight interchange was an ugly stretch of concrete beneath elevated transport routes. Abandoned loading platforms. Old industrial lighting. A collection of buildings that had been repurposed, neglected and repurposed again. The perfect location for an operation nobody wanted noticed. Grouse examined the approaches through the surveillance material Whitfield's team had obtained. "Three trucks. Eleven people visible. Two armed guards." "More inside?" Badger asked. "Likely." "Hostages?" "No indication." Heavenly Father looked toward Whitfield. "Then we identify who's working there before treating anyone as hostile." Whitfield nodded. "Agreed." --- The first vehicles arrived exactly when Grouse predicted. The drivers unloaded sealed cases. Not the large containment structures from the waterfront. Smaller packages. Equipment modules. Technical documentation. Several reinforced cases whose handling instructions matched those used by Garnier's research team. Kiro studied the images. "Those could be components for additional aperture installations." Jello nodded. "And the documentation might be enough to reproduce the geometry." "Can you identify the files?" "Not from here." Badger looked toward the warehouse. "Then we go ask." --- The entry was fast. Not reckless. Not theatrical. Fast. Whitfield's officers secured the exterior. Skulker approached the service entrance, assessed the hinges and locking mechanism, then opened it with a controlled breach that left the surrounding structure largely intact. Ace glanced at him. "Elegant." Skulker didn't look back. "Don't tell anyone." Inside, three workers raised their hands immediately. Heavenly Father moved toward them. "Stay where you are. Nobody needs to get hurt." They complied. Another man attempted to run toward the rear exit. Grouse had already identified the route. An officer intercepted him outside. No shots. No injuries. Then someone deeper inside the building opened fire. --- The first burst struck an empty cargo rack. Skulker moved before the echoes faded. Ace followed his direction, keeping clear of the workers. Reyes covered the approach. A second burst tore into the wall. Skulker reached the doorway. One sharp movement. A collision. A startled cry. Then silence. "Threat down," Skulker reported. "Status?" Badger asked. "Alive. Disarmed." Heavenly Father approached. "Good." Skulker glanced toward the unconscious gunman. "He's going to have a complaint about the furniture." Ace grinned. "Occupational hazard." --- The building was secured within minutes. Eight people were detained. Three were ordinary freight workers. Two were administrative staff. Three were armed security personnel. Investigators separated them for interviews. The cargo was preserved. And Jello immediately discovered something he did not like. A portable terminal had been left running beside one of the sealed cases. Its display showed the same incomplete geometry recovered from North Oak. But not merely as an image. As a sequence. Jello stopped. "Nobody touch that terminal." Kiro looked toward his feed. "What is it?" "Possibly a procedural reconstruction." "Of the aperture?" "Yes." He examined the status indicators. "Someone has been packaging the geometry as an installation guide." --- Badger approached. "Can you shut it down?" "Probably." "Do it." Jello didn't move. Badger noticed. "What?" "It's already connected to an outbound transfer queue." Kiro examined the network details through the authorized forensic interface. "Destination?" "Multiple corporate endpoints." "Can we interrupt?" Jello nodded. "But first we need to know whether the transfer has started." He checked the logs. Then exhaled. "Not yet." Kiro smiled. "Good." Jello isolated the terminal from external communications. The outbound queue froze. He verified the local evidence image had been preserved. Then disabled the transfer process. Only then did he relax. "A remarkably stupid idea has been denied an audience." Badger smiled. "Excellent." --- The first genuinely useful document appeared in one of the freight manifests. A transfer authorization. Signed by Renata Calder. Its destination was the senior leadership estate. Mai studied the attached equipment list. "These aren't merely scientific instruments." Kiro nodded. "Power regulation. Field monitoring. Structural supports." "And the containment markings?" "Referenced in the technical package." Reyes folded her arms. "Then they're moving the components for another aperture." Yukari examined the inventory. "Yes." Shammy studied the quantity. "Not a small one." --- Badger looked toward the estate's security profile. "How many people are there?" Grouse answered. "At least twenty employees. Unknown number of armed guards. Several executives." "Civilians?" "Likely." "Any evidence they're evacuating?" "Not yet." Badger nodded. "Then we don't rush the estate blind." Ace raised an eyebrow. "You're being restrained." He looked at her. "Don't spread that rumor." --- The second operation unfolded while the freight evidence was still being processed. Whitfield's team had secured judicial authority to search one of the administrative offices. The office manager cooperated. Several employees were frightened. One attempted to destroy a storage device when investigators entered. Jello intercepted the local deletion process after the device was lawfully seized. Kiro helped preserve the audit trail. The recovered records contained details of the acquisition program. Seven businesses. A network of subsidiaries. Debt instruments designed to transfer control. And a series of internal performance targets. Mai read them in silence. Then looked toward Kiro. "They've assigned financial quotas." Kiro nodded. "Not merely profit targets." "Control targets." --- The highest-level document was titled: **STRATEGIC CONSOLIDATION OBJECTIVES.** Its language was clinical. Increase the percentage of voting interests held across priority sectors. Maximize enforceable authority over corporate assets. Expand access to logistical and financial infrastructure. Retain control through layered ownership arrangements. Ace examined the summary. "So the cult wants to own everything." Mai shook her head slightly. "Not everything. As much as it can acquire." "And the people?" Reyes answered. "Tools." Shammy's expression hardened. "That explains why the disappearances mattered." --- The document also contained an internal memorandum from Pavel Sokolov. The Ascendant Prosperity Circle's director described financial control as the organization's central mission. Wealth was not simply a reward. It was evidence of worth. Ownership was proof of superiority. Those who could not accumulate power deserved to surrender it to those who could. Yukari read the memorandum. Then smiled without amusement. "An exceptionally ugly little philosophy." Heavenly Father nodded. "And an effective way to make cruelty sound virtuous." Badger studied the document. "Any indication that our charming guest wrote this?" Mai shook her head. "No." "Good. Then let's keep responsibility where the evidence puts it." --- By early evening, the authorities had secured both administrative sites. Financial accounts associated with the suspected fraud were subject to preservation and lawful restraint proceedings. Several employees had agreed to provide statements. Others requested counsel. The acquisition network was no longer invisible. But its leaders had not surrendered. Renata Calder remained at large. Pavel Sokolov was believed to be inside the estate. And the equipment intended for the new aperture was still moving toward the property. --- The final development came from Grouse. He had been reviewing the estate's perimeter activity. "Badger." "Yeah?" "Something's wrong." Everyone looked up. Grouse enlarged the surveillance image. The estate's outer security personnel had withdrawn from two checkpoints. A maintenance convoy had entered through the service gate. And several employees were being moved toward the main building. Heavenly Father frowned. "Evacuation?" Grouse shook his head. "Wrong direction." "Meaning?" "They're bringing people in." Ace stared at the display. "Why?" Grouse examined the vehicle movements. "Don't know." Then he highlighted another detail. The equipment cases from the freight transfer had arrived. Badger's expression hardened. "They're getting ready." --- Yukari stepped closer. The kitsune studied the estate's architectural plans. Then the equipment inventory. Then the location of the main building. Shammy stood beside her. Neither spoke for several moments. Finally, Yukari looked toward Badger. "They're going to activate another aperture." Heavenly Father asked: "How certain?" "Very." "How large?" Yukari examined the structural support measurements. Then looked at Shammy. The elementaali's expression had become grave. "Larger than North Oak," Shammy answered. --- Badger turned toward Whitfield. "How quickly can your people establish a civilian evacuation perimeter?" "Already preparing it." "Good." He looked toward Grouse. "Find every route out." Then Skulker. "Get the interior layout." Then Jello. "Make sure their transmission systems can't turn this into a fucking broadcast." Finally, he looked toward Ace. She smiled. "Yes?" Badger grinned. "How do you feel about ruining somebody's investment?" Ace drew one emerald katana. Its green edge caught the light. "Darling, I thought you'd never ask." --- ## Chapter 29 — The Price of Admission The estate's owners had spent an extraordinary amount of money making the place difficult to enter. Badger considered this a personal insult. "Look at that." Ace studied the surveillance display. "Very expensive." "Disgustingly." "Armored gates. Reinforced walls. Automated defenses." "Someone's compensating." Ace grinned. "Clearly." Heavenly Father looked at them. "Could you two stop admiring the obstacles?" Badger turned. "I'm criticizing them." "With visible affection." "Professional curiosity." Skulker studied the building plans. "There's an interior corridor connecting the service entrance to the main hall." Grouse nodded. "Three checkpoints. Two camera blind spots. One suspiciously empty section." Ace leaned closer. "Secret passage?" "Probably." Skulker smiled faintly. "Good." --- The estate occupied an isolated section of North Oak. Its gardens were magnificent. Its walls were reinforced. Its private security arrangements resembled those of a small military installation. And beneath the central building, according to newly recovered construction records, lay a chamber large enough to accommodate the equipment moved from the freight interchange. Mai examined the plans. "That's considerably more space than the North Oak laboratory." Kiro nodded. "And the electrical infrastructure has been upgraded." "How much power?" "Enough that the property has a dedicated industrial supply." Reyes frowned. "For a private estate?" "Exactly." Yukari studied the underground chamber. "That isn't a residence." Shammy nodded. "It's an installation disguised as one." --- Inspector Whitfield had established a perimeter with authorized security personnel. Civilian traffic had been diverted. Nearby properties had received precautionary evacuation instructions. The estate's own employees were being contacted through available channels and advised to leave if they could safely do so. Some had complied. Others had apparently been ordered to remain inside. Heavenly Father studied the list. "Seventeen employees confirmed." Whitfield nodded. "Possibly more." "Armed guards?" "At least twelve." "Anyone confirmed to be held against their will?" "Not yet." Heavenly Father looked toward Badger. "We don't treat the entire building as hostile." Badger's expression was serious. "Wasn't planning to." "Good." "Just the parts trying to kill us." "An acceptable distinction." --- Jello examined the estate's communications systems. "They've got three separate external links." Kiro nodded. "Corporate network, private encrypted channel and an independent broadcast transmitter." Jello stopped. "Broadcast?" "Yes." "Why?" "Unknown." Jello's expression darkened. "Find out." Kiro opened the authorized technical records. The transmitter had been installed recently. Its documentation described it as emergency communications equipment. But the configuration included high-bandwidth audiovisual distribution capabilities. Jello stared. "They're planning to stream something." Mai frowned. "The activation?" "Possibly." Yukari looked toward the building. "An extremely dangerous idea." Jello nodded. "One of my least favorite kinds." --- The first warning came from Grouse. "Movement." The external cameras showed several security personnel repositioning around the service entrance. Two automated turrets activated. A third remained inactive. Grouse studied the pattern. "They know we're here." Badger smiled. "Good." Heavenly Father looked at him. "Please don't say what I think you're about to say." Badger considered. "Would you prefer that they remain ignorant?" "I'd prefer that you stop enjoying the situation." "Can't have everything." --- Whitfield issued a final warning through the estate's registered security channel. The occupants were informed of the search authority. They were instructed to disarm, release anyone being detained and cooperate with investigators. The response came after thirty seconds. A man's voice. Calm. Confident. "Your authority is not recognized here." Whitfield frowned. "Identify yourself." "Pavel Sokolov." Mai looked up. The Ascendant Prosperity Circle's director. Whitfield continued. "Mr. Sokolov, you are required to comply with the lawful search." Sokolov laughed. "Lawful according to whom?" "According to the authorities empowered to investigate the offenses under review." "Your institutions are obsolete." Badger closed his eyes. "Here we go." --- Sokolov continued. "The people gathered here represent the future of Night City." Ace leaned toward Mai. "Do they have matching jackets?" Mai covered her mouth. Sokolov's voice rose. "We have transcended the limitations of conventional ownership." Jello muttered: "That sounds expensive." "We possess the resources to reshape the world." Badger looked at Heavenly Father. "Can I shoot the speech?" "No." "Not even the transmitter?" "Not until we know what it's connected to." Badger sighed. "You're destroying art." --- Whitfield attempted one final negotiation. "Mr. Sokolov, there are employees inside the estate who may not wish to participate in your activities." "They have chosen their place." "That is for them to determine." "Everyone has a role in the ascent." Heavenly Father's expression hardened. "That's enough." Badger nodded. "Agreed." --- The operation began. Grouse identified the safest approach. Skulker led the controlled entry through the service structure. Ace followed with Reyes. Whitfield's officers secured the exterior. Kiro and Jello monitored the technical systems. Mai coordinated the building information. Shammy and Yukari remained close enough to assess any anomalous activity. The first checkpoint surrendered. Three guards. Weapons lowered. No resistance. Heavenly Father directed them toward the investigators. "Good decision." One guard looked terrified. "Are we going to die?" Heavenly Father met his eyes. "Not if I can help it." --- The second checkpoint did not surrender. An automated turret activated. A burst of gunfire struck the concrete beside the entry team. Grouse called the position. Skulker moved. Reyes struck the turret's exposed control assembly with a carefully placed specialized round, disabling its tracking. Ace intercepted an armed guard attempting to flank the officers. Her katana stopped just short of his throat. "Drop it." He froze. His weapon clattered to the floor. Ace smiled. "Excellent choice." --- The team advanced. Skulker found the hidden service passage exactly where Grouse had predicted. He examined the entrance. "Lovely." Badger's voice came over the comm. "Good door?" "Terrible door." "Can you improve it?" "Already working on it." A controlled breach opened the passage. Behind it, a narrow corridor led toward the underground installation. Grouse checked the surveillance. "Two armed personnel moving toward you." Skulker nodded. "Understood." The confrontation lasted seconds. Both men were disarmed. One sustained an injury requiring medical attention. Neither was killed. Heavenly Father arrived with the follow-up team. "Good." Skulker glanced toward the unconscious guard. "Door was worse." --- Inside the central building, the cult's senior members were gathering around the main chamber's observation platform. Renata Calder stood beside Pavel Sokolov. She looked composed. He looked ecstatic. The enormous circular apparatus beneath them was already active. A dark vertical line hung at its center. Not yet an opening. But approaching one. Sokolov watched the instruments. "Is it ready?" A technician hesitated. "The field is unstable." "Can you stabilize it?" "Not without reducing the power." "Then don't reduce the power." Renata turned toward him. "Pavel." He ignored her. "Proceed." --- The technician looked toward the emergency controls. Then back at Sokolov. "Sir, this could kill everyone in the building." Sokolov's expression became cold. "Everyone has a role in the ascent." Renata stared at him. For the first time that evening, her composure cracked. "You arrogant idiot." He turned. "What?" "We're trying to establish control, not destroy our own assets." Sokolov smiled. "True power requires risk." Renata looked toward the enormous apparatus. "Not stupidity." --- Jello detected the broadcast activation. "Kiro." "Yes?" "They're bringing the transmitter online." "Can we isolate it?" "Working on it." A moment later, the uplink was interrupted. The local recording systems remained available for evidence preservation, but the public distribution channel went dead. Jello exhaled. "Congratulations. Your cosmic disaster has been denied a livestream." Badger grinned. "Beautiful." --- Then the chamber began to shake. Shammy stopped walking. Yukari turned toward the underground levels. Both women felt it. Not merely the electrical vibration. Something deeper. A boundary being forced apart. Shammy looked toward Ace. "Darling." Ace stopped. "Yes?" "They've begun." Yukari's golden eyes narrowed. "And they're doing it badly." --- The emergency lights activated. Kiro examined the readings. "Power demand is increasing." Mai frowned. "Can we interrupt the supply?" "Possibly, but if the field depends on controlled shutdown, simply cutting power could make things worse." Shammy nodded. "Exactly." Yukari looked toward the chamber. "We need to reach the sustaining geometry." Badger's voice came through the comm. "Skulker. Status?" "Main corridor secured." "Can you reach the chamber?" "Working on it." "Make it fast." --- The next confrontation occurred at the final security door. Four armed guards blocked the entrance. Grouse identified their positions. Skulker assessed the angles. Ace stood beside him. "Want the left?" Skulker glanced at her. "Take the right." "Lovely." Reyes covered the approach. The door opened. The guards fired. Skulker and Ace moved together. A brutal, controlled exchange. Weapons struck aside. One guard knocked unconscious. Another forced to the floor. Two surrendered when they realized resistance was pointless. No unnecessary killing. No grandstanding. Just the immediate end of a dangerous situation. --- The team entered the observation chamber. Below them, the aperture was opening. Three meters high. Then four. Its edges moved in ways that made ordinary perspective unreliable. The air seemed to stretch. The floor vibrated. And beyond the darkness, something moved. Not a recognizable creature. Not yet. A pressure. A presence. A sense that an immense distance had suddenly become very small. Ace stopped. "Well." Yukari stood beside her. "Yes." Shammy's expression was grave. "That is considerably worse than North Oak." --- On the observation platform, Pavel Sokolov turned. He saw the armed intruders. Then smiled. "You're too late." Badger stepped forward. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing." Sokolov laughed. "You cannot stop what has begun." Badger looked toward Ace. "How many times have we heard that?" Ace considered. "Lost count." "Exactly." --- Renata Calder stood near the control console. Her eyes moved toward the growing aperture. Then toward Mai. "You don't understand what you're interrupting." Mai met her gaze. "Then explain it." Renata hesitated. "We were going to acquire control over resources no corporation in Night City possesses." "Resources from where?" Renata looked at the aperture. "Beyond our present reach." Yukari's expression hardened. "Beyond your understanding." Renata turned toward her. "What?" "You opened a doorway without establishing where it leads." Sokolov laughed. "That is the point." Shammy looked at him. "No, darling. That is the mistake." --- The aperture widened again. A deep vibration passed through the chamber. Several instruments failed. One technician fled toward the exit. Heavenly Father waved him through. "Go. Now." The remaining workers began backing away. Sokolov shouted at them. "STAY AT YOUR STATIONS!" Nobody listened. Renata looked toward the emergency controls. Then at Sokolov. For a moment, the two leaders stared at one another. The alliance between financial calculation and ecstatic ambition had finally reached its limit. --- Badger looked toward Yukari. "Can you close it?" "Yes," she replied. Then paused. "Probably." He grinned. "Good enough." Shammy shook her head. "Not quite." She stepped forward. "The opening has already connected to something." Ace looked at her. "Something dangerous?" Shammy nodded. "Very." Yukari's expression became still. "And whatever it is, it has noticed us." --- For a moment, the darkness beyond the aperture shifted. A shape emerged. Not fully. Not into the room. Only enough to reveal an outline that refused to remain consistent. The technicians stared. One began praying. Another simply ran. Jello's voice snapped through the comm. "Nobody records that. Nobody transmits it. Shut down visual feeds from the chamber." Kiro complied. The evidence systems retained their pre-activation records, but live imagery of the emerging anomaly was isolated from the wider network. Badger's voice remained calm. "All right." He looked toward his team. "Grouse, keep the exits clear." "Already done." "Heavenly Father, get the civilians out." "Moving." "Skulker, hold the approach." "Understood." "Jello, keep that thing off every screen in Night City." "Working." Then he turned toward Ace. "And you?" Ace smiled. "Yes?" "Try not to cut the universe in half." She drew both emerald katanas. "Only if it behaves." --- Yukari stepped toward the aperture. Shammy moved beside her. The two ancient beings exchanged a glance. Neither needed to explain what came next. For all their differences, they recognized the same danger. A doorway without a destination. An opening sustained by ambition rather than understanding. And something on the other side that had no business being invited into Night City. Shammy reached for Yukari's hand. "Ready?" The kitsune smiled. "Always." --- Behind them, Badger checked his weapon. Ace stood with her emerald blades ready. Reyes covered the chamber. Mai watched the sustaining geometry. Kiro monitored the failing systems. Theta-24 held the exits, suppressed the transmission channels and kept the remaining personnel moving toward safety. For one extraordinary moment, the entire operation became perfectly coordinated. Not because anyone had planned every detail. Because each person understood what mattered. The civilians. The boundary. The opening. And the terrible consequences if they failed. --- The darkness shifted again. Something immense pressed against the aperture. The framework screamed. Yukari's golden eyes flashed. Shammy's expression became utterly calm. And Ace smiled. "All right, you ugly bastard." She raised her swords. "Wrong fucking city." --- ## Chapter 30 — The Thing That Should Not Fit The first eye opened in the darkness. Then another. Then seventeen. Ace stared. "Well, that's new." The shape beyond the aperture moved. Eyes surfaced across its glistening mass, each different in size and orientation. Several vanished almost immediately. Others rolled toward the lights of the chamber. A mouth appeared beneath them. Then three more. None remained long enough to suggest a permanent anatomy. Yukari went absolutely still. "Oh." Shammy looked at her. "Yes." Badger's voice came over the comm. "Someone want to explain the fucking eyeballs?" Yukari answered quietly. "A shoggoth." There was a brief silence. Then Jello said: "Well, that's considerably worse than a bad investment." --- The enormous mass pressed against the aperture. It should not have fitted. The opening was barely five meters high, yet something vastly larger appeared to be moving behind it. The boundary flexed. A translucent appendage pushed through. It struck the chamber floor with a wet, tremendous impact. Concrete fractured. One of the supporting columns groaned. Ace took an involuntary step backward. "That's a lot of monster." Yukari nodded. "An exceptionally large specimen." Shammy studied the creature. "It hasn't fully crossed." "Then we keep it that way," Mai said. --- Pavel Sokolov was laughing. Not nervously. Not hysterically. Triumphantly. "Do you see?" He spread his arms. "BEHOLD WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED!" Renata Calder stared at him. "You've accomplished the destruction of an extremely expensive facility!" "The old world must yield!" Badger looked toward Heavenly Father. "Can I arrest his mouth first?" "Get him away from the chamber." "With pleasure." Skulker reached Sokolov before the cult leader finished his next declaration. One controlled movement put him on the floor. His wrists were secured. Skulker glanced toward the approaching appendage. "Congratulations. Your investment has matured." --- The shoggoth moved again. For a moment, dozens of eyes opened along its surface. Then the entire visible mass contracted. A tremendous sound filled the chamber. Not a roar. Something closer to a thousand voices attempting to produce the same note. The effect was physical. The air vibrated. An observation window cracked. Several technicians collapsed to their knees. Jello immediately cut the chamber's remaining audio feeds. "No recordings of that." Kiro glanced at him. "Already isolated." "Good. Whatever that was, it doesn't need an audience." --- Yukari examined the aperture's edges. "The opening is widening because the creature is pushing against it." Shammy nodded. "And the sustaining geometry is compensating." Mai looked toward the supporting framework. "Then we break the geometry." "Not yet," Shammy replied. Ace turned. "Why?" "Because part of the creature is already through. If the boundary collapses unpredictably, we don't know what happens to that part." Reyes studied the mass. "Could it become trapped here?" "Possibly." "Alive?" Yukari's expression hardened. "Very much alive." --- The appendage swept across the chamber. A reinforced instrument station disappeared beneath it. Metal screamed. Several support beams folded. Badger grabbed a fleeing technician and pulled him clear of the collapsing equipment. "WRONG FUCKING DIRECTION!" The technician stared at him. "THE THING!" "YES, I'VE NOTICED!" Badger pointed toward Heavenly Father. "THAT WAY!" The man ran. Heavenly Father guided him toward the evacuation corridor. "Keep moving. Don't look back." --- Grouse was watching the creature. Not its eyes. Not its mouths. Its movements. "Badger." "Yeah?" "It's responding to vibration." Yukari turned. "Explain." Grouse pointed toward the damaged instrument station. "Every time the machinery accelerates, it turns toward the source." Kiro examined the power records. "The aperture supports are producing a low-frequency vibration." "And the creature's following it," Grouse said. Mai looked up. "Then the apparatus may be attracting it." Shammy nodded. "That would explain why it approached the opening." Ace stared at the shoggoth. "Somebody built a cosmic dinner bell." Yukari smiled grimly. "An excellent description." --- Renata Calder tried to leave. Reyes intercepted her near the observation stairs. "Not that way." Renata stopped. "Do you have any idea how much money is invested here?" Reyes looked toward the shoggoth. A vast black appendage crushed another section of the laboratory. "Yes." Renata's expression became furious. "You don't understand!" Reyes stepped closer. "Then explain it to the investigators. Somewhere that thing can't eat you." For once, Renata had no answer. --- Yukari approached the chamber floor. Ace followed. "Sweetheart?" "Yes?" "How dangerous are shoggoths?" Yukari considered. "Very." "Compared to the things we've fought before?" "They're extraordinarily difficult to kill, and their bodies don't behave in ways ordinary combat assumes." Ace looked toward her katanas. "Good to know." Shammy joined them. "And we should not underestimate its intelligence." Ace frowned. "That thing thinks?" "Perhaps not as we do," Yukari replied. "But it responds, adapts and learns." A fresh row of eyes opened along the creature's surface. Several turned toward Ace. She smiled. "Hello, ugly." --- The shoggoth lunged. Ace moved. Both emerald blades flashed. She severed the approaching appendage with two rapid strikes. The material struck the floor. For a moment, it continued moving. Then it began flowing back toward the creature. Ace stared. "That's cheating." Yukari shook her head. "No, darling. That's why I warned you." --- The shoggoth pressed farther through the aperture. Its body expanded across the chamber floor. There was no recognizable front or rear. No stable head. Only a constantly reorganizing mass of living matter. A mouth formed near Ace's feet. She sprang backward. The mouth closed on empty concrete. Then vanished. Another opened several meters away. Reyes fired. Her specialized rounds struck the surface and produced a brief reaction, causing the creature to recoil. But the wounds closed almost immediately. "Not enough," Reyes reported. Mai nodded. "We're not trying to kill it." "Good. Because I don't think we brought enough ammunition." --- Shammy stepped forward. The atmosphere changed. Not dramatically at first. The terrible vibration in the chamber softened. Dust stopped swirling. The air seemed to settle around her. Yukari watched. Then smiled. "Your turn, darling?" Shammy nodded. "I'll hold the boundary." "And I'll deal with the creature." Ace looked between them. "Do you need me?" Yukari smiled. "Of course." "For what?" "Keeping anything that comes through away from the others." Ace grinned. "Now that's a job description." --- Shammy raised one hand. The shoggoth's advance slowed. Not because she had frozen it. Because the space around the aperture was becoming resistant to movement. The creature pressed forward. Its mass bulged against the invisible boundary. Several eyes opened. Then burst. More formed immediately. Shammy's expression remained calm. But Ace could see the concentration required. "How long?" Mai asked. "Long enough." Yukari nodded. "Then we work quickly." --- The kitsune moved. Not into fox form. She remained human. Her copper-streaked hair lifted in the disturbed air as she approached the aperture. Her golden eyes shone. For the first time, Ace saw Yukari exert physical power without hiding it behind speed, teeth or an elegant trick of shapeshifting. The kitsune placed both hands against the immense living mass. And pushed. The shoggoth resisted. Its surface swelled around her arms. Eyes formed inches from her face. A mouth opened. Yukari's expression hardened. "No." The word was quiet. Then the entire mass began moving backward. --- Ace stared. "WHAT THE FUCK?" Badger looked toward the chamber. "WHAT?" "THE FOX!" Yukari was forcing the shoggoth back through the aperture. Not effortlessly. Not without resistance. But unmistakably. The creature's huge body compressed against the opening. Its appendages writhed. The chamber floor cracked beneath Yukari's feet. She pushed again. The mass retreated another meter. Skulker watched from the corridor. Then looked at Badger. "Remind me never to steal her lunch." Badger nodded slowly. "Excellent survival advice." --- The shoggoth reacted. Several appendages lashed toward Yukari. Ace intercepted the first. Reyes shot the second. A third struck the floor beside Shammy. The impact shattered the concrete. Shammy didn't move. She maintained the boundary. Yukari pushed harder. The creature recoiled. For a moment, almost half of its visible mass was forced back beyond the opening. Then it surged forward again. Yukari slid backward across the damaged floor. Her expression changed. Not fear. Determination. "My dear." Shammy looked toward her. "Yes?" "I may need a little assistance." Shammy smiled. "Of course." --- The air around Shammy became impossibly still. Then the pressure reversed. A vast force moved toward the aperture. Not wind. Not ordinary gravity. Something more fundamental. The shoggoth's body began to flow backward. Yukari pushed with it. Together, the two ancient beings forced the immense creature toward the opening. Its eyes opened and vanished. Its mouths emitted a terrible, discordant sound. The chamber shook. Ace stood between the creature and the evacuation corridor, her emerald swords ready. Badger watched the structural readings. "How's the building?" Kiro answered. "Bad." "Define bad." "Several critical supports are failing." Badger nodded. "That's adequately bad." --- Mai studied the engraved framework. "The sustaining geometry is exposed." Ace looked toward her. "Can I cut it?" "Not until the creature is fully beyond the boundary." Yukari shouted: "Almost!" The shoggoth surged once more. An enormous appendage struck Yukari directly. For a fraction of a second, she disappeared beneath the mass. Ace's heart stopped. "YUKARI!" Then the creature lifted. Not by its own choice. Yukari stood beneath it. Both hands raised. The immense appendage was balanced above her head. Her expression was furious. "THAT." She pushed. "IS." The living mass flew backward. "ENOUGH." It vanished through the aperture. --- For one astonishing moment, the entire chamber was silent. Then Yukari stepped back. "Now!" Shammy closed her hands. The boundary tightened. The shoggoth remained beyond it. Mai pointed toward the final engraved supports. "Ace! Three lines. Left, upper right, central ring!" Ace moved. Her emerald blades flashed. One. Two. Three. The geometry broke. The apparatus screamed. The aperture folded inward. For an instant, the darkness seemed to pull the entire room toward itself. Then Shammy held the boundary steady. Yukari reinforced it. And Ace delivered one final precise cut. The opening collapsed. --- Silence. Actual silence. No vibration. No impossible sounds. No living mass pressing against the edge of the world. The framework stood empty. Then one of its upper supports fell off. It struck the floor with an enormous metallic crash. Badger looked at the wreckage. "Well." Ace leaned against her sword. "Yeah." Jello's voice came through the comm. "Please tell me nobody recorded that." Kiro sighed. "Already isolated." "Good." --- Yukari stood in the center of the chamber. Her dress was torn. Her hair was disheveled. She looked extremely pleased with herself. Ace approached. Slowly. Then stared. "You." Yukari smiled. "Yes, darling?" "You just pushed a fucking shoggoth through a doorway." "Indeed." "WITH YOUR HANDS!" "Yes." Ace looked toward Shammy. "Did you know she could do that?" Shammy laughed. "Of course." "AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?" Yukari stepped forward and kissed Ace's cheek. "My dear, you never asked." --- The remaining cult members were detained. Pavel Sokolov was removed from the property under guard. Renata Calder accompanied the investigators with an expression of profound displeasure. The surviving technicians were questioned. Some were terrified. Others had clearly begun reconsidering their career choices. Heavenly Father ensured that the injured received medical attention. Grouse confirmed the evacuation routes were clear. Skulker checked the remaining rooms. Jello worked with Kiro to preserve the necessary evidence while preventing the dangerous geometry from spreading. Badger looked at the shattered apparatus. Then at Ace. "How much did this thing cost?" Mai examined the financial records. "Approximately forty-eight million eddies." Badger whistled. "That's an expensive fucking hole." Ace grinned. "Closed for renovations." --- The estate was secured before dawn. The cult's identified senior leadership was in custody. Its principal known facilities had been searched. Its financial network was under investigation. Its immediate ability to continue the aperture experiments had been dismantled. But the operation had not ended. The surviving records still required examination. Several financial beneficiaries remained unidentified. The full extent of the cult's assets was unknown. And the three waterfront containers had yet to be made safe. Rogue's voice came through the comm. "Good work." Ace smiled. "Thank you, sunshine." "Don't get comfortable." "Wasn't planning to." "There's still a lot of cleanup." Badger glanced toward the wrecked chamber. "That's our specialty." --- Later, outside the estate, the first pale light of morning touched the North Oak hills. Ace stood beside Mai. Shammy joined them. Yukari approached carrying a borrowed jacket over her damaged dress. For a while, the four women watched the city wake. Then Ace looked at the kitsune. "One more thing." Yukari smiled. "Yes?" "Next time we encounter something that big, could you warn me before you decide to bench-press it?" Yukari considered. "Would that improve matters?" "Possibly." Shammy laughed. Mai kissed Ace's cheek. "Darling, I think you simply enjoyed the surprise." Ace considered that. Then slowly grinned. "Goddammit." Yukari's smile became radiant. "I thought so." --- ## Chapter 31 — A Very Poor Return on Investment The first official estimate of the damage was fifty-three million eddies. Badger thought this was hilarious. "Fifty-three?" Mai examined the report. "Preliminary estimate." "Million?" "Yes." He looked toward the ruined estate. Then toward Ace. "That's the funniest fucking thing I've heard all week." Ace grinned. "You should've seen the expression on Sokolov's face." "I did. I was there." "Still worth mentioning." Heavenly Father approached with a medical report. "Fourteen injured. No fatalities." Badger stopped laughing. "All civilians accounted for?" "Everyone we've identified. Whitfield's people are checking the employment and transport records for anyone still missing." "Good." The humor returned to Badger's face, but not before he'd read the report. "Then I can go back to appreciating the world's most expensive failed science project." --- The estate's underground installation was a wreck. The aperture had vanished. Its supporting framework was destroyed. The equipment surrounding it was twisted beyond repair. And the chamber floor bore a remarkable collection of fractures left by the shoggoth's brief attempt to enter Night City. Skulker examined the damage. "Ugly room." Grouse glanced at the broken supports. "Ugly was the original design." "Improved it, then." "Substantially." They continued their inspection. The jokes stopped whenever they encountered an unstable structure or a possible threat. Then resumed, usually without warning. --- Jello was less amused. He had located four copies of the aperture's construction instructions. Two were in the estate's internal systems. One had been prepared for transmission. The fourth was stored on a portable data device recovered from Pavel Sokolov's office. Kiro joined him at the evidence station. "All four?" "Yes." "Identical?" "Not quite." He displayed a comparison with the hazardous geometry obscured. "Two include the complete construction sequence. One is missing its final section." "And the fourth?" Jello looked at her. "Contains additional instructions for attracting whatever the aperture connects to." Kiro stared. "That's exceptionally stupid." "Yes." "Do we know who wrote it?" "Not yet." --- They preserved forensic evidence under the established investigative controls. The dangerous operational details were isolated. Access to the complete geometry was restricted to the specialists responsible for containment. No public copies. No uncontrolled distribution. No heroic attempt to preserve every line of a recipe for cosmic catastrophe in an ordinary corporate archive. Jello checked the transfer logs. Then checked them again. "Good." Kiro looked up. "What?" "Nothing escaped." She smiled. "Music to my ears." Jello considered. "Don't say that around an anomalous audio file." --- At the waterfront compound, the remaining three containers were still sealed. Shammy and Yukari arrived with Garnier and the authorized containment team. The scientist looked exhausted. He studied the photographs from the destroyed estate. "That was inside the aperture?" Yukari nodded. "Partly." Garnier closed his eyes. "I told them the geometry was unstable." Shammy regarded him. "You did." "I told them not to activate it." "Yes." "And they did it anyway." Yukari's expression softened. "That is why we're here now, Doctor. To ensure nobody repeats the mistake." --- The three containers were examined individually. Their external markings were documented. Their connections to the original apparatus were traced. And their remaining field activity was measured without opening them. One container had become completely inactive after the destruction of the estate's aperture. The second retained a weak spatial distortion. The third was still unstable. Garnier stared at its readings. "Why?" Yukari examined the geometry. "Because this one was modified." Shammy nodded. "Someone added a second sustaining pattern." "Can you interrupt it?" Garnier asked. "Yes," Yukari replied. "But carefully." Ace, who had accompanied them, smiled. "Did somebody say carefully?" Reyes looked toward her. "Don't." "I haven't done anything." "Yet." --- The containment procedure was deliberately uneventful. Yukari identified the relevant markings. Shammy stabilized the surrounding space. Garnier monitored the instruments. Ace severed the designated sections with her emerald blade. No explosion. No monstrous appendages. No screaming instruments. The field weakened. Then disappeared. Kiro checked the readings. "Stable." Garnier exhaled. "All three?" "All three," Shammy confirmed. For several seconds, the scientist simply stood there. Then he sat down on a nearby equipment case. "Thank God." Yukari smiled. "A perfectly reasonable response." --- With the anomalous hazards contained, Whitfield's investigation accelerated. The recovered records established that the Ascendant Prosperity Circle had been systematically accumulating financial control through a network of subsidiaries, coercive arrangements and deliberately misleading documentation. The evidence connected Renata Calder to the acquisition program. Pavel Sokolov had directed the Circle's ideological and financial expansion. Other executives had managed recruitment, financing and technical operations. Felix Rann's statement helped reconstruct the targeting of Daniel Velez and Anton Saye. The records from the Pacifica property supported the detention allegations. And the recovered correspondence established how Natalia Brzezinska had been transferred between facilities. The criminal investigation was far from finished. But the organization itself was no longer functioning. Its senior leadership was detained. Its major facilities were secured. Its financial operations were being restrained. And its dangerous research equipment had been rendered inactive. --- Rogue received the latest report at the Afterlife. She read it in silence. Then looked at Ace. "Well." Ace smiled. "Well." "Three missing people rescued." "Yes." "Senior leadership detained." "Yes." "Financial network exposed." "Yes." "And the thing in the basement?" Ace grinned. "Sent home." Rogue stared at her. "Sent home." "More or less." "You're impossible." "Love you too." --- Badger was enjoying the final operational debrief. Mostly because Pavel Sokolov had apparently spent several hours insisting that the Circle's objectives were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Badger found this deeply entertaining. "Beyond comprehension?" Heavenly Father nodded. "His words." "After spending fifty-three million eddies to invite a shoggoth into his basement?" "Yes." Badger leaned back. "That's not transcendence. That's catastrophic financial illiteracy." Ace burst out laughing. --- Jello looked up. "I have a suggestion." Badger turned. "Go on." "Do not turn this into a legend about brave investors who dared to reach beyond reality." "Obviously." "Make it a cautionary example of spectacularly incompetent management." Badger smiled. "Now you're speaking my language." Mai considered. "Without disclosing the dangerous technical details." "Exactly," Jello replied. Kiro nodded. "And without compromising the criminal proceedings." "Naturally." Badger looked disappointed. "So no commemorative merchandise?" Heavenly Father stared at him. "No." "Not even a mug?" "No." Ace leaned closer. "What about a coffee mug?" Jello closed his eyes. "Absolutely not." --- The next morning, Night City's business news carried the first public reports. Authorities had uncovered an extensive suspected financial fraud network. Several companies were challenging ownership transfers. Multiple executives had been detained. And the Ascendant Prosperity Circle's activities were under formal investigation. No cosmic revelations. No dangerous diagrams. No cult mythology. Just a group of people who had allegedly committed serious crimes in pursuit of financial domination. Jello read the coverage. Then nodded. "Good." Kiro smiled. "Not glamorous enough?" "Exactly." --- At Harcourt Medical Logistics, Margaret Bennett received confirmation that the disputed control transfer would not proceed while the legal proceedings continued. Her company remained operational. Its employees continued working. Its medical deliveries continued moving. Margaret called Mai personally. "I wanted to thank you." Mai smiled. "You've already done that." "I know." "Then how is the company?" "Busy." "Good." "Very busy." "Even better." Margaret laughed. "For the first time in weeks, I think we have a future." Mai's expression softened. "I'm glad." --- Daniel Velez was recovering. Anton Saye was receiving treatment and assistance. Natalia Brzezinska had been reunited with her family. Their recoveries would take time. The investigation had not erased what happened to them. But they were alive. They were no longer prisoners. And the people responsible would have to answer questions under considerably less comfortable circumstances. Ace looked at their latest medical updates. Then quietly closed the file. Reyes sat beside her. "You all right?" Ace nodded. "Yes." "Good." Ace leaned against her. "That's the part I care about." Reyes kissed her temple. "I know." --- That evening, the safehouse hosted a rather unusual dinner. Theta-24 had accepted an invitation. Which meant the kitchen had become a logistical challenge. Brenda surveyed the supplies. "How much food do these people eat?" Iris smiled. "Apparently quite a lot." Yukari, in fox form, looked up. "How delightful." Brenda pointed at her. "Don't you dare." The fox's ears tilted. "My dear Brenda, I am an innocent guest." "You're a resident." "An innocent resident." Shammy laughed. --- Badger arrived with the others carrying additional food. He looked toward the dining table. Then toward Yukari. "Excellent." The kitsune smiled. "Indeed." Heavenly Father entered behind him. "Please tell me you two haven't planned anything." Badger looked offended. "Planned?" Yukari's expression became positively angelic. "My dear, we were simply admiring the hospitality." Jello sighed. "That's what worries me." --- Dinner was loud. Unreasonably loud. Badger and Ace exchanged increasingly ridiculous accounts of past operations. Skulker corrected several of them. Grouse quietly pointed out details everyone else had apparently forgotten. Jello objected to the way Badger described certain anomalous incidents. Heavenly Father occasionally intervened before the stories became entirely unsuitable for polite company. Which, in this particular household, was a remarkably flexible standard. Yukari listened with shining eyes. Shammy laughed until she had tears in them. Brenda began asking questions that made Heavenly Father regret ever attending. Iris supplied more coffee. And Mai, watching the room, looked profoundly happy. --- At one point, Badger turned toward Yukari. "So." She smiled. "Yes?" "About the shoggoth." Ace began laughing. Badger leaned forward. "You actually pushed it?" Yukari nodded. "Yes." "With your hands?" "Yes." "How far?" "Far enough." Skulker looked toward Ace. "Still not stealing her lunch." Ace grinned. "Excellent policy." Badger considered Yukari. Then looked at Shammy. "And you're even older than she is?" Shammy smiled. "Considerably." Badger sat back. For a moment, he appeared to be thinking deeply. Then he raised his glass. "To the women in this house." Everyone raised theirs. "May we never be stupid enough to annoy them." Brenda laughed. "Too late!" --- Later, as the evening grew quieter, Rogue called. Ace answered from the sofa. "Evening, sunshine." "Don't." "Love you too." "I've got the final operational summary." Ace smiled. "Good?" "Good enough." "Theta-24?" "Finished their part." "The investigation?" "Continuing." "And the cult?" Rogue paused. "Broken." Ace looked toward the room. Badger was arguing with Brenda about the correct way to prepare coffee. Yukari had curled beside Shammy. Mai was laughing at something Skulker had said. Iris was leaning against the kitchen doorway. Kiro and Reyes were sharing a quiet conversation. Ace smiled. "Good." --- Rogue hesitated. Then added: "One more thing." Ace looked at the holo. "Yes?" "I've heard that your corporate friend was seen again." Ace's expression changed. "Which one?" Rogue stared. "How many fucking corporate friends do you have who are also ancient cosmic entities?" Ace considered. "At present?" "ACE." She laughed. "All right. Nyarlathotep." "Yes." "Where?" "A private business reception. Nothing connected to the current investigation as far as we know." Ace smiled faintly. "Sounds like him." Rogue looked irritated. "I don't like it." "Neither does Yukari." "Good." "But she's not surprised." Rogue sighed. "Of course she isn't." --- After the call, Ace remained on the sofa. Shammy joined her. Mai settled on her other side. Yukari, in fox form, curled at their feet. The conversation around the dining table continued. Laughter. Arguments. Coffee. The ordinary sounds of people who had survived another impossible week. Ace looked toward the window. Somewhere out there, Nyarlathotep was enjoying another evening among Night City's wealthy and ambitious. The Black Pharaoh remained free. The cult that had borrowed his imagery was broken. And the city, for all its faults, was still standing. Ace smiled. "Not bad." Mai kissed her. "Not bad at all." Shammy leaned against them. Yukari's tails shifted comfortably. For once, nobody needed to open another door. --- ## Chapter 32 — Some Doors Are Better Left Closed Thursday morning arrived without an emergency. Ace regarded this with suspicion. She lay in bed, listening. No alarms. No urgent calls. No explosions from the kitchen. No reports of an unidentified creature attempting to enter Night City through somebody's catastrophically expensive research equipment. Beside her, Mai slept peacefully. Shammy had one arm draped across Ace's waist. And at the foot of the bed, an enormous collection of fox tails had occupied approximately seventy percent of the available space. Ace smiled. Then whispered: "Yukari." One golden eye opened. "Yes, darling?" "Is everything all right?" The fox considered. "With the universe?" "Generally." "I haven't checked all of it." Ace laughed quietly. "Good enough." Yukari closed her eye again. "Then go back to sleep." --- Breakfast was considerably less peaceful. This was entirely intentional. Badger had sent a message at 06:43. **DO YOU PEOPLE HAVE COFFEE?** Brenda had replied. **NO. WE LIVE IN A CAVE AND DRINK RAINWATER.** Badger: **FUCKING NIGHT CITY.** Then, at 07:02: **TELL THE FOX I FOUND SOMETHING SHE'LL LIKE.** Yukari was now sitting at the kitchen table in human form, looking deeply interested. "What did he find?" Brenda examined the message. "He didn't say." "How intriguing." Iris smiled. "Perhaps it's breakfast." Yukari looked delighted. Ace narrowed her eyes. "That man is a terrible influence." Mai kissed her cheek. "Darling, you adore him." "Unfortunately." --- Badger arrived twenty minutes later. He was carrying an enormous insulated container. Heavenly Father followed him. Jello came behind them, holding a coffee mug and wearing the expression of a man who had already been forced to listen to something profoundly stupid. Yukari stood. "Good morning!" Badger grinned. "Morning, fox." He placed the container on the table. "Got you something." Yukari opened it. Inside were several magnificent cuts of properly prepared meat. Still warm. Beautifully seasoned. Enough to feed a substantial gathering. Yukari stared. Then looked at Badger. "My dear." He smiled. "Figured you earned it." She stepped forward and kissed his cheek. "How very thoughtful." Heavenly Father looked toward Iris. "We're going to regret encouraging this, aren't we?" Iris considered the pair. "Almost certainly." --- The meal was excellent. Even Brenda admitted it. Badger accepted the compliment with an expression of such exaggerated pride that Heavenly Father threatened to confiscate his coffee. Then Iris asked the question everyone had been avoiding. "How's the final cleanup?" The mood settled. Jello put down his mug. "Good." Badger nodded. "Better than expected." Heavenly Father looked toward Mai. "The last identified facility has been cleared. No additional detainees found there." Mai exhaled. "That's a relief." "Investigators are still following the financial records. But the physical operation is finished." Ace leaned back. "And the equipment?" Jello smiled faintly. "Contained. The dangerous material is under controlled access. Nothing is being handed out as a do-it-yourself dimensional doorway kit." Brenda raised her eyebrows. "That was actually a possibility?" Kiro, joining by holo, nodded. "Unfortunately." Brenda stared. "Humanity deserves a refund." --- The legal proceedings were moving forward. Renata Calder remained in custody. Pavel Sokolov was facing a collection of allegations substantial enough to make even Night City's most enthusiastic corporate attorney consider a different career. Other people associated with the financial network were being investigated. Some were cooperating. Others were not. The acquired companies were challenging the disputed transactions. And Harcourt Medical Logistics remained under its existing management while the proceedings continued. None of it would be resolved overnight. Mai understood that better than anyone. But the machinery that had enabled the abuse was no longer operating. That mattered. --- Rogue called shortly after breakfast. Ace answered. "Morning, sunshine." "You're cheerful." "Terribly." "That worries me." "Love you too." Rogue ignored her. "I've received the final operational report from Whitfield." Mai joined the call. "Everything in order?" "As much as anything involving you people ever is." Ace smiled. "High praise." "The remaining warrants and financial investigations are proceeding. Theta-24 has completed its immediate operational assignment." "Good," Mai replied. "And the three survivors?" "Receiving continued care. Their families have been informed of the next steps." Ace's expression softened. "Excellent." --- Rogue studied them. Then shook her head. "You know, when I asked you to look into those disappearances, I expected corporate fraud." Ace grinned. "You got corporate fraud." "And a fucking shoggoth." "Complimentary upgrade." Mai started laughing. Rogue closed her eyes. "I hate this city." Ace smiled. "No, you don't." A pause. Then Rogue sighed. "No. I don't." --- The call ended. Shammy sat beside Ace on the sofa. Yukari was curled nearby, having returned to fox form after breakfast. Mai examined the latest reports. For a while, the room was quiet. Then Yukari raised her head. "Are we finished?" Mai considered. "With the immediate case, yes." "The wider investigation continues," Shammy added. "But our work?" Ace smiled. "Done." Yukari nodded. "Good." She stretched. Then, with complete satisfaction, settled her chin upon her paws. "I should like a nap." Brenda looked toward her. "You've just eaten enough for six people." "An excellent reason to rest." --- That afternoon, Theta-24 departed for its own quarters. Their equipment had been checked. Their records secured. Their outstanding operational obligations completed. Badger stood beside the vehicle, looking toward Ace. "So." Ace smiled. "So." "Next time, maybe find something less boring." She laughed. "I'll try." "Something with fewer lawyers." "That would be nice." "More monsters." Heavenly Father looked up. "No." Badger sighed. "You're no fun." "One of us has to keep you alive." Skulker approached carrying the last equipment case. "Technically, that's a group project." Grouse nodded. "With uneven contributions." Jello closed the vehicle compartment. "And terrible documentation." --- Ace embraced Badger. "Take care of yourself, you impossible bastard." He hugged her fiercely. "You too." Mai received a warm farewell. Shammy kissed Heavenly Father's cheek. Kiro and Jello exchanged one final technical note about the isolated records. Reyes and Grouse discussed a small equipment improvement that neither intended to make into a lengthy conversation. Skulker looked toward Yukari. "One thing." The fox raised her head. "Yes?" "If we ever need to move something extremely heavy, I'm calling you." Yukari smiled. "My dear, I would be delighted." Skulker nodded. "Excellent." Badger grinned. "Can she move the truck?" Heavenly Father turned. "Do not." Yukari looked toward the vehicle. Then back at Badger. "Would you like me to?" "ABSOLUTELY." "NO," said Heavenly Father. Ace began laughing. --- The vehicle departed without being lifted. A minor disappointment for Badger. A significant relief for everyone else. --- Later, Ace and Mai walked through Watson. Not for an investigation. Not to meet a client. Not because Rogue had found another dangerous organization. Just a walk. The city was loud. Crowded. Dirty. Alive. Street vendors shouted over traffic. Music drifted through open doorways. A delivery drone argued unsuccessfully with a malfunctioning traffic signal. Ace watched it for a moment. "Beautiful." Mai smiled. "The drone?" "The city." Mai slipped her hand into Ace's. "Yes." --- They stopped for coffee. Real coffee. Expensive enough to be mildly insulting. Ace examined her cup. "You know, we saved three people." Mai nodded. "Yes." "Stopped a corporate fraud operation." "Yes." "Closed several dimensional apertures." "Yes." "And Yukari threw a shoggoth through one of them." Mai burst out laughing. "She did." Ace smiled. "Not bad for a few weeks' work." Mai leaned closer. "Not bad at all." --- For a while, they watched the crowds. Then Ace spoke quietly. "Daniel. Anton. Natalia." Mai looked toward her. "Yes?" "They're going to be all right?" Mai considered. "They're alive. They're receiving help. They have people who care about them." Ace nodded. "That's something." "It's a great deal." Ace took her hand. "Good." --- Back at the safehouse, Shammy was sitting beside the window. Yukari rested against her in human form. They watched the late afternoon light move across the rooftops. After a while, Yukari spoke. "I've been thinking about him." Shammy smiled faintly. "Nyarlathotep?" "Yes." "Me too." Yukari considered the city beyond the glass. "He didn't intervene." "No." "He could have." "Perhaps." "But he didn't." Shammy nodded. "And we shouldn't invent a reason." Yukari smiled. "Quite." --- For a moment, neither spoke. Then Yukari said: "I was pleased to see him again." Shammy looked toward her. "So was I." "Despite everything." "Despite everything." Yukari rested her head against Shammy's shoulder. "He hasn't changed much." Shammy laughed softly. "Neither have you, in some ways." The kitsune smiled. "Some things are worth preserving." Shammy kissed her forehead. "Indeed." --- Elsewhere in Night City, a gentleman with skin so profoundly black that it seemed to absorb the afternoon light was enjoying tea. His surroundings were elegant. Comfortable. Entirely ordinary by the standards of people for whom money had long since ceased to be a practical concern. A business associate approached. "Sir?" He looked up. "Yes?" "I thought you might be interested to know that the Ascendant Prosperity Circle has been dismantled." The gentleman considered. "Has it?" "Yes." "How unfortunate for them." "The authorities have arrested several senior members." "Indeed." "And their financial arrangements are being challenged." He smiled. "How fascinating." --- The associate hesitated. "Do you wish to take any action?" The gentleman looked genuinely puzzled. "Why would I?" "Because you were acquainted with some of the people involved." "My dear fellow, I am acquainted with a remarkable number of people." The associate fell silent. The gentleman returned his attention to the tea. Then smiled. "Still, it sounds as though they had a most interesting week." --- He thought briefly of the reception. The elegant security professionals. The delightful woman called Amber. Her equally interesting companion Maeve. And two old acquaintances whose presence had made the evening far more enjoyable than anticipated. Yukari. Sera. He chuckled. "What an extraordinary city." Then he asked whether any fresh pastries remained. --- By evening, the Watson safehouse had settled into its customary comfortable disorder. Iris was preparing dinner. Brenda was examining a new recipe. Reyes had arrived with Kiro. Ace and Mai were back from their walk. Shammy was helping set the table. And Yukari had been firmly instructed not to conduct any unauthorized quality-control inspections of the food. The kitsune looked offended. "I am entirely trustworthy." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Two words." Yukari sighed. "Smoked fish." "Exactly." Ace began laughing. --- Dinner was wonderful. The conversation wandered from business to food, from music to the latest absurdity in Night City traffic. Nobody needed to discuss the cult. Nobody needed to review another financial document. Nobody needed to contemplate the existence of dimensional apertures. They had earned an ordinary evening. And they intended to enjoy it. --- At 20:47, Ace's holo chimed. Rogue. Ace smiled. "Evening, sunshine." "One last thing." Ace looked toward Mai. "Yes?" Rogue's expression became suspiciously pleasant. "Tomorrow." Ace blinked. "What about tomorrow?" "Friday." "Yes." "Evening." Ace slowly smiled. Mai began laughing. Rogue folded her arms. "Don't tell me you've forgotten." Ace looked profoundly offended. "Rogue!" "Answer the question." "Of course we haven't forgotten." Mai leaned toward the holo. "We'll be there." Rogue nodded. "Good." Then she smiled. A small, unmistakably wicked smile. "And Ace?" "Yes, darling?" "Try not to bring a cosmic entity." The call ended. --- For several seconds, the room was silent. Then Brenda began laughing. Kiro covered her face. Reyes shook her head. Shammy leaned against Mai, laughing helplessly. And Yukari looked up with immense interest. "Would she object if I came in fox form?" Ace stared at her. Then slowly lowered her head onto the table. "Goddammit." --- Much later, the safehouse grew quiet. The upper door was secured. The city continued making its familiar noises beyond the walls. Ace, Mai and Shammy settled into their shared bed. Yukari curled at the foot in fox form, her tails spreading across the blankets. Ace looked toward the ceiling. "Well." Mai turned toward her. "Darling?" "That was an adventure." Shammy smiled. "Yes." "Think the next one will be quieter?" Yukari lifted her head. "Almost certainly not." Ace laughed. Mai kissed her. Shammy drew them both close. And the fox settled comfortably beneath her tails. For tonight, there were no doors to open. No monsters to fight. No empires to dismantle. Only home. And the people who made it worth returning to. --- **THE END** _ACE 215 — THE FIRST DOOR_