## Chapter 1 — The Price of Success The woman sitting opposite Rogue Amendiares had been crying. She had stopped before entering Afterlife, of course. Nobody came to the legendary mercenary bar hoping to advertise how frightened they were. But Rogue had been watching people lie about their feelings for longer than most of Night City's population had been alive. She knew the signs. The carefully controlled breathing. The hands held too tightly together. The occasional glance toward the exit, as though the person sitting across from her might suddenly decide the conversation wasn't worth having. Rogue pushed a glass of water across the table. "Drink." The woman obeyed. "You said your friend took a private booking." "Yes." "And she didn't come back." "No." "How long?" "Nine days." Rogue looked at the woman's datapad. "Her agency knows?" "They said the booking was completed." "Completed." "That's what they said." "Did they pay her?" The woman swallowed. "Yes." Rogue waited. "Her account received the full payment. Plus a bonus." "What kind of bonus?" "I don't know." "How much?" The woman showed her. Rogue raised an eyebrow. It was a substantial amount of money. More than the original booking had promised. "Generous client." "That's what the agency said." "And you don't believe them." The woman's expression tightened. "Would you?" Rogue said nothing. The woman leaned forward. "She wouldn't just disappear. Not like this. She was saving for an apartment outside the city center. She'd already paid the deposit." "Maybe she changed her plans." "No." "You sure?" "She asked me to help her move." Rogue studied her for a moment. Then nodded. "All right." The woman looked down. "Everyone keeps telling me she's probably found somebody rich. That she's gone on vacation. That she doesn't want to be contacted." "And?" "She left her cat with me." Rogue's expression didn't change. But something in her eyes did. "She asked me to feed him for one night," the woman continued. "One night. She even left his favorite food on the counter." Rogue looked at the photograph on the datapad. A smiling woman. A perfectly ordinary photograph. The kind nobody expected to become evidence. "I'll see what I can find," she said. The woman looked up. "Really?" "I didn't say I'd find her." "I know." "And I won't promise something I can't deliver." "I understand." Rogue pushed the datapad back. "But I'll look." The woman nodded. "Thank you." Rogue waited until she had left before opening the other files. Six disappearances. Fourteen weeks. Different agencies. Different arrangements. Different clients. And a rather unpleasant resemblance in the way the paperwork had been completed. Rogue examined the most recent account settlement. Full payment. Discretionary bonus. Client satisfaction confirmed. Service completed. She opened another file. The same administrative language. Different company. Another file. Another apparently successful transaction. Rogue stared at the screen. "Someone's paying very well for something." She activated her holo. "Ace." The connection opened almost immediately. "Rogue? What's up?" "I need the three of you at Afterlife." "Tonight?" "Now would be good." A short pause. "Trouble?" "Possibly." "What kind?" "The kind that knows how to keep its accounts balanced." --- At the safehouse, Ace lowered her holo and looked toward the couch. Mai was reading. Shammy was lying comfortably beside her, one arm around Mai's waist. Yukari occupied a nearby chair with a book of her own. Iris had been reviewing something on her datapad, while Brenda was conducting what sounded suspiciously like a disagreement with the kitchen equipment. The safehouse had been enjoying a remarkably ordinary evening. Ace had been enjoying it too. Which, in retrospect, should have warned her. "Rogue wants us at Afterlife." Mai immediately looked up. "All three?" "Yep." Shammy sat upright. "Did she say why?" "Only that there's trouble." From the kitchen, Brenda called, "In Night City? Surely not." Ace grinned. "I know. Shocking." Iris set down her datapad. "Anything O'Sullivan SAS should know about?" "Not yet. Rogue sounded like she wants to talk before putting anything into writing." Mai closed her book. "Then we'd better go." Yukari glanced toward Ace. "Be careful." "Always." Yukari raised one eyebrow. Ace considered that. "All right. Frequently." "Better." Brenda appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Anyone want dinner saved?" "Yes," Ace replied immediately. "How much?" "All of it." Brenda looked at Shammy. "Is she serious?" "Completely." Mai rose. "We'll be back as soon as we can." Iris nodded. "I'll be here. Let me know if you need anything." Ace retrieved her jacket. "Hopefully we won't." Brenda gave her a skeptical look. "That's what you said before the last supernatural disaster." Ace paused. "Could we not call it that?" "What would you prefer?" "A minor inconvenience." "With casualties?" "A significant inconvenience." Mai took Ace's hand. "Come on, darling." Shammy followed them toward the exit, smiling faintly. Behind them, Brenda looked at Iris. "Think they'll be back for dinner?" Iris glanced at the time. "Ask me in three hours." --- Afterlife had never been a place where people came to forget what Night City was. They came to celebrate surviving it. The music was loud, the drinks expensive, and the conversations full of deals that would have sounded like criminal conspiracies anywhere else. Ace liked the place. She understood its peculiar honesty. At least most of the people inside admitted what they were. Rogue was waiting at her usual table. She had a drink in front of her. She hadn't touched it. Ace noticed. "That bad?" "Sit down." "Lovely to see you too." Mai took a seat beside Ace. Shammy settled across from them. Rogue activated the table's privacy field. The surrounding noise diminished. Then six photographs appeared above the tabletop. Ace's smile vanished. "Missing people?" "Six. All joytoys." Mai studied the images. "How long?" "Fourteen weeks." Shammy leaned forward. "Do we know whether they're alive?" "No." Rogue didn't soften the answer. Shammy accepted it, but her expression changed. "All right." Ace looked at Rogue. "Talk." --- Rogue began with the woman who had visited her earlier. A private booking. An unusually generous fee. A completed transaction. A missing worker. Then she opened the other files. The circumstances varied, but not as much as Rogue would have liked. Different agencies had accepted expensive engagements on behalf of their workers. Some involved overnight bookings. Others involved private corporate hospitality events. The clients paid promptly. The workers disappeared. And the administrative records indicated that everything had gone exactly as planned. Mai examined the financial details. "These are legitimate agencies?" "Mostly." "Mostly?" "One operates through a chain of intermediaries that I'd rather not describe as legitimate without a lawyer present." Ace glanced at her. "That bad?" "That complicated." Mai continued reading. "All the payments cleared?" "Every one." "No disputes?" "None recorded." "Refund requests?" "Nope." Mai leaned back. "That's unusual." Rogue looked at her. "Why?" "Because even perfectly legitimate arrangements occasionally generate disputes. Cancellations. Scheduling problems. Complaints. Unexpected costs." She indicated the files. "Here, every engagement appears to have concluded successfully." "Exactly." Ace studied the final settlement of the latest booking. "What's this bonus?" "That's another thing I don't like." "Why?" "Because it wasn't negotiated in advance." Mai looked interested. "Discretionary?" "Apparently." "And the amount?" Rogue displayed it. Ace whistled softly. "That's a very happy client." "Or a very generous one," Mai observed. Rogue shook her head. "Or someone who wanted a financial record showing that the worker had received every eddie she was owed." Silence settled around the table. Shammy looked at the photographs again. "They're treating the disappearances like completed services." "That's exactly what they're doing," Rogue replied. Ace's expression hardened. "And somebody's been helping them." --- Mai began working through the corporate relationships. She wasn't looking for anything supernatural. Not yet. They had dealt with enough cults and ancient horrors in recent months that she was particularly conscious of how easily experience could become assumption. Night City contained plenty of perfectly human monsters. Some of them even paid taxes. "These bookings weren't arranged by one organization," she observed. "No." "At least four different companies appear as intermediaries." "Five, depending on how you classify the transport provider." Mai enlarged the records. "Some of the company registrations overlap." Rogue nodded. "Found that too." "And these two use the same financial administrator." "Yep." Ace looked between them. "Which means?" "Which means someone may be coordinating the arrangements," Mai said. "Or several companies may simply use the same service provider." Rogue gave her a faint smile. "Still refusing to jump to conclusions?" "Absolutely." "Good." Mai selected another set of records. "However..." Ace grinned. "There it is." Mai ignored her. "Several of these intermediaries have financial relationships with the same investment group." Rogue touched the display. "That one." A company name appeared. **BARKUK KHAZAD** Ace read it. Then frowned. "That's a name with ambitions." Rogue almost smiled. "Know them?" Mai nodded slowly. "By reputation." "Good reputation?" "An extraordinarily successful one." "How extraordinary?" "Ask Iris. She's probably been watching their growth for months." Ace tilted her head. "One of those companies that keeps buying other companies?" "Among other things." Rogue brought up a set of recent business headlines. Acquisitions. Contract awards. Strategic partnerships. Executive appointments. Every announcement seemed to celebrate another exceptional commercial achievement. Ace scanned them. "They're doing rather well." "Understatement," Mai replied. "Anything illegal?" "Nothing we can establish from this." Rogue nodded. "That's the problem." She opened a network diagram. Barkuk Khazad appeared near the center, surrounded by subsidiaries, contractors, investors, and service providers. Several of the companies involved in the disappearances appeared at its outer edges. "Lots of connections," Ace observed. "Yes." "Direct?" "Mostly not." Mai examined them. "That's a fairly normal corporate structure for a large investment group." "Exactly." "So why Barkuk Khazad?" Rogue opened another file. "Because this isn't the only place their name appears." --- The new display showed a collection of corporate events. Private receptions. Exclusive investor gatherings. Senior executive retreats. Expensive opportunities for people with the right connections to meet other people with even better connections. Ace glanced at Mai. "Your kind of party." Mai smiled faintly. "Potentially." "Good food. Expensive champagne. People trying to impress one another." "A perfectly respectable business environment." "Of course." Rogue waited for them to finish. Then highlighted several dates. "These are events involving Barkuk Khazad's leadership or close business partners." Mai studied them. "And?" "Three of the missing workers accepted their final bookings within days of one of these events." Ace stopped smiling. "At the events?" "Not confirmed." "Same clients?" "Can't prove it." "Then what do you have?" "Enough overlap to be suspicious. Not enough to establish anything." Mai nodded. "That's an important distinction." Rogue sighed. "Believe me, I know." She opened a map of the Badlands. "There's something else." Two transport routes appeared. Different vehicles. Different dates. Different companies. Both had disappeared from routine tracking for several hours in roughly the same region. Ace leaned forward. "Private facility?" "Could be." "Transport depot?" "Could be that too." "Anything out there?" "Nothing obvious in the public records." Mai studied the map. "Have you sent anyone?" "Not into the area itself." "Why not?" Rogue looked at the six photographs. "Because I don't know whether those people are still alive. And I don't intend to frighten whoever's holding them into doing something irreversible." Shammy nodded immediately. "Good." Ace folded her arms. "So we investigate the company first." "That's what I'm thinking." "And you want O'Sullivan SAS involved." "Wouldn't have called you otherwise." --- Ace studied Rogue for a moment. "You think this is another cult." Rogue's expression became unreadable. "I didn't say that." "You didn't have to." Mai glanced toward her. "Ace." "I know. We don't have evidence." Rogue leaned back. "I've seen enough cults to recognize certain patterns. Money disappears into places nobody can explain. People disappear after being promised something. A handful of individuals become very powerful, very quickly." "That also describes half the corporate world," Mai observed. "Exactly." Ace smiled grimly. "Which doesn't help." "No." Rogue regarded them both. "Look, I'm not telling you there's another Nyarlathotep hiding in somebody's basement." "Good," Ace replied. "One was quite enough." "I'm telling you that people are disappearing, and a very successful corporation keeps appearing around the edges of the paperwork." Mai folded her hands. "Then we start with what can be verified." "Precisely." Shammy looked at the photographs. "And we keep looking for the people." Rogue met her eyes. "Yes." "Not just the money." "Not just the money." Shammy nodded. "Then I'm in." Ace looked at her affectionately. "You were already in." "I know. I wanted Rogue to hear it." Rogue smiled. "I heard." --- The meeting continued for another half hour. Mai copied the financial records that Rogue could safely share. Ace reviewed the transport connections. Shammy asked about the missing women's friends, coworkers, and families. Rogue answered what she could. There were gaps. Too many gaps. But there was also a direction. Barkuk Khazad. Its associated businesses. Its extraordinary rise. And a possible connection to six people who had vanished after highly paid private engagements. Eventually, Ace rose. "We'll talk to Iris." Rogue nodded. "Good." "Keep following your side." "Already am." Mai secured the data. "We'll let you know what the records show." "And don't go charging into that Badlands site," Rogue added. Ace placed a hand over her heart. "Rogue, I'm offended." "Good." "Do I look like someone who charges into dangerous places without a plan?" Rogue stared at her. Mai coughed discreetly. Shammy examined the ceiling. Ace sighed. "All right. That was poorly phrased." Rogue laughed. The sound lasted only a moment. Then she pointed toward the six photographs. "Find out who paid for those women." Ace's expression turned serious. "We will." --- Iris was still awake when the Triad returned. Brenda sat beside her on the couch, reading something that appeared to involve industrial equipment. Yukari had already made tea. Ace regarded the arrangement with approval. "Excellent. The welcoming committee." Iris looked up. "Rogue?" "Six missing joytoys," Mai said. The humor disappeared from Iris's expression. "Come and sit down." Mai transferred the information onto the common-room display. She didn't begin with Barkuk Khazad. She began with the women. The bookings. The payments. The unexplained disappearances. Iris listened without interrupting. Brenda's face grew increasingly grim. Yukari set her cup down. When Mai finished, Iris looked at the records. "And Rogue suspects a corporate connection." "Yes." "Which company?" Mai brought up the name. **BARKUK KHAZAD** Iris stopped. Then she looked at Mai. "You're joking." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Interesting reaction." Iris brought up her own market-monitoring dashboard. A series of financial charts appeared. Brenda leaned closer. "Jesus." The figures were impressive. Revenue. Acquisitions. Investment returns. New contracts. An accelerating network of corporate relationships. Iris folded her arms. "I've been watching these people for months." Mai nodded. "I thought you might have." "Extraordinary performance." "Anything obviously illegal?" "No." "Accounting irregularities?" "Nothing significant in the information I've reviewed." Ace looked at the display. "So they really are that successful." "As far as the public records indicate," Iris replied. She enlarged the acquisition timeline. "But they also appear remarkably fortunate." Mai studied it. "How fortunate?" Iris smiled without much amusement. "Fortunate enough that I've occasionally wondered whether their executives consult accountants or prophets." Ace glanced toward Yukari. The fox-woman raised an eyebrow. "Don't look at me." Ace grinned. "Wasn't going to say anything." "Naturally." Brenda studied the expansion chart. "Maybe they're just extremely good at business." "Entirely possible," Iris said. Mai looked at her. "But?" Iris turned toward her. "But I'd very much like to know how." --- The conversation lasted considerably longer than anyone had intended. Iris identified the company's major business relationships. Mai compared them with Rogue's records. Ace reviewed the public activities of Barkuk Khazad's executives. Shammy remained interested in the missing people rather than the impressive financial figures. Brenda asked questions about the company's operations that proved surprisingly useful. And Yukari listened. She said very little. There was, as yet, no reason to involve anything beyond ordinary human investigation. That suited Mai perfectly. The previous months had contained quite enough ancient entities and dangerous cults. She had no intention of inventing another one merely because the company was suspiciously successful. Eventually, Iris closed the financial display. "All right." Ace looked at her. "All right what?" "I think we have a perfectly reasonable next step." Mai smiled faintly. "I suspect I know what you're going to suggest." "Do you?" "O'Sullivan SAS." "Exactly." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "You're going to investigate them through the company?" Iris smiled. "I'm going to suggest that O'Sullivan SAS offer a rapidly expanding corporation some extremely useful professional services." Ace began to grin. "That is beautiful." Mai nodded. "Risk management. Acquisition integration. Corporate security." "All legitimate requirements," Iris agreed. "And all areas where we can offer meaningful assistance." "Precisely." Brenda looked between them. "So you're going to get close to a suspicious company by convincing them you're worth doing business with." Iris's smile widened. "Darling, that's how we get close to perfectly ordinary companies too." Ace laughed. "God, I love this business." Shammy looked toward the photographs. "And you'll keep looking for them?" Ace reached for her hand. "Every step of the way." Mai nodded. "We don't forget why Rogue called." Iris looked at the six faces displayed on the wall. "Agreed." Then she turned back to the company's financial profile. "Tomorrow morning, we'll prepare an approach." Ace smiled. "And who gets to meet these remarkably fortunate executives?" Iris considered for only a moment. "Amber and Maeve." Mai raised her eyebrows. "An excellent choice." "Obviously," Ace agreed. Brenda laughed. "Modesty truly is the defining characteristic of this household." Yukari picked up her tea. "I've always thought so." --- Later, after the displays were shut down and the safehouse had settled, Mai stood for a while beside the bedroom window. Ace came up behind her. "Still thinking?" "Yes." "About the company?" "Among other things." Ace slipped her arms around Mai's waist. "Anything bothering you?" Mai considered the question. "The missing women." "Me too." "And the way their bookings were closed." Ace rested her chin against Mai's shoulder. "Account settled." "Exactly." For a moment, they watched Night City's lights beyond the glass. "Rogue mentioned cults," Ace said. "She did." "You think she might be right?" Mai turned toward her. "I think Rogue has excellent instincts." "But?" "But we have dealt with enough ancient horrors to know that seeing their influence everywhere would be a mistake." Ace nodded. "Fair." "And we have equally good reasons to know that human greed rarely needs supernatural assistance." "Also fair." Mai smiled slightly. "Let's find out what we're dealing with before deciding which kind of monster it is." Ace returned the smile. "There's my girl." She kissed Mai gently. From the bed, Shammy spoke. "Are you two coming?" Ace glanced over. "Eventually." Shammy raised an eyebrow. "That sounded suspiciously noncommittal." Mai laughed. "We're coming, darling." "Good." Ace gave Mai one last kiss. Then they joined Shammy. Tomorrow would bring contracts, corporate research, and perhaps a legitimate business opportunity. Tonight, there was still something worth protecting. Home. --- Far beyond Night City's lights, beneath the barren stone of the Badlands, an immense living shape rested upon a platform carved with ancient runes. It did not move. It did not need to. The inscriptions holding it in place had endured for longer than the corporation that now profited from its existence. Above the chamber, additional runic structures kept its presence from reaching too far into the world. The system was old. Efficient. And carefully maintained. The people responsible for its operation understood precisely how much they stood to gain. They had invested years in making the arrangement safe. At least, safe for themselves. Elsewhere in Night City, a corporation called Barkuk Khazad had just completed another extraordinarily profitable business day. An internal financial record was updated. The latest obligation had been satisfied. The account was marked closed. **PAYMENT RECEIVED.** --- ## Chapter 2 — Good Fortune Incorporated Iris Rourke had always believed that the best business proposals answered a question the prospective client had not yet realized it needed to ask. Unfortunately, that philosophy sometimes required dealing with people who believed they already knew everything. Night City had an inexhaustible supply of those. This morning, however, she had a rather more interesting problem. Barkuk Khazad appeared to know exactly what it was doing. And Iris had no intention of pretending otherwise. "Well?" Mai asked. Iris considered the document on her screen. "Too long." Mai leaned forward. "It's three pages." "Two pages too many." "That's rather severe." "We're not writing a corporate biography, darling. We're offering a service." Mai looked at the proposal again. Then smiled. "You're right." "I usually am." "Occasionally." Iris gave her an amused look. "Would you like to handle the negotiations yourself?" "That's rather the idea." "Then perhaps we should finish giving you something useful to negotiate with." They had been in the O'Sullivan SAS conference room for less than an hour. The work was progressing considerably faster than either had expected. Rogue's information had provided the reason to examine Barkuk Khazad. Iris's existing market intelligence had established that the company's extraordinary growth was real enough to deserve attention. And the professional opportunity had practically written itself. Barkuk Khazad was expanding faster than most organizations could comfortably manage. Acquisitions created integration problems. New business relationships introduced unfamiliar risks. Rapid expansion required increasingly sophisticated security, governance, and operational coordination. These were precisely the problems O'Sullivan SAS was equipped to address. There was no need to invent anything. The company might genuinely become an excellent client. Assuming its leadership wasn't involved in kidnapping people. That remained a rather significant qualification. "Right," Iris said. "Let's try this." She deleted an entire paragraph. Mai watched. "You're enjoying that." "Immensely." "Poor paragraph." "It knew the risks." Mai laughed. Iris replaced the deleted material with two concise sentences. "There." Mai read them. Then nodded. "Much better." "Exactly. We acknowledge their achievements, identify the risks created by rapid growth, and explain what we can do about them." "No excessive praise." "None." "No pretending we're desperate for their business." "Certainly not." "And no reason for them to suspect that Rogue has anything to do with our interest." Iris's expression became serious. "Absolutely." She saved the document. "Now, about our representatives." Mai smiled. "I assume you have someone in mind." "Mrs. Maeve O'Sullivan." "An excellent choice." "And her wife, Mrs. Amber O'Sullivan." "Even better." Iris regarded her. "Both of whom will remember that this is a legitimate business meeting." Mai placed a hand against her chest. "Iris, I'm wounded." "Good. Then the warning worked." --- Ace arrived twenty minutes later. She stopped in the conference room doorway and studied the two women. "Should I ask?" Iris looked up. "About what?" "Why you both look so pleased with yourselves." Mai smiled. "Professional satisfaction." "That sounds dangerous." "Only to our competitors." Ace approached the table. "Have we found anything?" "Enough to make a credible business approach," Iris replied. "And the missing women?" Mai's smile faded. "Nothing new. Rogue's still following the transport and booking connections." Ace nodded. That was disappointing, but not unexpected. The disappearances remained the reason they were doing this. Everything else was a means of finding answers. Iris transferred the proposal to Ace's datapad. "Have a look." Ace read it. Then read it again. "That's surprisingly straightforward." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Should I be offended?" "Absolutely not. I'm impressed." "How reassuring." Ace pointed to the opening paragraph. "You aren't claiming they're doing anything wrong." "Because we have no evidence of that." "And you're not pretending their extraordinary growth is a problem." "No. Growth is usually something companies appreciate." "Unless it kills them." "Precisely." Ace finished reading. "So we're offering to help them manage the risks of being ridiculously successful." Mai nodded. "Exactly." "Nice." Ace looked at Iris. "Who gets to send it?" "I do." "Who gets to attend the meeting?" "Provided they agree to one, you and Maeve." Ace grinned. "I like this company already." "We haven't met them," Mai reminded her. "I like the opportunity." "Much better." Iris finalized the proposal. "Then let's see whether Barkuk Khazad agrees." She transmitted it through O'Sullivan SAS's established corporate channels. The confirmation appeared immediately. Ace leaned back. "Well. That was almost disappointingly civilized." Mai smiled. "There's still time." --- The response arrived before lunch. It was courteous, professionally written, and considerably more encouraging than Iris had expected from an unsolicited proposal. Barkuk Khazad's executive coordination office acknowledged the relevance of O'Sullivan SAS's services and expressed interest in an introductory meeting. Not with a junior procurement manager. Not with a departmental administrator. With the CEO himself. Ace read the message. "Well, that's flattering." "Very," Iris agreed. Mai examined the proposed agenda. "Strategic expansion, risk management, and future partnership opportunities." "All sensible subjects," Iris said. "And tomorrow afternoon?" "Apparently." Ace raised an eyebrow. "They move quickly." "So do we," Mai replied. Iris reviewed the invitation. "Nothing here is inherently unusual. Some CEOs prefer to meet prospective strategic partners personally." "Especially if they're trying to build influential relationships," Ace observed. "Precisely." Mai looked at the sender's details. "A corporate meeting at their headquarters. Standard visitor arrangements." Iris nodded. "I see no reason to decline." "Neither do I," Ace said. Mai smiled. "Then Amber and Maeve have an appointment." Iris accepted the invitation. Barkuk Khazad confirmed within minutes. Ace glanced at the display. "That's almost suspiciously efficient." Iris gave her a patient look. "Let's not criminalize punctuality." "You're taking all the fun out of this." "Someone must." --- That afternoon, the three women reviewed the company's leadership profiles. This time, they weren't interested in financial performance. They wanted to understand the people they would be meeting. Barkuk Khazad's CEO had spent years developing a reputation for identifying opportunities that more established corporations overlooked. His public interviews were polished. His professional history was credible. He cultivated relationships with influential executives, investors, and advisers across several industries. Ace studied a photograph from a recent reception. "He's comfortable in a crowd." Mai glanced at it. "Most successful executives are." "Not like this." Ace enlarged the image. The CEO stood among a group of prominent business figures. He wasn't the tallest man. He wasn't dressed more extravagantly than anyone else. Yet the arrangement of the group placed him at its center. People leaned toward him. They appeared to be listening. And he looked perfectly relaxed. "He's used to being the person everyone wants something from," Ace observed. Iris considered that. "A useful distinction." Mai examined another photograph. "His organization seems to emphasize personal relationships." "Very much," Iris replied. "They sponsor private receptions, invitation-only networking events, and executive retreats." Ace smiled. "That sounds promising." "For business?" Mai asked. "For learning what makes the company tick." Iris brought up another photograph. Several senior executives appeared at a private gathering. The setting was luxurious. The guests looked comfortable. Ace studied the arrangement. "Interesting." Mai leaned closer. "What?" "Look at how they interact." "Professionally?" "Not entirely." Several people were standing unusually close together. One executive had an arm around another guest's waist. A different photograph showed a couple kissing near a table while other attendees continued their conversations without any apparent surprise. Mai considered it. "Fairly relaxed social atmosphere." Ace grinned. "I'd say." Iris studied the image. "Private corporate events can be considerably less formal than public ones." "Clearly." "There's nothing improper about adults enjoying themselves." "I wasn't suggesting there was." Mai glanced at Ace. "Of course not." Ace smiled innocently. "Perish the thought." Iris closed the photographs. "Just remember that our immediate objective is the business relationship." "Naturally," Ace replied. Mai looked amused. "You're enjoying this far too early." "Darling, I enjoy most things early." Iris shook her head. "One of these days, the two of you are going to give me a headache." Ace smiled sweetly. "We'd never." --- The following afternoon, two very respectable corporate wives arrived at Barkuk Khazad's Night City headquarters. Amber O'Sullivan stepped out of their vehicle first. Her short blonde hair was immaculate, her blue eyes bright, and her tailored outfit expensive without being ostentatious. At 145 centimeters, she was considerably smaller than most of the people passing through the entrance. That had never prevented her from commanding attention when she chose. Today, however, she preferred to appear approachable. Warm. Charming. Almost disarmingly cheerful. Maeve O'Sullivan joined her a moment later. Copper-red hair framed her face, her green eyes catching the afternoon light. She wore an elegant dark ensemble, its understated lines complementing the confident grace with which she moved. Together, the two women looked exactly what their corporate records said they were. Successful business partners. And wives. Maeve offered Amber her arm. "Ready, darling?" Amber smiled. "Always." They entered the building. --- Barkuk Khazad's headquarters occupied several floors of a modern corporate tower. The public reception area was impressive without being extravagant. Polished stone. Warm lighting. Carefully selected artwork. Quiet security. Everything suggested a company that understood the value of appearances but had no particular need to boast. Amber appreciated the restraint. "Not bad," she murmured. Maeve glanced around. "Very tasteful." "A little disappointing." "Why?" "I was expecting a solid-gold statue of the CEO." Maeve maintained a perfectly composed expression. "Perhaps it's upstairs." Amber's smile widened. "There's hope." The receptionist greeted them before they reached the desk. "Mrs. O'Sullivan. Mrs. O'Sullivan. Welcome to Barkuk Khazad." Maeve returned the greeting. "Thank you. We have an appointment with your CEO." "Of course. We've been expecting you." Visitor credentials were prepared. Security procedures were efficient and unobtrusive. A representative escorted them toward a private elevator. Amber watched the staff as they passed. Nobody appeared unusually nervous. Nobody behaved as though the building contained a terrible secret. The employees looked like employees. Busy. Competent. Somewhat pleased to be working for an extraordinarily successful company. That didn't surprise her. A corporation could be involved in monstrous things without most of its staff knowing anything about them. She had seen it before. Maeve, meanwhile, was paying attention to the building itself. Its architecture. Its security systems. Its corporate branding. And, increasingly, one particular decorative element. The company emblem appeared throughout the building. Discreetly embossed on doors. Worked into wall panels. Displayed beside the reception desk. A distinctive arrangement of intersecting lines that looked vaguely traditional beneath its modern styling. At first glance, it was an attractive piece of corporate design. Maeve glanced at it. Then looked again. Her expression remained perfectly pleasant. But her attention sharpened. Interesting. Very interesting. --- The executive floor was quieter. Their escort led them along a broad corridor toward a conference suite. Amber glanced at the city through the enormous windows. "Lovely view." "Thank you, Mrs. O'Sullivan," the escort replied. "The executive offices occupy the upper floors." "I can see why." Maeve smiled politely. And there it was again. The emblem. Larger this time. Worked into a polished wall panel outside the conference room. Maeve slowed almost imperceptibly. She had been studying the smaller versions as they passed through the building. Now she could see the full design. Its lines were elegant. Its proportions precise. And its underlying construction unmistakable. A good-fortune rune. Not merely something resembling one. An authentic runic pattern, adapted into corporate branding with considerable care. Maeve regarded it for a fraction of a second longer than an ordinary visitor might have. Then she continued walking. Amber noticed. Of course she did. They had been together far too long for a change that small to escape her. But she didn't ask. Not here. Not in front of their escort. Instead, she smiled at the representative. "Your offices are beautiful." "Thank you, Mrs. O'Sullivan." The conference room doors opened. --- The CEO was waiting. He rose as they entered. "Mrs. O'Sullivan. Mrs. O'Sullivan. A pleasure." Maeve accepted his handshake. "The pleasure is ours. Thank you for making time for us." "Not at all. I found your proposal unusually interesting." Amber shook his hand next. "That's encouraging. We put considerable thought into it." "So I noticed." He indicated the seats opposite him. "Please." The conference room was comfortable rather than intimidating. A panoramic view of Night City occupied one wall. A display stood beside the executive table. Coffee, tea, and refreshments had been arranged. Two other senior representatives were present, one responsible for corporate operations and the other for strategic partnerships. Introductions followed. Everyone settled. The CEO smiled. "Now. O'Sullivan SAS." Maeve returned the smile. "Indeed." "I must admit, I was intrigued by your proposal." "May I ask what particularly caught your attention?" "Your restraint." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Restraint?" "Most consulting organizations approaching us begin by explaining how dangerous rapid growth can be." Maeve nodded. "An understandable sales strategy." "Perhaps. But yours simply identified several areas where independent expertise might be useful." "Because we don't regard your growth as a problem," Maeve replied. The CEO leaned back. "How refreshing." "We regard it as an achievement. The question is how best to preserve that achievement while your organization continues expanding." Amber smiled. "Success is considerably more enjoyable when the machinery supporting it keeps working." The CEO laughed. "An excellent way of putting it." Maeve regarded him with polite interest. "What concerns you most about your current expansion?" "An excellent question." He considered his answer. "Continuity." Maeve nodded. "Across acquired operations?" "Among other things. We have developed valuable relationships. We have built considerable momentum. I would prefer not to see either compromised by administrative inefficiency." "Perfectly reasonable." "Our existing teams are competent." "We would expect nothing less." "But I recognize the value of outside expertise when it is properly applied." Amber smiled. "Then we're already speaking the same language." --- The meeting proceeded remarkably well. Barkuk Khazad's representatives were knowledgeable. Their questions were relevant. They understood their business. And they had no apparent difficulty discussing operational weaknesses without becoming defensive. Maeve appreciated that. It was considerably easier to negotiate with people who understood that competence did not require pretending to be infallible. The operations director outlined several integration challenges following recent acquisitions. Maeve listened carefully. Asked questions. Identified potential areas where O'Sullivan SAS could assist. Amber contributed observations about security procedures and the risks associated with expanding relationships between previously independent organizations. The discussion was productive. Genuinely productive. That, more than anything, interested Ace. She had attended enough corporate meetings to recognize when people were simply performing competence. These people weren't. They were organized. Prepared. And very good at what they did. Whatever Barkuk Khazad was hiding, its senior management didn't appear to be a collection of fools. That made Rogue's suspicions considerably more troubling. Because if the company was involved in the disappearances, its leadership was capable of concealing them very carefully indeed. Maeve reached the same conclusion. She kept her expression warm. Her questions professional. And her attention divided between the discussion and the elegant emblem behind the CEO's chair. The same good-fortune rune. Larger. Perfectly executed. She had no doubt about its underlying form now. But recognition was not proof of wrongdoing. A good-fortune rune could be decorative. Symbolic. A fashionable reference to ancient traditions. Or something considerably more deliberate. She would need more information before deciding which. --- After almost an hour, the CEO closed the main presentation. "Well." Amber smiled. "Good well, I hope?" "Very good." Maeve regarded him. "I'm pleased to hear it." "Your proposal has merit. More importantly, I believe your organization understands the kind of relationships we value." "Long-term cooperation," Maeve said. "Precisely." "Mutual benefit," Amber added. "Naturally." "And discretion," Maeve concluded. The CEO smiled. "Especially discretion." Amber met his gaze. "One of our specialties." "I gathered as much." He turned to his colleagues. "I believe we have enough for a preliminary assessment." Both executives nodded. The CEO returned his attention to the two women. "There is, however, one matter I would like to discuss before we proceed further." Maeve inclined her head. "Of course." "We have a particular approach to establishing new strategic relationships." Amber smiled. "Do tell." He looked thoughtful for a moment. Then spoke with the careful confidence of someone discussing a practice he considered entirely reasonable. "Contracts are important. Due diligence is important. Professional qualifications are important." "Agreed," Maeve said. "But ultimately, business depends upon people." Amber nodded. "Very true." "People must understand one another. They must feel comfortable together. And they must share a certain philosophy concerning opportunity." Maeve smiled. "That sounds sensible." "Perhaps. Although our approach is somewhat unconventional." Amber's expression brightened. "Unconventional can be interesting." The CEO laughed softly. "Indeed it can." He touched the display. An elegant invitation appeared. The location was not immediately visible, but the heading was clear. **BARKUK KHAZAD** **PRIVATE GATHERING** **NEXT SATURDAY** Maeve studied it. "A corporate retreat?" "Not exactly." "A networking event?" Amber asked. "Among other things." He regarded them both. "We host private gatherings for selected business associates and prospective partners. They provide an opportunity to become acquainted in a less formal environment." Maeve nodded. "I see." "Certain partnerships are easier to evaluate when one steps away from conference rooms." Amber smiled. "I couldn't agree more." The CEO continued. "The guest list is deliberately limited. Attendance is by personal invitation only." "A privilege, then," Maeve observed. "Very much so." He paused. "And I would be delighted if you both accepted." --- Amber looked at Maeve. Maeve looked at Amber. The exchange lasted less than a second. To an outside observer, it was the familiar communication of two married women considering a social invitation. To Ace and Mai, it was something rather more precise. An invitation-only corporate gathering. Senior business associates. Prospective partners. A CEO who emphasized discretion and personal relationships. Exactly the kind of environment Rogue had identified as worth investigating. Maeve smiled. "That sounds lovely." Amber nodded. "Very much so." The CEO looked pleased. "Excellent." "May I ask where the gathering will take place?" Maeve asked. "In the Badlands." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "We maintain a private venue there." "An unusual choice." "Perhaps. But privacy is increasingly difficult to obtain in Night City." Maeve smiled. "A compelling argument." "The setting is exceptional. I think you'll appreciate it." Amber leaned forward slightly. "And what should we expect?" The CEO considered the question. "Good company. Excellent hospitality. A degree of informality that tends to surprise our first-time guests." Maeve regarded him. "Informality?" He smiled. "We encourage our associates to become comfortable with one another." Amber's answering smile was bright. "That sounds delightful." "Most of our guests think so." He looked from one woman to the other. "Although I should mention that we don't conduct formal business negotiations during the gathering itself." Maeve tilted her head. "Then what is its purpose?" "To establish the personal foundation upon which worthwhile business relationships can develop." Amber nodded slowly. "An interesting philosophy." "One that has served us extraordinarily well." Maeve smiled. "So your company's reputation suggests." The CEO laughed. "Quite." He touched the display again. Two invitations appeared. **MRS. AMBER O'SULLIVAN** **MRS. MAEVE O'SULLIVAN** "Shall I have these sent to your office?" Maeve looked at Amber. "Darling?" Amber's smile widened. "I think we should go." Maeve turned back to the CEO. "Then we accept with pleasure." "Wonderful." He stood. "I look forward to seeing you both." --- The meeting concluded with considerably more warmth than it had begun. The CEO accompanied them to the conference room doors. His colleagues expressed appreciation for the discussion. Preliminary commercial materials would be exchanged through the usual channels. The gathering invitations would follow. Nothing had been signed. No commitments had been made. And yet O'Sullivan SAS had gained exactly what it needed. Access. As they approached the elevator, Amber glanced at Maeve. "Well, darling." "Yes?" "That went rather well." "Very." "And next Saturday promises to be interesting." Maeve smiled. "Extremely." The elevator doors opened. They entered. Only after the doors closed and the car began descending did Amber turn toward her wife. "All right." Maeve looked innocent. "All right what?" "The logo." Maeve laughed softly. "I wondered when you'd ask." "You noticed something." "Several things." "Mai." Maeve's expression changed. Not visibly enough that a stranger would have recognized it. But Ace did. The social warmth remained. The polished corporate demeanor remained. Underneath both, Mai's analytical precision had returned in full. "It's a rune," she said quietly. Amber blinked. "Seriously?" "Yes." "An actual rune?" "An authentic good-fortune rune." Amber considered that. "Well. That would explain the branding." Maeve smiled faintly. "Possibly." "Does it explain their ridiculous success?" "Not by itself." "Could it?" "Potentially. But we have no evidence that the emblem is functioning as anything more than a symbol." Amber nodded. "Fair." Mai glanced toward the elevator indicator. "What interests me is the precision." "The design?" "Yes. It wasn't drawn by someone casually copying a symbol from an old book. Whoever constructed it understood the underlying runic pattern." Amber looked thoughtful. "Which means?" "Which means someone connected to Barkuk Khazad knows considerably more about runes than an ordinary corporate branding department." Amber smiled. "And we're invited to their private gathering." "Next Saturday." "In the Badlands." "Indeed." Amber slipped her hand into Maeve's. "Darling?" "Yes?" "I think Rogue is going to find this very interesting." Mai squeezed her fingers. "So do I." --- Iris received their report an hour later. She listened carefully. The business meeting had been legitimate. The CEO had behaved professionally. The other executives had demonstrated genuine competence. The possible partnership offered real commercial value. So far, nothing justified accusing Barkuk Khazad of anything. Then Mai mentioned the logo. Iris went very still. "A good-fortune rune?" "Yes." "You're certain?" "Absolutely." "Active?" "Unknown." Iris considered that. "And the gathering?" "Next Saturday. Private venue in the Badlands." Ace smiled. "Apparently they prefer to get to know prospective business partners personally." Iris raised an eyebrow. "How personally?" "We haven't established that yet." Mai's lips curved. "But the CEO was rather enthusiastic about the social atmosphere." Iris studied the invitation. "Interesting." Ace grinned. "That's what we thought." Iris looked between them. "Well, the business opportunity is certainly promising." "Very," Mai agreed. "And the rune gives us another reason to investigate." "Yes." "Then I suggest we keep both matters firmly in view." Ace nodded. "The company might be perfectly legitimate." "Or it might not," Iris said. Mai looked at the invitation again. "Either way, we're going to learn a great deal next Saturday." --- At Afterlife, Rogue read the secure update without smiling. A private gathering. A Badlands venue. Barkuk Khazad's CEO personally inviting two prospective business partners. And a corporate emblem that Mai had identified as an authentic good-fortune rune. Rogue leaned back. "Well, shit." She opened the missing-person files. One of the final bookings had been described as an exclusive private corporate engagement. Another had involved transportation outside the city. A third included a confidentiality clause sufficiently aggressive to make even Rogue uncomfortable. Now there was a gathering. In the Badlands. She looked at the invitation details again. Then at the six photographs. "All right," she murmured. "Let's find out what kind of party you're throwing." --- Deep beneath the Badlands, an enormous living form rested upon its ancient platform. The runes that held it remained undisturbed. The upper chambers were quiet. Preparations for the next gathering had already begun. The corporation's hospitality staff checked guest arrangements, accommodation requirements, and transportation schedules. Invitations were confirmed. Names were added to the private attendance register. Among them were two new entries. **Amber O'Sullivan.** **Maeve O'Sullivan.** Somewhere within Barkuk Khazad's leadership, those names were marked as promising prospects. Two successful women. Married. Well connected. Potentially valuable partners. The company had every reason to welcome them. And absolutely no idea what it had just invited inside. --- ## Chapter 3 — The Guest List The invitation arrived on Wednesday morning. It was considerably more elaborate than the brief electronic confirmation Barkuk Khazad had sent immediately after the meeting. Amber O'Sullivan opened it in the O'Sullivan SAS conference room, glanced through the introductory material, and began to smile. "Oh, this is going to be interesting." Maeve looked up from her workstation. "That sounds suspicious." "Darling, I am wounded." "You usually are when someone accurately describes your intentions." Amber grinned. "Come and look at this." Maeve joined her. The invitation occupied most of the display. Barkuk Khazad's emblem appeared at the top, its elegant geometry rendered in muted gold against a dark background. Maeve's attention settled on it for a moment. The rune again. She had spent part of the previous evening examining publicly available versions of the company's insignia. The design was consistent across its branding, from ordinary communications to formal executive presentations. Someone had taken considerable care to preserve the underlying runic construction. That interested her. The rest of the invitation was rather more conventional. At least initially. **BARKUK KHAZAD** **PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP GATHERING** **Saturday, 18:00** **By personal invitation only** A secluded venue in the Badlands. Private transportation available. Evening attire recommended. Accommodation provided for guests who wished to remain overnight. The invitation emphasized discretion, relaxation, and the cultivation of meaningful relationships. Amber read the hospitality description. "Champagne, excellent food, luxurious accommodations, and interesting company." Maeve glanced at her. "You sound delighted." "I am delighted." "We're going there to investigate." "Two things can be true simultaneously." Maeve laughed softly. "Fair." Amber continued reading. Then paused. "Now this is interesting." "What?" "'Guests are encouraged to leave formal commercial negotiations for subsequent appointments. The gathering is intended to establish the personal foundations of lasting partnerships.'" Maeve considered the wording. "That is rather unusual." "Not entirely unreasonable." "No. But unusual." Amber looked at her. "They invite prospective business partners to an exclusive event and specifically ask them not to discuss business?" "Not exactly. They ask us to leave formal negotiations for afterward." "Fine distinction." "An important one." Amber leaned against the table. "So they want to get to know us." "Apparently." "Personally." "Apparently." Amber's smile became distinctly mischievous. Maeve noticed immediately. "Don't." "I haven't said anything." "You don't need to." "I was merely considering the many advantages of establishing excellent personal relationships." "Of course you were." "And the importance of being a cooperative guest." "Naturally." Amber gave her an innocent smile. "See? We agree." Maeve shook her head, laughing. "You are impossible." "And yet you married me." "One of my more adventurous decisions." --- Iris entered a few minutes later. She was carrying coffee and looking considerably more interested in the morning's business than the hour warranted. "Anything new?" Amber gestured toward the display. "Our invitations have arrived." Iris approached. "Excellent." Maeve handed her the complete package. Iris read it carefully. Unlike Amber, she did not begin with the hospitality arrangements. She began with the participant information. Or rather, the limited information Barkuk Khazad had chosen to provide about the event's professional character. "Well," she murmured. Amber looked delighted. "That sounded promising." "It is." Maeve leaned closer. "What?" Iris highlighted a section describing the expected attendance. The gathering would include senior representatives from selected logistics, financial services, industrial technology, and corporate infrastructure organizations. Not a complete guest list. Not even a particularly detailed one. But enough to suggest that Barkuk Khazad had invited people whose business interests extended well beyond its own immediate operations. Iris studied the categories. "Do you realize what this could represent?" Amber smiled. "An exceptionally pleasant weekend?" "Among other things." Maeve examined the descriptions. "Potential clients." "Exactly." "Several of them." "Quite possibly." Iris looked between the two women. "O'Sullivan SAS has been trying to expand certain corporate relationships for some time. If the people attending this gathering are of the caliber suggested here, the networking opportunities could be substantial." Amber folded her arms. "So even if Barkuk Khazad turns out to be completely innocent..." "We could still make excellent use of the invitation," Iris finished. Maeve smiled. "I like the way you think." "Thank you, darling." Iris returned to the invitation. "Although there's one thing I want to make absolutely clear." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Only one?" "For the moment." "Proceed." "If you meet potential clients, you are representing O'Sullivan SAS. Establishing relationships is perfectly appropriate. Making commercial promises without understanding the obligations is not." Maeve nodded. "Naturally." Amber smiled. "We'll behave." Iris regarded her. "Amber." "Yes?" "That wasn't entirely reassuring." Maeve laughed. "She's right." Amber placed a hand over her heart. "The lack of faith in this organization is astonishing." Iris shook her head. "Quite the opposite. I trust both of you to recognize an excellent opportunity." "Then we're agreed," Amber said. "We're agreed that the gathering may be commercially valuable," Iris replied. "And that we remain particularly interested in discovering what Barkuk Khazad is actually doing." Maeve nodded. "Both objectives stay in view." "Precisely." --- There was one more document attached to the invitation. A confidentiality agreement. Iris opened it. The first several sections were ordinary enough. Guest privacy. Protection of commercial information. Restrictions on recording and distributing information about attendees. Discretion regarding personal activities during the event. Amber leaned forward. "That's quite thorough." Iris continued reading. "Not especially unusual for an event involving senior executives." "Even the personal activities clause?" "Especially that." Maeve smiled faintly. "People with substantial reputations occasionally prefer their private lives to remain private." "Precisely," Iris replied. She reached the final section. Then stopped. "What is it?" Maeve asked. "Nothing necessarily alarming. But I want you to notice the distinction." She highlighted a paragraph. The agreement required guests to respect the confidentiality of private interactions and personal arrangements made during the gathering. It did not require them to participate in any particular activity. Nor did it authorize the host to disclose anything about those activities. "That's unusually broad," Maeve observed. "Yes." Amber read it. "Interesting." Iris glanced at her. "That is becoming your favorite word." "Only because this company keeps providing reasons to use it." Maeve studied the paragraph. "Do you think they're protecting the reputations of their guests?" "Possibly. Senior executives have been known to behave rather differently at private functions than they do at shareholder meetings." Amber grinned. "Imagine that." Iris gave her a look. "Don't get any ideas." "Far too late." Maeve laughed. Iris closed the document. "All joking aside, I see no reason to reject the invitation. The confidentiality provisions are extensive, but not inherently suspicious." "And the event?" Maeve asked. "Potentially useful. Potentially informative. And worth attending." Amber smiled. "Excellent." "Just remember," Iris continued, "that we are interested in evidence, not speculation." Maeve nodded. "Understood." --- Across the city, Rogue Amendiares was having a considerably less pleasant morning. The woman sitting opposite her had declined a private booking three weeks earlier. That made her unusual. Not because joytoys were incapable of refusing work. But because the offer had apparently been extraordinarily generous. Rogue examined the copy of the proposed agreement. "That's a lot of money." The woman nodded. "Yes." "Why turn it down?" "I didn't like the arrangements." "Which part?" "The transport." Rogue looked up. "Explain." "They wouldn't tell me exactly where I was going. Just that it was a private venue outside the city." "Not unheard of." "No. But they also wanted me to agree to remain there until the client's representative authorized my return." Rogue's expression hardened. "Did they explain why?" "They said the event might run late." "And?" "And I asked whether I could leave whenever I wanted." "What did they say?" The woman looked uncomfortable. "They said of course I could." Rogue waited. "But?" "They wouldn't change the contract." That was interesting. Very interesting. "Did you keep the messages?" "All of them." "Good." The woman transferred the correspondence. Rogue read it carefully. The language was polite. Professional. Almost excessively reassuring. The client representative repeatedly emphasized the quality of the accommodations, the generous compensation, and the confidentiality expected of participants. But each time the woman had requested a clear, unconditional departure arrangement, the response had become evasive. Finally, she had declined. "They offered me more money after that," she said. "How much more?" The woman showed her. Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Quite a lot." "Yes." "And you still refused." "I've been doing this long enough to know when someone is avoiding a simple question." Rogue regarded her for a moment. "Good instinct." The woman gave a small, humorless smile. "Usually." Rogue opened the associated company records. A familiar hospitality provider appeared. The same organization that had arranged one of the missing women's final bookings. "Do you remember the client's name?" Rogue asked. "No. I never spoke to him directly." "Anything about the location?" "Only that it was somewhere in the Badlands." Rogue's attention sharpened. "Anything else?" The woman hesitated. "There was something strange about the representative." "Strange how?" "He kept talking about how much the client valued good fortune." Rogue looked at her. "Good fortune?" "Yes. Said the event was a celebration of a very successful business arrangement." "Did he mention a company?" "No." "Any logo? Symbol? Anything?" The woman considered. "Not that I remember." Rogue nodded. "All right." She saved the correspondence. "Thank you. You've been helpful." The woman looked uncertain. "Is this connected to those people who disappeared?" Rogue didn't answer immediately. "Possibly." The woman looked down. "I thought so." "Why?" "Because I recognized one of the photographs you showed me." Rogue went still. "Which one?" "The woman who took the booking after I refused." --- Rogue didn't call Mai immediately. First, she verified the booking records. Then she checked the dates. Then she reviewed the woman's correspondence against the information already in her files. The connection held. A private engagement had been offered. One woman had refused. Another had apparently accepted a similar booking. And the second woman had disappeared. It still didn't prove that Barkuk Khazad was responsible. But it was the first indication that the missing women might have been selected through a process in which refusal was possible, at least before the actual engagement began. The woman who had refused was alive. The woman who had accepted was missing. Rogue sat back. "Well, that's ugly." She activated a secure channel. "Mai." The response arrived moments later. "Rogue?" "Got something." "Go on." "Found someone who turned down a private engagement arranged through one of our hospitality providers." "Why?" "Didn't trust the departure arrangements." A pause. "That's concerning." "Gets better." "Somehow I doubt that." "The booking was offered to someone else." Mai's reply came more slowly. "One of the missing women?" "Yes." Silence. Then Mai spoke again. "Send me the verified details." "Already preparing them." "Anything connecting the booking to Barkuk Khazad directly?" "Not yet." "Then we keep looking." "Agreed." Rogue glanced at the Badlands map. "One more thing. The original offer involved a private venue outside the city." Mai was silent for a moment. Then she replied. "Barkuk Khazad's gathering is in the Badlands." "I know." "Could be coincidence." "Could be." Neither woman sounded convinced. Rogue leaned forward. "Mai?" "Yes?" "Be careful at that gathering." "We will." "I'm serious." "So am I." Rogue looked at the missing woman's photograph. "Find out what sort of hospitality they're offering." --- By Friday evening, the invitation had become a familiar object at the safehouse. Not because anyone was particularly obsessed with it. Although Ace had certainly been accused of that. But because the gathering represented the most promising lead they had obtained since Rogue's original call. Iris had reviewed the commercial opportunities. Mai had studied the rune incorporated into Barkuk Khazad's corporate emblem. Ace had examined the public profiles of several likely attendees. Rogue continued tracing the missing-person bookings. And Brenda had developed an increasingly strong opinion about the idea of holding expensive corporate receptions in the Badlands. "It's either a brilliant idea or a terrible one," she announced. Iris looked up from the invitation. "Which?" "Depends on the venue." Ace smiled. "Very helpful." "I'm serious." Brenda brought up a regional geological map. "Some of those hills contain extensive natural cavern systems. Other areas have old industrial excavations and abandoned facilities." Mai glanced over. "Could be an underground venue." "Could be." "Any reason to think that's dangerous?" "Not necessarily. If somebody's spent enough money on structural engineering, you can build a remarkably comfortable facility underground." Ace looked interested. "How comfortable?" "Very." "Champagne comfortable?" Brenda grinned. "Absolutely." "Private suites comfortable?" "Probably." "Excellent." Iris shook her head. "Darling, you're encouraging her." "That's usually my job." Yukari, who had been listening quietly, looked toward Mai. "May I see the emblem again?" Mai transferred the image to the larger display. The gold lines formed a precise, elegant pattern. Yukari studied it. "A fortune rune." "Yes," Mai replied. "Old construction." "Very." "Have you determined whether it's active?" "Not from the available images." Yukari nodded. "Sensible answer." Ace looked between them. "So we still don't know whether their logo actually does anything." "Correct," Mai replied. "But whoever designed it knew what they were doing." "Also correct." Yukari regarded the emblem thoughtfully. "Then pay attention to what else you find at the venue." Mai looked at her. "More runes?" "Possibly." "And if there are?" Yukari's expression remained calm. "Then their arrangement may tell you more than any individual symbol." Mai smiled. "I was thinking the same thing." Yukari returned the smile. "Of course you were." --- Shammy had been unusually quiet. Ace noticed when the conversation turned toward the guest list again. She sat beside her. "What's wrong?" Shammy looked up. "Nothing." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Shammy." The elemental sighed softly. "I'm thinking about those women." Ace's expression softened. "Me too." "The woman Rogue found was able to refuse the booking." "Yes." "But another woman accepted it and disappeared." Ace nodded. Shammy looked toward the invitation. "I keep wondering whether the people at this gathering know anything about that." "So do I." "Do you think they'll tell you?" "Not if they're involved." Shammy considered that. "Then how will you find out?" Ace smiled faintly. "By listening." "Listening?" "People who think they're important often enjoy talking about themselves. Especially when they believe they're impressing someone." Shammy smiled a little. "That sounds familiar." Ace narrowed her eyes. "Are you implying something?" "Never." "Shammy." The elemental kissed her cheek. "You're very impressive, darling." Ace laughed. "That was a terrible recovery." "I know." Mai joined them. "What's going on?" "Shammy is questioning my modesty." Maeve's future corporate self had nothing on the dry amusement in Mai's expression. "How very observant of her." Ace sighed theatrically. "Betrayed again." Shammy laughed. The laughter faded gently. Then she reached for Mai's hand. "Just promise me you won't let the gathering distract you from why you're there." Mai squeezed her fingers. "We won't." Ace nodded. "Whatever the evening turns out to be, those six women come first." Shammy looked relieved. "Good." --- Later, when the others had drifted toward their own evening routines, Iris remained at the common-room table with Amber and Maeve. The corporate covers were already active in preparation for Saturday. Amber's short blonde hair framed her face with its usual immaculate precision, and her blue contact lenses softened the intensity of Ace's natural gaze. Maeve's copper-red hair and emerald-green eyes completed a strikingly different presentation of Mai. They were still the same women. Only the world would read them differently. Iris studied the invitation one last time. "There's something I want to discuss." Amber smiled. "That sounds ominous." "Not particularly." Maeve looked interested. "Go on." Iris brought up the attendance information. "Barkuk Khazad isn't inviting you merely to inspect its business operations." "Clearly," Maeve agreed. "They want to assess you." Amber nodded. "We noticed." "And I suspect the assessment will be as much personal as professional." "That seems to be the theme," Amber said. Iris regarded them both. "You're experienced enough to handle yourselves. But I want you to remember something." Maeve tilted her head. "Which is?" "A potential contract is not an obligation." Amber smiled. "Naturally." "Nor is an invitation." "Agreed." "And whatever peculiar customs this gathering may have, O'Sullivan SAS is not so desperate for business that either of you needs to tolerate something you don't want." Maeve's expression softened. "Iris." "Yes?" "We know." "I know you know." Amber leaned forward. "Then why the lecture?" Iris smiled. "Because I care about my business partners." Maeve reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "And we appreciate it." Amber grinned. "Besides, we may have a wonderful time." Iris laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised." "And meet several extremely interesting people." "Quite possibly." "And come home with a collection of excellent business contacts." "That would be lovely." Maeve glanced at Amber. "You're enjoying this already." "Immensely." Iris shook her head. "Well, do try to remember that I want a professional report afterward." Amber smiled sweetly. "Of course." Maeve's lips curved. "A thorough one." Iris looked from one woman to the other. Then laughed again. "I have absolutely no idea what you're planning." Amber rose. "Neither do we, darling." She offered Maeve her hand. "That's half the fun." --- Saturday arrived with clear skies over Night City. The Badlands beyond the urban sprawl were considerably less inviting. Amber examined herself in the mirror one final time. Short blonde hair. Blue eyes. An elegant dress that complemented her small stature without making her look remotely insignificant. Maeve stood beside her. Copper-red hair. Green eyes. A beautifully tailored dark outfit. Confident. Elegant. Unmistakably comfortable in expensive surroundings. Amber looked at their reflections. "Well." Maeve smiled. "Yes?" "We do make a rather impressive couple." "Darling, we've been an impressive couple for years." "True. But it's nice to acknowledge it occasionally." Maeve laughed. Amber turned toward her. "Ready?" "Almost." She adjusted the delicate necklace at Amber's throat. "There." Amber looked down. "Was it crooked?" "Not anymore." She leaned closer and kissed her wife. Amber returned the kiss with a smile. "Now?" "Now." --- The main room was occupied when they came to common room. Iris looked up first. "Lovely." Brenda whistled appreciatively. "Well, somebody's going to make an impression." Amber grinned. "That is rather the idea." Yukari examined the two women with quiet approval. "Very elegant." "Thank you," Maeve replied. Shammy rose from the couch. She approached them, looked from one to the other, and smiled. "Take care." Amber's expression softened. "We will." Maeve hugged her. "We'll be in contact when we can." Shammy nodded. "Good." Iris handed Maeve the final confirmation details. "Transportation is arranged. Their private shuttle will collect you at the designated departure point." Maeve accepted the information. "Everything in order?" "Yes." "Any new findings?" "Nothing that changes the plan." Amber looked toward Brenda. "And you?" Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Me?" "Any final warnings about the Badlands?" Brenda considered. "Don't trust a mountain just because somebody's put expensive furniture inside it." Amber laughed. "Noted." Iris shook her head. "Darling." "What? It's good advice." "It is," Yukari observed. Brenda looked triumphant. "See?" Maeve smiled. "We'll remember." Amber took her wife's hand. "Come on, darling. We have a gathering to attend." --- The private shuttle waiting at the departure point was immaculate. Its interior was spacious, comfortable, and designed for discretion. Their driver greeted them by name. "Mrs. O'Sullivan. Mrs. O'Sullivan. Welcome." Maeve returned the greeting. "Thank you." Amber glanced inside. "Very comfortable." "We aim to make our guests' journeys as pleasant as possible." "An excellent philosophy." The driver smiled. They settled into their seats. The doors closed. Night City's skyline gradually receded behind them. For a while, the journey was uneventful. Amber watched the scenery. Maeve reviewed the invitation once more. Eventually, Amber leaned toward her wife. "Well?" Maeve glanced up. "Yes?" "Any last thoughts?" "Several." "Anything concerning?" "Not yet." Amber smiled. "Good." Maeve set the invitation aside. "But I'm very interested in seeing their venue." "The architecture?" "Among other things." Amber knew what she meant. The rune. The carefully constructed symbol incorporated into Barkuk Khazad's corporate identity. The fact that someone within the organization understood its significance. And the extraordinary fortune that seemed to follow the company's every important decision. It might all be coincidence. An unusual collection of perfectly innocent facts. Or it might be something else. They would find out. The shuttle left the main road and followed a private route into the hills. The landscape grew increasingly rugged. Rock formations rose on either side. The road was maintained far better than Amber would have expected from such an isolated location. Eventually, the vehicle slowed. Ahead, the hillside opened around a broad entrance built into the natural rock. Subtle architectural lighting illuminated a reception area that looked more like the entrance to an exclusive resort than anything associated with an industrial facility. Amber stared. "Well." Maeve leaned forward. "Oh, my." The driver smiled. "Welcome to Barkuk Khazad's private retreat." Amber looked at her wife. "Darling?" "Yes?" "I think this may be a very interesting evening." Maeve smiled. "Indeed." Then she looked past the beautifully finished entrance. At the stone. At the architecture. And at the first faint pattern carved into the rock beside the doors. Her smile remained. But her eyes sharpened. Another rune. Then another. And another. Not the good-fortune pattern from the corporate logo. Something different. Something arranged with extraordinary precision. Maeve did not yet have enough information to understand the complete structure. But one thing was already clear. Barkuk Khazad's interest in runes extended considerably further than its corporate branding. She slipped her arm through Amber's. "Ready, darling?" Amber smiled brightly. "Absolutely." Together, they stepped toward the entrance. --- ## Chapter 4 — The Art of Hospitality The entrance to Barkuk Khazad's private retreat was beautiful. That was Amber's first impression. Her second was that somebody had spent an almost obscene amount of money making it look as though they hadn't. The natural rock formed a broad arch above the entrance, its rough surfaces illuminated by carefully concealed lighting. Beneath it, polished dark stone extended into a reception hall where discreet gold accents complemented the surrounding geology. Nothing seemed out of place. Nothing was excessive. The architecture gave the impression that the mountain itself had politely agreed to accommodate an exclusive corporate gathering. Amber approved. "Well," she murmured, "somebody has excellent taste." Maeve regarded the entrance. "Several somebodies, I suspect." Their driver smiled. "Mr. O'Sullivan's guests frequently say the same." Amber looked at him. "Mr. O'Sullivan?" The driver blinked. Then looked momentarily horrified. "My apologies, Mrs. O'Sullivan. I meant our CEO's guests." Maeve smiled reassuringly. "An understandable mistake." Amber's answering expression was sunshine itself. "Darling, if you start calling us by our surnames, you'll be addressing half the room eventually." The driver laughed, visibly relieved. "Welcome, ladies." He indicated the entrance. "Your hosts are expecting you." --- Inside, an elegant reception desk stood against a wall of dark stone. Two attendants greeted the arriving guests. There were no visible queues. No conspicuous security personnel. No impatient executives waiting to have their identities confirmed. Everything moved with quiet precision. Amber watched a pair of guests ahead of them complete their arrival arrangements. A tall man in an expensive suit exchanged a few words with the receptionist. His companion, an elegantly dressed woman with silver jewelry, signed something on a discreet display. Both were smiling. The attendant handed them small cards. The couple moved into the interior of the retreat. Then it was Amber and Maeve's turn. "Mrs. Amber O'Sullivan. Mrs. Maeve O'Sullivan." The receptionist's smile was warm. "We're delighted you could join us." Maeve returned the greeting. "Thank you. Your venue is extraordinary." "We're very proud of it." Amber glanced around. "I can see why." The receptionist checked their invitations. "Your accommodations are ready. If you'd like to remain overnight, everything has already been arranged." "How thoughtful," Maeve replied. "The gathering will continue into the early hours. Most guests prefer not to travel back to Night City immediately afterward." Amber smiled. "A perfectly sensible arrangement." "Of course, private transportation can be arranged whenever you wish to depart." Maeve noticed that. So did Amber. The statement was clear. Ordinary. Unforced. It was exactly the sort of assurance Rogue's surviving witness had wanted from the company arranging her booking. Of course, this was a corporate guest reception. Not a private joytoy engagement. The distinction mattered. Still, Maeve made a mental note. "Thank you," she said. "We may take advantage of the accommodations." "Wonderful." The receptionist presented two slim cards. "These will provide access to the guest areas and your suite. Our hospitality staff will be happy to assist with anything you need." Amber accepted hers. "Anything?" The receptionist smiled. "Within reason, Mrs. O'Sullivan." Amber laughed. "How disappointing." Maeve gave her wife an affectionate look. "Behave, darling." "I am behaving." "Remarkably." The receptionist's smile widened. Clearly, she was accustomed to guests who enjoyed themselves. --- A hostess escorted them into the main gathering area. Amber stopped. For once, she was genuinely impressed enough to forget an immediate joke. The cavern was enormous. Natural stone rose high overhead, disappearing into a network of vaulted surfaces softened by carefully positioned lighting. Terraces had been built along the walls, overlooking a broad central floor arranged for conversation and entertainment. A long bar occupied one side. Opposite it, beautifully presented food was available from several stations. Comfortable seating areas were distributed throughout the chamber. Small groups of guests stood talking beneath the warm glow of hanging lights. Music drifted through the space, present enough to create atmosphere without overwhelming conversation. There were no obvious conference banners. No advertising displays. No podium waiting for an executive presentation. It looked like an exceptionally luxurious private party. Amber finally found her voice. "Okay." Maeve smiled. "Just okay?" "Darling, if I compliment it any more enthusiastically, Iris is going to demand we redesign our own reception area." Maeve laughed softly. "She might." "And Brenda will want to know how they got the lighting into the ceiling." "She certainly will." Their hostess smiled. "The cavern was developed specifically to preserve the natural character of the space." "It's beautiful," Maeve said. "We're very glad you think so." Amber looked up. "How much of it is natural?" "Most of the chamber. The original formations were preserved wherever possible." Maeve followed Amber's gaze. And saw the runes. Not one. Not ten. Hundreds. They were incorporated into the stonework with extraordinary care. Some occupied narrow bands near the ceiling. Others followed natural seams in the rock. Several formed complex arrangements around the upper reaches of the walls. The casual observer might have mistaken them for decorative carvings. The lighting encouraged exactly that interpretation. Amber noticed their abundance immediately. Maeve understood something more. These weren't isolated symbols. They were components of a single, carefully coordinated system. Her expression remained composed. But the pleasant curiosity she had been displaying sharpened into genuine intellectual interest. The arrangements were old in design, although portions of the carving appeared considerably newer. Some inscriptions had been restored. Others had been incorporated into structural modifications. Their geometry was deliberate. Their relationship to the cavern's shape was equally deliberate. And their emphasis was peculiar. Maeve studied a long sequence running above a broad passageway. Then another. Then the pattern surrounding the central chamber. Her thoughts began fitting the pieces together. These weren't principally intended to attract good fortune. They weren't even focused on the guests. They were directed inward. And downward. Something was being contained. Or, more precisely, something's influence was being suppressed. Maeve felt a familiar, unpleasant coldness settle behind her ribs. Not fear. Recognition. She had encountered enough runic systems to know the difference between protection and suppression. The inscriptions above them belonged unmistakably to the latter category. They were damping something coming from beneath the cavern. Something substantial enough to require hundreds of carefully maintained runes. Maeve took Amber's arm. Her smile remained charming. "Darling." Amber glanced at her. "Yes?" "Have you noticed the ceiling?" Amber looked up again. "Hard to miss." "It's quite remarkable." "Very." Maeve squeezed her arm gently. Amber understood. Not the runes. Not their purpose. But the warning. Something here mattered. A great deal. She smiled brightly. "Well, we shall have to admire it properly later." "Indeed." Their hostess gestured toward the main floor. "Please make yourselves comfortable. Our CEO will be delighted to welcome you personally." Maeve inclined her head. "We look forward to it." --- They had barely reached the central floor when someone greeted them. "Mrs. O'Sullivan?" Amber turned. A tall, distinguished man in his late forties stood beside a small group of guests. His dark suit was impeccably tailored. His manner was relaxed. And his expression suggested the effortless confidence of someone accustomed to making decisions worth considerable sums of money. "Yes?" Amber replied pleasantly. He smiled. "My apologies for the interruption. I believe we have a mutual acquaintance." Maeve turned toward him. "How intriguing." He introduced himself as a senior executive from a major logistics organization. Amber recognized the company immediately. O'Sullivan SAS had been interested in establishing a relationship with it for some time. Not desperately interested. But enough that Iris had mentioned it during their preparations. Amber's smile became genuinely warm. "Of course. I've heard excellent things about your organization." "Then I hope the reports were accurate." "Mostly," Amber replied. The man laughed. Maeve joined the conversation. Within minutes, they were discussing the challenges of managing a large, geographically distributed operation. Not formal negotiations. Just professional conversation. The executive was intelligent. Pleasant. And clearly interested in their experience. Maeve found herself enjoying the exchange. It was a real opportunity. No pretending required. After several minutes, the executive glanced toward the bar. "Would either of you care for a drink?" Amber smiled. "That would be lovely." Maeve nodded. "Thank you." They moved together toward the bar. Their new acquaintance spoke about the gathering with the easy familiarity of a returning guest. "First time here?" "Yes," Maeve replied. "Then you're in for an interesting evening." Amber grinned. "Everyone keeps telling us that." "With good reason." Maeve regarded him. "You've attended before?" "Several times." "And you enjoy it?" "Immensely." He smiled. "The professional benefits alone have been remarkable." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Oh, absolutely. I've met some of my most valuable business associates here." "How fortunate," Maeve observed. The executive laughed. "Fortune is something Barkuk Khazad takes very seriously." Maeve smiled. "So we've noticed." --- The bar was excellent. That, Amber decided, was hardly surprising. A corporation capable of transforming a natural cavern into this sort of venue was unlikely to economize on its drinks. Their companion recommended a particular champagne. Amber approved after the first sip. "Very nice." Maeve tasted hers. "Excellent." The executive looked pleased. "One of the advantages of knowing the host." Amber smiled. "Clearly." They continued talking. The conversation was lighter now. More personal. Their companion asked how long they had been married. Maeve answered easily. Amber added an affectionate comment that made him laugh. He appeared entirely comfortable with their relationship. That was encouraging. Then Amber asked about his own family. He spoke warmly about his wife, who was spending the weekend elsewhere with friends. He also mentioned, with an amused smile, that she had attended previous gatherings with him and had enjoyed them immensely. "She's considerably more sociable than I am," he admitted. Amber laughed. "I find that difficult to believe." "Believe me. She could make friends with a hostile board of directors." Maeve smiled. "A useful talent." "Very." He regarded the two women thoughtfully. "You'll fit in well here." Amber tilted her head. "Why do you say that?" "Because you seem comfortable with yourselves." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "An interesting observation." "Perhaps. But this gathering has a particular atmosphere." "Which is?" Amber asked. The executive smiled. "People tend to leave their usual inhibitions at the entrance." Amber's eyes brightened. "That sounds promising." Maeve glanced at her wife. "Amber." "What?" "Nothing, darling." Their companion laughed. "I see you'll have no difficulty enjoying yourselves." --- Elsewhere in the cavern, conversations flowed freely. Amber noticed a few things. Guests addressed one another with surprising familiarity. Physical affection was common. A woman kissed a man beside the bar before returning to a conversation with someone else. Two executives stood close together on one of the terraces, their interaction considerably more intimate than ordinary corporate networking. Nobody appeared scandalized. Nobody seemed concerned. The atmosphere was openly adult. And apparently entirely unremarkable to the returning guests. Amber found that rather refreshing. She also noticed something else. The men and women around them weren't simply fashionable socialites. These were serious businesspeople. People with genuine influence. People who knew their industries. And people who appeared to be enjoying an evening free from the usual corporate restraints. Interesting. Very interesting indeed. Maeve, meanwhile, had become increasingly conscious of the runes. They were everywhere. Carefully positioned. Exceptionally well maintained. And unmistakably designed to keep an influence from below from spreading freely through the upper cavern. Whoever had built the system understood the work. Whoever maintained it possessed considerable expertise. That made the apparent frivolity of the gathering increasingly unsettling. Hundreds of people might have admired the decorations without asking a single question. Maeve was not one of them. But she couldn't investigate openly. Not yet. She needed to learn how the building functioned. Where its lower access points were located. And, above all, what required such an elaborate suppressive system. --- Their first conversation ended when the logistics executive was summoned by another acquaintance. He looked genuinely disappointed to leave. "I hope we have an opportunity to speak again later." Maeve smiled. "So do we." Amber nodded. "Absolutely." He took her hand briefly. "A pleasure, Mrs. O'Sullivan." "And ours." He turned to Maeve. "Mrs. O'Sullivan." "Until later." After he left, Amber took another sip of champagne. "Well." Maeve smiled. "Yes?" "That's one very promising contact." "Agreed." "And Iris is going to be delighted." "Potentially." Amber looked at her. "You noticed something." Maeve maintained her smile. "Several things." "About him?" "About the room." Amber glanced around. "The architecture?" "Among other things." Amber lowered her voice. "The carvings?" Maeve nodded almost imperceptibly. "Yes." "Bad?" "Potentially." "How bad?" Maeve considered. "I don't know yet." Amber studied her expression. Then nodded. "All right." Neither woman needed to say more. They were in a crowded room. Surrounded by guests. Under observation. And there was no reason to attract attention. Amber smiled. "Shall we mingle?" Maeve's answering expression was warm. "An excellent idea." --- The next hour was remarkably enjoyable. That surprised neither woman. They were, after all, rather good at navigating social environments. Amber's easy charm opened conversations. Maeve's precise questions kept them interesting. Together, they moved through the gathering with a natural rhythm that made their marriage part of their professional advantage. One executive represented a technology company that had recently expanded into industrial security systems. Another managed an investment group interested in emerging infrastructure markets. A third was involved in the management of corporate property portfolios. All were legitimate business contacts. All had reasons to be interested in O'Sullivan SAS. And all appeared to regard Barkuk Khazad's gathering as a privileged opportunity. Amber listened carefully. Maeve made mental notes. They did not negotiate contracts. The invitation had explicitly discouraged it. But they learned a great deal. About companies. About people. And about the peculiar social culture of Barkuk Khazad's inner circle. One detail kept recurring. The returning guests referred to the gathering as an opportunity to establish _trust_. Not ordinary professional trust. Something more personal. They spoke about openness. About removing barriers. About understanding prospective partners beyond the limitations of formal corporate conduct. The language was polished. The implications were becoming increasingly obvious. Amber was beginning to suspect that the evening's social customs extended considerably beyond champagne and affectionate greetings. She wasn't particularly troubled by that possibility. But she was curious. Very curious. --- The CEO found them near one of the upper terraces. "Mrs. O'Sullivan. Mrs. O'Sullivan." Maeve turned. "How lovely to see you again." He smiled. "And you. I trust you're enjoying the evening?" Amber's expression brightened. "Immensely." "Excellent." He looked pleased. "Have you had an opportunity to meet some of our other guests?" "Several," Maeve replied. "And?" "An impressive group of people." "Thank you." "Your organization certainly knows how to cultivate valuable relationships." The CEO laughed. "One of our principal strengths." Amber smiled. "I can believe it." He regarded them both. "You seem to have settled in remarkably quickly." Maeve inclined her head. "We're accustomed to meeting new people." "Indeed." "Although your gathering has a particularly pleasant atmosphere." The CEO smiled. "I'm delighted you think so." He glanced toward the main floor. "Many first-time guests are somewhat surprised." Amber raised an eyebrow. "By what?" "The informality." Maeve smiled. "We've noticed." "And?" Amber answered before Maeve could. "We rather like it." The CEO laughed. "Excellent." He appeared genuinely pleased. Then he looked toward a group of returning guests nearby. "Perhaps I should explain something about our philosophy." Maeve regarded him with interest. "Please." He gestured toward the room. "Business is built on relationships. Genuine relationships. Not merely contracts or carefully rehearsed professional assurances." "Agreed," Maeve said. "Unfortunately, many executives spend their entire lives maintaining barriers between themselves and others." Amber smiled. "Occupational hazard." "Precisely." He returned the smile. "Here, we prefer to remove some of those barriers." Maeve nodded. "By encouraging personal acquaintance." "Exactly." "And greater intimacy?" Amber asked pleasantly. The CEO regarded her. Then laughed softly. "Mrs. O'Sullivan, you are remarkably perceptive." Amber's smile widened. "I have my moments." --- The CEO continued without embarrassment. "Our gatherings are intended for adults who understand that professional and personal relationships need not exist in entirely separate worlds." Maeve inclined her head. "An interesting approach." "One that has proven extremely successful." "So your company's performance suggests," Maeve replied. He smiled. "Quite." Amber glanced toward the guests below. "And everyone is comfortable with the arrangement?" "Participation in our social activities is a matter of personal choice." Maeve nodded. "As it should be." "Naturally." He paused. "Although our closest partnerships generally develop among people who share our philosophy." Amber regarded him with cheerful interest. "So those willing to get to know one another more personally tend to have an advantage." "One might put it that way." Maeve smiled. "And this is why formal commercial discussions wait until after the gathering." The CEO inclined his head. "Precisely." Amber laughed softly. "How wonderfully unconventional." The CEO looked delighted. "I thought you might appreciate it." Maeve glanced at Amber. They exchanged one of those brief looks that contained considerably more information than any spoken sentence could have conveyed. The implication was becoming unmistakable. Barkuk Khazad's version of relationship-building was considerably more intimate than ordinary networking. And the company appeared to consider participation a meaningful indicator of compatibility. Interesting. Very interesting. But the CEO had not yet explained the full extent of the expectations. Maeve intended to find out. "Tell me," she said pleasantly, "how do your guests usually decide which relationships to pursue?" The CEO smiled. "Quite naturally, I find." Amber raised an eyebrow. "That sounds delightfully vague." He laughed. "Perhaps. But experience has taught me that people tend to recognize compatible company when they encounter it." Maeve nodded. "Fair enough." He regarded them both with interest. "And I must say, you two seem particularly comfortable with the atmosphere." Amber smiled brightly. "Why wouldn't we be?" "Some prospective partners are rather more reserved." Maeve's expression remained warm. "There's nothing wrong with reservation." "Of course not." "But neither of us has ever found it necessary to pretend that business and pleasure are mutually exclusive." The CEO's smile broadened. "An excellent philosophy." Amber leaned slightly against Maeve. "We've always thought so." --- The conversation continued for several minutes. The CEO was charming. Intelligent. And sufficiently skilled at reading people that neither woman underestimated him. He asked thoughtful questions about O'Sullivan SAS. He remembered details from their previous meeting. He showed genuine interest in their professional experience. Nothing about him suggested a foolish or careless cult leader. Quite the opposite. He behaved exactly like a successful executive who understood that money was only one element of influence. Personal loyalty mattered. Social obligation mattered. Trust mattered. And apparently, intimacy mattered too. Eventually, he excused himself to greet another group of guests. "I hope you'll continue enjoying the evening." Maeve smiled. "We certainly intend to." Amber nodded. "Absolutely." The CEO regarded them with unmistakable approval. "Wonderful. We shall speak again later." He departed. Amber watched him go. Then looked at Maeve. "Well." Maeve smiled. "Indeed." "He's rather pleased with us." "Very." "And I think we're beginning to understand why." Maeve nodded. "Yes." Amber glanced around. "Interesting little arrangement." "Quite." "Potentially very profitable." "Certainly." Amber smiled. "And possibly rather enjoyable." Maeve laughed softly. "You are incorrigible." "Darling, you knew that before you married me." "Indeed I did." Maeve took Amber's hand. "But let's keep one thing in mind." Amber's smile softened. "The missing women." "Yes." "I haven't forgotten." "I know." For a moment, the playfulness faded. Then Amber glanced toward the cavern ceiling. "And the runes?" Maeve's expression grew thoughtful. "Those concern me considerably more." "Can you tell what they're doing?" "Yes." Amber turned fully toward her. Maeve kept her voice low. "They're suppressing something." "Something?" "An influence rising from below." Amber glanced toward the floor. "Below us?" "Yes." "How far?" "I don't know." Amber considered that. "Could be a power source?" "Not an ordinary one." "Something ancient?" "Possibly." Amber studied her expression. "You look worried." Maeve was silent for a moment. Then she nodded. "I am." That was enough. Amber knew Maeve. She knew the difference between intellectual curiosity and genuine concern. And she knew that Maeve did not become concerned without reason. Amber slipped her hand into Maeve's. "All right." Maeve looked at her. "We need to learn more." "We will." "Carefully." "Of course." Amber smiled. "Meanwhile, we have a gathering to attend." Maeve returned the smile. "Indeed." --- Far beneath the luxurious chamber, the ancient binding platform remained intact. Its runes held. The immense creature resting upon it was alive. Aware. And unable to leave. The suppressive inscriptions in the upper cavern performed their work with extraordinary efficiency. They did not imprison the thing. That was the purpose of the binding platform. Instead, they prevented its presence from reaching freely into the gathering above. The guests could laugh. Talk. Drink. Enjoy themselves. And believe that the unusual good fortune surrounding Barkuk Khazad was merely the result of excellent judgment and influential relationships. The people responsible for maintaining the system knew better. They also knew that the next phase of the evening would soon begin. The gathering had always served two purposes. One was visible. The cultivation of valuable relationships. The other remained hidden. The careful selection of people who might become useful to the organization in ways that extended far beyond ordinary business. For the moment, Amber and Maeve were merely promising guests. Two charming, successful women. Married. Confident. Professionally valuable. And apparently entirely comfortable with the gathering's unconventional atmosphere. The CEO considered them particularly interesting. He had no reason to suspect that one of them could read the runes carved into his cavern walls. Nor that the other could become one of the most dangerous people in Night City if given sufficient reason. And he certainly had no reason to suspect that somewhere above the music, laughter, and discreetly intimate conversations, the first threads of his organization's destruction had already begun to form. --- ## Chapter 5 — The Unwritten Rule Amber O'Sullivan had attended some remarkably unusual corporate functions. She had met executives who considered themselves royalty, financiers who treated ordinary laws as polite suggestions, and wealthy entrepreneurs whose greatest achievement was convincing other wealthy people that they were visionaries. She had even attended gatherings where the entertainment budget exceeded the annual income of a small neighborhood. But Barkuk Khazad was beginning to distinguish itself. Not through extravagance. Not through unpleasant behavior. Quite the opposite. Everyone seemed extraordinarily comfortable. The guests were friendly. The hospitality was impeccable. The conversations were interesting. And nobody appeared to be pretending that the gathering was an ordinary business reception. Amber rather liked that. Maeve, however, had another reason for remaining interested. The runes. She had counted several distinct sequences from their current position, and each new section reinforced her initial assessment. The cavern was protected against something beneath it. Or, more accurately, the guests were being shielded from something below. The distinction was not reassuring. "Darling?" Maeve turned. Amber was holding two fresh glasses of champagne. "You looked as though you were trying to solve an equation." Maeve smiled. "Only a small one." "Good. I would hate to compete with mathematics for your attention." "You've never had much difficulty." Amber handed her a glass. "Then let's preserve that excellent record." Maeve accepted it. They touched glasses. For a moment, they simply enjoyed the gathering. The music was excellent. The food even better. And the atmosphere was becoming increasingly relaxed as the evening progressed. On the central floor, several guests had begun dancing. Others had drifted toward the quieter terraces. An affectionate kiss between two executives attracted no more attention than a handshake would have at an ordinary corporate reception. Amber glanced around. "Well." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "I believe we've established that the dress code is considerably more restrictive than the social code." Maeve laughed. "An astute observation." "Thank you." "Although I'm not sure we've discovered the full extent of either." Amber grinned. "Something to look forward to." --- Their earlier acquaintance from the logistics industry reappeared shortly afterward. He was accompanied by an elegantly dressed woman whose easy confidence suggested that she had attended many such gatherings before. "Mrs. O'Sullivan. Mrs. O'Sullivan." Amber smiled. "Lovely to see you again." "Likewise." He introduced his companion, a senior strategy executive from a major investment organization. Maeve recognized the company's name immediately. Another potential client. And a particularly valuable one. The woman greeted them warmly. "I've heard you've been making quite an impression." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Already?" "Word travels quickly here." Maeve smiled. "I hope favorably." "Very." Their conversation began with ordinary introductions. The woman was intelligent, amusing, and refreshingly direct. She asked about O'Sullivan SAS. Maeve explained the company's particular strengths. Amber contributed several observations about the challenges of maintaining effective security across complex corporate operations. Their new acquaintance listened with genuine interest. "That could be extremely useful to us." Maeve inclined her head. "I'd be delighted to explore the possibilities." The woman smiled. "Perhaps after the gathering." Amber looked amused. "Everyone seems determined to postpone business." "Naturally." "May I ask why?" The woman glanced toward their logistics acquaintance. He smiled. "Perhaps we should explain." Maeve took a measured sip of champagne. "I would appreciate that." --- They moved to a quieter seating area overlooking the central chamber. From there, the gathering appeared almost theatrical. Beautiful people. Expensive clothes. Warm lighting. A remarkable concentration of wealth and influence. Amber settled comfortably beside Maeve. Their companions took the seats opposite. The woman spoke first. "There's something you should understand about Barkuk Khazad's gatherings." Maeve smiled. "We're listening." "The professional connections made here can be exceptionally valuable." "So we've been told," Amber replied. "And they are. But the host believes formal business negotiations become considerably easier once the people involved have established genuine personal intimacy." Amber tilted her head. "That sounds like a rather broad interpretation of networking." The woman laughed. "It is." Maeve regarded her with interest. "And how is that intimacy established?" Their logistics acquaintance smiled. "Quite directly." Amber's answering smile was bright. "I suspected as much." The woman leaned forward slightly. "Let me save you some confusion. There is a rule here." "A written one?" Maeve asked. "No." "Then how does everyone know about it?" "Returning guests explain it to newcomers when the conversation becomes relevant." Maeve nodded. "A tradition." "Exactly." The woman glanced around the cavern. "You're free to enjoy the hospitality without participating. Nobody should interfere with that choice. But the closest business relationships generally begin with a private encounter." Amber smiled. "An intimate one." "Yes." "And formal negotiations wait until afterward?" Maeve asked. "That is the understanding." The logistics executive nodded. "Quite an effective icebreaker, in my experience." Amber laughed. "That's one way to describe it." --- Maeve was beginning to see the design of the evening. Not the runic design. The social one. The gathering separated ordinary visitors from prospective insiders without requiring anyone to announce a selection process. Some guests attended for hospitality. Others for existing friendships. A smaller group cultivated new relationships through intimate encounters. And those relationships provided access to the business opportunities Barkuk Khazad's network could offer. It was a sophisticated arrangement. Socially unconventional. Commercially effective. And potentially troubling. Because the distinction between personal choice and access to professional opportunity could become uncomfortably narrow. Maeve regarded the woman opposite her. "May I ask a practical question?" "Of course." "If someone doesn't wish to participate?" "Then they don't." "Does that end their commercial relationship with Barkuk Khazad?" "Not necessarily. Ordinary business continues through ordinary channels." "But the inner circle?" The woman smiled faintly. "That's different." Amber exchanged a brief glance with Maeve. There it was. The price of admission. Not a direct command. Not an explicit contractual obligation. An expectation understood by everyone who wanted to move beyond the ordinary level of access. Maeve nodded. "Thank you for explaining." "You're welcome." The logistics executive looked toward Amber. "Does the arrangement concern you?" Amber considered. "Not particularly. Adults are perfectly capable of deciding how they wish to spend an evening." "Precisely." "But I prefer to understand the expectations before deciding whether they're interesting." The woman smiled. "Very sensible." Maeve added, "And we don't confuse an invitation with an obligation." "Neither should you." Their companions appeared satisfied. The logistics executive smiled. "Then I believe you'll find this gathering remarkably enjoyable." Amber's eyes sparkled. "I'm beginning to think so." --- The conversation drifted toward lighter subjects. Travel. Corporate culture. The extraordinary expense of maintaining private residences in Night City. Their new acquaintances were good company. And, remarkably, the business opportunities remained genuine. The logistics executive described several organizational challenges O'Sullivan SAS could plausibly help resolve. The strategy director mentioned an upcoming expansion that would require specialist risk-management support. Neither attempted to negotiate terms. Both seemed comfortable with postponing those discussions. Amber found herself increasingly amused by the situation. She and Maeve had come to investigate possible disappearances. They had discovered an impressive corporate networking event. And now several potentially lucrative clients were effectively explaining that they preferred to become intimately acquainted before discussing contracts. Night City never failed to surprise her. But she also noticed something that kept the situation from being merely entertaining. The returning guests understood the expectations. The newcomers had to discover them. That imbalance mattered. Whoever controlled access to the inner circle also controlled access to some exceptionally attractive business opportunities. And the CEO had clearly made that arrangement work to his advantage. --- Eventually, their companions excused themselves. The logistics executive promised they would meet again later. The woman gave Maeve a particularly warm smile. "I hope we have more time to talk." "So do I." "You're both delightful." "Thank you." The woman rose. "Enjoy yourselves." Amber smiled. "We intend to." After they departed, Maeve remained seated for a moment. Amber looked at her. "Well." Maeve turned. "Yes?" "I believe that answers several questions." "Indeed." "Although it raises a few more." Maeve smiled. "Such as?" "Whether Iris would classify this as business development or employee benefits." Maeve laughed. "Possibly both." Amber leaned back. "She's going to have a wonderful time reading our report." "Assuming we write it accurately." "Oh, we must." Maeve regarded her with affectionate amusement. "You sound remarkably enthusiastic." "Darling, we came here hoping to establish contacts. We have now met several promising prospective clients who seem to prefer rather unconventional introductions." "A fair summary." "And neither of us is particularly troubled by consenting adults enjoying themselves." "Also fair." Amber tilted her head. "So what's the problem?" Maeve considered the question seriously. "The disappearances." Amber nodded immediately. "And the runes." "Yes." "And whether the people organizing this gathering are involved in something far worse than their unusual networking arrangements." "Precisely." Amber looked around the chamber. "Then we keep our eyes open." "We do." "And we don't pretend that enjoying the evening prevents us from investigating." Maeve smiled. "No, darling. We don't." --- They decided to inspect the guest accommodations before the evening progressed further. That was entirely reasonable. They had been offered a suite. They might remain overnight. And the hospitality staff had assured them that they could visit it whenever they wished. Amber requested directions. An attendant escorted them through a broad passage leading away from the central cavern. The change in atmosphere was immediate. The music became a distant murmur. Soft lighting illuminated polished stone and elegant architectural details. The passage opened into a quieter section containing guest suites and private lounges. Amber glanced around. "Very nice." Maeve agreed. But she was looking at the stonework. The runes continued here. Fewer than in the main chamber, but still carefully positioned. She noticed one sequence beside a structural arch. Another near the intersection of two passages. Their geometry was consistent with the larger system. Whatever the suppressive arrangement protected against, it extended through the inhabited portions of the retreat. Maeve studied an intersection ahead. One corridor led toward the suites. Another descended slightly before disappearing behind a controlled-access door. A discreet security panel stood beside it. Amber noticed Maeve's glance. Then looked toward the door herself. No guards. No obvious warning signs. Only a controlled entrance that might lead to anything from maintenance equipment to private administrative areas. Nothing they could reasonably investigate while accompanied by a hostess. Maeve turned back toward their escort. "Is the entire complex built inside the mountain?" "Most of the guest facilities, yes." "Extraordinary." "Thank you." "Are there lower levels?" "Service areas, technical facilities, and some private spaces." Amber smiled. "I imagine a place like this takes quite a lot of maintenance." "Certainly." "Especially with so many guests." The hostess nodded. "Our operations team is very experienced." Maeve smiled. "It shows." They continued toward the suite. --- The accommodations were exceptional. A spacious bedroom. A beautifully appointed bathroom. A sitting area overlooking a smaller natural stone chamber. Expensive furnishings. Fresh flowers. A discreet refreshments station. And, to Amber's considerable amusement, an enormous bed. She looked at Maeve. "Well." Maeve smiled. "What?" "Apparently they take guest comfort very seriously." "Indeed." The hostess explained the room controls, transportation arrangements, and available hospitality services. She also confirmed that the suite could be accessed privately throughout the evening. Then she left them alone. Amber waited until the door had closed. She checked the room with practiced efficiency. Maeve did the same. They found nothing immediately concerning. No obvious surveillance devices. No suspicious security measures. No reason to assume their private conversation would be overheard. Only then did Amber settle onto the edge of the bed. "All right." Maeve turned toward her. "Yes?" "Let's talk about the rather enormous elephant in the room." Maeve's expression changed instantly. For one second, she looked genuinely startled. Amber noticed. "Darling?" Maeve recovered her composure. "Nothing." "That was an interesting reaction." "An unfortunate coincidence of phrasing." Amber narrowed her eyes. "You know something?" "Nothing I can substantiate." Amber studied her for a moment. Then nodded. "All right. We'll come back to it." Maeve sat beside her. "Yes." --- They remained silent for a moment. Then Amber smiled. "Now. About this remarkable corporate networking strategy." Maeve laughed softly. "I was wondering when we'd discuss it properly." "Well, we've met several attractive business opportunities." "Yes." "At least two of them could be exceptionally profitable." "Agreed." "And the people involved have made it fairly clear that their preferred route toward serious negotiations begins somewhere considerably more private than a conference room." Maeve smiled. "A remarkably diplomatic description." "Thank you. I've been practicing." Amber leaned back on her hands. "So." "So?" "Are we going to admit the obvious?" Maeve regarded her. "Which obvious?" Amber laughed. "Darling, if we want the full benefits of this particular networking arrangement, we're going to have to open our legs." For a moment, Maeve simply looked at her. Then she burst out laughing. "Amber!" "What?" "You have an alarming talent for reducing an entire sophisticated corporate culture to one filthy sentence." Amber smiled brightly. "Efficiency is one of our services." Maeve laughed harder. "You're impossible." "I'm also correct." Maeve tried to suppress another laugh. Failed. Then nodded. "Yes, darling. You are." Amber grinned. "There. Was that so difficult?" "Apparently not." "And?" "And what?" "Do you object?" Maeve regarded her wife. Then smiled. "Not in principle." "Neither do I." "I had gathered that." Amber laughed. "Good." Maeve took her hand. "But let's be quite clear about something." Amber's expression softened. "I'm listening." "We decide what we want. We don't owe anyone an intimate encounter merely because a contract might be profitable." "Of course not." "And if something feels wrong, we leave." "Absolutely." Maeve squeezed her hand. "Then I see no reason we can't enjoy ourselves while pursuing legitimate business opportunities." Amber's smile widened. "That's my girl." Maeve kissed her. "And I suspect Iris is going to find the entire arrangement highly entertaining." "Oh, Iris is going to lose her mind." They laughed together. For a few moments, the strange cavern, the missing women, and the carefully hidden runic system receded into the background. They were simply Amber and Maeve. Two women who trusted each other. Who knew their own minds. And who had never felt any particular obligation to pretend they were more conventional than they actually were. --- Eventually, Maeve rose. "There's one more thing." Amber looked up. "The runes?" "Yes." Maeve moved toward the sitting area. The stone walls were decorated more discreetly here. But she had noticed several inscriptions near the suite's entrance. Their arrangement confirmed what she already suspected. The entire guest area was protected by the same suppressive system. She looked toward the floor. "Whatever is beneath us, the runes are designed to prevent its influence from spreading into the occupied areas." Amber joined her. "Can you tell what it is?" "No." "Could the system be dangerous to us?" "Not in the way it's configured here." "Meaning?" "It's suppressive. It appears to protect the people above from something below, rather than control their choices." Amber considered that. "So the guests aren't being influenced into behaving this way." "Not by these inscriptions, as far as I can tell." "That's reassuring." "To a point." Amber glanced at her. "Only to a point?" Maeve turned toward her. "Someone went to extraordinary lengths to protect this cavern from whatever lies beneath it." Amber's expression hardened slightly. "And somebody knows why." "Exactly." For a moment, they regarded each other. Then Amber nodded. "We need to find out who." Maeve smiled faintly. "And what." --- Back in the main cavern, the gathering had entered a livelier phase. The music had changed. More guests were dancing. Several couples had retired to quieter areas. Others continued their conversations at the bar or around the terraces. The CEO stood near the central floor, speaking with a small group of senior executives. He noticed Amber and Maeve almost immediately. And smiled. They approached with the relaxed confidence of people thoroughly enjoying themselves. "Mrs. O'Sullivan. Mrs. O'Sullivan." Maeve returned his smile. "Your hospitality is extraordinary." "Thank you." Amber added, "We've been having a wonderful time." "I'm delighted." The CEO regarded them thoughtfully. "And have you found our particular approach to relationship-building interesting?" Maeve smiled. "Very." "Unusual?" "Certainly." "Uncomfortable?" Amber laughed softly. "Not remotely." The CEO's expression brightened. "Excellent." Maeve regarded him. "We've also met several people whose businesses could benefit from our services." "Wonderful." "Although we've been informed that formal negotiations are best left until after more personal acquaintance." The CEO smiled. "That is our tradition." "A rather distinctive one," Maeve observed. "Indeed." Amber tilted her head. "And one that seems to work exceptionally well for you." The CEO laughed. "I believe it does." He glanced toward several guests who were approaching. "Perhaps I should introduce you to a few more people." Maeve smiled. "We'd be delighted." --- The introductions that followed were no accident. The CEO selected his guests carefully. A senior executive with substantial interests in corporate logistics. A financial director involved in several ambitious infrastructure projects. An influential investment adviser with connections across Night City's upper business circles. All were experienced. All were successful. And all appeared genuinely interested in O'Sullivan SAS. Amber recognized what the CEO was doing. He wasn't merely being a gracious host. He was evaluating compatibility. Watching how the two women interacted. Seeing whether they could move comfortably among influential people. Whether they could hold an intelligent conversation. Whether they understood the gathering's unusual social culture. And whether they might become valuable additions to his network. Amber had encountered enough powerful people to recognize an assessment when she saw one. So had Maeve. Neither objected to being assessed. They were conducting an assessment of their own. --- The financial director turned out to be particularly interesting. He had a dry sense of humor, a sharp commercial mind, and an apparently endless collection of stories about disastrously managed acquisitions. Amber laughed at one of them. "Surely nobody approved that without reviewing the liabilities." The director gave her a look. "You would be astonished." Maeve smiled. "Unfortunately, I suspect we wouldn't." "Then you'll appreciate why independent risk assessment can be so valuable." Amber raised her glass. "Now you're speaking our language." He smiled. "I thought I might be." The conversation continued. They discussed business challenges in broad terms. No figures. No formal offers. But the director clearly understood where O'Sullivan SAS might contribute. Eventually, he looked toward the CEO. "May I borrow Mrs. O'Sullivan for a private conversation?" The CEO smiled. "Which one?" The director laughed. "An excellent question." Amber raised an eyebrow. Maeve regarded him with amused interest. The man turned toward Amber. "If your wife doesn't object, I would be delighted to become better acquainted with you." Amber looked at Maeve. Maeve's smile was warm. "Darling, I believe you've been invited." Amber laughed softly. "So I have." She turned back to the director. "And what sort of conversation did you have in mind?" He smiled. "I think you've already been told something about our customs." Amber returned the smile. "Enough to be interested." The director inclined his head. "Then perhaps you'd care to join me in one of the private lounges." Amber considered him. The invitation was clear. So was the fact that she could decline. She smiled. "I think I'd enjoy that." The director offered his arm. Amber accepted. Before leaving, she leaned toward Maeve and kissed her affectionately. "Don't get bored without me, darling." Maeve smiled. "I shall do my best." Amber glanced back. "Try not to sign any contracts without me." Maeve laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it." --- Maeve watched her wife depart with the financial director. Then turned back toward the remaining guests. The investment adviser was smiling. "I must say, you two are remarkably comfortable with one another." Maeve inclined her head. "We've been married long enough to understand each other." "An admirable quality." "We think so." He regarded her thoughtfully. "And do you share your wife's enthusiasm for our host's particular approach to forming relationships?" Maeve smiled. "Very much so." The adviser laughed softly. "Then perhaps you and I might have an opportunity to speak privately as well." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps." "I believe there are several subjects on which our organizations could find common ground." "Professionally?" "Certainly." "And personally?" He smiled. "I would hope so." Maeve studied him. He was attractive. Intelligent. Respectful. And, as far as she could determine, genuinely interested in her company. That didn't establish his innocence. Nor did it mean she trusted Barkuk Khazad. But it did mean she had a choice worth considering. Maeve smiled. "Then perhaps we should become better acquainted." The adviser offered his arm. She accepted. --- From the far side of the cavern, the CEO watched the two women depart with separate companions. His expression was satisfied. Not surprised. He had expected Amber and Maeve to adapt well to the gathering. Their professional confidence had been evident during the initial meeting. Their marriage seemed secure. Their social instincts were excellent. And their willingness to engage with the traditions of his organization suggested that they might be particularly suitable candidates for closer association. He turned toward his executive coordinator. "The O'Sullivans." "Yes, sir?" "Very promising." "Shall I update their preliminary assessment?" "Please." The coordinator made a note. The CEO watched the guests for another moment. Then smiled. "And make certain I have an opportunity to speak with both of them personally before the evening concludes." "Of course, sir." He returned his attention to the gathering. For now, everything was proceeding exactly as he had hoped. --- In one of the retreat's private corridors, Amber walked beside the financial director. They were discussing his company's recent expansion. Not negotiating. Simply exchanging observations. The man was good company. Amber was genuinely enjoying herself. And she understood perfectly well why he had invited her away from the main floor. As they approached a private lounge, he slowed. "Mrs. O'Sullivan?" She looked up. "Yes?" "I hope I haven't been too presumptuous." Amber smiled. "Not at all." "I simply thought we might enjoy a more personal conversation." "An excellent idea." He regarded her. "And you're comfortable with that?" Amber's expression softened slightly. "Yes. I wouldn't have accepted otherwise." He smiled. "Good." Amber glanced toward the lounge. Then back at him. "Besides, I rather like knowing who I'm doing business with." He laughed. "So do I." She took his hand. "Then shall we?" --- Elsewhere in the retreat, Maeve paused beside a window overlooking a beautifully illuminated section of the natural rock. Her companion stopped with her. "Something caught your attention?" "The stonework." He smiled. "Remarkable, isn't it?" "Very." "Apparently the original cavern system is considerably older than anyone expected." Maeve looked interested. "Really?" "That's what our host says." "And the carvings?" The adviser glanced toward a series of decorative inscriptions. "Local tradition, I believe." Maeve smiled. "How fascinating." She knew that explanation was incomplete. But she did not challenge it. Not yet. Instead, she turned toward her companion. "Now, where were we?" He smiled. "I believe we were discussing the advantages of getting to know one another." Maeve's expression warmed. "Of course." She took his offered arm. "Then let's continue." As they moved toward the private lounges, Maeve made one final mental note. The adviser had described the carvings as local tradition. Not structural engineering. Not a commissioned artistic installation. Local tradition. That was the sort of detail worth remembering. But there would be time to examine it later. For now, she had chosen to enjoy the company of an interesting man. And somewhere in the cavern, Amber had made a similar choice. O'Sullivan SAS's unusual evening of business development was proceeding rather well. At least on the surface. --- Far below, the ancient runes continued their work. The enormous creature upon the binding platform remained confined. The suppressive network above remained intact. And the people enjoying Barkuk Khazad's hospitality remained unaware of the terrible arrangement supporting the organization's extraordinary prosperity. In the upper cavern, a number of promising new relationships were beginning. The CEO regarded that as an encouraging development. His organization understood the value of relationships better than most. It understood loyalty. It understood ambition. And it understood that the most valuable opportunities were rarely offered without a price. Tonight, Amber and Maeve had taken their first steps toward his inner circle. He was quite certain they would soon prove themselves worthy of a personal invitation. What he did not know was that the two women had already identified something his guests were never supposed to notice. His magnificent private retreat was not merely an exclusive venue. It was a carefully maintained containment system. And the people responsible for building it had gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that whatever lay beneath the gathering remained there. For now. --- ## Chapter 6 — Personal Investments Amber O'Sullivan had always appreciated a man who understood the difference between confidence and arrogance. The financial director walking beside her appeared to understand it very well. He hadn't assumed his invitation would be accepted. He hadn't tried to impress her with his wealth. And when she had taken his arm, he'd looked genuinely pleased rather than triumphantly satisfied. All promising qualities. "So," Amber said as they approached the private lounge, "how long have you been attending these gatherings?" "Almost two years." "An experienced guest, then." "Something like that." "And you keep coming back." "Wouldn't miss one." Amber glanced up at him. "That good?" He laughed. "Mrs. O'Sullivan, I've made more valuable professional connections at these gatherings than at a decade's worth of conventional conferences." "Quite an endorsement." "It's entirely deserved." They reached a door set into the natural stone. He stopped. "May I?" Amber regarded him with amusement. "You're asking permission to open a door?" "I'm asking whether you'd still like to come inside." Her expression warmed. "Yes. I would." "Excellent." He opened the door. --- The lounge was beautiful. Not enormous. Not ostentatious. Simply an exceptionally comfortable private room with carefully chosen furnishings, warm lighting, and a small refreshments station. Amber appreciated the design. "Very nice." "One of the advantages of being a returning guest." "Priority access?" "Among other things." She laughed. He offered her another drink. Amber declined. "I think I've had enough champagne for the moment." "Water?" "Perfect." He poured two glasses. Amber noticed that he poured his own from the same bottle. They touched glasses. "To new acquaintances," he said. "And promising opportunities," Amber replied. They drank. Then he sat beside her. Not too close. Just close enough to make the possibility of further intimacy perfectly clear. Amber turned toward him. "May I ask something?" "Of course." "Do you always approach prospective business partners this way?" He laughed. "Not always." "Only the particularly interesting ones?" "Precisely." "How flattering." "I hope so." He regarded her for a moment. "Your wife is an extraordinary woman." Amber smiled. "She is." "And you seem very happy together." "We are." "I wouldn't want my invitation to suggest otherwise." Amber's expression softened. "It doesn't." "Good." She set down her glass. "Maeve and I have always understood that loving someone doesn't require pretending other attractive people cease to exist." He considered that. "A remarkably sensible arrangement." "We think so." "And you?" Amber raised an eyebrow. "Me?" "Are you enjoying the evening?" Her smile widened. "Very much." "Then I'm glad." She leaned closer. "Although I suspect we could improve it." He smiled. "I was hoping you might say that." --- Their first kiss was unhurried. Amber found that reassuring. He gave her room to respond, and when she did, the uncertainty between them dissolved into something warmer. He was considerate. And she liked him. That was becoming increasingly obvious. When they parted, he looked at her with a pleased expression. "Well." Amber grinned. "An excellent beginning." "I agree." She kissed him again. This time, neither was particularly interested in discussing financial risk. For a while, their conversation became more personal. They spoke about what they enjoyed, what they expected of the evening, and the importance of being able to say what they wanted without embarrassment. Eventually, Amber glanced toward the bedroom adjoining the lounge. "Shall we?" He looked at her. "Are you sure?" "Quite." He smiled. "Then yes." She took his hand. Their intimacy developed naturally from the attraction they had already acknowledged. Amber teased him about his remarkable commitment to professional networking, and he suggested that some meetings deserved to last considerably longer than an hour. "Still assessing the risk?" he murmured after another kiss. Amber smiled against his mouth. "Darling, if you make me fill out a risk register in bed, I am leaving." He laughed. "Noted." "Good. Then continue." The joking softened rather than disappearing. They made love without hurry, letting the easy confidence of the conversation carry into something more physical. Amber said what she wanted plainly and enjoyed the way he listened without turning attentiveness into hesitation. When she drew him closer, he came willingly. When she wanted a slower pace, he followed it. Pleasure built in stages. Amber's composure finally broke into a breathless laugh as her climax caught her, and she held him close through the aftershocks instead of pretending she was anything other than thoroughly pleased. His own release came later, with Amber still wrapped around him and smiling at the delighted expression he failed to hide. For a while they stayed exactly where they were, breathing together while the room settled around them. He reached for water; Amber stole the first sip from his glass and handed it back with shameless satisfaction. "Successful meeting?" he asked. Amber considered with exaggerated seriousness. "Strong preliminary result. Further contact recommended." He laughed so hard she had to kiss him quiet. She had attended much less successful business functions. --- Elsewhere in the retreat, Maeve O'Sullivan was discovering that her companion possessed a particularly entertaining sense of humor. The investment adviser had spent several minutes describing the spectacular failure of a corporate acquisition he'd once been asked to rescue. "So the board approved the purchase," he concluded, "without anyone noticing that the company's principal asset was effectively worthless." Maeve stared at him. "Surely someone performed due diligence." "Three consulting firms." "Three?" "All extremely expensive." "And none noticed?" "Apparently not." Maeve shook her head. "That is almost impressive." "I thought so." "What happened?" "We withdrew before the transaction closed." "Sensible." "The other investors weren't so fortunate." Maeve gave him an amused look. "I imagine they were less than pleased." "Understatement." He laughed. "Although it taught me an important lesson." "Which was?" "Never confuse an expensive opinion with a competent one." Maeve smiled. "Words to live by." They entered a quieter section of the retreat. Here, the architecture was more intimate. Small lounges opened from the main corridor, each designed to offer privacy without sacrificing the natural character of the cavern. Maeve noticed the runes. Of course she did. Several followed the corridor's structural arches. Others had been incorporated into decorative stonework near the private rooms. The same suppressive logic. The same careful orientation. The entire occupied section of the complex appeared to be part of the system. Her companion followed her gaze. "Remarkable place, isn't it?" "Very." "Apparently the owners spent years developing it." "That long?" "So I'm told." Maeve glanced toward the carved stone. "And the inscriptions?" "Part of the original character, I believe. Although some were restored." "Interesting." "You're interested in old architecture?" "Among other things." He smiled. "Then you'll appreciate the private rooms." --- His lounge was somewhat different from Amber's. Where the financial director's accommodations emphasized comfortable modern luxury, this room retained more of the cavern's natural character. One wall curved gently into the ceiling. A broad window overlooked a small interior garden illuminated by concealed lights. The furnishings were elegant but restrained. Maeve looked around appreciatively. "Beautiful." "I'm glad you think so." "Quite unusual." "One of the reasons I enjoy returning." She approached the window. The garden contained carefully maintained plants, small stone features, and a narrow watercourse. The sound of moving water was almost imperceptible. "Someone put considerable thought into this." "They did." Her companion joined her. For a moment, they simply admired the view. Then he spoke. "May I ask you something rather personal?" Maeve turned. "Certainly." "Does your wife know where you are?" She laughed. "Of course." "And she's comfortable with it?" "Entirely." He nodded. "Good." Maeve regarded him with interest. "Are you concerned?" "Only that I don't wish to create difficulties between two people who clearly love one another." Her expression softened. "That's considerate of you." "I try." "Then allow me to reassure you. Amber and I are very comfortable with our arrangements." He smiled. "I'm pleased to hear that." Maeve stepped closer. "And you?" "Me?" "Are you comfortable?" "Very." "Good." She touched his arm. "Because I find you rather attractive." His smile broadened. "And I find you quite extraordinary." Maeve laughed softly. "Then perhaps we should stop discussing other people's acquisitions." "An excellent suggestion." --- He kissed her. Maeve answered with an easy warmth that surprised him. He drew back just far enough to smile. "Was that sufficiently persuasive?" She regarded him with a perfectly serious expression. "Your opening presentation was promising." He laughed. "Only promising?" "I haven't completed my assessment." "Then I shall endeavor to improve." "Please do." She kissed him again. This time, he stopped trying to be witty. That suited her. Maeve enjoyed a good conversation, particularly with someone capable of matching her humor. But there was also pleasure in allowing a conversation to become something else. She liked the way he listened. She liked that he didn't mistake her confidence for a challenge. And she particularly liked that he seemed delighted when she took the initiative. They moved toward the couch. For a while, they remained there together, exchanging kisses and discovering that their easy conversational rhythm translated rather naturally into affection. His hand settled against her cheek. "Maeve?" "Yes?" "May I tell you something?" "Please." "I'm very glad you accepted my invitation." She smiled. "So am I." "I was hoping you'd say that." "Darling, I rarely do things I don't wish to do." His expression warmed. "A quality I admire." "Good." She leaned closer. "Because I'd like to spend the rest of this evening getting to know you rather better." He smiled. "I would like that very much." --- The bedroom beyond the lounge was softly illuminated. The natural stone curved above the headboard, and a narrow band of decorative carving followed its edge. Maeve noticed it. One more section of the suppressive system. She remembered it. Then she turned her attention back to the man beside her. There would be time for runes later. "Still comfortable?" he asked. She smiled. "Very." "And certain?" "Yes." He returned the smile. "Good." Maeve reached for his hand. "Come here." He obeyed with a quiet laugh. For a little while, they talked as they settled together. There was no rush to prove anything, no need to perform sophistication for an audience that wasn't present. Maeve appreciated that more than she had expected. He was attentive without being hesitant, confident without becoming overbearing. When she asked him to slow down, he did. When she drew him closer again, he followed her invitation. Their lovemaking grew from that mutual understanding. Maeve preferred a slower discovery than Amber usually did, and she made no apology for it. She guided the pace with quiet confidence, sometimes drawing him closer, sometimes making him wait while she decided exactly what she wanted next. He followed her cues without trying to turn them into a contest. They made love fully, the earlier conversation still present in the little smiles they exchanged whenever one of them discovered something the other particularly enjoyed. Maeve's pleasure built gradually, her usual composure thinning one layer at a time until her climax finally took the last of it. She closed her eyes, held him tightly, and let the moment run its course without trying to make it graceful. When she opened her eyes again, he was smiling. "Don't look so pleased with yourself," she murmured. "I was about to ask for my assessment." Maeve's lips curved. "Promising." "Only promising?" She drew him back into a kiss. "Further testing is clearly required." His laugh vanished into the kiss. Some time later, when his own release left him quiet against her, Maeve held him close and smiled against his shoulder as the intensity gave way to a warm, unhurried afterglow. He kissed her forehead. "Well." She laughed softly. "Oh, don't start." He looked puzzled. "What?" "That particular opening word is usually my wife's specialty." "Should I apologize?" "Certainly not." She kissed him. "It was entirely appropriate." --- They remained together for a while. Not because either had forgotten the gathering. Because neither was particularly eager to leave. Maeve lay comfortably beside him, one hand resting against his. The conversation returned gradually. First to inconsequential things. Then to their lives. He told her about a disastrous holiday during which every planned activity had gone wrong. Maeve laughed at his description of a supposedly luxurious hotel that had apparently considered functioning plumbing an optional upgrade. "Surely you complained." "Repeatedly." "And?" "They upgraded me." "To?" "A room with a slightly better view of the same plumbing problem." Maeve burst out laughing. "That's appalling." "Yes." "Did you stay?" "One night. Then I left." "Sensible man." He smiled. "I try." Their laughter faded into comfortable quiet. Then he looked at her. "May I ask how you became involved in O'Sullivan SAS?" Maeve considered. "An interesting story." "I have time." She smiled. "So do I." She gave him a carefully truthful account of the firm's growth, its boutique approach to demanding clients, and the satisfaction she took in work that rewarded real competence. He listened. And asked intelligent questions. Maeve enjoyed that too. It would have been easy to treat the evening as a curious social transaction. Instead, she found herself genuinely liking him. That did not mean she trusted Barkuk Khazad. Nor did it erase the questions waiting beneath the cavern. But she didn't need to dislike someone merely because she had met him in suspicious circumstances. People were rarely that simple. --- Some time later, the adviser rose to prepare tea. Maeve accepted the offer enthusiastically. "An excellent idea." He returned with two cups and settled beside her. She tasted hers. Then looked at him with approval. "Very good." "Thank you." "Where did you find it?" "I asked the hospitality staff." "They seem remarkably capable." "They are." "And discreet." "Extremely." She smiled. "An important quality." "Very." He regarded her for a moment. "Have you enjoyed yourself?" Her expression warmed. "Very much." "I'm pleased." "So am I." A comfortable silence followed. Then he said, "I believe there are several opportunities where our organizations could work together." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Professionally, I presume?" He laughed. "Professionally." "Good. Iris would be terribly disappointed if I returned with only an entertaining story." "Who's Iris?" "One of the women responsible for ensuring our company remains profitable." "She sounds formidable." Maeve smiled. "She is." "Then perhaps we should arrange an introduction." "I think that would be an excellent idea." He considered. "Would next week suit you?" "Potentially. Send the details through our office." "Of course." Maeve took another sip of tea. "And I'll make sure the appropriate people attend." "Excellent." He smiled. "I believe you'll find several of my colleagues very interesting." "Professionally?" "Certainly." She gave him a sidelong look. "And otherwise?" He laughed. "Mrs. O'Sullivan, you are a dangerous woman." Maeve smiled sweetly. "Only to poorly prepared business proposals." --- The conversation continued. Eventually, her companion mentioned Barkuk Khazad's CEO. "You know, I think our host is going to be particularly pleased with you and your wife." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "You're exactly the sort of people he enjoys welcoming into his professional circle." "Competent?" "Certainly." "Successful?" "Obviously." "Charming?" He laughed. "Remarkably." Maeve smiled. "And?" He regarded her thoughtfully. "Comfortable with the idea that a business relationship can become something more personal." She nodded. "That does seem important here." "Very." "Does he expect every new associate to share that view?" "Not every ordinary business associate." Maeve considered the distinction. "But those seeking closer access?" He smiled faintly. "Yes." "Interesting." "I suspect you're going to find him a fascinating man." Maeve returned the smile. "I already do." She meant it. The CEO was fascinating. His company was fascinating. And the elaborate runic system surrounding the gathering was becoming more fascinating with every passing hour. Unfortunately, fascination was not the same thing as reassurance. --- It was nearly an hour later when Amber emerged from her private lounge. She was immaculate. Her short blonde hair had been carefully arranged again. Her blue eyes were bright. And her expression suggested that the evening had been extremely satisfactory. The financial director accompanied her to the main corridor. "I hope we'll see each other again." Amber smiled. "I rather expect we will." "Business?" "Among other things." He laughed. "Excellent." She kissed his cheek. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." "You too." Amber walked toward the main gathering chamber. The music had changed again. The atmosphere had become even more relaxed. Couples moved between the social areas and private corridors. Several guests were dancing. Others sat close together, talking quietly. Amber paused near an overlook. From here, she could see much of the main chamber. And a considerable number of its runic carvings. She glanced upward. The symbols remained as precise and unsettling as before. Then she looked toward the floor. Somewhere beneath the elaborate architecture, something required an enormous suppressive system. She didn't know what. But she intended to find out. A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts. "Darling." Amber turned. Maeve stood a few steps away. Copper-red hair immaculate. Green eyes bright. A faint, unmistakably satisfied smile on her lips. Amber grinned. "Well, well." Maeve approached. "Enjoy yourself?" "Immensely." "Good." "And you?" Maeve's smile widened. "Very much." Amber laughed softly. "Excellent." She slipped an arm around her wife's waist. They kissed. A warm, familiar kiss that had nothing to prove. Then Amber looked up at her. "So." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "Productive evening?" "Exceptionally." "Commercially?" "Potentially." "And personally?" Maeve laughed. "Also exceptionally." Amber looked delighted. "Darling, we're going to have to explain this to Iris." "Oh, I'm looking forward to that." "She'll demand a full report." "Naturally." Amber grinned. "I wonder whether she'll want supporting documentation." Maeve burst out laughing. "Amber!" "What?" "Don't you dare." "Fine. No attachments." "You're impossible." "And yet remarkably successful." Maeve shook her head. "That remains to be established." Amber smiled. "I've arranged a potential client meeting for next week." Maeve regarded her. "Really?" "With the financial director and his team." "Excellent." "And you?" "An introduction to an investment group with several significant risk-management requirements." Amber considered that. Then smiled broadly. "Well." Maeve looked amused. "There it is again." "What?" "Your favorite word." Amber laughed. "Darling, if this evening continues at this rate, Iris may have to hire additional staff." Maeve grinned. "Possibly." --- They moved to a quieter section of the upper terrace. There, Amber's expression became more serious. "Learn anything useful?" Maeve nodded. "A little." "The runes?" "Still functioning. Still suppressive. And the system extends through the private accommodation areas." "Any idea what they're suppressing?" "Not yet." Amber nodded. "I found out something about the CEO." Maeve looked interested. "Go on." "Apparently he takes a rather personal interest in prospective inner-circle associates." Maeve's lips curved. "How personal?" Amber raised an eyebrow. "Very." Maeve considered that. Then nodded. "I heard something similar." "Interesting." "Quite." Amber glanced toward the central chamber. "He'll probably want to meet us again." "I suspect so." "And not merely to discuss our professional qualifications." Maeve laughed softly. "Apparently." Amber considered the situation. Then smiled. "Well, we've come this far." Maeve regarded her. "Darling." "Yes?" "Remember what we agreed." Amber's expression softened. "Of course." "We decide." "Always." Maeve nodded. "Good." Amber leaned closer and kissed her. "Besides, I rather enjoy being married to a woman who knows exactly what she wants." Maeve smiled. "And I rather enjoy being married to you." --- Down on the central floor, Barkuk Khazad's CEO was speaking with his executive coordinator. "The O'Sullivans?" The coordinator checked a discreet display. "Both appear to be enjoying themselves." "So I've noticed." "And several guests have expressed interest in further professional contact." "Excellent." The CEO looked toward the upper terrace. Amber and Maeve stood together, laughing quietly. They appeared completely at ease. He smiled. "An impressive pair." "Very." "Have their initial assessments been updated?" "Yes." "And?" "Exceptionally favorable." The CEO nodded. "Very good." He regarded the two women once more. "Please arrange an opportunity for me to speak with them later." "Together?" "Initially." The coordinator nodded. "And afterward?" The CEO smiled faintly. "I prefer to become personally acquainted with prospective associates before extending certain invitations." "Understood." He returned his attention to the gathering. Everything was proceeding beautifully. --- Far beneath the guests, the ancient binding platform remained undisturbed. The enormous living thing resting upon it did not stir. The runes held. The suppressive network above continued protecting the gathering from its influence. Everything was operating exactly as intended. But the elaborate system had one weakness its maintainers had never seriously considered. Someone might recognize what it was doing. Someone might understand that the hundreds of runes carved into the cavern were not decoration, nor harmless symbols of good fortune. Someone might realize that the entire luxurious retreat existed above something that needed to be contained. And that person might possess both the knowledge and determination to investigate. Upstairs, Maeve O'Sullivan accepted another glass of champagne. She glanced toward the ceiling. Then toward her wife. Amber smiled. "Something on your mind, darling?" Maeve returned the smile. "Several things." "Anything interesting?" "Very." Amber laughed. "Good." She offered her arm. "Shall we go meet some more people?" Maeve accepted. "With pleasure." Together, they returned to the gathering. The CEO was waiting to speak with them. And neither woman had the slightest intention of disappointing him. --- ## Chapter 7 — The Final Introduction The CEO of Barkuk Khazad watched Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan from across the gathering chamber. He was pleased. Not because they were attractive, although that certainly hadn't escaped his notice. And not merely because they had embraced the gathering's unconventional traditions. What interested him was the way they behaved afterward. Some newcomers became self-conscious. Others tried too hard to demonstrate that they belonged. A few treated the experience as though it entitled them to immediate commercial favors. The O'Sullivans had done none of those things. They had returned to the gathering smiling, comfortable, and apparently delighted with their evening. Then they had resumed circulating among the guests as though nothing particularly unusual had happened. Their professional judgment remained intact. Their social confidence hadn't diminished. And, judging by the reports from his associates, both women had made excellent impressions. That was precisely the combination he valued. His executive coordinator approached. "The O'Sullivans have returned from their private meetings." "I noticed." "Both associates have expressed interest in further commercial discussions." "Excellent." "The financial director has already requested a follow-up appointment." The CEO smiled. "He's usually rather selective." "Apparently he considers Mrs. Amber O'Sullivan an exceptionally promising contact." "And Mrs. Maeve O'Sullivan?" "The investment adviser was equally enthusiastic." "Very good." He considered the two women for another moment. "Please invite them to join me." "Together?" "For now." The coordinator nodded. "Of course, sir." --- Amber was admiring the selection of desserts when the invitation arrived. She had already eaten considerably more than she intended. Unfortunately, the pastry chef appeared to regard moderation as a personal insult. Maeve watched her select another small chocolate creation. "Darling." Amber looked up. "Yes?" "Didn't you say you were finished?" "With dinner." "That was twenty minutes ago." "Exactly." Maeve laughed. Amber sampled the dessert. Then closed her eyes briefly. "Oh, that's unfair." "What?" "This." She offered Maeve a taste. Maeve accepted. Considered. Then nodded with genuine appreciation. "That is excellent." "See?" "I see." "Professional quality control." "Naturally." Their conversation was interrupted by a discreet approach from one of the hospitality attendants. "Mrs. O'Sullivan? Mrs. O'Sullivan?" Maeve turned. "Yes?" "Our CEO would be delighted if you could join him." Amber smiled brightly. "Of course." "Would now be convenient?" Maeve glanced toward her wife. Amber finished her dessert. "Perfect timing." The attendant smiled. "If you'll follow me." --- The executive reception room occupied a quieter section of the complex. It was smaller than the main gathering chamber and considerably more restrained. Dark stone walls. Warm lighting. Comfortable seating. A few carefully selected pieces of artwork. Beyond a broad window, another natural cavern stretched into the darkness. Maeve noticed several runic inscriptions incorporated into the architecture. The same suppressive design. The same careful orientation. Someone had gone to considerable trouble to ensure that even the executive areas remained within the protected portion of the complex. She filed that observation away. The CEO rose as they entered. "Ladies. Welcome." Maeve smiled. "Thank you." Amber glanced around. "Your private rooms are just as beautiful as the rest of the retreat." "You're very kind." "Merely observant." He laughed. "Please, sit." They settled into comfortable chairs. An attendant brought refreshments. For a few minutes, the conversation was entirely ordinary. They discussed the gathering. The people they had met. Their impressions of Barkuk Khazad's hospitality. The CEO listened attentively. He remembered details from their first meeting. He asked intelligent questions about O'Sullivan SAS. And he seemed genuinely pleased to hear that several of his associates had expressed interest in working with them. Eventually, he set down his glass. "I believe we can dispense with formal introductions." Amber smiled. "I rather hope so." He laughed. "Good." Then he looked between them. "I'd like to invite you into our closer circle of business associates." Maeve inclined her head. "That sounds promising." "It is." "And what would that involve?" "Greater access to our professional network. Invitations to selected private events. Introductions that aren't generally available through ordinary corporate channels." Amber raised an eyebrow. "That could be extremely valuable." "Indeed." Maeve regarded him thoughtfully. "And the requirements?" He smiled. "I believe you understand our traditions." "We do," Maeve replied. "But I prefer clarity." "An admirable habit." He leaned back. "Our closest associates know one another personally, not merely professionally. I prefer to make my own assessment of that compatibility before extending a permanent invitation." Amber smiled. "And you'd like to become better acquainted with us." "With each of you." "Separately?" Maeve asked. "Yes." There was no embarrassment in his answer. No attempt to disguise what he meant. That, at least, Maeve appreciated. --- Amber glanced at her wife. Maeve met her eyes. They had discussed this already. Neither needed the other to make her decision. But each wanted to know the other remained comfortable. Maeve turned back toward their host. "Before we accept, I'd like to establish something." "Of course." "Our participation is entirely voluntary." "Certainly." "And the invitation doesn't create any obligation beyond what we individually agree to." "Correct." Amber smiled. "Good. We dislike unpleasant surprises." The CEO laughed. "So do I." Maeve continued. "Our company will also evaluate any commercial arrangements on their merits. Personal compatibility doesn't replace proper due diligence." The CEO regarded her with obvious approval. "Mrs. O'Sullivan, I would be disappointed if it did." Maeve smiled. "Then we understand one another." "I believe we do." Amber leaned back. "Wonderful." She turned toward Maeve. "Darling?" Maeve's eyes sparkled. "Yes?" "Do you have any objections?" "None." "Neither do I." The CEO smiled. "Excellent." --- He invited Amber to join him first. Maeve accepted the arrangement without hesitation. Before separating, Amber approached her wife. "Don't wander off and buy the company while I'm gone." Maeve laughed. "I'll try to restrain myself." "Please do. Iris would insist on reviewing the paperwork." "Naturally." Amber kissed her. A familiar, affectionate kiss that attracted an amused smile from their host. Then she turned toward him. "Shall we?" "With pleasure." Maeve watched them depart. She remained in the reception room for a few moments, studying the artwork and its surrounding stonework. Then she requested tea. The attendant brought it promptly. Maeve settled into a chair beside the window. The hospitality was impeccable. The company was potentially valuable. And the entire complex sat above an unknown influence that required an extraordinary runic suppressive network. She regarded the dark stone beyond the glass. Somewhere below, something was waiting. She had no intention of forgetting that. --- Amber found the CEO's private suite considerably more comfortable than she expected. The main room contained a broad seating area and a small bar. A private dining alcove overlooked a softly illuminated section of natural rock. Everything had been arranged for relaxation rather than display. Amber approved. "Very nice." "Thank you." "Do you always entertain prospective associates here?" "Only those I find particularly interesting." She smiled. "How flattering." He offered her water. She accepted. They sat beside the window. For a while, the conversation remained light. The CEO asked about her travels. Amber told him a few carefully selected stories, none of which involved revealing exactly how dangerous some of those travels had been. He laughed at her observations about Night City's corporate elite. She found his own stories equally entertaining. The man was intelligent. Cultured. And good company. Amber had suspected that during their first business meeting. She was increasingly convinced of it now. That made him interesting. It didn't make him trustworthy. But she had never required someone to be entirely trustworthy before enjoying a conversation. "May I ask you something?" she said. "Certainly." "Why do you place so much emphasis on personal acquaintance?" He considered. "Because people reveal themselves differently outside professional settings." "True." "Some are charming in meetings and unpleasant in private." "Very true." "Others demonstrate remarkable competence but little capacity for personal trust." Amber smiled. "And you believe intimacy helps you distinguish between them." "Among other things." She regarded him. "An expensive method of recruitment." He laughed. "Perhaps." "Although your company's results suggest you can afford it." "Fortune has been kind to us." Amber smiled. "So I've heard." --- The conversation gradually became more personal. He asked what she enjoyed about her work. She answered. Then what she enjoyed outside it. She gave him a rather wicked smile. "Darling, how much time do you have?" He laughed. "As much as you wish." "An encouraging answer." He moved closer. "May I kiss you?" Amber looked at him. Then smiled. "Yes." The kiss was warm. Confident. And surprisingly gentle. Amber appreciated that. She responded willingly, and when they parted, he looked pleased. "Well." She laughed. "Careful. That's one of my favorite words." "Is it?" "Frequently." "Then I shall try not to overuse it." "Much appreciated." He kissed her again. This time, she slipped her arms around him. For a while, they remained close, enjoying the warmth of their mutual attraction. Then Amber drew back slightly. "One thing." "Yes?" "I'd like this to be something we both enjoy, not simply a test you've decided to administer." He regarded her. Then smiled. "A very fair distinction." "Good." "I assure you, Amber, I have no interest in treating you as an examination candidate." Her expression brightened. "Excellent. I was never terribly fond of examinations." He laughed. "Then perhaps we should forget about business for a while." She kissed him. "Now there's a sensible suggestion." --- Their evening became considerably more private. Amber liked that he was attentive, that he listened, and that he seemed to appreciate her sense of humor as much as her appearance. She liked being able to set the pace without turning the occasion into a contest, and she found herself enjoying him for reasons entirely separate from the possible contracts awaiting O'Sullivan SAS. "If this is secretly part of your assessment process," she murmured between kisses, "I expect excellent marks." The CEO laughed. "I suspect you've already passed." "Careful. Flattery before sex is terribly transparent." "And after?" Amber grinned. "Potentially very effective." They made love with the same mixture of confidence and courtesy that had defined their conversation. Amber was direct when she wanted more and equally direct when she wanted him to slow down. He responded without ego, which she appreciated more than any polished compliment. Her climax came after a long, deliberate build, breaking through her teasing with a sharp breath and a helpless smile. She pulled him closer until the intensity softened, then kissed him with unmistakable approval. His own release followed later, and afterward they remained tangled together rather than immediately recovering their professional distance. He reached for her hand. "Have you enjoyed yourself?" Amber turned toward him. "Very much." "I'm delighted." "And you?" He laughed softly. "Immensely." Amber smiled. "Good. I do appreciate a successful meeting." "You're incorrigible." "So I've been told." For a while, neither felt any particular need to get up. --- Eventually, the conversation returned. Not immediately to business. First to ordinary things. Favorite places. Travel. The absurd expense of supposedly exclusive restaurants that couldn't prepare a decent breakfast. The CEO was an entertaining conversationalist when he stopped being quite so formally composed. Amber discovered she liked that version of him. Then he looked at her thoughtfully. "You know, your company could be quite valuable to us." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Professionally?" He smiled. "Professionally." "How reassuring." "I mean it." "So do I." He regarded her. "Your experience, your independence, your ability to move comfortably among people with very different expectations. Those are useful qualities." Amber's smile became a little more serious. "They are." "And Maeve?" "Exceptionally capable." "So I noticed." Amber nodded. "She's one of the sharpest minds I've ever known." "An admirable partner." "The best." He considered that. Then smiled. "I believe I made the right decision inviting you both." Amber returned the smile. "I think we're going to find working together very interesting." --- A few minutes later, the coordinator escorted Amber back to the reception room. Maeve looked up from her tea and took in her wife's expression in one practiced glance. "Well?" Amber stopped beside her chair. "Competent. Charming. Thorough." Maeve's mouth curved. "That sounds suspiciously like a recommendation." "Consider it peer review." Maeve laughed softly. Amber bent and kissed her, warm and lingering enough to make the private meaning perfectly clear without turning it into a report. When she straightened, Maeve raised one eyebrow. "Anything else I should know?" Amber's grin sharpened. "Only that our host takes due diligence very personally." "How reassuring." "Extremely." She brushed her fingers across Maeve's shoulder. "I'm going back to our suite. Enjoy yourself, darling." Maeve smiled. "I intend to." Amber kissed her once more and left by the guest corridor, entirely composed except for the distinctly satisfied curve of her mouth. Maeve returned to her tea. She had nearly finished it when the coordinator returned. "Mrs. O'Sullivan?" "Mrs. O'Sullivan?" She looked up. "Yes?" "Our CEO would be delighted if you could join him now." Maeve rose. "Of course." As they walked through the corridor, she noticed something she had missed earlier. A narrow service passage branched away from the executive wing. It was unobtrusive. No guards. No dramatic warning signs. Only a controlled-access door and a small identification panel. Above it, a line of runic inscriptions followed the stone. Maeve's attention sharpened. The pattern was different. Not in purpose. In strength. The suppressive arrangement was denser here. More carefully reinforced. The sort of construction one might expect near a boundary where additional protection was required. She glanced toward the attendant. "Does the complex extend much farther?" "Quite extensively, Mrs. O'Sullivan." "Really?" "Yes. There are several service areas and private facilities." "Remarkable." "The original cavern system was much larger than the public spaces suggest." Maeve smiled. "I can imagine." She made a mental note of the passage. Then continued toward the CEO's suite. --- The CEO greeted her warmly. "Maeve." She smiled. "I hope I haven't kept you waiting." "Not at all." He offered her a seat. She accepted. For a few minutes, they discussed O'Sullivan SAS. Unlike Amber, who had kept much of the conversation playful, Maeve found herself drawn into a genuinely interesting exchange about corporate strategy. The CEO was well informed. He understood how influence could be cultivated without drawing unnecessary attention. He spoke about acquisitions not merely in financial terms, but as opportunities to reshape relationships between organizations. Maeve appreciated the sophistication of his thinking. She also recognized how dangerous that sophistication could become in the wrong hands. "You're very good at identifying opportunities," she observed. He smiled. "I try." "And at persuading other people to recognize them." "An essential skill." "Certainly." He regarded her with amusement. "You sound as though you're evaluating me." Maeve smiled sweetly. "Would you be disappointed if I were?" He laughed. "Not in the slightest." "Good." She leaned back. "Because I'm rather enjoying the conversation." "So am I." --- He offered her tea. Maeve accepted enthusiastically. The selection was excellent. She complimented him on it. He smiled. "I understand your wife is particularly fond of good champagne." Maeve laughed. "Among many other things." "And you?" "I appreciate a good cup of tea." "A rather more restrained preference." "Sometimes." He regarded her with interest. "Only sometimes?" Maeve's smile widened. "Darling, restraint is useful. It isn't compulsory." He laughed. "An excellent distinction." For a while, they simply enjoyed talking. The CEO seemed particularly interested in Maeve's ability to move between precise professional analysis and easy social warmth. She, in turn, found his combination of intelligence and confidence genuinely attractive. The realization amused her. She had arrived expecting a difficult corporate investigation. Instead, she was sitting in a beautiful room, enjoying excellent tea with a man who might become both a valuable business contact and a deeply problematic adversary. Night City had a peculiar sense of humor. --- Eventually, he set down his cup. "May I ask you something personal?" "Certainly." "Are you as comfortable with our arrangement as Amber appears to be?" Maeve considered him. Then smiled. "Yes." "Good." "But I hope you won't mistake my composure for passivity." His expression became attentive. "I wouldn't dream of it." "Excellent." She rose. He looked up. Maeve approached him with deliberate confidence. "Then perhaps we should stop discussing corporate strategy." He smiled. "A compelling proposal." "I thought so." She leaned closer. "May I kiss you?" His expression warmed. "Please." She did. And when he responded, she smiled against his cheek. "Much better." He laughed softly. "You are a remarkable woman." "So I've been told." --- Their intimacy developed differently from Amber's. Maeve was more deliberate. She enjoyed the gradual discovery of another person's character, the shift from polished conversation to genuine warmth, and the moment when both people stopped performing sophistication for one another. The CEO was attentive and receptive. He didn't attempt to direct every moment. That pleased her. They spoke openly about what they wanted, and neither treated the other's wishes as an obstacle. When they chose to continue, Maeve took the lead without making a production of it. They made love slowly at first, then with growing certainty as each learned how the other responded. Maeve liked the contrast between his public authority and the private willingness to listen when she told him exactly what pleased her. Her climax built quietly enough that he noticed it first in the way her breathing changed. Then her composure finally gave way; she held him close, eyes closed, allowing herself the full reaction instead of swallowing it behind Maeve O'Sullivan's elegant smile. When the intensity eased, she kissed him and drew him back to her until his own release followed. Afterward she remained close, peaceful and unmistakably satisfied. He brushed a strand of copper-red hair away from her face. "You seem pleased." Maeve laughed softly. "I am." "I'm glad." "And you?" "Very." She smiled. "Excellent." He regarded her with unmistakable admiration. "I begin to understand why Amber speaks of you so highly." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Only beginning?" He laughed. "My apologies." "Accepted." She kissed him gently. --- They remained together for some time. The conversation returned gradually. Maeve enjoyed the quiet afterward. There was no need to rush back into her professional persona. She was already Maeve. The cover didn't erase her affection, her humor, or her ability to appreciate a pleasant experience. But as their conversation turned toward the retreat itself, her analytical attention sharpened again. "May I ask about the venue?" she said. "Of course." "It's extraordinary." "Thank you." "Did you discover the cavern system yourself?" "Not personally. We acquired the property through an earlier investment." "And developed it?" "Extensively." Maeve nodded. "The architecture suggests considerable engineering work." "Indeed." "And the original stonework?" He looked thoughtful. "Some was preserved. Some restored." "Beautifully." "We employed specialists." "I can see that." She smiled. "Particularly the inscriptions." The CEO regarded her for a moment. "You noticed those?" "How could I not? They're everywhere." He laughed. "Most guests barely look at them." "Then most guests are missing something interesting." He smiled. "Perhaps." "Are they associated with the history of the site?" "That's the understanding." Maeve nodded. "An intriguing tradition." "Indeed." She didn't press further. A second question might have made her interest appear disproportionate. And the CEO had revealed something useful already. He knew that the inscriptions were unusual. He knew they had required specialist attention. But he had chosen not to explain their purpose. That could be ordinary discretion. Or something more. Maeve made a mental note. Then returned the conversation to less unusual subjects. --- Before they separated, the CEO became serious. "I'd like to extend a formal invitation." Maeve looked interested. "Another gathering?" "Not exactly." He explained that a smaller group of senior associates would meet later in the evening. It would be a private supper. An opportunity for more substantial introductions and discussions about future cooperation. No contractual negotiations. Not yet. But access to people who rarely attended ordinary corporate events. Maeve smiled. "That sounds valuable." "It is." "And Amber?" "Naturally. You're both invited." Maeve inclined her head. "Then I believe we'd be delighted." The CEO smiled. "Excellent." He provided the details. A separate room. A later hour. An invitation issued personally rather than through the general hospitality system. Maeve recognized the significance immediately. This was not merely another pleasant social engagement. It was a change in access. They were being admitted to the next layer of Barkuk Khazad's organization. Exactly what they had come to achieve. --- Amber was waiting in their suite. She had changed into a comfortable robe and was standing beside the refreshments station, examining a selection of chocolates with considerable interest. Maeve entered. Amber turned. "Darling!" Maeve smiled. "Hello." Amber studied her for a moment. Then grinned. "Oh, you look pleased." Maeve laughed. "I am." "Good." Amber approached and kissed her. "Enjoy yourself?" "Very much." "Excellent." "And you?" "Immensely." Maeve smiled. "Then we've both had a rather successful evening." Amber laughed. "Professionally?" "That too." She showed Amber the invitation. Amber read it. Her expression sharpened. "A private supper." "Yes." "Selected associates." "Yes." "And the CEO invited us personally." "Both of us." Amber grinned. "Well, that answers the question." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Which question?" "Whether he approves of us." Maeve laughed. "Apparently he does." Amber regarded the invitation. "Very useful." "Extremely." They stood together for a moment. Then Amber's expression became more serious. "Did you notice anything else?" Maeve nodded. "A reinforced section of the runic system near the executive service corridor." Amber looked interested. "More protection?" "Considerably more." "Any idea what's behind it?" "Not yet." Amber considered. "Then that's where we should look." "Eventually." "Not now?" Maeve shook her head. "We're getting closer through legitimate access. No reason to risk that by forcing a door." Amber smiled faintly. "Agreed." --- Their private conversation was interrupted by a secure message. Rogue. Maeve opened it. Her expression changed. Amber noticed immediately. "What?" Maeve showed her the message. **Confirmed transport match. Missing worker's final recorded journey used a vehicle whose route terminated in the same Badlands region as the retreat. Additional records pending.** Amber read it carefully. "Same region." "Yes." "Not necessarily this venue." "No." "But closer." "Much closer." Maeve scrolled through the attached information. Rogue had included the booking date, transport operator, and partial route details. The records were incomplete. But they were real. Something they could verify. Amber looked toward the door. "We need to tell Iris." Maeve nodded. "And Shammy." "Rogue?" "Already knows what she's found." Amber considered. "Then we send a short update." Maeve opened the secure channel. **We have gained access to a smaller inner-circle event later tonight. No direct evidence of the disappearances yet. Runic suppressive system confirmed throughout guest and executive areas. Additional reinforcement near controlled service access. Maintaining cover.** She sent it. Then looked at Amber. "We're not going to confront anyone without proof." "No." "And we're not going to attempt a rescue until we know where the missing people are." Amber's expression hardened. "Agreed." Maeve took her hand. "But we are getting closer." Amber nodded. "Yes." --- At the safehouse, Iris read the update. Brenda was sitting beside her, reviewing a technical article. Shammy and Yukari were nearby. Iris looked up. "We have progress." Shammy turned immediately. "About the women?" "Possibly." Iris summarized Rogue's transport evidence. Shammy listened carefully. Then nodded. "That's better than we had before." "Yes." Yukari considered the runic information. "Reinforced suppression near a service boundary." Iris looked at her. "Does that mean something?" "Potentially." "How much?" Yukari smiled faintly. "Not enough to draw conclusions yet." Brenda glanced over. "That's becoming a popular answer." "Because it's usually the correct one," Iris replied. Brenda laughed softly. "Fair." Iris returned her attention to the message. "Amber and Maeve have been invited to a private inner-circle supper." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "That sounds promising." "Very." "Commercially?" "Potentially." Shammy smiled faintly. "And personally?" Iris glanced at her. Then laughed. "Knowing those two, probably both." Brenda shook her head. "God help Barkuk Khazad." Yukari regarded her calmly. "I suspect they may need rather more help than that." The humor faded. Iris looked toward the display. "Let's make sure we understand what we're dealing with before we decide how much." --- Later that evening, Amber and Maeve prepared for the private supper. Their original outfits remained immaculate. The invitations had been confirmed. Their corporate credentials were still valid. And Barkuk Khazad's CEO appeared thoroughly convinced that the two women were exactly the sort of associates he wanted. Amber studied herself in the mirror. Short blonde hair. Blue eyes. A cheerful expression concealing a mind considerably sharper than most people expected. Maeve stood beside her. Copper-red hair. Green eyes. Elegant. Composed. And increasingly concerned about the runes surrounding them. Amber smiled. "Well." Maeve laughed. "Again?" "I can't help it." "Apparently not." Amber turned toward her. "Darling?" "Yes?" "We've just had a very enjoyable evening." "Indeed." "Made several potentially excellent business contacts." "Yes." "And gained an invitation to the CEO's private circle." "Correct." Amber grinned. "Iris is going to be delighted." Maeve laughed. "Assuming we don't discover something dreadful before the night's over." Amber's smile softened. "That too." They looked at each other. Then Amber took Maeve's hand. "Whatever happens, we stay together." Maeve squeezed her fingers. "Always." They kissed. Then headed toward the door. --- Deep beneath the gathering, the ancient binding platform remained intact. The enormous living creature resting upon it did not move. Its confinement was absolute. The runes holding it had been designed for permanence. Above, the suppressive system continued its work. The guests remained comfortable. The music continued. The hospitality staff moved efficiently through the corridors. And the corporation's senior leadership prepared to welcome two exceptionally promising new associates. The CEO believed he had made an excellent decision. Amber and Maeve were intelligent, charming, professionally valuable, and personally compatible with his organization's culture. He had no reason to doubt their sincerity. And no reason to suspect that Maeve could understand the runic inscriptions he had spent years ensuring his guests would never question. For now, the system worked. The guests enjoyed themselves. The corporation prospered. And somewhere beneath the polished stone, the price of that prosperity remained hidden. But the first pieces of the truth were beginning to connect. A missing woman. A private transport route. A secretive gathering. A reinforced runic boundary. And two women who had just gained access to the people responsible for maintaining it. --- ## Chapter 8 — Behind the First Door The private supper was held in a chamber Amber and Maeve had not seen before. That alone made it interesting. The route there led through the executive section of the retreat, past familiar corridors and into a narrower passage where the atmosphere changed almost imperceptibly. The lighting was softer. The stonework older. And the runes more concentrated. Maeve noticed immediately. Amber noticed Maeve noticing. Neither said anything. Their escort continued ahead with the calm confidence of someone leading guests toward an ordinary dinner. Perhaps, from his perspective, that was exactly what he was doing. "How many guests?" Maeve asked. "Fourteen this evening." "Small group." "Intentionally." Amber smiled. "Exclusive." "Very." The escort reached a pair of dark wooden doors. No sign identified the room beyond. No corporate emblem marked the entrance. Only a narrow runic band crossed the stone above the frame. Maeve's attention sharpened. This one wasn't merely suppressive. It reinforced a boundary. She felt the distinction immediately. Not an active barrier against people. A structural division between one protected region and another. Interesting. The doors opened. --- The room beyond was beautiful. A long dining table occupied the center of a natural chamber whose walls had been polished just enough to reveal the stone's depth without erasing its age. Fourteen place settings waited beneath warm suspended lights. Several guests had already arrived. Amber recognized most of them. The financial director. The investment adviser. Two senior Barkuk Khazad executives. A woman from an industrial infrastructure company. A logistics magnate whose organization O'Sullivan SAS had been interested in for months. And several others whose names carried considerable weight in Night City's business circles. Maeve smiled. Iris was going to enjoy this guest list. Potentially far too much. Their host approached. "Amber. Maeve. Welcome." The CEO's use of their first names was deliberate. The gathering had clearly moved beyond formal introductions. Maeve returned the warmth. "Thank you." Amber glanced around. "Quite the company." "I thought you'd appreciate that." "Immensely." The CEO smiled. "Please. Make yourselves comfortable." --- There was no seating hierarchy obvious enough to resemble a board meeting. That, too, was intentional. Guests were placed among people whose interests overlapped. Amber found herself between the logistics magnate and a senior Barkuk Khazad operations executive. Maeve sat opposite, beside the investment adviser and a woman responsible for infrastructure development across several major corporate holdings. The arrangement was almost suspiciously useful. Amber grinned across the table. Maeve noticed. So did the CEO. "Something amusing?" he asked. Amber smiled. "Only that your seating plan is extremely efficient." He laughed. "I'll take that as praise." "It was." Maeve added, "You've placed almost everyone beside somebody they have a reason to know." "Of course." "Professional compatibility?" "Among other things." Amber raised her glass. "Naturally." The first course arrived. Conversation began almost immediately. --- The supper did not resemble an ordinary networking dinner. Nobody delivered speeches. Nobody presented slides. Nobody tried to dominate the table with carefully rehearsed corporate optimism. Instead, the conversation moved fluidly. Business. Travel. Relationships. Investment. Private jokes. Stories about terrible clients. Stories about even worse consultants. Amber found herself laughing more than once. The logistics magnate beside her was sharp, charismatic, and brutally funny. "So your firm handles difficult integrations?" he asked. "Among other things." "How difficult?" Amber considered. "How incompetent is your acquired management team?" He burst out laughing. "That bad?" "Darling, I've seen companies survive cyberattacks more gracefully than mergers." "Now that I believe." Across the table, Maeve was having an equally productive conversation. The infrastructure executive had several operations that might genuinely require O'Sullivan SAS. She asked detailed questions. Maeve answered carefully. No contract language. No numbers. Just enough substance to demonstrate competence. The woman looked impressed. "I'd like to continue this discussion." Maeve smiled. "So would I." "After the weekend?" "Absolutely." The woman nodded. "Good." Another lead. Another potentially lucrative relationship. The evening continued to prove the CEO's point. Personal familiarity did make professional conversation easier. That didn't mean Maeve approved of every mechanism Barkuk Khazad used to produce that familiarity. But the effect itself was real. --- Halfway through dinner, the CEO changed the subject. "Fortune." Amber glanced toward him. "That sounds ominously philosophical." He smiled. "Perhaps." The table quieted. Not completely. But enough to make the change noticeable. The CEO rested one hand against his glass. "Every person in this room has experienced success." A few smiles. Several nods. "Some through skill." He looked toward Maeve. "Some through judgment." Toward the logistics magnate. "Some through courage." Then he smiled. "And all through fortune." Amber regarded him. There it was again. That word. Not luck. Fortune. Always fortune. One of the Barkuk Khazad executives spoke. "Preparation creates opportunity." The CEO nodded. "And opportunity rewards those willing to recognize it." Maeve listened. This wasn't random dinner conversation. It was ritualized. Not necessarily supernatural. But practiced. A familiar sequence. The returning guests understood that immediately. Several of them smiled before the CEO continued. Maeve noticed. So did Amber. The CEO lifted his glass. "To fortune." The others followed. "To fortune." Amber and Maeve joined them. Their glasses touched. The moment passed. Conversation resumed. But neither woman forgot it. --- A few minutes later, Maeve noticed something else. The room had one exit they had not used. A narrow door at the far end of the chamber. No visible handle. No signage. Only a small security panel and a dense runic arrangement surrounding the frame. Much denser than anything in the guest areas. She kept her eyes on the conversation. Then looked again when nobody appeared to be watching. The runes were unmistakable. Suppression. Boundary reinforcement. And something else. Direction. The entire arrangement was oriented downward. Whatever lay beyond that door led closer to the source. Maeve's pulse quickened. Not fear. Recognition. They were closer than before. Considerably closer. The investment adviser beside her noticed the glance. "Curious?" Maeve turned smoothly. "About?" He smiled. "The old door." She laughed softly. "Was I that obvious?" "Only to someone watching." "A dangerous habit." "Professionally useful." "True." Maeve looked toward the door again. "Service access?" "Something like that." "Very mysterious." "You're in an old cavern. Everything looks mysterious." She smiled. "Convenient answer." He laughed. "True." "What is it actually?" He considered. "Lower facilities." Maeve's interest sharpened. "Hospitality?" "No." "Technical?" "Partly." "Private?" "Very." Maeve nodded. "And I assume not part of tonight's tour." "Not for first-time guests." There it was. Not _never_. Not _restricted to staff_. Not _nothing interesting_. Not for first-time guests. Maeve smiled. "Then perhaps I shall have to earn another invitation." The adviser smiled back. "I suspect you will." --- Amber was having a different conversation. The logistics magnate beside her had become noticeably more relaxed as dinner progressed. Not drunk. Just comfortable. And comfortable people often revealed more than they intended. "You'll like working with Barkuk Khazad," he said. Amber smiled. "We haven't decided whether we are yet." He laughed. "Fair." "Although the opportunities are certainly attractive." "That's how it begins." Amber raised an eyebrow. "How what begins?" "Everything." He gestured vaguely around the room. "You meet the right people. You make one useful connection. Then another." "And suddenly everything starts going your way?" He grinned. "Exactly." Amber smiled. "Fortunate." "Very." She let the word sit between them. Then asked lightly, "You've done well since joining this circle?" "Better than well." "How much better?" He laughed. "Enough that my board thinks I'm a genius." "And are you?" "Absolutely." Amber laughed. "Naturally." He leaned closer. "Between us?" "Of course." "I've made three major decisions in the last eighteen months that should have been disasters." Amber's smile remained. "But weren't." "Not even close." "What changed?" He shrugged. "Timing. Circumstances. Competitors making mistakes at exactly the right moment." "Fortune." He smiled. "There you go." Amber studied him. "Does that ever bother you?" He looked genuinely puzzled. "Why would it?" "Because nobody wins forever." The magnate considered. Then smiled. "Barkuk Khazad does." --- Across the table, Maeve heard that. She didn't turn. Didn't react. But she filed the sentence away. Barkuk Khazad does. Not _has so far_. Not _seems to_. Does. Certainty. Faith. Or knowledge. The distinction mattered. The CEO continued speaking with another guest. A Barkuk Khazad executive laughed at something. Dinner moved on. But the room had changed for Maeve. The social layer remained warm. The business opportunities remained genuine. The intimacy of the evening remained real. Yet beneath it was another structure. A shared belief that proximity to Barkuk Khazad produced extraordinary fortune. And several people at the table seemed to regard that not as metaphor, but as established fact. --- The final course arrived. Amber inspected it. Maeve noticed. "Don't." Amber looked innocent. "I haven't said anything." "You were about to." "How do you know?" "Marriage." Amber sighed. "Terribly unfair." The CEO laughed. "You two really are delightful." Amber smiled. "We try." "And apparently succeed." The meal ended in a relaxed atmosphere. Several guests moved toward the smaller seating areas around the chamber. Others remained at the table. Coffee and spirits appeared. Maeve chose tea. Amber chose coffee. The CEO joined them near the window. "Enjoyable?" "Very," Maeve replied. "Excellent." Amber looked toward the old door. "Our friend over there is attracting a lot of attention." The CEO followed her gaze. "The lower access?" "So it does go lower." "Considerably." Maeve smiled. "Natural caverns?" "Some." "Developed areas?" "Others." Amber took a sip of coffee. "You really did build half a world under this mountain." The CEO smiled. "Not quite." Maeve regarded him. "May I ask what's below?" He hesitated. Only slightly. But Maeve noticed. "Part of the site's original structure." "Original?" "Older than Barkuk Khazad." "How much older?" He smiled. "That's a longer conversation." Maeve returned the smile. "I like long conversations." "So I've noticed." Amber laughed softly. The CEO looked toward the door again. "Perhaps eventually." Maeve inclined her head. "Fair enough." Not a refusal. A postponement. Another level of access. --- Later, the CEO was called away by one of his senior executives. Amber and Maeve remained near the window. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Amber said quietly, "Barkuk Khazad does." Maeve nodded. "You heard it." "Hard not to." "Think he believes it?" "The magnate?" "Yes." "Completely." Maeve glanced toward the room. "And I don't think he's alone." Amber followed her gaze. Several guests were discussing investments. Laughing. Relaxed. Successful. People who believed their extraordinary good fortune had a source. "That's cult language," Amber murmured. "Possibly." "Still refusing to jump?" "Always." Amber smiled faintly. "Good." Maeve looked toward the old door. "But we're getting closer." "Lower facilities." "Protected by the strongest runic boundary I've seen tonight." Amber's expression sharpened. "How strong?" "Strong enough that I don't believe it's guarding a wine cellar." "Shame." Maeve laughed quietly. Then her expression became serious again. "The entire upper complex is designed to suppress something from below. That door sits directly inside the densest section of the system." Amber nodded. "Then that's our route." "Eventually." "Still not tonight?" Maeve considered. "We have no map." "No." "No knowledge of what's beyond the door." "No." "No idea how many people know we're here." "Quite a few." "And we haven't located the missing women." Amber sighed. "I hate it when you're sensible." "You love it." "Unfortunately." Maeve smiled. --- A soft vibration interrupted them. Secure message. Rogue. Maeve opened it discreetly. The message was short. **Second transport match confirmed. Different provider. Same Badlands sector. Missing worker onboard. Both vehicles disappear from public tracking within the same six-kilometer zone.** Maeve's expression changed. Amber saw it immediately. "What?" Maeve showed her. Amber read the message. Then looked toward the old door. "Two." "Yes." "Two missing women came into this area." "Confirmed to the same sector." "Still not this venue." "Correct." Amber's jaw tightened. "But we're running out of coincidences." Maeve nodded. "Very quickly." --- They needed somewhere private. The suite was too far away to leave without attracting attention. Maeve looked toward one of the small side rooms. Empty. Amber understood immediately. They moved there casually, carrying their drinks. The room contained a small table and two chairs. No door. But enough distance from the others for a quiet conversation. Amber sat. "Talk." Maeve opened Rogue's attached data. Two transport companies. Two missing women. Different dates. Different contractual arrangements. Same broad destination zone. Same disappearing telemetry. Both routes ended within reach of the Barkuk Khazad property. Amber studied the map. "How big is their site?" "Unknown." "Could both vehicles have gone somewhere else?" "Yes." "But?" Maeve looked at her. "But it would be increasingly irresponsible to ignore the possibility that they came here." Amber nodded. "Agreed." Maeve closed the file. "We need to learn what's behind that door." Amber looked toward the dining chamber. "Without forcing it." "Preferably." "Preferably?" Maeve smiled faintly. "I know you." Amber grinned. "Fair." --- They returned to the gathering. The CEO was still occupied. The investment adviser approached Maeve again. "Enjoying your evening?" "Very much." "Good." Amber smiled at him. "You're responsible for half of that." He laughed. "I'll accept the compliment." Maeve tilted her head. "May I ask you something?" "Of course." "How long did it take before you were invited below?" The adviser froze. Not dramatically. Not enough for anyone else to notice. But the pause was there. Then he smiled. "Curious indeed." Maeve smiled back. "You did tell me first-time guests weren't allowed." He considered her. "About six months." Amber raised an eyebrow. "That long?" "For me." "What changed?" He looked toward the CEO. "Trust." Maeve nodded. "Professional?" "Not entirely." "Of course." He smiled. "But don't rush." Maeve laughed softly. "I rarely do." The adviser leaned closer. "Some doors are worth waiting for." Amber's smile remained bright. "That's almost poetic." "Occupational hazard." He excused himself moments later. Amber waited until he was gone. Then murmured, "Six months." Maeve nodded. "Which means lower access is significant." "And not merely technical." "Exactly." --- The evening began winding down after midnight. Not ending. But changing. Some guests retired to private suites. Others continued drinking and talking. A smaller group remained around the CEO. Amber and Maeve were invited to stay. They accepted. Of course they did. This final group numbered eight. The CEO. Two senior Barkuk Khazad executives. Three long-term associates. Amber. Maeve. No staff remained nearby except one attendant. The CEO poured a small amount of dark wine into several glasses. Amber declined politely. Maeve did too. No one objected. The CEO raised his own glass. "To new relationships." The others repeated the toast. Amber smiled. Maeve watched. The ritual was subtle. Nothing supernatural. No chanting. No ceremony. Just people who believed they were part of something exclusive. Then one of the Barkuk Khazad executives spoke. "Your first gathering went well." Amber laughed. "Was I being graded?" "Everyone is." Maeve smiled. "And?" "Very well." The CEO looked amused. "I could have told you that." Amber leaned back. "How reassuring." The executive continued. "Most newcomers need several gatherings before they're considered for further access." Maeve's attention sharpened. "Further access." He smiled. "You're curious." "Very." "Good." The CEO set down his glass. "Curiosity is useful." Amber looked toward him. "So is clarity." He smiled. "True." Maeve waited. The CEO regarded them both for a moment. Then spoke. "There is another level to Barkuk Khazad's inner circle." Amber felt the air change. Not physically. Socially. Everyone else in the room already knew this. They were watching the O'Sullivans now. Maeve remained calm. "What does that involve?" "Understanding where our fortune truly comes from." Silence. Amber's smile faded by a fraction. Maeve's did not. But inside, every part of Maeve's attention locked onto the sentence. There it was. Not metaphor. Not corporate philosophy. A source. A real source. She asked quietly, "And where does it come from?" The CEO smiled. "That is not a first-night conversation." Amber laughed softly. "Of course it isn't." The tension eased. Several guests smiled. But the CEO continued. "If your relationship with us develops as I expect, you'll eventually be shown." Maeve inclined her head. "I understand." "Good." He looked between them. "For now, enjoy the opportunities you've earned." Amber smiled again. "We intend to." --- The private session ended shortly afterward. Amber and Maeve walked back toward their suite together. Neither spoke until they were well away from the inner chamber. Then Amber said, "Well." Maeve laughed under her breath. "This time, I'll allow it." "He said it." "Yes." "Where our fortune truly comes from." "Exactly." Amber looked toward the stone beneath their feet. "And we've got two missing women transported into the same sector." "Yes." "The lower door." "Yes." "The runes." "Yes." Amber exhaled slowly. "Now we're getting somewhere." Maeve nodded. "Very much so." They reached their suite. Amber opened the door. Maeve entered. The door closed behind them. Only then did both women allow the corporate warmth to fall away. Amber turned. "Call Rogue." Maeve already had the secure channel open. --- Rogue answered immediately. "You found something." It wasn't a question. Maeve nodded. "Enough to change the working hypothesis." "Talk." Maeve summarized the evening. The old door. The stronger runic boundary. The reference to lower facilities. The associate who had required six months before being invited below. And finally the CEO's words. _Understanding where our fortune truly comes from._ Rogue was silent for several seconds. Then: "That's a cult." Amber smiled faintly. "Maeve won't let us call it that yet." Maeve gave her a look. "I said we should maintain evidentiary discipline." Rogue snorted. "Fine. It's an organization with cult-shaped edges." "Acceptable." Amber laughed. Rogue continued. "And I've got two missing women transported into the same area." "Yes." "Enough for you to start looking below?" Maeve considered. "Enough to prepare." "But not go down." "Not yet." Amber glanced at her. Rogue sighed. "She's right." "I know." "We need to know whether the women are alive." Amber's expression hardened. "And if they are?" "Then we bring them home." Maeve nodded. "But carefully." "Yes." Rogue paused. "Get some sleep if you can." Amber laughed. "At this party?" "Try." "Bossy." "Alive." "Fair." The connection ended. --- Maeve contacted the safehouse next. Iris answered. Shammy and Yukari were still awake. Brenda appeared moments later. Maeve summarized the findings again. This time, Yukari asked most of the questions. "How dense is the lower-door runic structure?" "At least three times the concentration used in the guest corridors." "Same system?" "Same family. More reinforcement." "Direction?" "Downward." Yukari nodded. "Then you're close." Amber looked at her. "To what?" Yukari's expression became thoughtful. "I don't know." Brenda leaned closer. "But whatever it is, they don't want it affecting the upper levels." "Correct," Maeve said. Shammy's attention remained elsewhere. "The women." Amber nodded. "Two confirmed transports into this area." "Can you sense them?" The question caught Amber off guard. She looked toward Maeve. Then back at Shammy. "From here?" Shammy shook her head. "I mean when we come." Silence. Maeve understood first. "You want to join the next phase." Shammy's expression was calm. "Yes." Amber considered. Then smiled faintly. "We were going to ask." Shammy nodded. "Good." Her voice softened. "If they're alive, I can find them." Maeve smiled. "Exactly." --- After the call, Amber and Maeve stood together in the quiet suite. For the first time that evening, the silence felt heavy. Not unpleasant. Charged. They had begun the night expecting social maneuvering and perhaps a clue. Instead, they had found the edge of a hidden structure. A real one. One the CEO clearly intended to reveal only to trusted insiders. Amber looked at Maeve. "Tomorrow?" Maeve nodded. "We leave normally." "No snooping." "Not tonight." "Rogue will hate that." "Rogue agreed." "I know." Amber smiled faintly. "And then?" Maeve looked toward the floor. "Then we prepare to come back." "With Shammy." "Yes." "Yukari?" "Absolutely." "Brenda?" Maeve smiled. "If this place turns into an engineering problem, I want Brenda." Amber laughed softly. "Fair." "And Iris stays involved from the corporate side." "Of course." They looked at each other. The team was beginning to form. Not because they had decided Barkuk Khazad was guilty. But because the possibility had become too serious to ignore. Maeve reached for Amber's hand. "Whatever is below us, we don't disturb it until we understand the binding." Amber nodded. "Agreed." "And if the missing women are there..." Amber's expression hardened. "We bring them out." Maeve squeezed her fingers. "Yes." --- Far beneath them, the ancient chamber remained silent. The binding platform held. The enormous creature resting upon it remained alive. Aware. Confined. The upper suppressive system continued insulating the gathering from its presence. Barkuk Khazad's executives slept comfortably above. Their guests enjoyed luxurious suites. Their business network continued expanding. Their fortunes continued improving. Everything worked exactly as intended. For years, the arrangement had survived because the people allowed close enough to understand it had benefited from keeping the secret. Tonight, however, two women had crossed the first real threshold. They had heard the truth disguised as a promise. _Where our fortune truly comes from._ And instead of wanting a share of it, they had begun planning how to uncover it. --- ## Chapter 9 — What Lies Below Morning arrived quietly beneath the mountain. Amber woke first. For several seconds, she remained still. The room was warm. Maeve slept beside her, copper-red hair spread across the pillow. Somewhere beyond the suite, Barkuk Khazad's hospitality staff had already begun preparing breakfast for guests who had spent the night. Nothing about the morning felt threatening. That bothered Amber almost as much as if it had. She looked toward the ceiling. Stone. Hidden lighting. Runes incorporated so discreetly into the architecture that most visitors would never realize what they were seeing. Somewhere below them, according to the CEO himself, lay the source of Barkuk Khazad's extraordinary fortune. And somewhere in the same region, at least two missing women had vanished from public tracking. Amber turned toward Maeve. "Darling." A sleepy murmur. "Mm?" "Morning." Maeve opened one green eye. "Is it?" "Apparently." "Unfortunate." Amber smiled. "You want coffee?" "Tea." "Of course." Maeve opened the other eye. Then memory returned. Amber saw it happen. The softness remained. But beneath it came the analytical precision she knew so well. "The lower door," Maeve said. "Still there." "Rogue?" "No new messages." Maeve sat up. "Good." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Good?" "It means nothing became urgent while we slept." "Fair." Maeve looked toward the suite entrance. "We leave normally." "Breakfast?" "Absolutely." Amber grinned. "Now you're speaking my language." --- Breakfast was served in a smaller cavern near the main gathering chamber. The difference from the previous evening was almost comical. Last night had been champagne, music, private invitations, and executives abandoning their usual professional distance. This morning was coffee, tea, pastries, fruit, and several extremely successful people trying to appear as though they had enjoyed a perfectly ordinary corporate retreat. Amber loved it. One man was wearing sunglasses indoors. Another had the expression of someone reconsidering several decisions. The logistics magnate from dinner looked entirely comfortable. He noticed Amber and raised his coffee cup. "Morning." Amber smiled brightly. "Good morning." He regarded her suspiciously. "You shouldn't sound that cheerful." "Why?" "It's offensive." Maeve laughed. "She wakes up like this." "My condolences." "Thank you." Amber looked wounded. "Terrible. Both of you." They joined him at the table. Conversation remained light. No one mentioned the lower chambers. No one mentioned the CEO's promise to reveal the source of Barkuk Khazad's fortune. Whatever had happened after the private supper belonged to a different social layer. That distinction was deliberate. Maeve noticed it. So did Amber. --- Their CEO appeared shortly before they finished eating. He looked irritatingly rested. Amber regarded him. "That's unfair." He smiled. "What is?" "You look far too functional." "Practice." Maeve lifted her tea. "A valuable executive skill." "Essential." He joined them for a few minutes. The conversation was warm but ordinary. He thanked them for attending. They thanked him for the hospitality. Then he turned to business. "Your office should receive several follow-up requests today." Iris was going to be delighted. Maeve smiled. "We look forward to them." "I believe there are genuine opportunities." "So do we." The CEO regarded both women. "And I hope this won't be your last gathering." Amber smiled. "I would be very disappointed if it were." "Excellent." Maeve inclined her head. "We enjoyed ourselves." "So I gathered." Amber laughed. "Darling, discretion." "Of course." The CEO smiled. Then his expression became fractionally more serious. "The other invitation remains open." Maeve knew exactly what he meant. The lower level. The truth behind their fortune. "Thank you," she said. "When the time is appropriate." "Naturally." He nodded. No pressure. No attempt to accelerate their involvement. That made him more dangerous, not less. A clumsy cult recruited through urgency. A sophisticated one allowed ambition to do the work. --- Their departure was as effortless as their arrival. No one questioned them. No one searched their luggage. No one attempted to prevent them from leaving. The shuttle was ready when requested. Their driver greeted them pleasantly. Amber settled into the comfortable seat and looked toward the retreat entrance as the doors closed. "Well." Maeve smiled. "You're going to wear that word out." "Impossible." The shuttle moved away. Neither spoke until the mountain had disappeared behind them. Then Amber exhaled. "Okay." Maeve looked at her. "Now you may say it." Amber grinned. "Well." Maeve laughed. "Better?" "Much." Then the humor faded. "Two women transported into the area." "Yes." "CEO openly says there's a source for their fortune below." "Yes." "Runic suppression throughout the entire guest complex." "Yes." "Lower access more heavily protected." "Yes." Amber folded her arms. "And still no direct proof that Barkuk Khazad took anyone." Maeve nodded. "Correct." "Damn." "I know." Amber looked out across the Badlands. "Do you think the CEO knows about the missing women?" Maeve was silent for a while. "I think he knows what is below the retreat." "Agreed." "I think he knows the runic system matters." "Definitely." "I think he understands that the company's fortune has a supernatural source." Amber glanced at her. "You said it." Maeve smiled faintly. "We have enough now." "And the women?" "Unknown." Amber nodded. That answer hurt more. --- Rogue called before they reached Night City. "You're out?" "On the shuttle," Amber replied. "Clean?" "As far as we know." "Good." Maeve joined the channel. "Anything new?" "One thing." Rogue sent a file. A third transport record. Maeve opened it. Amber leaned closer. Another missing woman. Another provider. Another route into the Badlands. This one had not vanished entirely from tracking. Instead, the vehicle had been recorded at a private maintenance checkpoint belonging to a company with a direct contractual relationship to Barkuk Khazad. Amber stared. "That's closer." "Much," Rogue replied. Maeve examined the ownership structure. "The checkpoint itself?" "Operated by a facilities contractor." "Who owns the land?" "Leased through a Barkuk Khazad subsidiary." Silence. Rogue continued. "Still not enough to prove she entered the retreat." "No," Maeve said. "But?" "But we can no longer treat Barkuk Khazad as merely one possibility among several." "Exactly." Amber looked toward the distant city. "We're coming to you." "No." Amber frowned. "No?" "Go home first." "Rogue." "You've been operating under covers all weekend. You're tired, and I want Iris, Yukari, Brenda, and Shammy in the same conversation." Maeve nodded. "She's right." Amber sighed. "I hate it when everybody is sensible." Rogue laughed. "Get used to disappointment." The call ended. --- The safehouse felt wonderfully ordinary. That was the first thing Ace noticed when they returned. No cavern. No discreet hospitality staff. No influential executives assessing whether they belonged in an inner circle. Just home. Shammy reached them first. She hugged both women. Ace kissed her. Mai held her a little longer. "Miss us?" Ace asked. "Yes." "Good answer." Shammy smiled. "Did you find them?" Ace's expression changed. "Not yet." Shammy nodded. She had clearly hoped for more. But she didn't press. Iris was waiting with Brenda and Yukari. "Coffee?" Iris asked. Ace looked at her with gratitude. "I love you." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Careful. She'll put that in a contract." Iris smiled. "Already drafted." Mai laughed. "Tea for me." "Naturally." --- They waited until everyone was settled. Then Amber and Maeve disappeared. Not literally. The covers remained active. But the corporate performance ended. Ace sat close to Shammy. Mai had a large display open before her. Iris listened. Brenda listened. Yukari watched Mai with particular attention. They began at the beginning. The retreat. The runes. The gathering. The inner-circle structure. The CEO's private invitations. The lower door. The private supper. And finally the CEO's statement. _"Understanding where our fortune truly comes from."_ Brenda whistled softly. "That's not subtle." "No," Ace agreed. Iris looked toward Mai. "You believe he meant it literally." "Yes." "Certainty?" "High." Yukari nodded. "So do I." Everyone turned toward her. Ace raised an eyebrow. "You weren't there." "No." "But?" Yukari looked toward the runic diagrams Mai had reconstructed from memory. "The system tells the same story." --- Mai had not photographed the carvings. That would have been unnecessarily risky. Instead, she had drawn several key sections from memory. Not exact engineering plans. Enough to convey their runic relationships. Yukari studied them carefully. "This section is definitely suppressive." Mai nodded. "Agreed." "And this?" "Boundary reinforcement." "Yes." Yukari indicated the lower-door pattern. "This is particularly interesting." Brenda leaned closer. "Why?" "Because it isn't designed to stop people passing through." Ace frowned. "Then what does it stop?" "Influence." Shammy looked at her. "From whatever is below." "Yes." Mai brought up another sequence. "The main chamber used hundreds of these." Yukari nodded. "Because the chamber is large." "That was my interpretation." "And this network continues through the sleeping areas?" "Yes." "Executive rooms?" "Yes." Yukari sat back. "Then the people who built this place knew exactly what they were protecting themselves from." Iris folded her arms. "Can you tell what it is?" "No." "Anything?" Yukari considered. "Old." Brenda smiled faintly. "Helpful." "Powerful." "Less comforting." "And not something they expect to escape." Mai looked at her sharply. "Why?" Yukari indicated the patterns. "Because these aren't confinement runes." Mai nodded. "Exactly." Ace looked between them. "Translate for the rune-illiterate." Mai turned toward her. "Whatever is below is bound by something else." "And the upper runes?" "Only prevent its influence from reaching the people above." Ace looked toward Yukari. "So there's another system below." "Almost certainly." "Stronger?" Yukari's expression became very serious. "Much." --- Brenda leaned forward. "Meaning the mountain is basically two systems." Mai nodded. "A lower binding structure." "And an upper suppression network." "Exactly." Brenda considered that. "If we ever have to destroy the site, those are very different engineering problems." The room went quiet. Ace looked at her. "You're already thinking about destroying it?" Brenda shrugged. "I'm an engineer. You show me a mountain full of dangerous runes and suspicious caverns, I start thinking about structural options." Iris smiled. "Darling." "What?" "Never change." Brenda grinned. "I wasn't planning to." Yukari looked toward her. "If that becomes necessary, preserving the binding would be critical." Brenda nodded immediately. "So we don't simply drop the entire mountain." "Correct." "Good to know." Ace stared at the two women. "We have gone from 'something weird is downstairs' to demolition planning surprisingly quickly." Brenda smiled. "Planning doesn't mean doing." Iris nodded. "She's right." Ace sighed. "Of course she is." --- Iris returned the conversation to Barkuk Khazad's business structure. "Now my part." She opened several displays. While Amber and Maeve had been at the gathering, Iris had continued analyzing the company's relationships. The results were fascinating. And increasingly unpleasant. "These are the executives you met." Photographs appeared. The logistics magnate. The investment adviser. The infrastructure executive. Several others. "All legitimate businesspeople," Iris continued. "All successful before becoming closely associated with Barkuk Khazad." Mai nodded. "That fits what we saw." "Now look at what happens afterward." Graphs appeared. Contract awards. Regulatory decisions. Competitor failures. Investment returns. Unexpected market shifts. Corporate litigation resolved at unusually convenient times. Ace stared. "Jesus." "Quite." Mai leaned closer. "Individually, none of these proves anything." "No." "But together?" Iris smiled without humor. "Statistically absurd." Brenda looked at her. "How absurd?" "I'm not prepared to quantify it yet." "That absurd." "Yes." Yukari regarded the display. "Fortune." Iris nodded. "Apparently." --- Then she opened another file. "This part bothers me more." Payments. Consulting contracts. Charitable donations. Political contributions. Advisory fees. Real-estate transactions. All individually plausible. Together, they formed a vast network of influence. Mai recognized the pattern. "Money laundering?" "Some of it may be." "Bribery?" "Potentially." "Buying political influence?" "Almost certainly, although proving intent will require work." Ace looked at Iris. "So even without the supernatural element..." "Barkuk Khazad may already be involved in enough conventional corruption to destroy itself." Ace smiled faintly. "That could be useful." "Extremely." Mai nodded. "Rogue will need all of this." "I've already prepared a package." "Good." Iris looked at her. "But I'm not releasing it yet." "Why?" "Because once these records begin moving, people may realize they're being investigated." Ace nodded. "And if there are prisoners below the retreat..." "We don't want anyone panicking." Shammy spoke quietly. "We find them first." Everyone looked toward her. She met their eyes. "We find the living people first." Ace squeezed her hand. "Yes." --- That became the center of the next phase. Not Barkuk Khazad's fortune. Not the CEO. Not even the thing below the mountain. The missing people. Shammy listened as Mai described the approximate dimensions of the cavern complex. Then she asked questions. How deep? Unknown. How wide? Unknown. How much living activity had she noticed during the gathering? Mai couldn't say. There had been dozens of guests and staff in the upper levels. Too much noise for ordinary observation. Shammy nodded. "But if I get close enough..." Ace looked at her. "You can count them." "Yes." "Through the stone?" "Depending on distance." Yukari looked interested. "Living humans specifically?" Shammy nodded. "I can distinguish them from other living things." Brenda glanced toward the Badlands map. "How close would you need to be?" "Close enough that we probably need to reach the property." Ace smiled faintly. "Convenient." Shammy looked at her. "You already have access." "Amber and Maeve do." "Then use it." Mai considered. "Not with everyone." "No," Shammy agreed. "That would be suspicious." "Yes." Ace looked between them. "You have something in mind." Mai smiled. "Eventually." --- Yukari remained focused on the supernatural side. "Before anyone returns, I want to make something." Ace looked at her. "What?" "Protection." Mai's eyes sharpened. "Against the influence below." "Yes." "Can you do that without knowing what it is?" "To a degree." Ace folded her arms. "Define degree." Yukari smiled faintly. "I can protect your agency." That got everyone's attention. Mai leaned forward. "From mental influence?" "Among other things." "Compulsion?" "Potentially." "Dream intrusion?" "Potentially." Ace raised an eyebrow. "That's a lot of potentially." "Because I don't know what we're dealing with." "Fair." Yukari continued. "I can prepare medallions for you and Mai. They won't make you invulnerable." "Nothing does." "Good." "But they can help prevent an external runic or ancient influence from interfering with your ability to choose." Ace nodded. "Useful." "Very," Mai said. Iris looked toward Yukari. "And the rest of us?" "If you go near the site, I'll remain with you." Brenda smiled. "Personal supernatural bodyguard." Yukari gave her a dry look. "I wouldn't phrase it that way." "I would." Iris laughed softly. --- Rogue arrived in person later that afternoon. That alone told them how seriously she was taking the situation. She entered carrying more data than anyone wanted to see. "Three transports." Ace nodded. "Confirmed?" "Confirmed to the area." "Not the retreat." "Not yet." Rogue sat. "I've also got two more bookings that never resulted in disappearances." Mai looked interested. "Refusals?" "One cancellation. One client change." "Meaning?" "The workers remained in Night City." Shammy looked toward her. "So the missing people are specifically the ones who completed the trips." Rogue nodded. "That's what it looks like." Iris brought up the corporate network. "Any connection between the workers themselves?" "No." "Age?" "Varies." "Agencies?" "Different." "Regular clients?" "No overlap." Mai frowned. "Then selection may be opportunistic." Rogue nodded. "That's my guess." Ace looked toward the photographs. "Not chosen because of who they are." "Chosen because they could disappear." The room went still. Shammy's expression hardened. That was rare. And everybody noticed. "We find them," she said. Rogue looked at her. "Yes." --- Rogue reviewed the gathering information. She was particularly interested in the CEO's statement about fortune. "You finally admitting cult?" Mai sighed. "Yes." Ace grinned. Rogue looked triumphant. "About damn time." "Don't enjoy this too much." "I've been waiting." Mai folded her arms. "We have evidence of a structured inner circle centered on access to a concealed supernatural source believed to provide extraordinary fortune." Rogue smiled. "Cult." "Yes." "Thank you." Brenda laughed. Iris shook her head. Shammy smiled despite herself. Yukari remained entirely composed. "Naming it doesn't solve it." Rogue sighed. "Someone had to ruin my moment." --- Then came the most difficult question. "What next?" Ace asked it. Nobody answered immediately. Mai eventually stood and approached the main display. "Not another gathering." Rogue looked at her. "Why?" "Too visible." "Agreed." "We need access to the site without placing Amber and Maeve under suspicion." Iris considered. "Corporate follow-up." Mai turned. "Exactly." "Invite Barkuk Khazad representatives to O'Sullivan SAS?" "Useful, but it doesn't get us back inside." "No." Ace looked at the list of prospective contracts. "What if one of the follow-up meetings happens at the retreat?" Iris smiled faintly. "Possible." Rogue frowned. "Too slow." "Maybe," Mai said. Shammy spoke. "Then don't go through the front door." Everyone looked at her. Ace smiled. "There's my girl." Shammy continued. "You know where the property is now." "Approximately." "Rogue knows the transport zone." "Yes." "Brenda understands the terrain." "Some of it." "And I don't need to enter the gathering." Mai understood. "A perimeter survey." Shammy nodded. "Exactly." --- Brenda pulled up regional terrain data. Now the discussion changed. Not yet to an assault. To observation. Access roads. Property boundaries. Possible cavern extensions. Natural ridges. Areas where Shammy might approach closely enough to sense human life without entering the developed retreat. No detailed intrusion plan. No explosives. No heroics. Just information. Rogue approved. "Small team." Ace nodded. "Triad?" "Plus Yukari," Mai said. Yukari inclined her head. "Agreed." Brenda frowned. "I'd like to see the terrain." "Later," Mai replied. "Fair." Iris looked toward Rogue. "And if Shammy finds people below?" Rogue's expression became hard. "Then we stop treating this as an investigation." Ace looked at her. "And start treating it as a rescue." "Exactly." --- That evening, after Rogue had left and the displays finally went dark, the safehouse settled again. Ace sat with Shammy. Mai joined them. No covers between the three of them emotionally, even if Amber's blonde and Maeve's copper-red still remained physically in place. Shammy leaned against Mai. Ace rested against Shammy. For a while, none spoke. Then Shammy said quietly, "What if they're dead?" Ace closed her eyes briefly. "We don't know." "I know." Mai reached for her hand. "And until we know, we look." Shammy nodded. "What if some are alive?" Ace answered immediately. "Then they come home." "No matter what else is down there?" Mai looked at her. "No matter what else is down there." Shammy smiled faintly. "Good." Ace kissed her temple. "That was never in doubt." --- Later, Mai stood alone for a moment beside the common-room display. The image she had left open showed Barkuk Khazad's corporate emblem. The good-fortune rune. Elegant. Memorable. Perfectly suited to a company whose success seemed almost impossible. She thought about the CEO. The private supper. The promise of access below. The people who believed Barkuk Khazad never lost. Then about the missing women. Three confirmed routes into the same region. Three people who had disappeared after accepting lucrative engagements. The connection was no longer abstract. Still incomplete. But tightening. Ace joined her. "Still thinking?" "Yes." "Want company?" Mai smiled. "Always." Ace slipped an arm around her waist. For a moment, they simply stood together. Then Mai spoke. "If the thing below really provides fortune..." Ace looked at her. "Yes?" "Then Barkuk Khazad isn't merely worshipping it." Ace waited. Mai's expression became very still. "They're paying it." Ace looked toward the six photographs. And understood. "Oh." Mai nodded. "Yes." Neither woman spoke for several seconds. Then Ace's hand tightened around hers. "We find out." Mai looked at her. "We do." --- Deep beneath the Badlands, the ancient chamber remained unchanged. The binding held. The creature lived. The runes suppressed its influence. Above it, Barkuk Khazad's retreat had emptied of most of its guests. Staff cleaned the private rooms. Supplies were inventoried. Accounts were updated. Hospitality expenses were reconciled. And somewhere within the company's internal systems, several new prospective business relationships were marked for follow-up. Amber O'Sullivan. Maeve O'Sullivan. High compatibility. High professional value. Recommended for deeper access. Another internal record was updated elsewhere. A transaction associated with one of the missing workers. No name appeared in the executive summary. No photograph. No indication that she had ever been a person with plans, friends, possessions, preferences, or someone waiting for her to come home. Only a status. **OBLIGATION FULFILLED.** And far below, something ancient remained fed. --- ## Chapter 10 — Returning Guests Three weeks after the first gathering, Iris Rourke had reached a professional conclusion. Barkuk Khazad's approach to business networking was ridiculous. It was also extremely effective. She stood in the O'Sullivan SAS conference room looking at three newly signed contracts, two pending proposals, and four executive introductions that hadn't existed before Amber and Maeve attended the retreat. Ace sat across from her. Mai occupied the chair beside Ace. Brenda had joined them because Iris had promised lunch, although she was now looking at the financial projections with considerably more interest than she'd shown in the morning's engineering reports. "So," Ace said pleasantly, "how ridiculous?" Iris looked at the contract summary. "Very." "How effective?" Iris examined the revenue forecast. "Annoyingly." Mai smiled. "That sounds positive." "It is." Brenda leaned closer. "How positive?" Iris enlarged the numbers. Brenda stared. "Jesus." Ace grinned. "Professional assessment?" "Comprehensive." Mai studied the agreements. The first came from the financial director Amber had met during the gathering. The second originated with Maeve's investment adviser. The third had developed from the infrastructure executive they'd encountered at the inner-circle supper. All three organizations had legitimate operational problems. All three needed services O'Sullivan SAS could genuinely provide. And all three had negotiated professionally after the gathering. No inappropriate contractual favors. No suspicious discounts. No expectation that personal affection replaced competent professional work. Just excellent access, followed by good business. Mai leaned back. "So the relationships opened the doors." Iris nodded. "And competence closed the deals." "Exactly." Ace smiled. "I rather like this system." Iris gave her a look. "I had gathered that." Brenda laughed. "Subtle." "Thank you." Iris folded her arms. "I will admit something." Ace looked delighted. "This should be good." "The gathering itself appears to be an exceptionally efficient professional environment." Mai raised an eyebrow. "That's surprisingly generous." "I said the environment." "Ah." "I still have considerable reservations about Barkuk Khazad." "As do we." "But the network surrounding the company includes legitimate businesses and capable executives." "Exactly," Mai said. Iris glanced at the signed agreements. "And apparently some excellent clients." Ace leaned back. "Sex sells." Iris closed her eyes briefly. Brenda burst out laughing. Mai's expression remained perfectly serious. "She isn't entirely wrong." Iris looked at her. "Please don't encourage her." "I'm merely acknowledging the available evidence." Ace beamed. "See?" Iris turned toward Brenda. "This is what I deal with." Brenda kissed her cheek. "You love them." "Unfortunately." --- The investigation hadn't stopped. That mattered. Rogue continued examining the disappearing joytoys and the private hospitality arrangements connected to Barkuk Khazad's business network. But progress had slowed. The transport records remained suggestive rather than conclusive. Several private engagements had involved journeys into the Badlands. Some were linked to Barkuk Khazad's contractors. Others weren't. And not every worker who accepted an expensive private booking disappeared. Rogue had found three women who'd completed similar engagements and returned safely. They'd been paid well. They'd been treated professionally. None had reported anything obviously suspicious. Mai reviewed the findings at the safehouse that evening. "So the hospitality network itself isn't necessarily criminal." "Exactly," Rogue replied. Ace studied the records. "Which makes identifying the dangerous bookings much harder." "Much." Shammy looked toward the photographs of the missing women. "And we still don't know where they are." Rogue's expression hardened. "No." Yukari examined the dates. "The gatherings are more frequent than the disappearances." Mai nodded. "Yes." "That distinction may matter." "Agreed." Rogue looked between them. "You think whatever happens below the retreat isn't connected to every gathering?" "We don't know that the disappearances are connected to the thing below at all," Mai replied. Rogue sighed. "You're going to make me say it, aren't you?" "Probably." "Fine. We need more evidence." Mai smiled. "Thank you." Ace laughed. "Progress." Shammy didn't laugh. She was still looking at the photographs. Ace noticed. She moved closer and took her hand. "We're still looking, darling." Shammy nodded. "I know." --- The second invitation arrived the following afternoon. This time there was no introductory package. No explanation of the gathering's philosophy. No carefully worded description of its unconventional social atmosphere. Just a personal message from the CEO. **Amber. Maeve.** **I hope you'll join us again this Saturday. Several people I believe you would find professionally interesting will be attending.** **I also believe they would find you interesting.** **Warm regards.** Amber read it twice. Then smiled. "Well." Mai laughed. "Again?" "Absolutely." Iris leaned over her shoulder. "He's actively arranging introductions for you now." "Looks that way." Mai reviewed the accompanying information. The CEO hadn't disclosed every attendee's identity. But he'd identified several industries and areas of interest. Industrial automation. Corporate aviation. Investment services. Logistics. All potentially valuable. Mai turned toward Iris. "He knows what O'Sullivan SAS is looking for." "Because you told him." "Some of it." "And because he's paid attention." Ace smiled. "I told you I liked him." Mai gave her a sidelong look. "You like a lot of people." "True." "Sometimes very enthusiastically." "Also true." Brenda, passing behind Iris, grinned. "Can't argue with the results." Iris sighed. "Apparently not." --- There was little debate about attending. Professionally, the invitation was valuable. Investigatively, it preserved access to Barkuk Khazad's inner circle. And personally? Ace and Mai had enjoyed themselves immensely during the first gathering. There was no reason to pretend otherwise. That evening, the three women were relaxing together in their shared bedroom. Shammy lay comfortably beside Mai, one arm around her waist. Ace was studying the guest information. "Industrial automation," she announced. Mai looked up. "Potentially useful." "Cyberphysical security." "Very." "Your type." Mai raised an eyebrow. "My type?" "Professionally." "Good recovery." Ace grinned. Mai selected another profile. "Corporate aviation." Ace leaned closer. "Now that's interesting." "High-value infrastructure." "Yes." "International operations." "Yes." "Complex security requirements." "Very." Shammy smiled. "You two sound excited." Ace looked toward her. "We are." "About the investigation?" Ace considered. "Also." Mai laughed. Shammy looked between them. "You really enjoy these gatherings." Mai answered without embarrassment. "Yes." Ace nodded. "A lot." Shammy smiled. "Good." Ace raised an eyebrow. "That's all?" "What should I say?" "Something scandalized?" Shammy kissed her. "I know you both far too well." Mai smiled. "Exactly." Then Shammy grew thoughtful. "Do you think this gathering will be dangerous?" Mai shook her head. "We don't know." "But you understand the rules now." "Yes." "And you'll keep watching." "Every moment that matters." Shammy studied her. "Promise?" Mai took her hand. "Promise." Ace leaned closer. "And if anything feels wrong, we leave." Shammy nodded. "Good." --- Saturday evening felt entirely different from their first arrival. The same private shuttle collected them. The same courteous driver greeted them. The same road carried them into the Badlands. But Amber and Maeve were no longer newcomers. Amber knew which champagne she liked. Maeve knew where the best tea was served. They knew the gathering's social rhythms, the private lounges, and the distinction between ordinary commercial associates and the more exclusive inner circle. Most importantly, they understood the unwritten rule. No formal business negotiations until the prospective partners had established the kind of intimate personal relationship that Barkuk Khazad's network valued. For returning guests, it was no longer a surprise. Amber rather appreciated the clarity. She looked at her wife. "You realize something?" Maeve smiled. "Many things." "This time nobody needs to explain anything to us." "True." "We can decide exactly whom we'd like to meet." "Yes." "Professionally." "Naturally." "And personally." Maeve laughed. "Also naturally." Amber grinned. "Excellent." She reached for Maeve's hand. "Darling?" "Yes?" "Let's have a wonderful evening." Maeve squeezed her fingers. "With pleasure." --- The retreat recognized them immediately. The receptionist smiled before they reached the desk. "Welcome back, Mrs. O'Sullivan. Mrs. O'Sullivan." Maeve returned the greeting. "Lovely to be back." "Your suite is prepared." Amber raised an eyebrow. "The same one?" "Yes, Mrs. O'Sullivan." "Excellent." Their access cards were issued without fuss. The hospitality arrangements were already familiar. And the CEO had left word that he looked forward to seeing them. As they entered the main cavern, Amber took a moment to appreciate the atmosphere. Warm lighting. Music. Beautiful surroundings. Expensive refreshments. And a remarkable collection of influential people enjoying themselves without the usual stiffness of corporate receptions. The gathering hadn't changed. They had. They no longer needed to interpret every glance or wonder what a private invitation meant. They could simply choose. Maeve looked around with a small smile. "Considerably easier the second time." Amber nodded. "Much." --- The CEO found them within minutes. "Amber. Maeve." Amber smiled. "Miss us?" He laughed. "Immensely." Maeve greeted him warmly. "Thank you for inviting us again." "My pleasure." He looked across the room. "I believe you'll find tonight particularly productive." Amber's eyes sparkled. "Professionally?" He smiled. "I leave the rest to your judgment." Maeve laughed. "Very diplomatic." "I learn quickly." Then he gestured toward a group near the far side of the cavern. "There's someone I'd like you to meet." --- The woman leading the group was a senior executive from a major industrial automation corporation. She was confident, articulate, and clearly accustomed to dealing with technical specialists who expected her to understand their work. Maeve liked her almost immediately. Not because she was attractive, although she certainly was. Because she asked excellent questions. After introductions, their conversation moved quickly into the challenges of securing increasingly autonomous industrial environments. Maeve listened. Then asked about the organization's approach to operational dependencies. The executive's expression brightened. "That's exactly the issue." She described a recent acquisition involving several facilities with incompatible security architectures. Maeve nodded. "A familiar problem." "An expensive one." "Frequently." Amber contributed an observation about the risks created when previously independent operational teams were required to share responsibilities. The executive laughed. "Have you been reading our internal reports?" Amber smiled. "Not unless somebody has been extremely careless." "Then you have excellent instincts." "We like to think so." The CEO watched the conversation with satisfaction. He had made the introduction because he believed the two organizations might benefit from knowing each other. Within minutes, it was obvious that he'd been right. --- Eventually, the executive turned toward Maeve. "May I ask something?" "Of course." "Do you always approach problems with that much precision?" Maeve smiled. "Only when I want to solve them." The woman laughed. "An admirable habit." "I find it useful." "And outside work?" Maeve raised an eyebrow. "That depends." "On?" "Whether the situation deserves precision." The woman's smile became warmer. "And does this one?" Maeve regarded her for a moment. Then smiled. "I think it might." Their eyes met. The attraction was unmistakable. Amber noticed. So did the CEO. Neither interrupted. The executive glanced toward one of the quieter terraces. "Would you care to continue our conversation somewhere less crowded?" Maeve smiled. "I'd like that." Amber looked toward her wife. "Have fun, darling." Maeve leaned down and kissed her. "I intend to." The executive smiled. "You're both very comfortable with one another." Amber laughed. "We've had years of practice." Maeve offered her arm. "Shall we?" The executive accepted. "With pleasure." --- They began on a quiet terrace overlooking the main cavern. The conversation remained lively. The executive proved even more entertaining away from the professional audience. She had a dry sense of humor and a remarkable ability to describe corporate incompetence without sounding bitter. Maeve found herself laughing. Then the conversation became more personal. The woman spoke about the difficulty of maintaining friendships while managing international operations. Maeve understood. They discussed travel. Marriage. The peculiar loneliness of corporate hotel rooms. And how refreshing it was to meet someone who didn't confuse independence with emotional distance. Eventually, the executive looked toward Maeve. "May I be direct?" Maeve smiled. "Please." "I find you extremely attractive." Maeve's expression warmed. "That's fortunate." "Is it?" "Because I find you extremely attractive too." The woman laughed softly. "Then perhaps we should stop pretending this is solely a professional conversation." Maeve took her hand. "An excellent idea." --- They returned to the quieter corridor leading toward the private lounges. Neither hurried. They were enjoying the conversation too much. At a doorway overlooking a small illuminated garden, the executive paused. "This is one of my favorite rooms." Maeve looked inside. "Beautiful." "Would you like to see it?" "Very much." The room was comfortable, elegant, and private. Once the door closed, the woman turned toward Maeve. "Still certain?" Maeve smiled. "Yes." "Good." She stepped closer. "May I kiss you?" Maeve's answer came without hesitation. "Please." The kiss was gentle at first. Then warmer. Maeve rested a hand against the woman's cheek, enjoying the way she smiled before leaning closer again. When they parted, the executive laughed quietly. "Well." Maeve's eyes sparkled. "Careful. My wife has nearly exhausted that word." "Has she?" "Repeatedly." The woman laughed. "Then I'll have to find another." "Or simply kiss me again." "An excellent suggestion." She did. --- There was something particularly appealing about the woman's straightforwardness. She didn't treat Maeve as a puzzle to be solved. Nor did she seem interested in competing with her confidence. She listened. Responded. And offered her own preferences without embarrassment. Maeve appreciated all of it. They settled together on the couch. Conversation gave way to affectionate silence, then returned in fragments between kisses. The woman brushed a copper-red strand away from Maeve's face. "You're beautiful." Maeve smiled. "Thank you." "And you know it." "Occasionally." The woman laughed. "Modest, too." "Terribly." Maeve drew her closer. For a while, they simply enjoyed the nearness. The warmth of another person's embrace. The pleasure of discovering that attraction became more compelling rather than less once conversation was no longer necessary. Eventually, the executive glanced toward the bedroom adjoining the lounge. Maeve followed her gaze. Then looked back. "Would you like to?" "Very much." "So would I." They stood together. The woman paused beside the bedroom entrance. "There's no expectation attached to this, you know." Maeve regarded her. "Good." "I'd rather spend time with you because we both want it." "Then we're in complete agreement." Maeve kissed her once more. "And I do want it." --- The room beyond was softly lit. They took their time settling into it, talking and laughing as the formality of the evening fell away. Maeve enjoyed the executive's easy confidence, especially because it never became a demand that Maeve surrender her own. The woman touched Maeve's cheek. "Still assessing me?" Maeve gave her a perfectly serious look. "Constantly." "Should I be worried?" "Not unless you stop kissing me." The woman laughed and immediately corrected that particular risk. Their lovemaking grew from there, moving beyond kisses into the fuller intimacy both women had already chosen. They explored each other without hurry, hands and mouths accompanied by quiet instructions, approving laughter, and the occasional wicked comment when one of them discovered a particularly effective way of making the other lose her train of thought. Later, when they tried scissoring, the first few seconds produced more laughter than elegance until they found a rhythm that suited them both. "Very analytical," the executive managed. Maeve's smile was breathless. "I believe in iterative improvement." The joke did not survive much longer. Maeve's climax built through the rhythm they found together, leaving her gripping the woman's hand and laughing once in startled delight before the sound disappeared into a kiss. She stayed close and attentive afterward, and when her companion reached her own peak later, Maeve held her through it with the same patience she had been given. They remained together as their breathing slowed, foreheads touching, neither pretending the shared pleasure had been incidental. The executive kissed Maeve's forehead. "That was lovely." Maeve smiled. "It was." "You're smiling." "I have excellent reasons." The woman laughed softly. "I'm glad." Maeve kissed her. "So am I." --- They remained together for some time. The conversation returned gradually. Not immediately to business. They spoke about their lives. The executive admitted that she found most corporate gatherings exhausting. Maeve laughed. "Even this one?" "This one's different." "Quite." "And tonight has been particularly good." Maeve smiled. "I agree." The woman studied her for a moment. "May I confess something?" "Of course." "I originally intended to meet your firm because our host recommended you." "A reasonable starting point." "But now I'd like to work with you because I believe you're exceptionally capable." Maeve's expression softened. "Thank you." "And because I like you." Maeve laughed. "Also a reasonable consideration." "I thought so." They kissed once more. Eventually, the executive glanced toward the clock. "Should we return?" Maeve considered. "In a little while." The woman smiled. "Excellent." Maeve settled comfortably beside her. For another few minutes, there was no need to discuss anything at all. --- When they finally rose, the executive helped retrieve a small hair ornament that had found its way beneath the couch. Maeve accepted it with an amused expression. "Thank you." "Occupational hazard?" "Apparently." They dressed, checked each other's appearance, and shared another affectionate kiss before leaving the lounge. The executive walked beside Maeve toward the main gathering area. At the corridor entrance, she stopped. "I'd very much like to see you again." Maeve smiled. "So would I." "Professionally?" "Certainly." "And personally?" Maeve's expression warmed. "That too." The woman laughed. "Wonderful." Maeve kissed her cheek. "Enjoy the rest of the evening." "You too." She watched Maeve return to the gathering. Then smiled to herself. Barkuk Khazad had introduced her to a remarkable woman. Whatever came of the professional relationship, she considered the evening thoroughly worthwhile. --- Amber's evening had taken a rather different direction. Her prospective aviation contact was a senior executive responsible for a substantial corporate flight operation. He had been introduced through one of the CEO's associates. And unlike several men she'd encountered in similar circumstances, he hadn't begun by telling her how important he was. Instead, he'd asked a question about managing security across international aviation facilities. Amber had answered. He'd listened. Then asked another. Within minutes, they were engaged in a lively discussion about the difficulties of coordinating highly specialized teams across different jurisdictions. Amber enjoyed the conversation. The man was charming. Intelligent. And refreshingly willing to admit when he didn't know something. That last quality was rarer among senior executives than it should have been. After a while, he smiled. "I hope I'm not monopolizing your evening." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Do I look unhappy?" "Not at all." "Then perhaps you should stop worrying." He laughed. "Fair point." Amber regarded him with amused interest. "Besides, you're rather good company." "I'm delighted." "And quite handsome." His smile widened. "Now you're flattering me." "Only a little." He laughed again. Amber liked the sound. --- They moved toward the bar. He ordered a drink. Amber chose sparkling water. They continued talking. Eventually, the conversation drifted away from business. He spoke about his enthusiasm for classic aircraft. Amber told him that his explanation of engine performance was beginning to sound suspiciously affectionate. He laughed. "Some machines deserve affection." "An interesting philosophy." "Do you disagree?" "Not entirely." He regarded her with curiosity. "Do you have a favorite vehicle?" Amber smiled. "Several." "Anything interesting?" "Darling, you have no idea." That made him laugh again. The conversation continued. He asked about Maeve. Amber spoke warmly about her wife. He listened with genuine interest. "She seems extraordinary." "She is." "And you're very happy together." "Immensely." He smiled. "I'm glad." Amber tilted her head. "Does that surprise you?" "No. But it's pleasant to meet people who seem genuinely comfortable with their lives." "An excellent observation." He glanced toward one of the quieter passages. "Would you care to continue our conversation somewhere private?" Amber looked at him. Then smiled. "I think I'd like that." --- The private lounge they selected overlooked another section of the natural cavern. A broad couch stood beside the window. Soft lighting illuminated the stone. The room was warm and comfortable. Amber looked around. "Very nice." "I'm beginning to think our host has excellent architects." "He certainly has excellent taste." "That too." He offered her a seat. She accepted. For a while, they continued talking. The atmosphere remained light. But the attraction between them was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Eventually, Amber set down her glass. "May I ask you something?" "Of course." "Are you always this polite?" He laughed. "I try." "Even when you're flirting?" "Especially then." Amber grinned. "How very considerate." "Is that a complaint?" "Not remotely." She moved closer. "Although I do occasionally appreciate a little initiative." He smiled. "Then may I kiss you?" Amber's eyes brightened. "Now that's more like it." --- He kissed her. Amber responded immediately, delighted by the warmth and confidence that had been hiding beneath his careful manners. When they parted, she smiled. "Much better." He laughed. "I'll remember that." "You should." She kissed him again. For a while, their conversation became considerably less structured. Amber liked that. The aviation executive was playful once he relaxed. He responded to her teasing with a dry humor that made her laugh. And he seemed particularly pleased when she abandoned her exaggerated corporate sweetness in favor of something more openly affectionate. Eventually, he rested his forehead against hers. "You're rather different from what I expected." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Disappointed?" "Quite the opposite." "Good." He smiled. "You're very direct." "Frequently." "And remarkably confident." "That too." Amber kissed him gently. "Does that bother you?" "No." "Excellent." She took his hand. "Then let's stop pretending we're here to discuss aircraft." He laughed. "An excellent idea." --- Their attraction had become something they were both happy to acknowledge. There was no obligation to continue and no business agreement depended upon it. They simply wanted each other, and Amber saw no virtue in pretending otherwise. She led him toward the adjoining bedroom, laughing when he remarked that she seemed to have made up her mind long before he had. "Darling, I've always appreciated efficiency." "Professionally?" "Not exclusively." He kissed her. "I'm beginning to understand that." "Good. Keep up." Their lovemaking carried the same playful energy as the conversation outside. Amber liked his willingness to tease back, but she liked even more how quickly he became serious when she told him what she wanted. They moved from laughter into a deeper rhythm without losing the sense that this was something they were choosing together moment by moment. When Amber climaxed, the delighted sound that escaped her was followed almost immediately by laughter against his shoulder. "All right," she murmured when she could speak again. "That was worth leaving the bar for." He laughed. "High praise." "Don't get arrogant. I'm still evaluating you." She kissed him and pulled him close again. The second half of their encounter was slower, more affectionate, and ended with his own release while Amber held him tightly and whispered something that made him laugh even before his breathing had fully settled. They stayed close afterward, warm, pleasantly tired, and entirely unconcerned with returning to the gathering immediately. --- Afterward, they lay together in comfortable silence. Amber rested her head against his shoulder. He stroked her short blonde hair gently. For a while, neither spoke. Then he said, "I have a confession." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Another one?" "I was nervous." She looked up. "Really?" "Quite." "Why?" "Because our host described you and your wife as exceptionally interesting people." Amber grinned. "How flattering." "And because I wasn't certain you'd find me interesting." She laughed. "Darling, you manage an aviation operation worth more than some neighborhoods." "That isn't necessarily attractive." "No. But being intelligent, funny, considerate, and capable of discussing something other than your own importance certainly helps." He smiled. "Then I'm glad." "So am I." She kissed him. Then settled beside him again. After a while, he asked about O'Sullivan SAS. This time, the conversation had a different ease. He spoke honestly about several organizational problems that had become difficult to manage internally. Amber listened. Asked questions. And identified where the company might genuinely help. No contracts were negotiated. But they agreed to arrange a proper meeting the following week. He looked pleased. "I think this could become a very valuable relationship." Amber smiled. "I agree." "Professionally?" "Certainly." He raised an eyebrow. "And otherwise?" Amber laughed. "Darling, I'd be delighted to see you again." He kissed her. "Good." --- Eventually, Amber rose. "Much as I'd enjoy staying here..." He smiled. "Your wife?" "Among other things." "Of course." They dressed, exchanging light conversation while restoring the immaculate appearance expected of two successful corporate guests. He offered to accompany her back to the main cavern. Amber accepted. They walked together through the quiet corridor. Near the entrance to the gathering, he stopped. "I hope this wasn't merely a pleasant evening." Amber looked up. "It wasn't." His expression softened. "I'm glad." She kissed his cheek. "Contact our office next week. We'll arrange that meeting." "I will." "And don't forget to ask for Amber." He laughed. "As though I could." She smiled brightly. "Excellent." Then she returned to the gathering. --- Amber found Maeve near the bar. Her wife was accepting a fresh cup of tea. Amber approached from behind and slipped an arm around her waist. "Hello, darling." Maeve turned. Her expression immediately warmed. "Hello." They kissed. Amber studied her. Then grinned. "Oh, you look pleased." Maeve laughed. "I am." "Good." "And you?" Amber's smile widened. "Immensely." Maeve regarded her with affectionate amusement. "Excellent." They moved toward a quieter terrace together. Amber accepted a glass of water. Maeve finished her tea. Then Amber leaned closer. "So." Maeve smiled. "Yes?" "Productive evening?" "Very." "Commercially?" "Extremely promising." "And personally?" Maeve laughed. "Darling, you know the answer." Amber grinned. "Tell me anyway." Maeve leaned closer and kissed her. "Wonderful." Amber laughed softly. "Mine too." They rested together for a moment. No competition. No jealousy. No need to disguise the fact that they had enjoyed themselves with other people. They knew each other. And they knew what mattered. --- Eventually, Maeve glanced toward the center of the cavern. "There's another interesting thing." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Besides the obvious?" "Yes." "Go on." "The industrial executive knows very little about Barkuk Khazad beyond its professional network." Amber considered. "How do you know?" "We talked." "About the company?" "Among other things." "And?" "She regards the gatherings as an excellent opportunity to meet interesting people. She enjoys their personal culture. She has no particular interest in their inner leadership." Amber nodded. "That matches my aviation executive." "Really?" "Exactly. He likes the events, appreciates the introductions, and finds the atmosphere refreshing." Maeve looked around. "Which reinforces our suspicion." "That most of these people have nothing to do with what's below." "Yes." Amber's expression became thoughtful. "And we shouldn't treat them as guilty merely because they enjoy the same kind of social freedom." Maeve nodded. "Precisely." Amber smiled faintly. "That would be rather hypocritical of us." Maeve laughed. "Just a little." --- The CEO observed them from across the chamber. He had been watching the gathering's social development with considerable satisfaction. Not the guests' private moments. The relationships forming around them. Amber and Maeve had made strong impressions during their first visit. Now, on their second, they were already becoming part of the network. Returning guests greeted them. New guests sought them out. Their professional conversations were substantive. Their personal relationships appeared genuine. And they seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere without treating it as something they needed to endure for commercial advantage. That mattered. The CEO had known plenty of people who could imitate enthusiasm for a single evening. Returning willingly was different. His coordinator approached. "The O'Sullivans appear to be doing very well." "So they are." "Several promising new professional contacts." "I expected as much." "And the industrial executive has asked whether we can facilitate a further introduction to their firm." The CEO smiled. "Excellent." "Do you believe they're ready for deeper access?" He considered. "Not yet." "May I ask why?" "Because there's no reason to rush." The coordinator nodded. The CEO looked toward Amber and Maeve again. "They came back." "Yes." "And they didn't need persuading." "No." "Let them return again." He smiled. "Trust grows best when people choose it." --- Later, Maeve noticed the old lower door remained closed. No unusual movement. No additional staff. No visible disturbance. The runic structure surrounding it remained exactly as before. She looked at it only briefly. Amber joined her. "Still curious?" "Very." "Anything changed?" "No." "Good?" "Unknown." Amber smiled faintly. "Your favorite answer." "It's accurate." They stood together for a moment. Around them, the gathering continued. People laughed. Made arrangements for future meetings. Danced. Kissed. Retired to private lounges. Returned smiling. It was impossible to look at the room and call everyone in it corrupt. Most weren't. Some were probably unpleasant people because Night City produced those in abundance. Others were charming. Competent. Interesting. Potentially valuable friends and clients. The wrongdoing, if their suspicions were correct, was concentrated somewhere deeper in the organization. That distinction mattered. Amber looked around. "You know what bothers me?" Maeve glanced at her. "What?" "If Barkuk Khazad disappeared tomorrow..." She gestured toward the room. "This part would still be a damned good idea." Maeve laughed. "You're suggesting O'Sullivan SAS should borrow the concept?" "Exactly." "We've hosted entertaining corporate evenings before." "That we have." Amber's eyes brightened. "Maybe again someday." Maeve kissed her cheek. "One disaster at a time, darling." --- ## Chapter 11 — An Invitation for Four Amber had just discovered that the retreat served an excellent twenty-year-old whisky. She had not ordered any. The discovery came courtesy of a gentleman who insisted that one simply couldn't appreciate the finer things in life without trying it. Amber had informed him that she appreciated the finer things in life perfectly well without needing assistance. He had laughed. Then bought her a glass of sparkling water. Which, she decided, made him considerably more interesting. "So," he said, leaning comfortably against the bar, "your company really handles acquisitions?" "Among other things." "Even complicated ones?" "Especially complicated ones." He looked impressed. Amber studied him with a bright smile. "Why? Have you purchased something dreadful?" "Not yet." "Planning to?" "Possibly." "Then you should probably call us before signing anything." He laughed. "Sound advice." "I give excellent advice." "So I've heard." Amber tilted her head. "From whom?" He pointed across the room. "Your wife." Amber turned. Maeve stood near one of the conversation areas, speaking with two executives. She had a cup of tea in one hand. Her copper-red hair caught the warm lighting. She looked entirely at ease. Amber grinned. "She says lovely things about me." "Apparently." "Most of them true." The gentleman laughed. And Amber made another mental note. Potentially useful contact. Good manners. Excellent sense of humor. No obvious reason to disappear into a private lounge together. Not every interesting conversation needed to end that way. She was perfectly happy to enjoy this one as it was. --- Maeve had reached a similar conclusion about the two executives she'd been speaking with. Both represented substantial investment groups. Both were intelligent. One was an extremely pleasant man with impeccable manners. The other was a woman with a sharp analytical mind and a dry sense of humor that Maeve appreciated immediately. Their conversation had begun with international acquisitions and drifted toward the peculiar difficulties of operating in Night City. "Your problem," the woman said, "is that you're trying to apply sensible business practices in a city that regards sensible business practices as an exotic hobby." Maeve laughed. "An accurate assessment." The man smiled. "Surely it's not quite that bad." Both women looked at him. He sighed. "Fair enough." They laughed together. The woman turned toward Maeve. "I'd like to speak with your office next week." "About?" "An acquisition we haven't announced yet." Maeve's interest sharpened. "Then we'll arrange a confidential meeting." "Excellent." The woman glanced toward Amber at the bar. "And your wife?" "She'll be involved." "Good. I'd like to meet her properly." Maeve smiled. "That can certainly be arranged." The man leaned back. "You're both becoming remarkably popular." Maeve laughed. "We try." "Do you?" "Of course." He regarded her for a moment. "Most people here try much too hard." Maeve considered. "Perhaps they're approaching it backwards." "How so?" "They're trying to impress people before deciding whether they actually like them." The woman smiled. "Interesting distinction." Maeve took a sip of tea. "I think it matters." --- The CEO was thinking almost exactly the same thing. From his position near the central seating area, he had watched Amber and Maeve moving through the gathering for the better part of an hour. He had deliberately avoided interrupting them. They required remarkably little assistance. Amber had a talent for making strangers comfortable without losing control of a conversation. Maeve approached people with the thoughtful precision of someone who genuinely enjoyed discovering what made them interesting. Together, they were even more effective. They moved naturally between conversations. Introduced people to one another. Recognized opportunities. And, unlike many newcomers, appeared entirely comfortable allowing personal interest to develop without turning every encounter into a negotiation. His coordinator approached. "Another excellent evening for the O'Sullivans." "Indeed." "The aviation executive has requested a formal introduction through our office." "Good." "And the industrial automation group wants to arrange a follow-up." "Excellent." The coordinator glanced across the room. "They're making quite an impression." The CEO smiled. "More importantly, they're making people happy they met them." The coordinator considered. "An unusual distinction." "Not at all." He watched Amber laugh at something a guest had said. "It's the foundation of everything we do here." --- Amber found Maeve near the refreshments table. "Hello, beautiful." Maeve turned. "Hello yourself." Amber kissed her. "Another contract?" "Potentially." "Wonderful." "And you?" "A gentleman with an acquisition problem." "Complicated?" "Possibly disastrous." Maeve laughed. "Your favorite." "Almost." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Almost?" Amber leaned closer. "I have several other favorites." Maeve's answering smile was unmistakably affectionate. "I know." Amber reached for a small pastry. Maeve looked at it. "Didn't you already have three?" "Two." "Amber." "Two and a half." "How does one eat half a pastry?" "With admirable restraint." Maeve laughed. "Impossible woman." "Frequently." They were still laughing when someone approached. "Excuse me." Both turned. The woman standing before them was tall, elegantly dressed, and carried herself with the relaxed confidence of someone who had never needed to shout to command a room. She had dark hair gathered at the back of her neck and an expression suggesting she enjoyed a good joke almost as much as a difficult negotiation. Beside her stood a handsome man with silver at his temples and a smile that appeared permanently close to laughter. The woman inclined her head. "Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan?" Maeve smiled. "Yes." "I'm Nicolette Soren. This is my husband, Adrian." Adrian offered his hand. "A pleasure." Amber shook it. "Likewise." Nicolette smiled. "Our host has been talking about you." Amber's eyes brightened. "Good things, I hope." "Very good things." Maeve laughed softly. "That's reassuring." Nicolette looked between them. "And I've just discovered something rather disappointing." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "We've been at the same gathering for several hours, and nobody thought to introduce us." Adrian sighed theatrically. "A scandal." "An absolute scandal," Amber agreed. Maeve smiled. "Then we'd better correct it." --- The Sorens were not Barkuk Khazad executives. That became clear almost immediately. They owned a successful international group specializing in complex corporate logistics, strategic acquisitions, and infrastructure investment. Their company had worked with Barkuk Khazad on several transactions. They enjoyed the gatherings. And they were quite open about finding the traditional corporate networking circuit unbearably dull. "Everyone wears the same expression," Nicolette complained. "As though pleasure were something that must be concealed until the contracts have been signed." Adrian laughed. "Darling, I've seen you frighten entire boards of directors." "Only the incompetent ones." "And several competent ones." "They recovered." Amber grinned. "I like you." Nicolette smiled. "The feeling is mutual." Maeve studied the couple. They were clearly accustomed to working together. But their relationship didn't resemble a perpetual negotiation. They teased each other. Listened carefully. And seemed entirely comfortable allowing the other person to take the lead. It reminded her of something. Someone, actually. She glanced at Amber. Amber caught the look. And smiled. --- They talked for nearly half an hour. Business first, naturally. The Sorens had several interests that could potentially overlap with O'Sullivan SAS. But neither side seemed especially interested in discussing figures or commitments tonight. Instead, they talked about how their companies worked. The people they trusted. The risks they refused to accept. And the difficulty of finding partners who understood that expensive problems rarely came with simple solutions. Adrian was especially interested in Amber's observations about corporate security. Nicolette found Maeve's analytical approach fascinating. Before long, the four had split into two lively conversations. Then switched. Then reunited. Amber discovered that Nicolette possessed a sense of humor nearly as sharp as Maeve's. Which was dangerous. Maeve discovered that Adrian's apparently effortless charm concealed a very capable strategic mind. Also dangerous. In entirely different ways. Eventually, Nicolette looked toward the main gathering chamber. Then back at Amber and Maeve. "May I make a slightly unusual suggestion?" Amber smiled. "Please do." Adrian laughed. "That expression means trouble." "Darling," Nicolette said, "you married me." "I did." "You knew what you were getting." "That's debatable." She kissed his cheek. Then turned back to the O'Sullivans. "Would you two care to join us somewhere quieter?" Maeve smiled. "For another conversation?" Nicolette's expression became amused. "That would certainly be part of it." Amber glanced at her wife. Maeve met her eyes. Both were interested. Nicolette continued without embarrassment. "Adrian and I enjoy meeting people together. Not simply attending the same gathering and disappearing in opposite directions." Amber's smile widened. "I see." "We have a private suite. A very comfortable one." Adrian added, "And an excellent drinks selection." Nicolette gave him a look. "Darling." "What? It's true." Amber laughed. Maeve smiled. "Are you inviting us both?" "Yes." "To spend the evening with both of you?" "Exactly." Adrian regarded them with an easy smile. "Only if the idea appeals to you." --- Amber turned toward Maeve. This time, the conversation between them required no elaborate explanation. They knew each other. They knew their own wishes. But an invitation involving four people deserved more than a cheerful assumption. Maeve looked toward Nicolette. "May we have a moment?" "Of course." The Sorens moved a little way down the terrace. Amber leaned closer. "Well." Maeve laughed. "Yes." "That's different." "Quite." "What do you think?" Maeve considered. "I like them." "So do I." "Both of them." "Very much." Maeve looked thoughtful. "And I like the fact that they approached us together." Amber nodded. "No surprises." "Exactly." Amber glanced toward the couple. Nicolette was saying something that made Adrian laugh. "Want to?" Maeve smiled. "Yes." Amber's grin returned. "Excellent." Maeve caught her hand before she turned away. "One thing." "Yes?" "We enjoy ourselves, but we keep the same freedom to change our minds." Amber's expression softened. "Always." Maeve kissed her. "Good." They returned to the Sorens together. Amber smiled. "We'd love to." Nicolette's face brightened. "Wonderful." Adrian offered his arm. "Then shall we?" Maeve accepted. "With pleasure." --- The Soren suite was larger than Amber and Maeve's. It occupied a quieter section of the retreat, with a private sitting room, a dining alcove, and an adjoining bedroom. A broad window overlooked a natural rock formation illuminated from below. Amber examined the room appreciatively. "Oh, that's lovely." Nicolette smiled. "We've been coming here for years." Maeve looked toward her. "Regular guests?" "Very." Adrian walked toward the drinks cabinet. "Particularly because Nicolette refuses to attend ordinary corporate receptions anymore." Nicolette sighed. "They're dreadful." "Some are merely boring." "That's dreadful enough." Amber laughed. "Fair." The drinks were served. Maeve chose tea. Amber accepted sparkling water. Adrian poured whisky for himself. Nicolette selected a small glass of wine. Then they settled together in the sitting room. For a while, nothing happened except conversation. And that, Maeve thought, was exactly why she liked them. Nobody was rushing toward a predetermined conclusion. Nobody was treating the invitation as a promise of anything. They were simply four adults discovering whether the attraction that had begun downstairs grew stronger in private. It did. --- Nicolette sat beside Amber. "May I tell you something?" Amber smiled. "Of course." "I wasn't entirely certain whether you and Maeve would accept." "Why?" "Because you seem very happy together." Amber laughed softly. "We are." "Some couples prefer not to share that happiness." "True." Nicolette looked toward Adrian, who was talking with Maeve. "And some discover that their relationship is strong enough to accommodate different experiences." Amber smiled. "Also true." Nicolette regarded her thoughtfully. "How do you make it work?" Amber considered. "Trust." "A simple answer." "Not always a simple practice." Nicolette nodded. "Very true." Amber glanced toward Maeve. "Neither of us needs permission to be herself. But we care deeply about what the other feels." Nicolette smiled. "That sounds familiar." Across the room, Adrian was telling Maeve a story about a disastrously managed acquisition. Maeve was laughing. Nicolette watched them. "He's enjoying himself." Amber grinned. "So is she." Then Nicolette turned back. "And you?" Amber met her eyes. "Very much." --- Nicolette smiled and reached for Amber's hand. "Would you like me to kiss you?" Amber's answering grin was immediate. "I was wondering when you'd ask." Nicolette laughed. Then leaned closer. The kiss was warm, affectionate, and unhurried. Amber responded with easy confidence. When they separated, Nicolette was smiling. "Oh." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Good?" "Very." "Excellent." From across the room, Adrian looked over. "Are we missing something?" Nicolette laughed. "Possibly." Maeve turned. Amber smiled at her. "Darling?" "Yes?" "I think you should come over here." Maeve looked toward Adrian. He smiled. "An excellent suggestion." --- They gathered on the larger couch. Not in any formal arrangement. Just four people who had become increasingly comfortable together. Adrian sat beside Nicolette. Maeve settled next to Amber. The couples exchanged affectionate glances. Then Nicolette laughed. "This feels strangely like a meeting." Amber grinned. "Should someone take minutes?" "Absolutely not," Adrian said. Maeve laughed. "Agreed." Nicolette considered the four of them. "Then perhaps we should establish one thing." Maeve nodded. "Which is?" "Nobody has to do anything they don't want to do." Amber smiled. "Agreed." "And nobody needs to explain a change of mind." "Also agreed," Maeve said. Adrian nodded. "I think we're all perfectly capable of enjoying each other's company without making it complicated." Amber looked delighted. "Now there's a philosophy I can support." --- What followed wasn't a negotiation. It was a conversation that gradually gave way to affection. Nicolette kissed Maeve. Amber smiled at the sight of her wife looking momentarily surprised before responding warmly. Adrian turned toward Amber. "May I?" She smiled. "Please." His kiss was gentle. Amber appreciated the way he waited for her response rather than assuming what she wanted. Nicolette laughed softly at something Maeve whispered. Then the four were smiling at one another. The atmosphere had changed. Not dramatically. There was no sense of a threshold being crossed under pressure. Only the quiet recognition that they all wanted to continue. Nicolette looked toward the adjoining bedroom. "Would everyone be comfortable moving somewhere more private?" Maeve glanced at Amber. Amber squeezed her hand. Both smiled. "Yes," Maeve answered. Adrian rose. He offered Nicolette his hand. She accepted. Amber stood beside Maeve. And the four went together. --- The adjoining room was warm and softly lit. They remained close, talking quietly as they settled in. There was laughter when Adrian admitted that he'd expected to be the most talkative person in the group. Amber informed him that he'd made a serious tactical error. Nicolette agreed. Maeve suggested that none of them was likely to win that particular competition. "Should someone take minutes?" Adrian asked. Amber looked horrified. "If O'Sullivan SAS ever invoices this as team-building, I am firing Iris." Nicolette laughed. "If you invoice me for it, I'm refusing to sign." Maeve's eyes sparkled. "Then we'll have to classify it as client retention." That nearly ended Adrian. The laughter gradually gave way to kisses and the quieter language of four people checking one another's comfort without turning consent into ceremony. Nicolette kissed Maeve, then Amber. Adrian remained attentive to both O'Sullivans, and the couples shifted naturally rather than treating the evening as a fixed arrangement. Sometimes Amber and Maeve reached for each other in the middle of everything, a familiar touch or linked fingers anchoring them while they enjoyed someone new. They made love together. The room never became a performance or a competition. Pleasure moved through the group in overlapping waves, with each person given time to respond, pause, ask for something different, or simply laugh when the intimacy became unexpectedly tender. Amber's orgasm came while Maeve's hand was still laced with hers, leaving Amber briefly speechless and Nicolette visibly delighted by the rarity of that achievement. Maeve reached her own climax later with Nicolette close and Adrian's quiet affection keeping the moment grounded rather than theatrical. Adrian and Nicolette were given the same attention in return, neither reduced to hosts observing the O'Sullivans enjoy themselves. By the time the intensity finally eased, all four had been fully included and no one seemed remotely interested in pretending the evening had been merely a networking exercise. For a while they remained together in the warm disorder afterward. Nicolette rested against Amber. Adrian lay close enough to keep one hand linked with his wife's. Maeve settled beside them, smiling at the unmistakable satisfaction on all three faces. No one hurried to dress. No one reached for a datapad. The contracts could wait. --- Amber was the first to break the silence. "Well." Maeve burst out laughing. Nicolette lifted her head. "What?" Maeve shook her head. "Nothing. It's just a word she's terribly fond of." Adrian smiled. "Should we be concerned?" "Only if she begins making speeches," Maeve replied. Amber looked offended. "I give excellent speeches." "Darling, you give excellent trouble." Nicolette laughed. "I think I rather like that." Amber smiled brightly. "See?" Adrian kissed Nicolette's cheek. "She's found an ally." Maeve sighed theatrically. "God help us." --- They remained together for another hour. Conversation returned. Not immediately to work. There was too much else to talk about. The Sorens told stories about their early years together. Amber contributed a few of her own. Maeve listened with affectionate amusement when Amber exaggerated an incident involving an extremely expensive corporate dinner and a client who had apparently mistaken a decorative sculpture for a security system. Adrian nearly spilled his drink laughing. Eventually, Nicolette turned toward Maeve. "I think there's something we should discuss." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Professionally?" "Potentially." Amber grinned. "That sounds promising." Nicolette smiled. "Our group is considering a substantial acquisition." Maeve's attention sharpened. "Infrastructure?" "Partly." "International?" "Yes." "And complicated?" Adrian laughed. "Extremely." Amber looked delighted. "Now you're speaking our language." Nicolette continued. "We've been looking for an independent advisory firm with the right combination of judgment and discretion." Maeve nodded. "O'Sullivan SAS might be interested." "We thought so." Adrian smiled. "And our host has been praising you both." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Again?" "Repeatedly." Maeve looked toward Nicolette. "Then perhaps we should arrange a proper meeting." "Absolutely." "With Iris Rourke involved." Nicolette nodded. "Naturally." Amber settled comfortably beside her wife. "Perfect." Adrian looked amused. "Do you always conduct business so efficiently?" Maeve smiled. "Only after we've decided we like the people involved." Nicolette laughed. "An excellent principle." --- Eventually, Amber and Maeve prepared to leave. Not because anyone wanted to end the evening abruptly. But because the gathering was still continuing outside, and neither couple had any intention of spending the remainder of it hidden away. The four dressed and returned to the sitting room. Nicolette adjusted Maeve's hair ornament. Amber admired the result. "Beautiful." Maeve smiled. "Thank you." Adrian retrieved his jacket. Then turned toward the O'Sullivans. "Would you two care to join us at the bar?" Amber looked delighted. "Absolutely." Nicolette took Maeve's hand. "Wonderful." They walked back toward the gathering together. --- Their arrival didn't go unnoticed. Several guests greeted the Sorens. Others recognized Amber and Maeve. The four remained close for a while, sharing another drink and continuing their conversation. Then the logistics executive Amber had met earlier approached. He looked at the group. Smiled. And raised an eyebrow. "Well, this looks like excellent company." Amber laughed. "It is." Nicolette smiled. "Care to join us?" He accepted. Within minutes, the conversation had expanded again. Another executive arrived. Then another. The gathering continued around them. Not as a succession of compulsory introductions. But as a network of people who genuinely enjoyed meeting one another. And the CEO watched from across the room. --- His coordinator approached. "The Sorens appear to have taken quite a liking to the O'Sullivans." The CEO smiled. "So I see." "That could become commercially significant." "Very." "Should we arrange a formal introduction?" The CEO laughed softly. "I believe they've already managed that without us." The coordinator glanced toward the group. "Apparently." The CEO watched Nicolette laughing at something Maeve had said. He knew the Sorens well. They were selective about new relationships. Not unfriendly. Not reserved. Simply experienced enough to recognize when someone was worth getting to know. And they clearly considered Amber and Maeve worth their time. That impressed him more than another round of enthusiastic first-night reports would have. His two newest associates weren't merely fitting into the network. They were beginning to strengthen it. He smiled. "Make sure their next invitation is personal." "The O'Sullivans?" "Yes." "Of course." "And see whether the Sorens would be willing to provide a private assessment of their professional capabilities." The coordinator nodded. "I'll ask." "Discreetly." "Naturally." The CEO returned his attention to the gathering. For now, he was satisfied. --- Near the bar, Amber leaned toward Maeve. "Darling?" "Yes?" "Do you realize something?" Maeve smiled. "Many things." "I think we've had an exceptionally successful evening." Maeve laughed. "Professionally?" "Certainly." "And personally?" Amber's grin widened. "Immensely." Maeve kissed her. "I agree." Nicolette, standing beside them, overheard. "Are we discussing tonight's success?" Amber turned. "We are." Adrian joined them. "And the verdict?" Maeve smiled. "Very favorable." Nicolette raised her glass. "Then to new friends." Amber smiled. "To new friends." Their glasses touched. And the evening continued. The lower door remained closed. The runic system continued its silent work. Whatever lived beneath the retreat remained unseen. For now, Amber and Maeve were content to leave that mystery where it was. They still had people to meet. Conversations to enjoy. And perhaps another invitation or two before the night was over. --- ## Chapter 12 — The Midnight Circle Nicolette Soren was laughing. This, Amber had discovered, was a dangerous development. Not because Nicolette was particularly loud. She wasn't. But because she possessed the kind of precise, merciless wit that could reduce an entire room of corporate executives to helpless laughter while maintaining the expression of someone discussing quarterly revenue. Her latest victim was her husband. "I merely suggested," Adrian protested, "that we might consider diversifying into hospitality." "You suggested buying a hotel." "A very good hotel." "Because you liked the breakfast." Amber nearly choked on her water. Adrian looked toward her. "Don't encourage her." "Darling, it's much too late." Maeve was laughing against Amber's shoulder. Nicolette regarded her husband affectionately. "And you wonder why I insist on reviewing our investment proposals." "Someone has to appreciate visionary thinking." "You wanted to buy a hotel because they made excellent pancakes." "Extraordinary pancakes." Amber raised a finger. "I'd like the record to show that I understand his reasoning perfectly." Nicolette closed her eyes. "Wonderful. Now there are two of them." Maeve kissed Amber's cheek. "Three. I tasted those pancakes." Adrian spread his hands triumphantly. "Vindication!" The laughter drew several amused glances. None of them minded. It had been that sort of evening. --- The gathering was approaching midnight, but it showed little sign of slowing down. Some guests had already retired. Others were dancing. A few continued conversations begun hours earlier. And a surprising number of executives who might have been unbearably formal in an ordinary boardroom were now enjoying themselves with complete disregard for their professional reputations. Amber loved it. She loved the freedom. The absence of artificial stiffness. The fact that a person could discuss a complex acquisition, share a drink, exchange a kiss, and return to discussing aircraft without anyone pretending these were incompatible aspects of adult life. Of course, she also understood why the environment worked. People were more interesting when they weren't constantly defending their professional image. Not necessarily more honest. But often more revealing. Maeve had reached much the same conclusion. She was watching a senior finance executive enthusiastically explain to an architect why several spectacularly expensive corporate headquarters were profoundly impractical. The architect was laughing. Then arguing. Then laughing again. It was excellent conversation. And, judging by the way they were standing together, possibly the beginning of something else. Maeve smiled. Night City was full of terrible people. But it was also full of interesting ones. Sometimes they even attended the same party. --- The CEO approached their group shortly afterward. "Nicolette. Adrian." Adrian raised his glass. "Excellent gathering." "I'm glad you're enjoying it." Nicolette smiled. "Especially the company." The CEO looked toward Amber and Maeve. "So I understand." Amber grinned. "Have people been telling stories about us again?" "Only complimentary ones." "How disappointing." He laughed. Maeve smiled. "Is there something we can help you with?" "As a matter of fact, yes." That got her attention. The CEO gestured toward a quieter corridor branching away from the main chamber. "We're opening the Lantern Room shortly." Nicolette's expression brightened. "Oh, lovely." Amber looked at her. "What's that?" "A smaller late-night salon," Nicolette explained. "Conversation, music, excellent refreshments, and usually a fascinating collection of people." Adrian added, "Occasionally even better than the main gathering." "Depending on who attends," the CEO said. He looked toward the O'Sullivans. "I thought you might enjoy it." Maeve smiled. "We'd be delighted." "Excellent." Then he added something neither woman expected. "There's a guest arriving late whom I'd particularly like you to meet." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Professionally?" "Certainly." "And otherwise?" He smiled. "I suspect you'll find that out for yourselves." --- The Lantern Room was not hidden. That became obvious the moment they reached it. There were no unusual security arrangements. No additional runic boundaries. No secret passwords. Just an elegant smaller chamber designed for guests who preferred conversation to the growing noise of the main gathering. The room had several seating areas arranged around a broad central space. One wall held a collection of antique instruments. A beautifully restored grand piano occupied a corner near the windows. Low lamps illuminated the natural stone. And a small dining table offered coffee, tea, fruit, and pastries. Amber examined the room. "Oh, I like this." Maeve smiled. "I thought you might." "That piano." "Yes?" "Beautiful." Adrian nodded. "And properly maintained." Nicolette looked at him. "You investigated?" "Naturally." "Of course you did." Amber laughed. The CEO greeted several guests already inside. Then turned back toward them. "Enjoy yourselves. I'll return shortly." He departed without further explanation. Maeve watched him go. "Interesting." Amber glanced toward her. "What?" "He invited us here personally." "Yes." "Not merely as prospective clients." Amber considered. "As people he thinks will fit the group." "Exactly." Amber smiled. "That's rather flattering." "It is." And potentially useful. But Maeve didn't say that aloud. Not every minute needed to belong to the investigation. --- The next half hour was exceptionally pleasant. The Lantern Room contained fewer than a dozen guests. Conversation moved easily between the different seating areas. There was no formal program. No speeches. No compulsory introductions. People simply found one another interesting. Amber spoke with a corporate aviation lawyer whose stories about international regulatory disputes were considerably funnier than they had any right to be. Maeve discussed acquisition risk with a woman who had spent two decades managing difficult cross-border investments. Adrian became involved in a spirited debate about classical automobiles. Nicolette watched the proceedings with considerable amusement. Eventually, she approached Maeve. "You know, you're rather good at this." Maeve looked up. "At what?" "Making people comfortable." Maeve smiled. "I enjoy meeting people." "That doesn't automatically make someone good at it." "True." Nicolette glanced toward Amber. "And your wife appears to have persuaded three executives to argue enthusiastically about engines." Maeve laughed. "She does that." "Frequently?" "Very." Nicolette considered. "You're both rather unusual." Maeve smiled. "Thank you." "It was a compliment." "I know." --- The late arrival appeared shortly after midnight. She entered without an entourage. A woman perhaps in her early forties, with dark hair cut neatly above her shoulders, a simple black evening dress, and the composed expression of someone who could recognize a bad financial decision from across a crowded room. She paused near the entrance. Surveyed the gathering. Then smiled when the CEO approached. They exchanged a warm greeting. The CEO gestured toward Amber and Maeve. The woman looked across the room. Her expression became curious. Then she approached. "Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan?" Maeve stood. "Yes." "I'm Sabine Laurent." Amber offered her hand. "Delighted." Sabine shook it. "Likewise." The CEO smiled. "Sabine leads one of the most interesting specialty risk and insurance groups in the region." Sabine gave him an amused look. "That's an unusually flattering introduction." "Entirely deserved." "Careful. I'll start believing you." Amber laughed. "An occupational hazard." Sabine smiled at her. "I've heard good things about you two." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "From our host?" "Among others." "Then we have quite a reputation to live up to." Sabine's smile widened. "I'd rather discover whether we like each other than spend the evening evaluating reputations." Amber looked delighted. "Darling, I think we're going to get along beautifully." --- They did. Sabine was intelligent, warm, and possessed a particularly dry sense of humor. Unlike some of the executives in the main gathering, she had little interest in displaying her professional importance. She preferred questions. Interesting ones. Questions that made people stop and consider what they actually believed. Within minutes, Maeve found herself engaged in a fascinating conversation about risk. "Most executives," Sabine said, "believe risk management exists to tell them what won't happen." Maeve laughed. "And what do you tell them?" "That uncertainty doesn't care about their preferences." Amber grinned. "I like that." "Unfortunately, some clients don't." "I wonder why." Sabine smiled. "They want reassurance." "Instead of analysis," Maeve observed. "Exactly." The discussion continued. Market volatility. Corporate acquisitions. Unexpected losses. The difference between genuine competence and a fortunate sequence of outcomes. Eventually, Sabine said something that made Maeve's attention sharpen. "Some organizations have a remarkable ability to avoid consequences." Maeve regarded her. "How remarkable?" Sabine considered. "Enough to make their competitors suspicious." Amber's expression remained pleasantly interested. "Do you mean companies that are simply very good at what they do?" "Sometimes." "And other times?" Sabine smiled faintly. "Other times, I wonder whether everyone is measuring the same risks." Maeve nodded. "An important distinction." "Precisely." Sabine looked between them. "Do either of you believe in luck?" Amber laughed. "Occasionally." Maeve considered. "I believe in probability." "How romantic." "Terribly." Sabine laughed. Then looked thoughtful. "There's a difference between improbable success and impossible success." Maeve smiled. "And deciding where that boundary lies is your profession." "Among other things." Amber raised her glass. "To knowing when the numbers are lying." Sabine touched hers against it. "To knowing when somebody else is." --- That conversation gave Maeve something worth remembering. Not proof. Not an accusation. Only a perspective. Sabine understood risk unusually well. And she didn't appear entirely convinced that extraordinary corporate success was always the result of extraordinary ability. Maeve filed that away. Then allowed the conversation to move elsewhere. Because Sabine was interesting in more ways than one. She had spent several years traveling between Night City and European financial centers. She loved music. Disliked overly elaborate corporate ceremonies. And had attended Barkuk Khazad gatherings for nearly two years. "Two years?" Amber asked. Sabine nodded. "Approximately." "And you keep returning?" "When I can." "Why?" Sabine considered. "Because the people are interesting." Maeve smiled. "A good reason." "Because most of them stop performing their professional identities after a while." "An even better one." "And because sometimes..." She looked from Maeve to Amber. "...I meet somebody I genuinely want to know." Amber's smile warmed. "Now that's a lovely answer." --- The conversation became more personal. Sabine asked about their marriage. Not intrusively. Simply with the curiosity of someone who had noticed how naturally they moved around one another. Maeve answered first. "We've been together long enough to understand each other's habits." Amber grinned. "Most of them dreadful." "Some of them delightful." "Which ones?" Maeve kissed her cheek. "I'll tell you later." Sabine laughed. "You're very affectionate." "Yes," Amber replied. "Does that ever make these gatherings complicated?" Maeve considered the question seriously. "Not particularly." "Really?" "We know what we want. We communicate. And we don't assume that enjoying another person's company diminishes what we have together." Sabine nodded slowly. "That makes sense." Amber added, "Besides, we rather enjoy seeing each other happy." Sabine looked at both women. Then smiled. "That's genuinely beautiful." For once, Amber didn't immediately make a joke. She simply smiled back. "Thank you." --- The pianist arrived shortly afterward. A guest rather than a hired performer. He greeted Adrian, sat at the grand piano, and began playing a gentle improvised melody. Conversation softened. Several guests moved toward the open central space. A few began dancing. Sabine watched them. Then looked toward Amber. "Would you care to dance?" Amber's expression brightened. "Delighted." Maeve smiled. "Go on." Amber kissed her. "Don't wander off." Maeve laughed. "No promises." --- Sabine was an excellent dancer. Not theatrical. Not interested in demonstrating complicated steps. She simply moved with confidence and enjoyed the music. Amber liked that. They spoke quietly while dancing. About Night City. About ridiculous professional expectations. About how difficult it could be to find people who were both intelligent and kind. At one point, Sabine smiled. "Your wife is watching us." Amber glanced toward Maeve. She was standing beside Nicolette. Both women were smiling. Amber turned back. "She likes seeing me dance." "I can understand why." Amber laughed softly. Sabine's expression became more affectionate. "May I tell you something?" "Of course." "I think you're rather wonderful." Amber smiled. "That's very kind." "I mean it." "I know." Sabine looked toward Maeve again. "And your wife." Amber's smile widened. "She is." Sabine hesitated. Only briefly. Then said, "Would it be terribly forward to admit I'm attracted to both of you?" Amber laughed. "Not terribly." "Good." "Rather flattering, actually." Sabine smiled. "I'm glad." Amber glanced toward Maeve. "Then I think you should tell her." --- A little later, Maeve found herself dancing with Sabine. Amber had temporarily joined Adrian and Nicolette near the refreshments. Sabine looked slightly amused. "Your wife is remarkably persuasive." Maeve laughed. "Frequently." "She suggested I should be direct." "An excellent suggestion." Sabine met her eyes. "I find you very attractive." Maeve smiled. "Thank you." "And I find your wife attractive too." "I gathered." Sabine laughed softly. "Does that bother you?" "Not at all." "Good." Maeve studied her for a moment. "Would you like to spend more time with us?" Sabine's expression warmed. "Very much." "Then perhaps we should ask Amber." Sabine smiled. "I'd like that." --- Amber was delighted by the invitation. Although she did insist on asking a question. "Both of us?" Sabine nodded. "Yes." "Together?" "Yes." Amber grinned. "Wonderful." Maeve laughed. "Darling." "What?" "You're impossible." "Frequently." Sabine smiled at them both. "I have a suite nearby. If you'd like somewhere quieter." Maeve looked at Amber. Amber met her eyes. There was no uncertainty. Only the familiar understanding between them. Maeve turned toward Sabine. "We'd like that." Sabine smiled. "Then shall we?" --- Sabine's suite was smaller than the Sorens', but beautifully appointed. A comfortable sitting room. A bedroom beyond. A small table beside the window. And an impressive collection of music recordings. Amber examined the collection. "Oh, you really do love music." Sabine laughed. "Very much." Maeve looked toward the window. The stone beyond it was illuminated by a soft amber glow. "Beautiful view." "One of the reasons I requested this room." Sabine offered refreshments. They accepted. For a while, the three women simply talked. The mood was warm. Easy. A little quieter than the gathering outside. Sabine sat beside Maeve. Amber settled comfortably on Maeve's other side. No one rushed. Then Sabine looked between them. "May I kiss you?" Maeve smiled. "Yes." Sabine kissed her. Warmly. Gently. When they parted, Maeve was smiling. Sabine turned toward Amber. "And you?" Amber grinned. "I was beginning to wonder when you'd ask." Sabine laughed. Then kissed her too. --- What appealed to Maeve most was Sabine's attentiveness. She wasn't trying to impress them. She wasn't comparing herself to either woman. She seemed entirely happy simply being there. Amber appreciated her warmth. Her humor. And the way her composure softened whenever she smiled. Their conversation gradually gave way to affectionate closeness. A kiss. A quiet laugh. A moment of comfortable silence. Then another kiss. Eventually, Sabine looked toward the adjoining room. "Would you both like to stay a little longer?" Amber met Maeve's eyes. Maeve smiled. Then turned toward Sabine. "Yes." Amber added, "Very much." --- They went into the bedroom together. There was no uncertainty about what they wanted, but there was still room for curiosity. Sabine was new to the particular ease Amber and Maeve shared as a couple, and both women made certain she felt invited into that warmth rather than placed beside it. "Still comfortable?" Maeve asked after another kiss. Sabine smiled. "Very." Amber leaned closer. "Excellent. We have an excellent client-satisfaction policy." Sabine laughed. "Is this how you win contracts?" Maeve's expression became perfectly innocent. "Certainly not all of them." Amber added, "Only the memorable ones." The laughter stayed with them as affection deepened into lovemaking. They moved naturally between one another, with no sense that Sabine needed to choose one O'Sullivan over the other. Maeve's slower attentiveness balanced Amber's playful boldness, and Sabine gradually stopped wondering whether she was fitting into an established relationship and simply allowed herself to enjoy both women. Pleasure became clearer and less conversational as the evening continued. Sabine's first climax surprised a soft laugh out of her before she buried her face against Maeve's shoulder. Amber kissed her through the fading intensity, openly delighted. Maeve followed later, her composure dissolving into a quiet, helpless reaction that made Amber grin until Maeve pulled her into a kiss. Amber's own release came last, with both women close and Sabine now confident enough to tease her afterward. "Still memorable?" Sabine murmured. Amber opened one eye. "Darling, I may need to revise our risk model." Maeve laughed. "Catastrophic failure?" "Complete. We should hire consultants." Sabine's smile widened. "Expensive ones?" "Extortionately." They laughed together and stayed close while the intensity settled into a long, peaceful afterglow. No one reached for a phone. No one suggested returning to the gathering. For a while, the outside world could manage without them. --- Sabine lay comfortably beside Maeve. Amber rested on the other side, her hand linked with Maeve's. The room was quiet. Then Sabine laughed softly. Amber opened one eye. "Something funny?" Sabine smiled. "I was thinking about how my evening began." Maeve turned toward her. "With a late arrival?" "With the intention of having one drink, exchanging a few pleasantries, and going to bed early." Amber grinned. "Terrible plan." "Apparently." Maeve laughed. "Very poorly executed." Sabine looked between them. "Exceptionally poorly." They laughed together. Then Sabine's expression softened. "Thank you." Maeve smiled. "For what?" "For making me feel welcome." Amber leaned closer and kissed her cheek. "Darling, it was our pleasure." Sabine smiled. "Mine too." --- They remained together for some time. The conversation returned gradually. Sabine spoke about how lonely senior leadership could become. About the distance created by professional status. About people who wanted access to her organization more than they wanted to know her. Maeve understood. Amber did too. Sabine looked toward them. "You're unusual in that respect." Maeve smiled. "How so?" "You seem genuinely curious about people." "We are." "Even when there's no business opportunity?" Amber laughed. "Especially then." Sabine considered that. Then nodded. "I believe you." She looked toward Maeve. "Although there may be a business opportunity." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Sabine laughed. "Forgive me. Occupational hazard." "Never apologize for an interesting prospect." Sabine smiled. "Then perhaps we should arrange a meeting next week." "With Iris involved," Maeve said. "Of course." Amber grinned. "She'll be delighted." Maeve laughed. "Eventually." --- When they finally prepared to leave, Sabine walked them to the sitting room. Amber had recovered her shoes. Maeve was adjusting a hair ornament. Sabine watched them with a smile. "I hope we'll see each other again." Maeve returned the smile. "I'd like that." Amber nodded. "Very much." "Professionally?" "Certainly," Maeve replied. Sabine raised an eyebrow. "And otherwise?" Amber laughed. "Darling, you already know the answer." Sabine kissed both women goodbye. Then watched them leave. She stood beside the closed door for a moment. Smiling. The evening had turned out rather differently from what she'd expected. She had no complaints whatsoever. --- Amber and Maeve returned to the Lantern Room together. The music had changed. Several guests had retired. But Nicolette and Adrian were still there. Nicolette looked up. Then smiled. "Enjoying the evening?" Amber grinned. "Immensely." Maeve accepted a fresh cup of tea. "Very much." Adrian glanced at the clock. "It's nearly three." Amber shrugged. "Early." Nicolette laughed. "You're impossible." "Frequently." Maeve sat beside her wife. For a while, they enjoyed the quiet conversation. Then the CEO returned. He greeted the remaining guests. Spoke with Nicolette. Exchanged a few words with Adrian. And finally approached Amber and Maeve. "Still awake?" Amber smiled brightly. "Apparently." He laughed. "I've been hearing excellent things." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "About?" "Your conversations." "How reassuring." "And your ability to make people feel welcome." Amber glanced toward her wife. Maeve smiled. The CEO continued. "That's a rare skill." "Thank you," Maeve replied. "I mean it." He looked between them. "Some people arrive here seeking advantage." Amber smiled faintly. "Understandable." "Others arrive seeking entertainment." "Also understandable." The CEO nodded. "But the people I value most are those who bring something worthwhile into the room." Maeve regarded him thoughtfully. "And you believe we do." "Very much." Amber's expression softened. "That's kind of you." "Not kindness. Observation." He smiled. "You two are becoming rather important to the atmosphere of these gatherings." Maeve looked pleased. "We enjoy them." "I can see that." He paused. "May I make a suggestion?" Amber grinned. "Please." "At a future gathering, I'd like you both to help me introduce some of our newer guests." Maeve's attention sharpened. "Not merely attend?" "No." "Actively assist with introductions?" "Exactly." Amber looked delighted. "We'd love to." The CEO smiled. "Excellent." He glanced toward the others. "Of course, we'll discuss the arrangements properly later." "Naturally," Maeve replied. He inclined his head. "Then enjoy the rest of your evening." And departed. --- For a moment, neither woman spoke. Then Amber turned toward Maeve. "Darling." "Yes?" "Did we just get promoted?" Maeve laughed. "Socially, perhaps." "Excellent." Nicolette, who had overheard, smiled. "I told you he liked you." Adrian nodded. "He doesn't usually ask newcomers to help host introductions." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Really." Maeve looked toward the doorway through which the CEO had departed. Another small advancement. Not access to the lower chambers. Not yet. But something potentially just as useful. A role inside the gathering's social structure. A reason to return. And a growing network of people who would recognize them as more than occasional guests. Amber looked at her wife. Maeve met her eyes. They understood one another. The investigation had not advanced dramatically tonight. But their position had. And O'Sullivan SAS had gained several genuinely valuable relationships along the way. --- Nicolette rose. "Well, I think Adrian and I should finally retire." Adrian looked offended. "Already?" "Darling, it's three in the morning." "And?" She kissed him. "Come along." He sighed theatrically. "Marriage." Amber laughed. "Terrible institution." Maeve smiled. "Utterly dreadful." The two couples exchanged affectionate farewells. Then Nicolette and Adrian departed. Amber and Maeve remained near the window. For a while, they watched the final guests dancing. Amber rested her head against Maeve's shoulder. "Good evening?" Maeve kissed her hair. "Wonderful." "Good contacts?" "Several." "Good company?" "Exceptional." Amber smiled. "Then I'd say O'Sullivan SAS has had a very successful gathering." Maeve laughed. "I'd agree." She glanced toward the entrance. Then back at Amber. "Ready to retire?" Amber considered. The music was pleasant. The room was warm. And the night still had a little life left in it. She smiled. "One more dance?" Maeve's expression softened. "With you?" "Always." Maeve set down her tea. Then took her wife's hand. "With pleasure." And together, beneath the warm lights of the Lantern Room, Amber and Maeve returned to the dance floor. --- ## Chapter 13 — The Art of Belonging At three in the morning, the Lantern Room belonged to the people who had no particular reason to hurry. The music was softer now. The lights had dimmed. Several conversations continued in quiet corners, while a handful of guests remained on the small dance floor. Amber rested one hand against Maeve's shoulder. Maeve held her close. For a while, they simply danced. No corporate discussion. No introductions. No calculation of what the evening might eventually be worth to O'Sullivan SAS. Just the two of them. Amber looked up. "Enjoying yourself?" Maeve smiled. "Very much." "Good." "You?" Amber's smile widened. "More than I expected." "Really?" "Not the company. I expected that to be good." "Then what?" Amber considered. "How easy everything feels." Maeve nodded slowly. She understood. During their first gathering, they'd been discovering a new environment while maintaining an exceptionally demanding cover. Every conversation had needed careful attention. Every invitation had been assessed for its potential implications. They had enjoyed themselves, certainly. But the evening had also been work. This time, something had changed. They knew the social culture. They knew which guests interested them. And they were increasingly being treated as people who belonged. "That doesn't mean we stop being careful," Maeve said. Amber smiled. "Wouldn't dream of it." "Good." A pause. Then Amber grinned. "Although I suspect Iris will be extremely pleased with our expense-to-revenue ratio." Maeve laughed. "She's going to hate that description." "She's going to love the numbers." "Unfortunately, you're right." Amber kissed her. "Usually." "Don't push your luck." --- They were still dancing when a woman approached the edge of the floor. She looked younger than most of the guests. Perhaps in her early thirties. Her dark evening dress was elegant, her hair carefully arranged, and her expression suggested someone who had spent the last two hours trying to decide whether she was enjoying herself. She waited until the music paused. "Excuse me." Maeve turned. "Yes?" "You're the O'Sullivans, aren't you?" Amber smiled. "Guilty." The woman laughed nervously. "I'm Camille Voss." Maeve offered her hand. "Lovely to meet you." Camille shook it. "Likewise." She hesitated. Then glanced toward the remaining guests. "May I ask you something?" "Of course," Maeve replied. Camille took a breath. "How does anyone know what they're supposed to do here?" Amber blinked. Then laughed. Not at her. At the question. "That's an excellent question." Camille looked relieved. "Really?" "Oh, absolutely." Maeve gestured toward an empty seating area. "Would you like to sit down?" "Please." --- Camille was a recently appointed executive at a robotics company. Her organization had grown quickly. Too quickly, in her opinion. She'd inherited a complicated operational structure, several aggressively ambitious investors, and a calendar that apparently regarded sleep as an optional luxury. Barkuk Khazad had invited her to the gathering through a professional connection. She'd accepted because she'd heard the networking opportunities were extraordinary. Then she'd discovered the gathering's unusual personal culture. And spent most of the evening wondering whether she was doing something wrong. Amber listened with growing sympathy. "Has anyone been unpleasant?" Camille shook her head. "No. That's the strange part." "How so?" "Everyone has been lovely." Maeve smiled. "That's generally a good sign." "Yes, but people keep asking whether I'd like to spend more time with them privately." Amber nodded. "And?" "Some of them are attractive. Some are interesting. But I don't want to feel as though I have to make a decision just because somebody asks." "Then don't," Amber said simply. Camille looked at her. "Really?" "Absolutely." Maeve leaned forward. "An invitation isn't an obligation." "I know that intellectually." "But it doesn't feel that way yet." Camille sighed. "Exactly." Maeve nodded. "Then perhaps you're worrying too much about meeting someone else's expectations." Camille considered. "What do you mean?" "You're here because you want to meet interesting people and potentially develop valuable professional relationships." "Yes." "Then start there." Amber smiled. "And if you meet someone you'd genuinely like to spend an evening with, wonderful." "And if I don't?" "Also wonderful." Camille looked between them. "But I understood that private relationships are part of how business works here." "They can be," Maeve replied. "For some of the closer commercial arrangements, that's an established custom. But you don't owe anyone an intimate relationship just because you accepted an invitation to a party." Amber nodded. "And you're allowed to decide that a particular opportunity isn't worth pursuing." Camille was silent. Then she smiled. "Nobody's said it quite like that." Amber grinned. "Then somebody should have." --- The conversation continued. Camille gradually relaxed. She turned out to be exceptionally knowledgeable about robotics supply chains. Maeve recognized several opportunities where O'Sullivan SAS could potentially help her company. But neither woman tried to turn the conversation into a sales pitch. Instead, Amber asked what Camille actually enjoyed outside work. The answer surprised them. "Gardening." Amber blinked. "Really?" Camille laughed. "I know." "What's wrong with gardening?" "Nothing. It's just not what people expect." Maeve smiled. "What do they expect?" "Fast cars. Exclusive clubs. Something expensive." Amber looked thoughtful. "Well, I do appreciate fast cars." Camille laughed. "But gardening?" "Wouldn't know where to begin." Camille's expression brightened. And then, for the next ten minutes, an executive responsible for complex robotics operations enthusiastically explained how she'd managed to keep several particularly temperamental orchids alive in a Night City apartment. Amber listened. Maeve asked questions. And Camille became so animated that she forgot to be nervous. By the time another guest approached to invite her for a dance, she was smiling naturally. She glanced toward the O'Sullivans. Amber gave her an encouraging look. Camille turned back to the guest. "I'd like that." Then she stood. Maeve smiled. "Enjoy yourself." Camille looked grateful. "Thank you. Both of you." She departed toward the dance floor. Amber watched her go. "Sweet woman." Maeve nodded. "Very." "Potential client?" "Possibly." Amber smiled. "Good." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Good?" "We didn't have to sell her anything." Maeve laughed softly. "No." "We just got to meet her." "Exactly." --- The CEO had witnessed the last few minutes of that conversation. He approached after Camille had departed. "May I join you?" Maeve smiled. "Of course." He settled into the chair opposite them. "Enjoying the final hours?" Amber grinned. "Immensely." "So I see." He glanced toward Camille, who was now laughing with her dance partner. "You've done something rather impressive." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Have we?" "She's been uncomfortable most of the evening." Amber looked toward the dance floor. "First gathering?" "Yes." "That explains it." The CEO nodded. "I was wondering whether she'd be suited to our network." Maeve regarded him. "And?" He smiled. "Now I suspect she will be." Amber laughed softly. "All we did was talk to her." "Precisely." He leaned back. "Some of our guests are very good at recognizing commercial opportunities." "Understandable," Maeve said. "Others are very good at making personal connections." Amber smiled. "Also understandable." "But relatively few understand that the two work best when people feel entirely free to make their own choices." Maeve studied him. He sounded sincere. And she suspected he was. Whatever secrets Barkuk Khazad concealed, its CEO genuinely understood the social philosophy he'd created around the company. That made his hospitality convincing. It also made the unanswered questions beneath the mountain considerably more troubling. "Camille simply needed someone to remind her she could enjoy herself without meeting anybody else's expectations," Maeve said. The CEO nodded. "Exactly." He smiled. "And that's why I'd like you both to help welcome newcomers at future gatherings." Amber looked delighted. "An official assignment?" "An invitation." "Much better." "I've no intention of turning your evenings into unpaid work." Maeve laughed. "How considerate." He smiled. "Besides, I suspect you'd enjoy it." Amber glanced at her wife. Maeve smiled back. Then Amber turned toward him. "I think we would." "Excellent." --- He remained with them a little longer. They spoke about the gatherings. The guests. How O'Sullivan SAS was finding its new contacts. And whether the company might eventually organize a smaller event of its own. Amber brightened at that. "Funny you should mention it." The CEO raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "We've hosted a rather entertaining corporate evening before." "Have you?" Maeve smiled. "We have." "And how did it go?" Amber laughed. "Exceptionally well." Maeve glanced toward her wife. "With a few unforgettable moments." "Those are the best kind." The CEO smiled. "Then perhaps you already understand hospitality better than most." Maeve nodded. "An event should feel enjoyable, not transactional." "Precisely." "And guests should feel welcome as people, not merely as prospective contracts." "Yes." Amber leaned back. "Although if a few excellent contracts happen afterward, nobody needs to complain." The CEO laughed. "Indeed." He looked between them. "I'd be interested to hear more about your event sometime." Maeve smiled. "We'd be happy to tell you." The conversation continued for a while. Then the CEO excused himself to speak with another guest. Amber watched him depart. "Interesting man." Maeve nodded. "Very." "You like him." "So do you." "True." Maeve looked toward the dark stone beyond the windows. "And that doesn't make our suspicions disappear." Amber's expression sobered. "No." "People can be charming and dangerous." "Very." Maeve turned back toward her wife. "But we don't need to solve that tonight." Amber smiled. "No." "Tonight we enjoy the people we've met." "And tomorrow?" "We remember everything." --- They eventually left the Lantern Room a little before four. The main gathering had quieted considerably. Only a few attendants remained, clearing glasses and quietly preparing the chamber for the morning. Amber and Maeve walked back toward their suite hand in hand. For once, neither felt any particular need to speak. Their second gathering had been extraordinary. Not because of a single dramatic revelation. Because of the people. The industrial executive. The aviation director. Nicolette and Adrian. Sabine. Camille. Several others whose names and professional interests were now firmly established in O'Sullivan SAS's growing network. Some were potential clients. Some might become friends. Some relationships were personal. Some professional. Several were both. And none of that required them to approve of whatever Barkuk Khazad concealed beneath its beautiful retreat. --- Inside their suite, Amber kicked off her shoes with a sigh of relief. "Oh, that's better." Maeve laughed. "Your feet?" "Terrible tragedy." "You danced for hours." "An entirely voluntary tragedy." Maeve set down her small evening bag. Then approached. "Come here." Amber smiled. "Gladly." Maeve drew her into a long kiss. For a while, they simply held each other. No audience. No social performance. Just Amber and Maeve, beneath the familiar covers that had become such a natural part of their lives. When they separated, Amber rested her forehead against Maeve's. "Good night?" Maeve smiled. "One of the best." Amber's expression softened. "Mine too." Then she laughed. "What?" Maeve looked amused. "You've got that expression." "What expression?" "The one that usually precedes an extremely interesting suggestion." Amber grinned. "Do I?" "Yes." "Well, darling..." Maeve laughed. "There it is." Amber kissed her again. "Would you object to a little more time together before we sleep?" Maeve's answer came immediately. "Not in the slightest." --- They took their time. First with the small ordinary rituals of returning to a private room after a long evening. Jewelry carefully put away. Evening clothes exchanged for something more comfortable. A glass of water shared beside the bed. The kind of quiet conversation that only came easily between people who had spent years learning each other's habits. Amber spoke about Camille. Maeve spoke about Nicolette's wonderfully dry humor. They laughed about Adrian's disastrous hotel investment proposal. And remembered Sabine with genuine affection. Eventually, Amber reached for Maeve's hand. "Come here, beautiful." Maeve smiled. "I'm already here." "Closer." "Demanding." "Frequently." Maeve joined her. Their kiss was familiar in a way none of the evening's other encounters could have been. There was no need to discover whether affection was welcome. They knew. Familiarity had not diminished anticipation; it had given them an entire private language for it. Maeve brushed a short blonde strand away from Amber's forehead. "You've been looking at me like that all evening." Amber smiled. "Can you blame me? I spent half the night watching other people discover how irresistible my wife is." Maeve laughed. "And now?" Amber pulled her closer. "Now I'm collecting my share." "Your share?" "A very large one." Maeve kissed her. "Greedy." "Immensely." Their lovemaking belonged entirely to them. There was no professional purpose, no introduction to deepen, no contract waiting somewhere beyond the bedroom. They knew one another's cues too well for awkwardness and still cared enough to ask rather than assume when the mood shifted. Amber's usual playfulness softened as Maeve drew a slower response from her. When Amber climaxed, she held Maeve tightly and laughed once, breathless and happy, before whispering a filthy little compliment that made Maeve blush despite everything they'd done and seen together. Maeve retaliated with perfect composure and considerably less mercy. "That's unfair," Amber managed later. "You started it." "I regret nothing." "I know." Maeve's own climax came with Amber close enough to feel the moment change through her whole body. Amber stayed with her through it, kissing her until the intensity eased and the familiar affection returned to the foreground. Afterward they rested together beneath the covers, pleasantly exhausted. Amber settled against Maeve with a contented sigh. "Now." Maeve smiled. "Now what?" "That was a very good conclusion to an exceptionally good evening." Maeve laughed softly. "I agree." Amber kissed her shoulder. "Love you." Maeve held her closer. "Love you too." --- They fell asleep shortly before dawn. For several hours, Barkuk Khazad could manage its own affairs. --- By late morning, the retreat had changed character again. The music had stopped. The gathering chamber was being prepared for its ordinary daytime use. And guests were emerging from their suites at varying degrees of alertness. Amber was cheerful. Maeve was serene. Neither considered this particularly unusual. The breakfast room was already busy when they arrived. Nicolette and Adrian occupied a table near the windows. Sabine sat beside them. They greeted the O'Sullivans warmly. "Good morning!" Nicolette called. Amber smiled. "Good morning!" Adrian regarded her. "How are you this cheerful?" "Natural talent." "Unfair." Maeve laughed. They joined the table. Sabine rose to greet them with affectionate kisses. "Sleep well?" Maeve smiled. "Beautifully." Amber nodded. "Eventually." Nicolette laughed. "An important distinction." Adrian sighed. "I have a feeling I'm outnumbered again." Amber grinned. "Completely." --- Breakfast took nearly two hours. Not because anyone was eating continuously. Because the conversation was too good to end. Nicolette and Adrian had several genuinely interesting business ideas. Sabine wanted to arrange an introduction to one of her senior risk specialists. Maeve proposed a preliminary meeting involving Iris. Amber identified an opportunity to connect the Sorens with the aviation executive she'd met the previous evening. It was effortless. The kind of conversation that conventional networking events tried desperately to manufacture through schedules, presentations, and expensive consultants. Here, it simply happened. At one point, Adrian looked around the table. "You know, this is why I keep coming." Nicolette smiled. "For breakfast?" "Among other things." Amber laughed. "Careful. We know about your hotel ambitions." "An unfairly maligned investment strategy." Maeve shook her head. "Never let him forget it." Nicolette grinned. "I don't intend to." --- Camille approached while they were finishing coffee. She looked considerably happier than she had during the night. "Amber? Maeve?" Both turned. "Good morning," Maeve said. Camille smiled. "I wanted to thank you again." Amber waved a hand. "Not necessary." "I know. But I'd like to." She hesitated. Then laughed. "I actually had fun." Amber looked delighted. "Excellent!" "And I met someone interesting." Maeve smiled. "Good." "Several people, actually." "Even better." Camille looked around the table. Then toward Amber and Maeve again. "And I'd like to speak with your company." Maeve's expression became attentive. "About your robotics operation?" "Yes." "Our current integration program is becoming a nightmare, and I think you might be able to help." Maeve nodded. "We'd certainly be interested in discussing it." Camille smiled. "Wonderful." They exchanged professional contact details. Then Camille returned to her own table. Nicolette watched her depart. "She's lovely." Maeve nodded. "Very." Adrian smiled. "And apparently another prospect." Amber grinned. "An occupational hazard." Sabine laughed. --- The CEO joined them shortly before departure. He greeted the table warmly. Then looked toward Amber and Maeve. "I hope you've enjoyed your second visit." "Immensely," Amber replied. Maeve smiled. "Thank you." He glanced toward their companions. "I see you've made several excellent connections." Nicolette raised an eyebrow. "Several?" Adrian laughed. "Our host has understated matters." Sabine smiled. "Rather dramatically." The CEO looked pleased. "Then I shall accept that as a compliment." Amber laughed. "An excellent idea." He turned toward the O'Sullivans. "I meant what I said last night." Maeve nodded. "About welcoming newer guests?" "Yes." "We'd be happy to help." "Wonderful." He considered for a moment. "There's another gathering in approximately three weeks." Amber smiled. "We'll check our schedules." "Naturally." "And if we're available?" "I'd be delighted to have you." Maeve returned the smile. "Then I suspect we'll see you again." The CEO inclined his head. "I look forward to it." --- A little later, Amber and Maeve stood near the retreat's departure area. Their luggage had already been collected. The shuttle was being prepared. Nicolette and Adrian had departed with an affectionate farewell. Sabine had promised to call. Camille had already sent a preliminary message requesting a professional meeting. And the CEO had personally thanked them again before returning to his responsibilities. Amber looked at her wife. "Well." Maeve smiled. "I was wondering when you'd say that." "Do you realize what we've done?" "Several things." "Very funny." Maeve laughed. Amber continued. "We came here to investigate Barkuk Khazad." "Yes." "We've established some extremely valuable relationships." "Yes." "We've become personal favorites of several rather influential people." "Apparently." "And now the CEO wants us helping host his gatherings." Maeve nodded. "Correct." Amber grinned. "Iris is going to have a wonderful time making sense of this." Maeve laughed. "She certainly is." Then her expression became thoughtful. "And we still don't know what's beneath us." Amber looked toward the mountain. "No." "But we're closer to the people who do." "Much." Maeve took her hand. "That's enough for now." Amber nodded. "Agreed." --- The shuttle departed shortly afterward. As the retreat disappeared behind the Badlands ridges, Amber settled comfortably beside Maeve. Neither woman spoke for a while. Then Amber looked toward her. "Darling?" "Yes?" "Do you think we should host another corporate evening ourselves someday?" Maeve smiled. "I think we should." "With the same kind of atmosphere?" "Something of our own." "Something enjoyable." "Yes." "With good people." "Absolutely." "And excellent business prospects." "Naturally." Amber grinned. "Perhaps we should ask Iris." Maeve laughed. "Perhaps we should let her recover from this weekend first." "Fair." They kissed. Then settled together for the journey home. --- At O'Sullivan SAS, Iris was going to have considerably more work than she'd anticipated. At the safehouse, Rogue's investigation would continue. The missing women were still missing. The lower chambers remained unseen. And the source of Barkuk Khazad's extraordinary fortune was still concealed beneath the stone. But one thing had changed. Amber and Maeve were no longer merely guests at a secretive corporation's exclusive retreat. They had become familiar faces. Trusted company. People whom returning guests wanted to meet and newcomers felt comfortable approaching. The CEO had begun inviting them to help shape the gathering itself. And somewhere in the organization's private hierarchy, the distinction between _valued associate_ and _trusted insider_ was growing smaller. Not because Amber and Maeve had demanded access. Because Barkuk Khazad was beginning to believe they belonged. --- ## Chapter 14 — The Business of Being Welcome Iris Rourke had seen complicated corporate calendars before. She had managed executive schedules, negotiated acquisitions, coordinated international contracts, and dealt with clients who apparently believed that midnight was a perfectly reasonable time to request a strategic review. None of those experiences had adequately prepared her for Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan's latest business-development campaign. She stood in the conference room, studying the display. Then looked at Ace. Then Mai. Then back at the display. "Seventeen." Ace smiled brightly. "Wonderful number." "Seventeen separate follow-up communications." "Very productive." "From one weekend." Mai sipped her tea. "Two nights, technically." Iris gave her a long look. "Thank you, Mai. That distinction makes an enormous difference." Brenda, who had wandered in carrying coffee, laughed. "What's the problem?" Iris pointed at the screen. "Look." Brenda looked. Then whistled. "Well, that's impressive." "Thank you," Ace replied. "I wasn't complimenting you." "Terrible." Brenda leaned closer. "Wait. The Sorens?" Mai nodded. "Yes." "The Soren Group?" "Correct." Brenda glanced toward Iris. "That's a serious prospect." "I know." "And the industrial automation company?" "Yes." "Corporate aviation?" "Yes." "Specialty risk services?" "Yes." Brenda slowly turned toward Ace. "What the hell did you two do at that gathering?" Ace opened her mouth. Iris raised one finger. "Don't." Ace closed it. Mai laughed. Brenda grinned. "Iris, darling, you walked straight into that one." "I know." --- The figures were genuinely impressive. Not because every contact would become a client. Iris was far too experienced to mistake social enthusiasm for signed revenue. But the introductions themselves were valuable. Several organizations had operational problems that O'Sullivan SAS could address. Others had expressed interest in future cooperation. And a few had simply wanted to maintain personal relationships with Amber and Maeve. There was nothing wrong with that. In fact, Iris was beginning to appreciate the distinction. She opened the first file. "Camille Voss." Maeve smiled. "Lovely woman." "Robotics company. Rapid expansion. Fragmented operational governance. She's requested an exploratory meeting." "Good," Ace said. "The industrial automation executive wants a more substantial engagement." "Even better." "The aviation group has sent preliminary requirements." Ace leaned forward. "Those should be interesting." "And Sabine Laurent would like to discuss a potential advisory arrangement." Mai smiled. "I was hoping she would." Iris scrolled. "Finally, Nicolette and Adrian Soren have requested a private meeting involving their acquisition team." Brenda whistled again. "That's a lot of work." "It certainly is." Ace smiled. "Then we'd better get started." Iris regarded her. "You do understand that acquiring clients means actually delivering services?" Ace looked offended. "Darling, what do you take us for?" Brenda laughed. Mai answered before Iris could. "Apparently a very expensive social club." Ace pointed at her. "Unfair." Iris finally laughed. "Get out of my conference room and start preparing." --- The first meeting was with Camille. She arrived on Wednesday morning carrying a tablet, a carefully organized set of operational diagrams, and the expression of someone who had spent the previous evening arguing with three different departments. Amber greeted her warmly. "Camille!" Camille smiled. "Amber." They embraced briefly. Maeve approached. "Lovely to see you." "You too." Iris introduced herself. Then they settled around the conference table. Within ten minutes, Camille had completely forgotten that she was speaking with people she'd met at an unconventional corporate gathering. She was too busy explaining her company's problems. Three acquisitions. Five manufacturing sites. Different robotics platforms. Incompatible management structures. And a growing collection of operational teams who had developed their own procedures because nobody had established a coherent standard. Iris listened carefully. Maeve asked several pointed questions. Amber identified a particularly concerning gap between responsibility and authority. Camille stared at her. "That's exactly where things keep going wrong." Amber smiled. "Then we know where to begin." The discussion lasted nearly two hours. By the end, they had agreed on a limited initial assessment. A real engagement. With defined responsibilities. A realistic scope. And no expectation of miraculous results. Camille looked relieved. "That was considerably more useful than my last three consultant meetings." Iris smiled. "We prefer to understand a problem before proposing to solve it." "An admirable habit." Maeve laughed. "We think so." Camille gathered her things. Then paused. "May I ask something completely unrelated?" Amber smiled. "Of course." "Are you going to the next gathering?" Maeve glanced at Amber. "Most likely." Camille brightened. "Good." "Enjoyed your first one after all?" Amber asked. Camille laughed. "Very much." "Wonderful." "I might even ask someone to dance this time instead of waiting to be asked." Maeve smiled. "An excellent idea." Camille looked pleased. Then added, "And I still owe you both a conversation about orchids." Amber groaned theatrically. Maeve laughed. "She does." Camille departed smiling. Iris watched her go. Then turned toward Amber and Maeve. "She's delightful." Amber grinned. "Told you." "And competent." "Also told you." Iris considered the signed preliminary agreement. "Perhaps this system has merits." Brenda, passing the doorway, called out: "Careful, Iris. Next you'll want to host one." Iris looked toward her. "Don't tempt me." --- By Friday, Iris was beginning to reconsider her objections to Barkuk Khazad's networking philosophy. Not entirely. She still disliked the organization's secrecy. And the available financial information about its leadership continued to raise questions. But the people Amber and Maeve had met? That was another matter. The industrial automation executive had proved professional, capable, and refreshingly direct. The aviation group wanted assistance evaluating a complicated operational expansion. Sabine Laurent had requested a confidential discussion about an emerging risk-management service. And the Sorens had been every bit as interesting in a formal meeting as Amber and Maeve had promised. That last meeting had been particularly memorable. --- Nicolette and Adrian arrived together. They greeted Amber and Maeve with genuine warmth. Then met Iris. Nicolette studied her for a moment. "So you're the woman who keeps these two organized." Iris smiled. "I make a valiant attempt." Adrian laughed. "My condolences." Amber looked offended. "Everyone is terribly unkind today." Maeve kissed her cheek. "Only because we love you." Nicolette smiled. "That sounds familiar." Adrian sighed. "I have absolutely no idea what she means." The meeting began with laughter. Then became considerably more serious. The Sorens were evaluating a complex acquisition involving infrastructure, logistics, and several overlapping service contracts. The target organization was profitable. Its operations were sound. But its internal controls had grown uneven through years of expansion. Nicolette wanted an independent assessment before committing further resources. Adrian wanted someone who could identify problems without attempting to sell them an unnecessarily elaborate solution. Iris liked both requirements. Very much. For nearly ninety minutes, the conversation was almost entirely technical and commercial. Maeve examined the acquisition structure. Amber asked about operational dependencies and executive accountability. Iris focused on governance and practical delivery. Nicolette answered precisely. Adrian contributed a series of observations that revealed how deeply he understood the operational consequences of the proposed transaction. By the end, both sides were satisfied. They had not signed a contract. That would come later, if the preliminary review justified one. But they had agreed on the next steps. And those steps were substantial. --- After the formal meeting, Nicolette lingered beside the conference-room window. "May I tell you something, Iris?" "Of course." "I've met an extraordinary number of consultants." Iris smiled. "Haven't we all?" "Most arrive determined to convince me they're indispensable." "An unfortunate habit." "You three spent the morning telling us which problems we might not need outside help solving." Iris laughed softly. "Because you probably don't." Nicolette regarded her with approval. "Exactly." Adrian joined them. "And that's why we'll probably hire you." Amber grinned. "An excellent outcome." Nicolette turned toward her. "And you." "Yes?" "Stop looking so pleased with yourself." "Impossible." Maeve laughed. Adrian shook his head. "Darling, I think we've found our people." Nicolette smiled. "I believe we have." --- They stayed for lunch. Not as part of the negotiation. Simply because nobody particularly wanted the conversation to end. Adrian and Amber resumed their discussion about classic automobiles. Nicolette and Maeve explored several ideas for future cooperation. Iris found herself enjoying Nicolette's sense of humor. And, for the first time, she understood something about the gatherings that the financial reports alone hadn't conveyed. The relationships were not merely a method of opening commercial doors. They could become genuine friendships. The kind in which professional trust grew from knowing someone beyond a conference table. The Sorens weren't asking O'Sullivan SAS to provide services because they'd shared a pleasant evening with Amber and Maeve. They were considering the company because they'd discovered capable people whom they also happened to like. There was a difference. A very important one. When the Sorens finally departed, Iris returned to the conference room. She looked at the preliminary engagement notes. Then smiled. "All right." Ace looked up. "All right what?" "I understand." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Understand what?" "Why you two keep coming back from those gatherings looking so pleased with yourselves." Amber grinned. "Several reasons." Iris gave her a look. "Yes, Amber. I'm aware." Brenda laughed from the doorway. "Are you sure? Because I can explain." "Jessie." Brenda's grin widened at the use of her corporate name. "Yes, boss?" "Don't." --- That evening, the investigation resumed. Not at O'Sullivan SAS. Not in front of legitimate clients. And not in any of the social settings where Amber and Maeve were building their professional relationships. Rogue had requested a meeting at Afterlife. Ace, Mai, Shammy, and Yukari arrived shortly after eight. Rogue was waiting. She looked tired. That wasn't unusual. What concerned Ace was the expression accompanying it. "Something?" Rogue gestured toward the seats. "Possibly." They settled around the table. Rogue brought up a series of transport records. "Remember the private booking that was canceled when the worker refused to accept restrictions on leaving?" Mai nodded. "Yes." "I found someone else who dealt with the same booking agent." Shammy leaned forward. "Did she disappear?" "No." That was a relief. Rogue continued. "She refused the booking too." "Why?" Ace asked. "The terms changed." Mai's expression sharpened. "How?" "The initial offer was straightforward. Private company, luxury location, excellent payment." "Then?" "Additional conditions." Rogue displayed the relevant details. The worker would be transported to a private location. Communication during the engagement would be restricted. Her departure would be arranged by the client. And the agreement offered no unconditional right to leave immediately. Ace's expression hardened. "That's not hospitality." "No." "That's a trap." "Potentially." Mai studied the terms. "Did the booking agent explain the restrictions?" "Not satisfactorily." "And the worker declined?" "Immediately." Shammy nodded. "Good." Rogue looked at her. "Very." --- The second witness had another detail. A small one. But potentially significant. She remembered being told that the engagement was connected to a special event within the same business network that organized the ordinary private gatherings. Not necessarily at the retreat. Not necessarily involving Barkuk Khazad directly. But connected through an intermediary. Mai considered. "That still leaves multiple possibilities." "Yes." "Have you identified the intermediary?" "Partly." Rogue displayed an ownership structure. A hospitality company. A transport contractor. A private facilities operator. And several layers of corporate administration. Iris's earlier analysis had already identified some of the names. Ace recognized one. "That facilities contractor." Rogue nodded. "The one connected to the Badlands checkpoint." "Exactly." Yukari examined the dates. "How often do these unusual bookings occur?" Rogue looked toward her. "Not often." "Every few months?" "Possibly." "Regularly?" "Not enough data to say." Mai nodded. "But considerably less frequently than the gatherings." "Yes." Rogue folded her arms. "And that's what bothers me." --- Shammy looked toward the photographs of the missing women. "Could they have been taken somewhere other than the retreat?" Rogue nodded. "Absolutely." "Then we still don't know." "No." Shammy was silent. Ace reached for her hand. Rogue continued. "I've also interviewed several people who've attended the gatherings. Nothing suspicious to report." Mai nodded. "That's consistent with what we've seen." "People go there. Have fun. Make contacts. Come home." "Exactly." "Some of them have been attending for years." Ace considered. "And they know nothing about the lower chambers." "Most probably don't." Yukari spoke quietly. "Whatever is below may be known only to a much smaller group." Mai nodded. "The CEO's innermost circle." "Possibly." Rogue looked at the runic diagrams. "And the thing down there?" Yukari considered. "Still unidentified." "Can you narrow it down?" "Not responsibly." Rogue sighed. "I hate responsible answers." Ace grinned. "So do I." Mai gave them both a look. Yukari smiled faintly. "How unfortunate." --- Then Rogue showed them a new piece of information. A pattern in Barkuk Khazad's corporate financial reporting. Not proof of anything supernatural. Not even proof of criminal activity. But interesting. Several of the company's most improbable commercial successes had occurred shortly after periods when unusual private hospitality expenses appeared in its broader network. The intervals varied. The accounting classifications were inconsistent. But the relationship was worth examining. Mai studied the data. "Are these recorded expenses directly tied to the retreat?" "Not all of them." "Then it could be coincidence." "Yes." "Or ordinary corporate hospitality." "Yes." Ace looked between them. "But?" Rogue smiled without humor. "But the timing is getting interesting." Iris had previously found the company's financial success statistically extraordinary. Now Rogue had identified a possible connection between that success and a small number of unusual expenditures. They still lacked the central piece. What actually happened beneath the mountain. Mai looked toward Yukari. "The suppression runes." Yukari nodded. "They protect the upper levels." "From an influence originating below." "Yes." Ace leaned back. "And the CEO says the company's fortune comes from something beneath the retreat." Rogue looked at her. "That's the part I keep thinking about." Shammy's expression became serious. "Whatever it is, I hope we find the women before it needs anything else." Nobody laughed. --- The discussion continued for another hour. They compared dates. Reviewed the known transport routes. Examined the contractor relationships. And identified several questions Iris could explore through legitimate corporate research without exposing O'Sullivan SAS's involvement in the investigation. No one proposed an assault. They didn't know enough. No one suggested breaking into the lower chambers. That would risk both their covers and whatever binding structure Yukari believed existed below. The next gathering remained their best opportunity. Not necessarily to reach the creature. But to learn who among Barkuk Khazad's leadership genuinely understood what was hidden. And perhaps to identify a route that could eventually take them farther. --- The following week brought another pleasant surprise. Sabine Laurent called Maeve directly. "Am I interrupting?" "Not at all." "Good." Sabine laughed softly. "I wanted to thank you again for the gathering." Maeve smiled. "We enjoyed ourselves." "So did I." There was a comfortable pause. Then Sabine continued. "I also have a professional question." "Of course." "Would O'Sullivan SAS be interested in assisting us with a specialist risk assessment?" Mai's attention sharpened. "What kind?" "Corporate exposure arising from unusually concentrated success." Maeve went still. Only for a moment. Then she answered evenly. "That's an interesting way to describe it." Sabine laughed. "I thought you'd appreciate the distinction." "Can you elaborate?" "Several companies in one of our investment portfolios have experienced exceptionally favorable outcomes." "That sounds pleasant." "It is." "But?" "Risk models become unreliable when management begins assuming favorable outcomes are normal." Maeve smiled. "A dangerous habit." "Exactly." The discussion was genuinely professional. Sabine wanted an independent assessment of how several organizations handled concentration risk, governance, and operational resilience. There was no reason to assume her clients had any connection to Barkuk Khazad's hidden activities. And Maeve didn't. She listened carefully. Asked the appropriate questions. Then suggested a formal meeting with Iris. Sabine agreed. Before ending the call, she added: "And Maeve?" "Yes?" "I hope I'll see you and Amber at the next gathering." Mai's smile warmed. "I think you will." "Wonderful." --- By the time the third invitation arrived, O'Sullivan SAS had more work than Iris had anticipated. Not an unmanageable amount. She had been careful about that. But enough to make the gathering network an increasingly important source of new business. Amber and Maeve had also acquired something that mattered just as much. A collection of personal relationships that weren't dependent on Barkuk Khazad remaining successful. Camille. Nicolette and Adrian. Sabine. The industrial executive. The aviation director. Other capable people who had simply enjoyed meeting them. If Barkuk Khazad vanished tomorrow, those people would still exist. Their companies would still have legitimate needs. And O'Sullivan SAS would still be capable of serving them. Iris regarded that as excellent news. --- The invitation itself was different. Not merely a request to attend. A personal note from the CEO. **Amber. Maeve.** **As promised, I'd be delighted if you would help welcome several of our newer guests at the next gathering.** **Our hospitality coordinator will provide the details. You'll have complete freedom to enjoy the evening yourselves. I simply believe that a few introductions from people who understand our philosophy would be particularly valuable.** **Warm regards.** Attached was a preliminary guest list. Not the full gathering roster. Only the people the CEO particularly wanted them to meet. Amber examined it. Then laughed. "Oh, this is going to be fun." Mai leaned closer. "Several first-time guests." "Yes." "Some returning executives." "Yes." "And..." She stopped. Ace noticed. "What?" Mai pointed. One of the names was associated with a corporate group Iris had been watching for months. A highly valuable prospect. A legitimate organization with a difficult strategic problem. Amber grinned. "He really does pay attention." Mai smiled. "Apparently." Then she noticed another detail. The coordinator had assigned Amber and Maeve access to a private reception lounge adjoining the executive guest area. Not the lower chambers. Not the old runic boundary. But a part of the retreat normally used by the CEO's trusted hospitality associates. Maeve studied the access description. Interesting. A small privilege. A practical one. But another change in their position. --- Iris examined the invitation the following morning. Then looked at Ace and Mai. "You're helping host." Ace smiled. "Apparently." "Officially?" "As guests assisting with introductions." Iris considered. "Do you understand the implications?" Mai nodded. "More people will approach us directly." "Yes." "We'll have access to a somewhat wider part of the executive guest area." "Yes." "And the CEO will see how we behave when we're not merely attending." Iris smiled. "Exactly." Brenda leaned against the doorway. "So, basically, you've been promoted from extremely entertaining guests to extremely entertaining guest management." Ace grinned. "Unpaid guest management." Iris laughed. "With access to an extraordinary number of potential clients." "Fair." Mai looked toward the guest list. "And perhaps some useful observations." Iris's expression became serious. "Remember why you're there." Ace nodded. "We do." "Don't let the investigation damage legitimate relationships unnecessarily." Mai smiled. "We won't." "And don't let the business opportunities distract you from the investigation." Ace sighed. "Demanding woman." Iris folded her arms. "Somebody has to be." Brenda kissed her cheek. "That's why we keep you." --- That evening, Yukari joined Mai in the safehouse common room. The reconstructed runic diagrams were open on the display. Yukari studied them again. Then looked toward Maeve. "Have you learned anything new about the lower access?" "Not yet." "But you'll be closer to the executive area." "Yes." Yukari considered. "Then this gathering may be useful." Mai nodded. "That's the hope." Yukari indicated the upper runic pattern. "I've been thinking about the arrangement." "Go on." "The suppression network is extensive." "Very." "And deliberately distributed." "Yes." "But the densest portions all reinforce the same downward boundary." Mai looked at her. "Which suggests..." "That the lower structure is sufficiently important to justify protecting the entire developed complex from its influence." Maeve nodded slowly. "A permanent source." "Possibly." "Not something brought in temporarily for individual gatherings." "That would be my interpretation." Mai studied the diagrams. Then looked toward Yukari. "And if we eventually reach the lower chamber?" Yukari's expression became serious. "Don't interfere with the binding." "Agreed." "Not even to test it." "I wouldn't." "Good." Yukari paused. "And before you get any closer, I'll have something ready for you and Ace." Mai raised an eyebrow. "Protection?" "Yes." "What kind?" "Something designed to help preserve your choices if the influence below reaches you." Mai looked thoughtful. "Medallions?" Yukari smiled faintly. "Probably." "Will they be ready before the next gathering?" "I intend them to be." Mai nodded. "Thank you." Yukari regarded her warmly. "You're welcome." --- Later, the Triad were relaxing together in their bedroom. Ace had finished reviewing the preliminary guest list. Mai was setting aside her datapad. Shammy lay comfortably between them. "So," Ace announced. "Yes?" Mai asked. "We're officially becoming part of the gathering furniture." Shammy laughed. "Furniture?" "Very expensive furniture." Maeve smiled. "With excellent business-development skills." "Naturally." Shammy turned toward Ace. "Are you excited?" "Very." "About the people?" "Absolutely." "The business?" "Definitely." "And the investigation?" Ace's smile softened. "That too." Shammy nodded. Mai reached over and took her hand. "We're getting closer." "I know." "But we're not rushing." "Good." Ace leaned against Shammy. "Besides, darling, there's no reason not to enjoy ourselves along the way." Shammy smiled. "I know." She kissed Ace. Then Mai. "Just come home safely." Ace's expression softened. "Always the plan." --- Three weeks after their second gathering, Amber and Maeve stood before the bedroom mirror preparing for their next visit. Amber's short blonde hair was immaculate. Her blue contacts were in place. Her dress was elegant, flattering, and chosen with considerable care. Maeve's copper-red hair fell beautifully around her shoulders. She wore a dark green evening gown that complemented her eyes. Amber regarded her wife. "Darling." Maeve smiled at the reflection. "Yes?" "You look absolutely devastating." Maeve laughed. "Thank you." "I mean it." "I know." She turned toward Amber. "And you look wonderful." Amber grinned. "Naturally." Maeve kissed her. Then stepped back to examine the result of their preparations. Two successful corporate executives. Married. Charming. Professionally capable. Comfortable with the gathering's unusually personal culture. And now sufficiently trusted to help introduce others to it. The covers were perfect. But the affection between them required no disguise. --- A little later, Iris joined them near the safehouse entrance. She handed Maeve a final summary. "Your professional priorities." Maeve accepted it. "Thank you." "No pressure to pursue every prospect." "Of course." "And don't promise anything that requires our delivery team to perform miracles." Amber looked offended. "When have I ever done that?" Iris gave her a long look. Brenda laughed from behind her. "Would you like the list alphabetically or chronologically?" Amber sighed. "Terrible people." Maeve laughed. Iris smiled. "Enjoy yourselves." Amber kissed her cheek. "We intend to." Then she looked toward Brenda. "Try not to blow anything up while we're gone." Brenda grinned. "No promises." Iris closed her eyes. "Brenda." "What?" "Please." --- The shuttle was waiting. Amber and Maeve said their goodbyes. Shammy hugged them both. Yukari reminded them to pay attention to the runic boundaries. Brenda promised to behave. Iris clearly didn't believe her. Then the two women departed. The journey into the Badlands had become familiar. The driver recognized them. The route was the same. The distant mountain looked no different. But as the retreat came into view, Maeve noticed something. A separate reception entrance had been prepared beside the main guest arrival area. Several staff members were arranging welcome materials. The hospitality coordinator stood nearby. And when the shuttle stopped, she approached with a warm smile. "Mrs. Amber O'Sullivan. Mrs. Maeve O'Sullivan." Amber smiled brightly. "Hello again." "Welcome back." "Wonderful to be here." The coordinator inclined her head. "Our CEO asked me to escort you directly to the reception lounge." Maeve smiled. "Of course." "Several guests are arriving shortly, and he'd be delighted if you could help us welcome them." Amber looked toward Maeve. Maeve met her eyes. Then smiled. "With pleasure." --- They followed the coordinator inside. For the first time, they entered the retreat not as uncertain newcomers or merely returning guests. But as people the CEO trusted to represent the atmosphere he'd created. Ahead lay new introductions. New friendships. New potential clients. And perhaps more intimate invitations than either woman cared to count. Somewhere deeper beneath the mountain, the suppressed runic system remained unchanged. The unanswered questions were still there. But Amber and Maeve had earned something they didn't possess during their first visit. A place within the gathering's social structure. A reason to move through the executive guest areas. And increasing freedom to observe the people who knew Barkuk Khazad best. Amber glanced toward her wife. "Well." Maeve laughed. "Yes, darling?" "Shall we get to work?" Maeve smiled. "Absolutely." And together, they entered the reception lounge. --- ## Chapter 15 — The Privileges of Good Company The executive reception lounge was considerably more interesting than Amber had expected. Not because it was particularly extravagant. Although it was. And not because the furniture looked expensive enough to purchase a small apartment in Watson. Although that was probably true as well. What caught her attention was the arrangement. Several comfortable seating areas. A small bar. A private entrance to the main gathering chamber. A broad window overlooking an illuminated section of natural cavern. And, along one wall, a discreet hospitality desk. Behind it stood the coordinator who had welcomed them. "Mrs. O'Sullivan. Mrs. O'Sullivan. Please, make yourselves comfortable." Amber smiled. "With pleasure." Maeve glanced around appreciatively. "This is lovely." "Thank you. Our CEO prefers to welcome selected guests here before the main gathering begins." "An excellent arrangement," Maeve replied. The coordinator indicated a pair of comfortable chairs. "May I explain what he has in mind for this evening?" "Of course." They sat. And for the next fifteen minutes, the coordinator gave them a remarkably sensible briefing. No scripts. No mandatory introductions. No expectation that they should spend the entire evening performing hospitality duties. The CEO had simply identified several guests who might benefit from meeting the O'Sullivans. Some were first-time attendees. Others were returning associates with complementary professional interests. Amber and Maeve were free to decide which introductions seemed worthwhile. They could participate as much or as little as they wished. And once the initial reception ended, the remainder of the gathering was entirely their own. Amber looked delighted. "That sounds suspiciously reasonable." The coordinator laughed. "We try." Maeve examined the guest summaries. "They're well prepared." "Thank you." "Professional interests, previous introductions, and areas where further contact might be useful." "Exactly." Amber pointed toward one entry. "Corporate aviation infrastructure." Maeve smiled. "I thought you'd notice." "Naturally." The coordinator looked between them. "Our CEO mentioned that you had some particularly productive conversations during your previous visit." Amber grinned. "Several." "So I've heard." --- Maeve was reviewing the remaining summaries when she noticed another detail. The reception lounge had its own access corridor. Unlike the public gathering areas, this section allowed guests to move directly between the executive reception, several private conversation rooms, and a smaller dining chamber. It wasn't the lower level. But it was a useful addition to their understanding of the complex. She made a mental note of the arrangement. The runic inscriptions were present here too. Subtle. Integrated into the stonework. And entirely consistent with the suppression system she'd identified during their first gathering. Beneath her dress, the small medallion Yukari had prepared rested comfortably against her skin. Amber wore its counterpart. Neither pendant had done anything noticeable. Exactly as Yukari intended. Maeve returned her attention to the coordinator. "Will our introductions take place here?" "Initially, yes." "And afterward?" "Most guests will move into the main gathering." "Excellent." The coordinator smiled. "Then perhaps we should begin." --- Their first arrival was familiar. Camille Voss entered the lounge wearing a beautiful dark-blue evening dress and looking considerably more relaxed than she had during her first visit. The moment she spotted the O'Sullivans, she brightened. "Amber! Maeve!" Amber rose. "Camille!" They embraced warmly. Maeve joined them. "Lovely to see you." "You too." Camille laughed. "I was hoping you'd be here." Amber grinned. "Couldn't keep us away." Camille looked around. "Oh, this room is gorgeous." "Apparently we're helping with introductions tonight," Maeve explained. Camille raised her eyebrows. "Really?" "Really." She laughed. "That's perfect." Amber looked amused. "Why?" "Because you're the reason I enjoyed my first gathering." Maeve smiled. "That's very kind." "I mean it." Camille glanced toward the entrance. "And I've brought someone." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Professionally?" Camille grinned. "Among other things." Maeve laughed softly. "Well, now I'm curious." --- The woman who joined them was tall, confident, and carried herself with the relaxed assurance of someone accustomed to solving difficult problems without making a performance of it. Her name was Leonie Kessler. She was a senior operations director at a company specializing in industrial transport systems and infrastructure automation. Amber recognized the company immediately. O'Sullivan SAS had considered approaching it several times. Maeve recognized it too. And both women understood the significance of the introduction. Camille smiled. "Leonie, these are the O'Sullivans." Leonie offered her hand. "A pleasure." Amber shook it. "Likewise." Maeve greeted her warmly. "Camille speaks very highly of you." Leonie laughed. "That's suspicious." "Only occasionally," Camille replied. Amber grinned. "An excellent beginning." --- Leonie had never attended a Barkuk Khazad gathering before. She knew something about the culture. Camille had explained it. But she was interested in discovering how it worked in practice. The conversation began with professional matters. Industrial systems. Supply-chain dependencies. The rapidly increasing cost of maintaining legacy infrastructure alongside newer automated operations. Maeve asked several questions. Leonie answered confidently. Within minutes, they were discussing precisely the sort of problems O'Sullivan SAS was good at solving. But Maeve didn't attempt to turn the conversation into an immediate sales meeting. Instead, she listened. Amber asked about the company's international operations. Leonie responded with a dry observation about trying to coordinate logistics managers across six time zones. Camille laughed. "Oh, don't get her started." "Why?" Amber asked. "Because she has opinions." "Excellent. So do I." Leonie grinned. "I think we're going to get along." Maeve smiled. "I suspect so." --- Other guests began arriving. A senior technology investor. Two directors from a major industrial holding company. A woman who managed a substantial portfolio of medical technology investments. An executive couple whose business interests crossed several sectors. Not every introduction required Amber and Maeve. Some guests already knew one another. Others preferred to settle in quietly. The coordinator handled those arrivals. The O'Sullivans helped where their knowledge made a genuine difference. And, rather to Amber's delight, the system worked beautifully. They weren't being asked to sell anything. They were helping interesting people meet other interesting people. Sometimes those meetings had obvious commercial potential. Sometimes they didn't. Occasionally, the most valuable introductions were the ones nobody had planned. --- One of those happened when Sabine Laurent arrived. She greeted Amber and Maeve with unmistakable warmth. "There you are." Amber smiled brightly. "Sabine!" They exchanged affectionate kisses. Maeve looked delighted. "Lovely to see you again." Sabine smiled. "Likewise." Then she noticed Leonie standing nearby. Her expression changed. "Leonie?" Leonie turned. "Sabine?" A moment later, both women burst out laughing. Amber looked between them. "Oh, this should be interesting." Apparently, Sabine and Leonie had worked together several years earlier during a difficult infrastructure acquisition. They hadn't seen each other in nearly two years. The reunion was immediate and affectionate. Within minutes, they were exchanging stories about a project that had apparently involved incompetent consultants, a catastrophic reporting system, and several executives who hadn't understood what their own company actually owned. Maeve listened with growing amusement. Amber looked delighted. Camille shook her head. "I had absolutely no idea you knew each other." Sabine laughed. "Neither did I." Leonie turned toward the O'Sullivans. "Well, now you've introduced me to someone I already know." Amber grinned. "Exceptional service." Maeve added, "We aim to please." --- As the reception continued, the coordinator began looking increasingly pleased. The O'Sullivans weren't merely following the guest summaries. They were recognizing connections the formal profiles hadn't captured. Amber introduced the aviation executive from their previous gathering to an industrial investor whose portfolio included airport infrastructure. Maeve connected a medical technology director with Sabine after discovering that both were interested in operational risk arising from autonomous systems. Camille introduced Leonie to Nicolette Soren when the latter arrived with Adrian. That conversation almost immediately became animated. Nicolette was considering an acquisition involving logistics technology. Leonie knew the sector. Adrian understood the infrastructure implications. And Amber recognized an opportunity for O'Sullivan SAS to contribute later without inserting herself prematurely. She leaned toward Maeve. "That one's going somewhere." Maeve watched the group. "Potentially." "Very potentially." "Darling." Amber grinned. "Yes?" "You're enjoying this far too much." "Impossible." Maeve laughed. --- The CEO arrived shortly after the reception had begun in earnest. He stopped near the doorway. For a moment, he simply watched. The room was lively. Not chaotic. Conversations moved naturally. Returning guests were greeting familiar faces. First-time attendees appeared relaxed. And the two women he'd invited to assist were clearly enjoying themselves. His coordinator approached. "Good evening." "Good evening." "Everything is going very well." "So I see." "Mrs. Amber O'Sullivan and Mrs. Maeve O'Sullivan have been extremely helpful." The CEO smiled. "I expected they would be." "They've made several introductions we hadn't anticipated." "Even better." The coordinator glanced toward Nicolette, Adrian, and Leonie. "That conversation may become commercially significant." The CEO nodded. "Possibly." Then he looked toward the O'Sullivans. "But that's not what impresses me most." The coordinator waited. "They're enjoying themselves." "Yes." "And so is everyone around them." He smiled. "That's much harder to arrange than a useful business introduction." --- Eventually, the CEO approached Amber and Maeve. "Ladies." Amber turned. "Hello!" Maeve smiled. "Lovely to see you." "I trust you're enjoying your first experience helping us welcome guests." Amber grinned. "Immensely." "I thought you might." Maeve looked around. "You've assembled a fascinating group." "Thank you." "Several of them have remarkably complementary interests." "Entirely intentional." Amber laughed. "Not all of them." He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" She pointed toward Sabine and Leonie. "Those two apparently worked together years ago." The CEO looked interested. "Really?" "Neither Camille nor we knew." Maeve smiled. "An unexpected reunion." The CEO laughed. "Wonderful." He watched the women talking. Then turned back. "You've done an excellent job." Amber smiled. "Thank you." "And I hope you're not feeling obligated to spend the entire evening here." "Not remotely," Maeve replied. "Good." He inclined his head. "The rest of the gathering is yours to enjoy." Amber grinned. "We intend to." --- They remained in the reception lounge long enough to greet the final arrivals. Then they thanked the coordinator and entered the main gathering. The atmosphere was familiar. Warm lighting. Music. Expensive refreshments. Guests moving comfortably between conversation, dancing, and private invitations. Amber looked around with satisfaction. "Well." Maeve laughed. "Again?" "Absolutely." "Go on." "I rather like being a hostess." Maeve smiled. "So do I." "Even when we're not hosting our own event." "Perhaps especially then." Amber grinned. "We should definitely organize another one." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "For O'Sullivan SAS?" "Naturally." "Business development?" "Among other things." Maeve's corporate composure didn't prevent her from laughing. "Of course." Amber kissed her. Then they moved toward the bar. --- Their first half hour in the main cavern was almost entirely social. Several returning guests greeted them. The aviation executive was delighted to see Amber again. He kissed her warmly and asked whether she'd received the preliminary project information he'd sent. She had. They agreed to discuss it properly the following week. Then he asked whether she'd be interested in spending more time together later. Amber smiled. "I'd like that." "Wonderful." "No promises about exactly when." "Of course." She appreciated the answer. The invitation was personal. Not a claim upon her evening. And the distinction mattered. Across the room, Maeve was speaking with Leonie and Sabine. The two women seemed to be enjoying each other's company enormously. Maeve liked them both. Leonie had a lively confidence and an almost mischievous sense of humor. Sabine was quieter, more thoughtful, but no less direct about what interested her. And both were clearly enjoying the gathering. "Have you attended many events like this?" Leonie asked Maeve. "A few." "Does it always work so well?" Maeve smiled. "That depends on what you mean by work." Leonie laughed. "Fair." Sabine regarded Maeve with warmth. "I think she's asking whether the social atmosphere is always this pleasant." "Mostly." "Mostly?" Leonie repeated. Maeve nodded. "People are people. Some are delightful. Some less so." Sabine smiled. "And the two of you?" Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Me and Amber?" "Yes." Maeve looked across the room. Amber was laughing with the aviation executive. Her expression softened. "We generally have a wonderful time." Sabine smiled. "I noticed." --- A little later, Amber joined them. Leonie turned toward her. "Your wife has been telling us you're delightful." Amber looked pleased. "Only delightful?" Maeve laughed. "I was trying to be modest." "On my behalf?" "Someone has to." Sabine smiled. "I think I prefer the less modest version." Amber grinned. "Excellent." Leonie regarded the two women with interest. "May I ask something?" Maeve smiled. "Of course." "You two seem remarkably comfortable with the entire gathering culture." Amber nodded. "We are." "Was it always that easy?" Maeve considered. "No. Our first visit involved a fair amount of learning." Amber laughed. "Quite." "But once we understood the expectations, we found the atmosphere very enjoyable." Leonie nodded. "I think I understand." Sabine looked toward her. "Does that mean you're enjoying yourself?" Leonie smiled. "Very much." "Good." She glanced between the O'Sullivans. "And I think I'd like to get to know both of you better." Amber's expression brightened. "That sounds lovely." Maeve smiled. "Very." Sabine looked amused. "Well, this evening is becoming interesting." --- They continued talking. Not immediately making arrangements. There was no need. The gathering still had many hours ahead. Amber and Maeve moved between conversations, spending time with people they knew and meeting others who interested them. The evening developed naturally. At one point, Maeve was invited to dance by an executive she'd met during the reception. She accepted. Amber found herself discussing classic automobiles with Adrian. Nicolette joined them long enough to remark that she was surrounded by people who would happily bankrupt themselves over beautiful machines. Adrian protested. Amber agreed with him. Nicolette laughed and declared them hopeless. It was exactly the kind of evening Amber loved. --- Later, Maeve found herself briefly alone near the quieter executive corridor. She had returned from the dance floor to collect her tea. The passage beyond the reception area was visible through an open doorway. She hadn't intended to investigate anything. But she noticed the runic inscriptions immediately. They were the same as before. Suppression. Boundary reinforcement. The architecture was familiar now. So was the direction of the stronger network. Downward. Toward the older caverns. Maeve studied the arrangement for a few seconds. Then the hospitality coordinator appeared. "Mrs. O'Sullivan?" Maeve turned smoothly. "Yes?" "Enjoying the evening?" "Very much." The coordinator smiled. "I'm glad." Maeve indicated the stonework. "These inscriptions are fascinating." The woman glanced toward them. "They're part of the original design." "Some appear considerably older than the developed areas." "So I've been told." "Do you know who restored them?" The coordinator considered. "I'm afraid I don't." "Of course." Maeve smiled. "They're beautiful." "Thank you." The conversation ended naturally. No awkwardness. No suspicion. Maeve returned to the gathering. She'd learned almost nothing new. But that was preferable to asking one question too many. --- Amber noticed her return. "Darling." Maeve smiled. "Hello." "Everything all right?" "Perfectly." Amber studied her for a moment. Then nodded. There was no need to discuss the runes here. Not with the main gathering surrounding them. Instead, Amber took her hand. "Come on." "Where?" "Someone wants to meet us." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Professionally?" "Possibly." "And personally?" Amber grinned. "That remains to be seen." --- The invitation came from Nicolette. She was standing beside Adrian and another couple near one of the quieter terraces. When she spotted the O'Sullivans, she smiled. "There you are." Amber greeted her warmly. "Hello again." Maeve kissed her cheek. "Enjoying yourself?" "Immensely." Adrian laughed. "She hasn't stopped collecting interesting people all evening." Nicolette gave him a look. "Darling, neither have you." "Fair." She turned toward the other couple. "Amber, Maeve, I'd like you to meet some very dear friends." The introductions followed. The man was a senior executive in private infrastructure investment. His partner was a woman involved in international technology financing. Both were charming. Intelligent. And clearly very comfortable within the gathering's personal culture. Within minutes, the conversation had become lively. Not because everyone was trying to impress everyone else. Because they genuinely enjoyed one another's company. Maeve found the woman's observations about cross-border financing particularly interesting. Amber enjoyed the man's remarkably dry humor. And Nicolette appeared delighted to have brought them all together. --- Eventually, Adrian glanced toward the main chamber. "The music is becoming rather loud." Nicolette smiled. "Yes." The other woman laughed. "You say that every gathering." "Because it's true every gathering." Amber grinned. "An occupational hazard." Adrian looked toward the O'Sullivans. "Would you care to join us somewhere quieter?" Maeve smiled. "For conversation?" Nicolette's expression became amused. "Certainly." Amber raised an eyebrow. "And?" The woman beside Nicolette laughed softly. "Perhaps we'll discover what else we enjoy together." Maeve glanced at Amber. Amber met her eyes. The invitation was clearly intended for both of them. And it involved people they already liked. They hadn't decided anything yet. Nor did they need to. Maeve turned toward Nicolette. "Where did you have in mind?" "A private salon." "Here in the retreat?" "Yes." "How many people?" "Just the six of us." Amber smiled. "That sounds rather pleasant." Nicolette's eyes sparkled. "I thought you might think so." --- They had a moment alone before agreeing. Amber leaned toward Maeve. "Darling?" "Yes?" "Interested?" Maeve smiled. "Very." "Me too." "But let's keep it entirely spontaneous." Amber nodded. "Of course." "No expectations." "Never." Maeve kissed her. "Then yes." Amber grinned. "Excellent." They returned to Nicolette. "We'd love to." Nicolette smiled warmly. "Wonderful." Adrian offered his arm. "Then shall we?" Maeve accepted. "With pleasure." --- The six guests left the main gathering together. Their destination was a private salon in the developed executive wing. Not the lower chambers. Not behind the heavily reinforced runic boundary. Simply another elegant room reserved for people who wanted a quieter evening. As they walked, Amber glanced toward Maeve. Her wife looked relaxed. Happy. Interested. And completely comfortable. Amber smiled. The third gathering was already proving every bit as enjoyable as the previous two. And the evening was nowhere near over. Behind them, the main chamber continued its music and conversation. Ahead, another interesting invitation awaited. For now, Barkuk Khazad's deeper secrets could remain beneath the mountain. Amber and Maeve still had an evening to enjoy. --- ## Chapter 16 — Six in Good Company The private salon was beautiful. Amber had begun to suspect that Barkuk Khazad employed an architect whose personal mission was to make every room in the retreat more inviting than the last. This one was particularly successful. Warm lighting illuminated pale natural stone. Comfortable sofas surrounded a low table, and beyond a broad glass wall, a narrow underground waterfall descended into a small illuminated pool. There was a fireplace, although the flames were artificial. Amber regarded it with amusement. "An underground waterfall and a fireplace." Adrian smiled. "Someone had an unlimited decorating budget." Nicolette glanced at him. "Don't." "I haven't said anything." "You're considering buying the property." Amber burst out laughing. Julian Vale, the infrastructure executive they'd met earlier, looked from one to the other. "Is this about the hotel?" Saskia Vale closed her eyes. "Oh, not that story again." Maeve glanced at her wife. "Apparently Adrian's reputation precedes him." "An unfortunate misunderstanding," Adrian protested. Nicolette kissed his cheek. "You wanted to purchase an entire hotel because you liked their pancakes." "They were extraordinary pancakes." Amber wiped an imaginary tear from her eye. "I understand him completely." Saskia turned toward Maeve. "Please tell me you're the sensible one." Maeve considered. "Professionally, usually." "And otherwise?" Maeve smiled. "That depends on the company." Nicolette laughed. "I think this is going to be an excellent evening." --- The six settled into the sitting area. Adrian opened the drinks cabinet while Julian examined the waterfall through the glass. Saskia joined Maeve on one of the sofas. Nicolette sat beside Amber. The Sorens were already familiar company. Their previous evening together had established a warmth that carried effortlessly into this one. Saskia and Julian were new. And Amber was curious about both. Julian was a tall man with dark hair beginning to silver at the temples, an easy smile, and a quiet manner that contrasted nicely with Adrian's more theatrical humor. Saskia was elegant and remarkably self-possessed. She had a sharp intelligence, dark eyes, and a way of listening that made it clear she was interested in what people actually meant rather than merely what they said. Maeve liked her almost immediately. "How long have you two known Nicolette and Adrian?" she asked. Saskia smiled. "Nearly twelve years." "That long?" "We met during an acquisition." Julian turned from the window. "A terrible acquisition." Adrian nodded. "Catastrophic." Nicolette looked amused. "The acquisition itself was excellent." "The management team wasn't," Saskia replied. "An important distinction," Maeve observed. Julian laughed. "One we learned rather expensively." Amber leaned forward. "Now that sounds like a story." Nicolette sighed. "It is." Adrian grinned. "And we have several hours." --- The story was wonderful. It involved an international infrastructure holding company, a disastrously ambitious executive, two missing financial reports, and a regional director who had apparently believed that deleting a spreadsheet eliminated the underlying liabilities. Amber laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink. Maeve had to put down her tea. Saskia delivered the account with exquisite precision. Julian supplied the occasional detail that made everything worse. And Nicolette corrected Adrian's increasingly outrageous embellishments. By the time they finished, Amber was thoroughly convinced that the four had earned their friendship through shared suffering. "How did the acquisition end?" she asked. Saskia smiled. "We fixed it." "Of course you did." "And then we took a vacation." Julian looked toward his wife. "A very long vacation." "Three weeks," Saskia clarified. Nicolette laughed. "During which they refused to answer any professional communications." Maeve nodded approvingly. "An excellent policy." Amber glanced at her. "Should we try it?" "Somehow I doubt Iris would approve." "She'd probably insist on coming with us." "And bring her datapad." "Exactly." The laughter returned. --- As the evening progressed, the conversation became more personal. Saskia asked about O'Sullivan SAS. Not merely what services the company offered. She wanted to know why Amber and Maeve had chosen to build their own organization. Maeve explained their preference for independence, selective client relationships, and maintaining direct responsibility for the quality of their work. Saskia listened with interest. "That takes discipline." "It does." "Especially when a large client offers enough money to tempt you into accepting work outside your expertise." Amber smiled. "We've learned to recognize those offers." Julian laughed. "Not everyone does." Maeve nodded. "Competence includes knowing when to decline." Saskia regarded her thoughtfully. "I like that." "Thank you." "Perhaps we should arrange a professional meeting." Maeve smiled. "Perhaps." Nicolette raised her glass. "Wonderful. Now can we stop discussing work?" Adrian laughed. "You started it." "I absolutely did not." Julian looked toward Saskia. "You did ask about the company." Saskia smiled sweetly. "Apparently we're all guilty." Amber leaned back. "Then perhaps we should discuss something entirely different." Nicolette's expression brightened. "An excellent suggestion." --- The next hour revealed that Saskia was an enthusiastic amateur photographer. Julian enjoyed sailing, although he freely admitted that his wife was considerably more competent at navigation. Adrian remained determined to defend his proposed hotel acquisition. And Nicolette possessed an impressive collection of stories about executive retreats that had gone magnificently wrong. Amber contributed several anecdotes from her own business experiences. Maeve supplied dry observations at exactly the right moments. At one point, Julian looked toward the two O'Sullivans. "You make an interesting pair." Amber smiled. "Thank you." "I mean it. You're very different." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "In what way?" "Amber makes people feel that absolutely anything is possible." Amber looked delighted. "And Maeve," Julian continued, "makes them believe someone has already checked whether it's a good idea." Saskia burst out laughing. Nicolette nearly dropped her glass. Adrian pointed triumphantly at Julian. "That's exactly it!" Amber turned toward her wife. "He's rather good." Maeve smiled. "Annoyingly accurate." Julian inclined his head. "Thank you." --- Eventually, Nicolette moved closer to Amber. "May I ask you something?" "Of course." "Are you comfortable?" Amber looked around. "Very." "I mean with the company." Amber studied her for a moment. Then smiled. "Yes." Nicolette nodded. "Good." Saskia watched the exchange. There was no need for anyone to pretend the evening's invitation had been entirely innocent. The attraction was already present. They were all adults. And they had sufficient experience to recognize the difference between an enjoyable conversation and a personal invitation. But Saskia appreciated Nicolette's willingness to check. So did Maeve. Julian settled beside Adrian. "We haven't discussed anything beyond enjoying the evening." "True," Adrian replied. "And we're having a wonderful time." "Also true." Julian smiled. "Then perhaps we should leave the next part to everyone involved." Nicolette nodded. "Agreed." --- Amber looked toward Maeve. Her wife met her eyes. The familiar understanding between them was immediate. They both liked the Sorens. They were increasingly fond of Saskia and Julian. And neither woman had any particular desire to leave. Maeve turned toward Saskia. "How are you feeling?" Saskia smiled. "Very comfortable." "Good." "And rather curious." Amber laughed softly. "That makes several of us." Julian looked amused. "Only several?" Nicolette grinned. "All six, apparently." Adrian raised his glass. "An excellent result." Maeve laughed. Then set down her tea. "Perhaps we could stop talking around the subject." Saskia's smile widened. "I'd appreciate that." Maeve looked between the two couples. "Amber and I would enjoy spending the rest of the evening with you. Personally, not merely as professional acquaintances." Nicolette smiled warmly. "We'd love that." Julian nodded. "Very much." Saskia looked pleased. "So would we." Adrian glanced at his wife. "Then perhaps we should make ourselves more comfortable." Amber grinned. "Finally, a practical proposal." --- The first kiss came from Nicolette. She leaned toward Amber, waited for her answering smile, and kissed her gently. Amber responded with easy affection. When they parted, Nicolette laughed softly. "Still as charming as I remember." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Only charming?" "Terribly demanding." "Frequently." Beside them, Saskia turned toward Maeve. "May I?" Maeve smiled. "Please." Their kiss was quiet and unhurried. Saskia's composure softened when Maeve reached for her hand. When they separated, Saskia looked almost surprised. Maeve smiled. "Something wrong?" "Quite the opposite." "Good." Saskia laughed softly. "I think I understand why Nicolette enjoys your company." Maeve's eyes sparkled. "Only beginning to understand?" "Apparently." --- Adrian watched the women with obvious affection. Then he turned toward Julian. "Well, our wives appear to have made themselves comfortable." Julian smiled. "So they have." "Should we be jealous?" "Of what?" "That they're having more fun." Julian laughed. "I doubt that will remain a problem." Amber looked toward them. "You're both welcome to join the conversation, gentlemen." Adrian smiled. "How generous." Maeve laughed. "Do try to behave." Nicolette leaned back. "Darling, you know that's hopeless." --- The atmosphere had shifted. Not into urgency. Into intimacy. There was less distance between them now. Hands found one another. Affection was offered and welcomed. The conversation continued, but softer. More personal. Saskia admitted that she had been curious about the O'Sullivans since Nicolette first described meeting them. Maeve smiled. "Good things, I hope." "Very good things." Amber grinned. "Apparently our reputation is becoming dangerous." Julian laughed. "Only to people who dislike interesting company." Adrian leaned toward Amber. "May I kiss you?" She smiled. "Gladly." His kiss was familiar enough to feel comfortable and new enough to bring a delighted smile to her face. Julian approached Maeve with rather more reserve. She noticed. And appreciated it. "You can ask," she told him gently. He smiled. "Then may I?" "Yes." Their kiss was warm. Maeve liked the quiet confidence behind it. When they parted, Julian rested his forehead briefly against hers. "You're lovely." Maeve smiled. "Thank you." --- The six remained in the sitting room for a while longer. They spoke about what each wanted from the evening. Nobody made assumptions about how everyone should participate. There was no need for a complicated arrangement or an attempt to satisfy some imagined expectation. What mattered was that everyone felt welcome and able to choose. Eventually, Saskia glanced toward the adjoining bedroom. "Would everyone be comfortable continuing somewhere more private?" Amber looked at Maeve. Maeve smiled. "Yes." Nicolette nodded. "Very." Adrian looked toward Julian. "Shall we?" Julian laughed. "I believe we've reached a consensus." Amber rose and offered Nicolette her hand. Maeve joined Saskia. And the six moved together into the adjoining room. --- The bedroom was spacious and warmly lit. Fresh flowers stood near the windows and soft music played in the background. For a few moments they kept laughing about Adrian's inability to stop discussing hotel investments, as if six adults entering a bedroom together still needed one last excuse not to become solemn about it. "I would like it noted," Adrian said, "that this is already a better use of capital than the hotel." Nicolette stared at him. "If you say 'return on investment' in the next ten minutes, I'm leaving you." Amber laughed. "Personally, I admire a man willing to conduct due diligence." Maeve turned toward her wife. "Do not encourage him." Saskia was laughing too hard to help. The humor loosened the last traces of formality. Nicolette kissed Amber again. Saskia drew Maeve close. Adrian and Julian joined without anyone needing to choreograph who belonged with whom. The six spoke openly when something felt good, paused when someone wanted to change the rhythm, and allowed partners to shift naturally without turning the evening into a rotation schedule. Their shared attraction became full lovemaking. Amber moved easily between Nicolette's playful confidence and Adrian's familiar tenderness, while Maeve found a different pleasure in Saskia's thoughtful intensity and Julian's quieter affection. Later those lines blurred as well. A kiss passed from one person to another. Hands remained linked across the bed. Someone laughed at precisely the wrong moment and made everyone else laugh too. The pleasure was real enough to strip away most of the clever conversation for a while. Amber's orgasm left her gripping Nicolette's hand and staring at the ceiling with a dazed grin that made Adrian whisper, "Should we record that as a successful acquisition?" Amber threw a pillow at him before she had fully recovered. Maeve's climax came later and more quietly. Saskia noticed the change first, held her closer, and stayed with her until Maeve's composure returned in pieces. Julian kissed her afterward with such gentle satisfaction that Maeve laughed and told him he looked indecently proud of himself. Nicolette, Adrian, Saskia, and Julian were given the same care in return. No one was left orbiting the experience or waiting politely for the O'Sullivans to finish. By the time the room finally settled, each of the six had reached the kind of complete, satisfied exhaustion that made movement seem optional. They remained together in a loose, affectionate tangle. Water was passed around. Saskia rescued a pillow from the floor. Nicolette rested against Amber while Adrian kept one hand on his wife's ankle as if unwilling to lose contact entirely. Maeve lay close to Julian and smiled across the room at Amber. No one seemed eager to leave. The conversation returned in fragments. A few wicked jokes. A quiet expression of gratitude. A kiss. Then comfortable silence. --- It was Adrian who eventually broke that silence. "I have an observation." Nicolette sighed affectionately. "Of course you do." He smiled. "This evening has been substantially more successful than my hotel proposal." Saskia burst out laughing. Julian covered his face. Amber made a strangled sound. Then started laughing so hard that Maeve had to hold her. "Adrian!" "What?" Nicolette shook her head. "You are absolutely impossible." "Yet you married me." "A temporary lapse of judgment." "Twelve years of temporary judgment?" "An unusually persistent lapse." Maeve laughed. Amber finally managed to speak. "I think he's wonderful." Nicolette turned toward her. "Please don't encourage him." Amber grinned. "Too late." --- The six stayed together for another hour. The conversation was warm and increasingly relaxed. Saskia spoke about the difficulties of maintaining meaningful relationships while traveling so frequently. Julian admitted that he'd once considered abandoning corporate life entirely to spend a year sailing. Nicolette wanted to know why he hadn't. "Because Saskia would've insisted on bringing her laptop." Saskia smiled sweetly. "Only for emergencies." Adrian laughed. "That's what they all say." Maeve regarded Saskia with amusement. "I suspect we'd get along very well." "We already do." They exchanged an affectionate smile. Amber settled comfortably beside Nicolette. "Can I ask something?" "Of course." "Do you four often attend these gatherings together?" Nicolette considered. "Not always." Adrian nodded. "Our schedules rarely cooperate perfectly." "But when they do," Saskia added, "we enjoy spending time with people we care about." Julian smiled. "Like tonight." Maeve nodded. "Exactly." --- Eventually, practical matters returned. Not abruptly. Just naturally, as they often did among people whose professional lives occupied so much of their attention. Saskia mentioned an international technology financing project. Julian discussed a potential infrastructure acquisition. Maeve listened with growing interest. Amber recognized several areas where O'Sullivan SAS might eventually contribute. But neither tried to turn the conversation into an immediate negotiation. They had already enjoyed the evening together. There was no need to attach a commercial price to it. Still, the potential was obvious. Saskia looked toward Maeve. "Would you be interested in meeting our strategy team?" Maeve smiled. "Very." "Professionally, this time." Amber laughed. "How terribly conventional." Julian grinned. "We do have to work occasionally." "Unfortunate." Adrian looked toward Nicolette. "See? Amber understands." Nicolette shook her head. "Two of you. Now I have two." Maeve smiled. "At least." Saskia laughed. --- When they finally prepared to return to the gathering, nobody hurried. They dressed and checked that everyone had recovered their belongings. Nicolette helped Amber straighten a small detail of her evening dress. Saskia adjusted Maeve's hair. Julian retrieved a misplaced cufflink. Adrian claimed to have found it in an entirely unreasonable location. Nicolette told him not to elaborate. Amber laughed. "Probably wise." Once everyone was ready, they gathered briefly in the sitting room. Saskia looked toward the O'Sullivans. "I'm very glad Nicolette introduced us." Maeve smiled warmly. "So am I." Julian nodded. "We'd very much like to see you both again." Amber grinned. "Likewise." Nicolette approached Maeve and kissed her cheek. "Next gathering?" "Probably." "Good." Adrian smiled. "Perhaps dinner sometime in the city?" Maeve nodded. "We'd enjoy that." Amber looked delighted. "And no acquisition presentations." Saskia laughed. "Agreed." --- They returned to the main gathering together. The evening was still lively. Music drifted across the chamber. Several familiar guests waved greetings. Camille was dancing with someone Amber hadn't met. Leonie stood near the bar speaking with Sabine. The aviation executive was laughing with another group. No one seemed particularly interested in where the six had been. Private invitations were an ordinary part of these gatherings. People disappeared into lounges. Returned smiling. Made introductions. Shared drinks. Continued their evenings. The atmosphere remained warm and unhurried. --- The CEO noticed the group returning. He greeted Nicolette and Adrian. Then Saskia and Julian. Finally, he turned toward Amber and Maeve. "Enjoying yourselves?" Amber's smile was radiant. "Immensely." Maeve nodded. "Wonderful company." The CEO looked pleased. "I thought you might get along." Nicolette laughed. "You were right." "Excellent." Julian regarded him with amusement. "I suppose we should thank you." "For what?" "Introducing such interesting people to the network." The CEO smiled. "That is rather the purpose." Saskia nodded. "And an excellent purpose." The CEO inclined his head. "Thank you." Then he looked toward the O'Sullivans again. "I hope your first evening helping us welcome guests has been enjoyable." Amber laughed. "More than enjoyable." Maeve smiled. "We've had an excellent time." "Good." He considered them for a moment. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you before you leave tomorrow." Maeve's attention sharpened. "Of course." "Nothing urgent." "Naturally." "A matter concerning future gatherings." Amber smiled. "That sounds interesting." "I believe you'll find it so." He inclined his head. "Enjoy the rest of your evening." Then departed. --- Amber waited until he was beyond hearing. Then turned toward Maeve. "Did you hear that?" Maeve smiled. "Every word." "Future gatherings." "Yes." "An official proposal, perhaps?" "Possibly." Amber looked delighted. Nicolette regarded them with amusement. "He's taking quite a liking to you." Julian nodded. "He doesn't usually involve newer associates this quickly." Saskia looked toward the CEO. "He's an interesting man." Maeve nodded. "Very." Adrian raised his glass. "Then to the O'Sullivans." Nicolette smiled. "To the O'Sullivans." Saskia and Julian joined the toast. Amber laughed. "You're all terrible." Maeve kissed her cheek. "Wonderful, though." "Absolutely." Their glasses touched. --- A little later, Amber and Maeve found a quiet moment near the illuminated waterfall. The main gathering continued around them. Neither was tired enough to leave. Amber rested her hand against Maeve's waist. "Darling." Maeve smiled. "Yes?" "I think we're becoming rather popular." "Apparently." "Professionally." "Certainly." "Personally." "Very." Amber grinned. "Not a bad combination." Maeve laughed. "Not at all." For a moment, they watched the water moving down the stone. Then Maeve's expression grew thoughtful. "The CEO wants to discuss our future involvement." Amber nodded. "Yes." "That's another step." "Agreed." "Closer to the people who know what's happening below." Amber looked toward her. "And still no reason to suspect most of the people we've met." "Exactly." Maeve glanced back toward their new friends. Nicolette was laughing. Adrian was entertaining Julian with another story. Saskia had joined Sabine and Leonie near the bar. They were good people. Interesting people. People who had welcomed the O'Sullivans without asking them to become anything other than themselves. Whatever Barkuk Khazad concealed beneath the mountain, those friendships were real. Maeve squeezed Amber's hand. "Let's remember that." Amber smiled. "Always." They kissed. Then returned to their friends. The gathering still had hours to go. And the O'Sullivans were nowhere near finished enjoying themselves. --- ## Chapter 17 — Familiar Faces, New Possibilities Amber discovered that there were certain disadvantages to becoming popular. The most immediate was that she couldn't cross the gathering chamber without somebody wanting to speak with her. She didn't particularly mind. Most of the conversations were delightful. Some were professionally useful. And several involved people she had become genuinely fond of over the previous weeks. Still, when she finally reached the bar, she looked toward the bartender with an expression of exaggerated desperation. "Water. Please. Immediately." The bartender smiled. "Long evening, Mrs. O'Sullivan?" "Wonderful evening. Very dangerous distinction." He laughed and poured her a glass. Amber accepted it gratefully. Then a familiar voice sounded beside her. "Should I be concerned?" She turned. The aviation executive she'd met during the second gathering stood beside her, looking thoroughly amused. Amber brightened. "Darling!" He laughed. "Apparently not." She embraced him warmly. He kissed her cheek. "Lovely to see you." "And you." He glanced toward her glass. "Hydration?" "Survival." "That bad?" "Everyone keeps being interesting." He laughed. "A terrible burden." "Unbearable." He settled beside her. "Then perhaps I can offer some assistance." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "Would you care to escape for a while?" Her smile widened. "That depends." "On?" "How interesting your escape plan is." He grinned. "I believe I can promise an excellent view, comfortable seating, and considerably fewer people asking about business." Amber considered him. Then laughed. "Darling, that's almost irresistible." --- Across the chamber, Maeve was having a very different conversation. Leonie Kessler had discovered Sabine Laurent's astonishing ability to identify weaknesses in almost any corporate risk model. Sabine, in turn, had discovered that Leonie possessed an equally astonishing ability to explain why those weaknesses became considerably worse once actual machinery was involved. The result was a lively debate. Maeve found it fascinating. And increasingly funny. "You're assuming," Leonie said, "that the operator follows the approved procedure." Sabine smiled. "A reasonable starting point." "A catastrophic one." Maeve laughed. Sabine raised an eyebrow. "Catastrophic?" "Absolutely." "Do elaborate." Leonie leaned forward. "Give a technician an inconvenient procedure and an apparently harmless shortcut. Which do you think they'll eventually use?" Sabine considered. "The shortcut." "Exactly." "Unless the system prevents it." Leonie grinned. "Now we're getting somewhere." Maeve took a sip of tea. "You're both assuming the organization has correctly identified which procedures matter." The two women looked at her. Then burst out laughing. Sabine shook her head. "She's worse than either of us." Leonie smiled. "I like her." "That," Sabine replied, "was already obvious." --- Their conversation eventually moved away from work. Leonie had been enjoying her first gathering more than she'd anticipated. She particularly appreciated the absence of conventional corporate posturing. "At ordinary receptions," she said, "everyone spends half the evening trying to establish who's important." Maeve smiled. "And here?" "People seem more interested in whether they're enjoyable company." Sabine nodded. "That is one of the better aspects." Leonie looked around. "And apparently the personal invitations are taken quite seriously." Maeve laughed softly. "Sometimes." "Speaking from experience?" "Considerable experience." Sabine smiled into her glass. Leonie noticed. Then looked between them. "Oh." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Leonie grinned. "I believe I've just learned something." Sabine laughed. "Have you?" "Possibly." Maeve smiled. "Then perhaps you'll have to ask." Leonie regarded her thoughtfully. "All right." She leaned closer. "Have you and Sabine enjoyed one another's company privately?" Sabine glanced toward Maeve. Maeve's smile warmed. "Yes." Leonie nodded. "Good." Then, with unexpected directness: "I'd like to get to know you better too." --- Meanwhile, Amber's escape plan had turned out to involve a beautifully landscaped underground garden. Her companion led her through a quiet guest corridor and onto a terrace overlooking a collection of illuminated plants and a narrow artificial stream. Amber looked around. "Oh, this is lovely." "I thought you'd appreciate it." "Very much." They sat together on a comfortable bench. For a few minutes, neither spoke. The distant music from the gathering was barely audible. Amber rested comfortably beside him. Then he turned toward her. "You've become something of a celebrity." She laughed. "Have I?" "Apparently." "How dreadful." "I heard you're helping welcome the newer guests." "Yes." "Enjoying it?" "Immensely." He smiled. "That doesn't surprise me." Amber regarded him. "Why?" "Because you're good at making people feel interesting." Her expression softened. "That's kind of you." "I mean it." He took her hand. "And I enjoyed our last evening together." Amber smiled. "So did I." "Very much." "Me too." He leaned closer. "May I kiss you?" Amber's answer came with a grin. "Please." --- The kiss was warm and familiar. They had already discovered that they enjoyed one another's company. There was no uncertainty about the attraction between them. Amber appreciated that. She rested one hand against his cheek and kissed him again. When they parted, he smiled. "I missed that." Amber laughed softly. "Apparently." He looked toward the garden. "I've been hoping we'd find some time together tonight." "Have you?" "Yes." She studied him for a moment. Then smiled. "Darling, you could simply have asked." He laughed. "I just did." "Excellent. You're learning." They remained together for a while, enjoying the quiet. He told her about a difficult week involving an aircraft maintenance dispute and an executive who apparently believed flight schedules could be altered through sheer determination. Amber laughed at the story. Then told him about Iris's reaction to the extraordinary number of new prospects generated by the previous gathering. He was delighted. "So your business is doing well?" "Very." "I'm glad." "And yours?" "Complicated." "Interesting complicated?" "Potentially expensive complicated." Amber's eyes sparkled. "Now that sounds promising." He shook his head, laughing. "You really never stop." "Only occasionally." --- Eventually, he grew quieter. "Amber?" "Yes?" "Would you like to come back to my suite?" She looked at him. Then smiled. "Very much." He squeezed her hand. "No expectations." "I know." "I simply thought we might enjoy some time together." Amber leaned forward and kissed him. "Darling, I think that's a wonderful idea." --- The route to his suite was short. He held her hand as they walked. The conversation continued naturally, passing through another ridiculous aviation story before Amber interrupted him with a laugh. "Wait." He stopped. "What?" "You're telling me somebody tried to authorize a maintenance procedure without consulting the engineers?" "Yes." "On an aircraft?" "Yes." Amber stared at him. Then began laughing again. "Night City." "Precisely." He opened the suite door. Amber stepped inside. The room was comfortably furnished, with a broad window overlooking the illuminated cavern. She looked around. "Excellent taste." "Thank you." "Although I notice the minibar is considerably more expensive than it needs to be." He laughed. "Occupational hazard." Amber turned toward him. Then approached. "Come here." He smiled. "Gladly." --- Their affection resumed without awkwardness. They kissed. Talked quietly. And enjoyed the familiar ease of two people who had already learned something about one another. Amber found his combination of confidence and gentleness particularly appealing. He liked her warmth, her humor, and the fact that she never seemed to regard affection as something requiring elaborate explanation. They settled together on the couch. For a while, the conversation became increasingly personal. He told her about the pleasure of returning to a place where someone was genuinely happy to see him. Amber understood. She brushed her fingers lightly against his cheek. "I'm happy to see you." His expression softened. "That means a lot." She kissed him. Then smiled. "Would you like to stay close a little longer?" "Very much." Amber's smile became affectionate. "So would I." --- Their evening gradually became more intimate. The second time together carried less uncertainty and more confidence. Amber already knew that she liked his tenderness; he already knew that her bright teasing could turn into very direct instructions the moment she wanted something. "Is this part of your client-retention strategy?" he asked when she pulled him closer. Amber gave him a scandalized look. "Darling, do not put this in the CRM." He laughed. "Understood." "Good. Now stop talking." They made love again, warmer and less tentative than before. Their familiarity let them skip the polite uncertainty without skipping consent. Amber asked for what she wanted, changed her mind when something else felt better, and enjoyed how readily he adapted. Her first climax arrived quickly enough to surprise a laugh out of her. She stayed close afterward instead of slowing the encounter to a stop, and the affection between them deepened into a second, slower rise that eventually left her clinging to him in quiet satisfaction rather than joking. He followed later, Amber holding him through his own release with a tenderness that had very little to do with business and everything to do with genuinely liking him. When they finally settled, she remained close, relaxed and smiling. He kissed her forehead. "Still enjoying yourself?" Amber laughed softly. "Immensely." "Good." "And you?" "Very much." She smiled. "Excellent. And remember, none of this goes in the CRM." "I wouldn't dare." --- They rested together for a while. No immediate return to the gathering. No urgent professional conversation. Just quiet companionship. Eventually, he told her about a small coastal property he hoped to purchase someday. Not as an investment. Not as an executive retreat. Simply somewhere peaceful. Amber smiled. "That sounds lovely." "It does." "Why haven't you done it?" He considered. "Work." She laughed softly. "Terrible excuse." "I know." "Then perhaps you should make time." He studied her. "Do you?" "Do I what?" "Make time for the things you want." Amber smiled. "I try very hard." "And succeed?" "Frequently." He laughed. "I believe you." Amber kissed him. For a while, they remained together. Then she glanced toward the clock. "The gathering isn't finished yet." "No." "Should we return?" He smiled. "Eventually." Amber settled closer. "Good answer." --- Back in the main chamber, Maeve was still speaking with Sabine and Leonie. The conversation had become considerably less technical. Leonie was now explaining how she'd once attempted to learn ballroom dancing from a colleague whose primary qualification appeared to be excessive confidence. Sabine laughed. "How did that go?" "Disastrously." Maeve smiled. "Really?" "I was stepped on six times." "Only six?" "By the end of the first lesson." Sabine nearly spilled her drink. Maeve laughed. "Perhaps you simply needed a better teacher." Leonie turned toward her. "Are you volunteering?" Maeve's eyes sparkled. "Possibly." Sabine smiled. "I think I'd like to see that." --- They moved toward the dance floor. Maeve took Leonie's hand. The music was slow enough to allow an easy rhythm. Leonie looked slightly uncertain at first. Then relaxed as Maeve guided her through the steps. "You're rather good at this," she said. Maeve smiled. "Thank you." "Do you dance often?" "When I have good company." Leonie laughed. "An excellent answer." For several minutes, they simply enjoyed the music. Then Leonie looked toward Sabine, who was watching with an affectionate smile. "Your friend seems pleased." Maeve nodded. "She does." Leonie hesitated. Then asked quietly, "Would it be strange if I wanted to spend the rest of the evening with both of you?" Maeve regarded her. "Why would that be strange?" Leonie laughed. "I suppose it wouldn't." "Exactly." She smiled. "Let's ask her." --- Sabine's response was immediate. "I'd love that." Leonie smiled with obvious relief. "Good." Sabine reached for her hand. "Are you nervous?" "A little." "Because it's your first gathering?" "Partly." Maeve smiled. "Then there's no reason to rush." Leonie nodded. "I know." Sabine kissed her cheek. "We can simply enjoy being together." Leonie's expression softened. "I'd like that." Maeve looked between them. "So would I." --- They chose a private reading lounge near the executive guest area. Unlike the larger suites, this room was designed primarily for conversation. A small collection of books occupied one wall. Comfortable chairs surrounded a low table. There was a window overlooking the illuminated stonework. And a door could be closed for privacy. Leonie looked around. "Much quieter." Sabine nodded. "Exactly." Maeve smiled. "And considerably easier to talk." They settled together. For a while, the conversation remained relaxed. Leonie spoke about how overwhelming she'd initially found the gathering's social culture. Sabine listened. Maeve shared a few experiences from her own first visit. Gradually, Leonie's uncertainty faded. She stopped wondering what was expected. And began enjoying what was actually happening. --- Sabine moved closer to Maeve. "I've missed you." Maeve smiled warmly. "I've missed you too." They kissed. A gentle, familiar kiss. Leonie watched with an affectionate smile. Maeve turned toward her. "Would you like to join us?" Leonie nodded. "Yes." Sabine reached for her hand. Leonie accepted. For a while, the three women remained close, talking softly and enjoying the warmth between them. Maeve kissed Leonie. Leonie responded with a smile that became more confident as the evening continued. Sabine laughed when Leonie admitted that she'd spent the previous hour trying to decide whether she should ask for exactly this. "You could have," Sabine said. "I know." Maeve smiled. "But you asked when you were ready." Leonie nodded. "Yes." "Then that's perfect." --- Their affection developed naturally. There was no expectation that the evening needed to follow any particular script. But they were comfortable together. And increasingly certain they wanted to continue. Eventually, Sabine glanced toward the adjoining private room. "Would you both like somewhere more comfortable?" Maeve smiled. "Yes." Leonie considered. Then nodded. "Very much." --- They moved together into the quieter room. Leonie, who had been the most hesitant earlier in the evening, was now visibly relaxed. Sabine's familiar kindness helped. So did Maeve's calm confidence. They spoke openly about what they wanted and kept the pace slow enough that Leonie never had to guess whether she was keeping up with two more experienced women. Maeve kissed her first, then let Sabine take over while she stayed close. Leonie's nervous laugh gradually became something warmer as she realized that neither woman expected a performance from her. When she reached for Maeve again, she did it because she wanted to, not because she thought the gathering demanded it. Their affection deepened into lovemaking. Hands and mouths replaced most of the conversation for a while, though Sabine still found opportunities to whisper things that made Leonie laugh against Maeve's shoulder. Maeve enjoyed watching Leonie grow more confident, then discovering that confidence directed back at her. Sabine moved between them with an ease that made the three-person intimacy feel connected rather than divided into pairs. Leonie's first climax arrived with visible surprise. She went still, then laughed breathlessly as Sabine held her and Maeve kissed her cheek. "I think," Leonie managed, "I have definitely stopped worrying about whether I'm doing this correctly." Maeve smiled. "Excellent progress." Sabine laughed. "Very analytical." Maeve's own pleasure followed later, slower and deeper, with both women close enough that she could simply surrender to it instead of maintaining her usual composure. Sabine reached her own climax afterward, and Leonie, now far less shy, was openly delighted to be part of the reason. They stayed together in the afterglow, warm, content and pleasantly untidy. For several minutes none of them felt the slightest need to move. --- Leonie eventually laughed softly. Maeve turned. "Something funny?" Leonie smiled. "I think I've been worrying about the wrong things all evening." Sabine raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "I kept wondering whether I was doing everything correctly." Maeve smiled. "And now?" "Now I think I'd rather simply enjoy myself." Sabine laughed. "An excellent revelation." Leonie looked between them. "Thank you." Maeve reached for her hand. "You're welcome." Sabine kissed her cheek. "I'm glad you came tonight." Leonie smiled. "So am I." --- They remained together for some time. The conversation returned to ordinary things. Favorite places. Travel. The peculiar difficulty of maintaining friendships across demanding professional schedules. Eventually, Leonie turned toward Maeve. "May I ask something?" "Of course." "Would you consider working with our company?" Maeve smiled. "Absolutely." Leonie laughed. "That was quick." "Your organization's operational challenges are genuinely interesting." "And you think you can help?" "I think we can determine whether we're the right people to help." Sabine nodded approvingly. "Precisely the answer I'd hoped you'd give." Leonie looked delighted. "Then let's arrange a meeting." Maeve smiled. "With Iris." "Naturally." Sabine laughed softly. "I'd very much like to meet this Iris of yours." Maeve's eyes sparkled. "Oh, you'll like her." "Really?" "Very." "Why?" Maeve smiled sweetly. "Because she has absolutely no patience for nonsense." Leonie burst out laughing. Sabine nodded. "Then I'm certain we'll get along." --- Much later, Amber returned to the main gathering. Her aviation companion walked beside her. They were both smiling. He kissed her cheek before departing to greet another acquaintance. Amber watched him go. Then looked around for Maeve. She wasn't immediately visible. Amber wasn't concerned. Her wife had been enjoying herself with Sabine and Leonie. They might still be together. She collected a glass of water. Then settled into a comfortable chair near the bar. A few minutes later, Nicolette approached. "Amber!" Amber smiled. "Nicolette!" They embraced. Nicolette sat beside her. "Enjoying the evening?" "Immensely." Nicolette laughed. "That seems to be your favorite answer." "Because it's frequently accurate." "Fair." They talked for a while. Nicolette was particularly interested in how the O'Sullivans had found their first experience assisting with guest introductions. Amber described the reception. The new guests. The conversations. The unexpected professional connections. Nicolette listened with approval. "You're good at it." Amber smiled. "Thank you." "I mean it." "I know." Nicolette regarded her thoughtfully. "Have you ever considered hosting a larger gathering of your own?" Amber laughed. "Funny you should ask." "Really?" "We've done something similar before." "How did it go?" "Wonderfully." Nicolette smiled. "Then you should do it again." Amber considered. "Perhaps someday." "Let me know when." Amber grinned. "Darling, you'll be on the guest list." Nicolette looked delighted. "Excellent." --- Maeve returned a little later. Sabine and Leonie accompanied her. All three were smiling. Amber noticed immediately. She rose. "Darling!" Maeve's expression brightened. "Hello." They kissed. Amber looked at her wife. "Enjoy yourself?" Maeve smiled. "Very much." "Good." Sabine laughed softly. "Your wife is wonderful." Amber grinned. "Of course she is." Leonie smiled. "And remarkably good company." "That too." Maeve laughed. Amber leaned closer. "Another productive evening?" "Professionally?" "Among other things." Maeve's eyes sparkled. "Extremely." Amber smiled. "Excellent." --- The four women joined Nicolette. Conversation resumed. Leonie was introduced properly. Sabine and Nicolette discovered several mutual professional interests. Amber listened with amusement as the two began discussing corporate risk. Maeve contributed a few observations. Then Nicolette looked toward the O'Sullivans. "You know, the CEO's been asking about you." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Yes." Maeve became attentive. "About what?" "Your work helping with introductions." Amber smiled. "And?" Nicolette laughed. "He seems very pleased." Maeve nodded. "Good." Nicolette regarded them. "I wouldn't be surprised if he offered you a more permanent role in the gathering network." Amber grinned. "That would be interesting." Maeve smiled. "Very." Nicolette continued. "Although I suspect you've already become some of his favorite guests." Amber laughed. "How flattering." --- The CEO himself appeared not long afterward. He greeted the group warmly. Then turned toward Amber and Maeve. "Ladies." Amber smiled. "Hello again." "I hope you've enjoyed your evening." "Immensely." He laughed. "I believe that." Maeve smiled. "And we've made several excellent connections." "So I've heard." He looked toward Sabine and Leonie. Then Nicolette. "Good company?" "Exceptional," Nicolette replied. The CEO nodded with satisfaction. Then turned back toward the O'Sullivans. "I'd like a few minutes with you tomorrow morning." Maeve inclined her head. "Of course." "Nothing urgent." "Naturally." "But I believe it's time we discussed your future involvement in our gatherings." Amber's eyes brightened. "That sounds fascinating." He smiled. "I think you'll find it so." Then he excused himself. --- Amber waited until he had departed. Then looked at Maeve. "Well." Maeve laughed. "Yes?" "Another promotion." "Possibly." "You're not excited?" "Very." Amber grinned. "Good." Maeve glanced toward the executive corridor. Their position within the gathering network was becoming increasingly established. The CEO trusted them. His associates liked them. And the professional relationships they'd developed were increasingly valuable in their own right. But beneath all that warmth remained the mystery of the lower chambers. The runes. The disappearances. The extraordinary fortune. Maeve hadn't forgotten any of it. Neither had Amber. They simply understood that gaining access required patience. And tonight had strengthened their position again. --- Later, the two women found themselves alone near the illuminated waterfall. Amber rested her head against Maeve's shoulder. "Good evening?" Maeve kissed her hair. "Wonderful." "New friends?" "Several." "New clients?" "Potentially." "Any regrets?" Maeve smiled. "None." Amber looked up. "Good." They kissed. For a while, they simply stood together. Then Amber laughed softly. "What?" Maeve asked. "I was thinking about Iris." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "She's going to need an entirely new category in the CRM." Maeve laughed. "Why?" Amber grinned. "Professional prospect, personal friend, and extremely enjoyable company." Maeve's cover composure finally deserted her. Maeve laughed so hard she had to lean against Amber. "Darling!" "What?" "You're impossible." "Frequently." Maeve kissed her. Then took her hand. "Come on." "Where?" "Back to our friends." Amber smiled brightly. "With pleasure." They returned to the gathering. The night wasn't over. And tomorrow's conversation with the CEO promised to be very interesting indeed. --- ## Chapter 18 — The Inner Circle By four in the morning, Amber had acquired three additional invitations, two dinner proposals, and a promise that someone would introduce her to an absolutely extraordinary collection of vintage sports cars. She considered the evening a triumph. Maeve, meanwhile, had discovered that Leonie Kessler was considerably more entertaining after midnight than she was during formal business hours. That was saying something. The woman had already demonstrated an impressive ability to dismantle bad corporate arguments. Apparently, she possessed an equally impressive ability to tell embarrassing stories about herself. "So there I was," Leonie concluded, "standing in front of the entire executive committee, explaining why the new automated loading system couldn't possibly fail." Sabine raised an eyebrow. "And?" "The loading system failed." Amber burst out laughing. "Immediately?" "During the demonstration." Maeve covered her mouth. "Oh, that's dreadful." "It gets worse." Nicolette leaned forward. "Please tell me it gets worse." Leonie sighed theatrically. "The system deposited the demonstration container in the wrong loading bay." Adrian grinned. "That doesn't sound catastrophic." "It was the CEO's personal vehicle bay." For a moment, nobody spoke. Then the entire group dissolved into laughter. Julian nearly spilled his drink. Saskia was laughing too hard to form a sentence. Amber leaned against Maeve. "Oh, I like you." Leonie smiled. "Thank you. The CEO was considerably less enthusiastic." --- The late-night gathering had become wonderfully informal. Several guests had returned from their private meetings. Others were preparing to retire. The remaining conversations were almost entirely personal. Nicolette had commandeered a comfortable seating area near the windows, and the company gathered around her had grown steadily throughout the evening. Amber and Maeve had spent enough time with most of them to feel entirely at home. That was perhaps the most significant change of all. At their first gathering, the retreat had seemed like an elaborate social system they needed to understand. Now they were simply part of it. The hospitality staff recognized their preferences. Returning guests greeted them by name. New guests were beginning to seek them out. And several of the relationships that had started here were already developing into genuine friendships outside the retreat. Maeve looked around the group. Nicolette was holding Adrian's hand. Saskia was laughing at something Julian had whispered. Leonie and Sabine were sitting close together, clearly enjoying one another's company. Amber was discussing engines with a gentleman who had made the mistake of claiming that an old sports car was superior to every modern machine. Maeve smiled. These people had no idea what might be hidden beneath the retreat. And she had no reason to believe they were involved. That distinction remained important. --- The first disturbance of the evening arrived wearing an expensive suit and an expression of injured importance. A man Maeve recognized from the earlier reception approached Camille, who had recently joined the group. He was a senior executive from a financial services company. Professionally successful. Socially less accomplished. "Camille," he said, "I've been looking for you." She looked up. "Oh. Hello." "I thought we agreed to speak privately." Camille's expression became uncertain. "We agreed we might." He smiled. "Then perhaps we should." She hesitated. "Actually, I'm enjoying myself here." The man glanced toward the others. His smile tightened. "I was under the impression you were interested in discussing our investment proposal." "I am." "Then surely a private conversation would be appropriate." Amber stopped talking about cars. Maeve set down her tea. Camille looked uncomfortable. "I'd prefer to discuss that tomorrow." The executive sighed. "You're new here. Perhaps you don't understand how these arrangements work." Nicolette's expression became very still. Amber smiled pleasantly. "Oh, I think she understands perfectly." The man turned. "Excuse me?" "She said she'd prefer tomorrow." He looked irritated. "And you are?" "Amber O'Sullivan." Recognition appeared. "Oh. Of course." Maeve joined the conversation. "And I'm Maeve. We helped welcome Camille earlier." The executive's expression shifted toward something more diplomatic. "I see." Maeve smiled. "Then perhaps there's been a misunderstanding." "Possibly." "Camille has expressed an interest in discussing business with you tomorrow." "Yes." "And she has declined your invitation for tonight." The man looked toward Camille. She nodded. "That's right." Maeve's smile remained warm. "Excellent. Then everything is settled." For a moment, he appeared ready to argue. Then he noticed Nicolette watching him. And Adrian. And several other guests. He adjusted his jacket. "Of course." Camille smiled politely. "Thank you." The executive excused himself. --- There was a brief silence. Then Nicolette looked toward Camille. "Are you all right?" Camille exhaled. "Yes." Amber settled beside her. "Good." "I didn't want to offend him." Maeve smiled. "You're allowed to disappoint people." Nicolette nodded. "Especially when they're behaving like idiots." Adrian laughed. "Nicolette." "What?" "Nothing. You're correct." Camille finally smiled. "Thank you." Amber grinned. "You're welcome." Then she leaned closer. "And for the record, his investment proposal isn't worth enduring bad company." Camille laughed. "How do you know?" "Because people who believe an introduction entitles them to your time usually make dreadful long-term partners." Maeve nodded. "Professionally as well." Nicolette raised her glass. "An excellent assessment." --- The incident would have ended there. Except the hospitality coordinator had witnessed enough of it to understand what had happened. She approached discreetly a few minutes later. "Mrs. O'Sullivan?" Maeve looked up. "Yes?" "May I have a word?" "Of course." They moved a short distance from the group. The coordinator looked apologetic. "I wanted to thank you for helping Camille." Maeve smiled. "She handled herself perfectly well." "Nevertheless, I appreciate it." "You're welcome." The woman hesitated. "Our CEO is very particular about the atmosphere at these gatherings." "I know." "And we've occasionally had guests who misunderstand the difference between a personal invitation and an expectation." Maeve regarded her. "An important difference." "Very." The coordinator smiled. "I think he'll be pleased to hear how you handled it." Maeve's expression remained pleasant. "We were simply helping a friend." "Exactly." --- Later, the CEO himself appeared near the seating area. He greeted several guests. Spoke briefly with Nicolette. Then approached Amber and Maeve. "I understand you've been helping our guests again." Amber laughed. "Apparently we've developed a habit." "A very good one." Maeve smiled. "Camille is a lovely woman." "Indeed." The CEO looked toward her, now laughing with Sabine. "I'm glad she's enjoying herself." Amber regarded him. "She nearly wasn't." "I heard." His expression became slightly more serious. "The gentleman involved has already received a reminder about our hospitality standards." Maeve nodded. "Good." The CEO looked between them. "One thing I hope you've understood about these gatherings is that personal choice matters." Amber smiled. "Very much." "Without that, the entire philosophy becomes meaningless." Maeve regarded him thoughtfully. Whatever else he was hiding, she believed he meant it. That was one of the unsettling things about the man. He could be completely sincere about one principle while concealing something monstrous elsewhere. "Camille seems much happier now," Maeve said. The CEO smiled. "Then you've done exactly what I hoped." --- A little after four-thirty, the remaining guests began dispersing. Nicolette and Adrian announced their intention to retire. Saskia and Julian followed shortly afterward. Leonie and Sabine remained together near the bar. Camille had found a group discussing music. The gathering was finally approaching its natural conclusion. Amber looked toward Maeve. "Ready?" Maeve smiled. "Almost." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Maeve leaned closer. "Come here." Amber did. Their kiss was warm and familiar. When they separated, Amber grinned. "That was convincing." Maeve laughed. "I thought so." "Anything else?" "Only that I'd quite like some time alone with my wife." Amber's expression softened. "Darling, that's the best invitation I've had all evening." Maeve took her hand. "Then shall we?" "Absolutely." --- The walk back to their suite was quiet. They passed several hospitality attendants preparing for the morning. A few guests offered sleepy greetings. Amber returned them cheerfully. Maeve smiled. Neither discussed the investigation. Not in the corridor. Not where a passing attendant might overhear. Inside their suite, Amber removed her shoes and sighed. "Wonderful." Maeve laughed. "Your feet again?" "My feet are very opinionated." "They've been dancing for hours." "Exactly." Maeve's corporate elegance remained perfectly intact as she approached the refreshments cabinet. "Water?" "Please." They shared a drink. Then stood together beside the window. The illuminated cavern beyond had become familiar. Beautiful. Peaceful. And increasingly difficult to reconcile with what they suspected lay beneath it. Amber rested her head against Maeve's shoulder. "Good night?" Maeve kissed her hair. "Exceptional." "Good people." "Very." "Excellent prospects." "Several." Amber smiled. "And an interesting conversation scheduled for tomorrow." Maeve nodded. "Yes." They remained quiet for a moment. Then Amber looked up. "Whatever happens tomorrow, we don't let it change how we feel about the people we've met." Maeve's expression softened. "No." "Most of them have done nothing wrong." "I know." "And if Barkuk Khazad falls..." Maeve finished the thought. "The friendships don't have to." Amber smiled. "Exactly." They kissed. --- They spent the next little while enjoying the privacy of their suite. Not because the gathering had left either of them unsatisfied. Quite the opposite. They'd had a wonderful evening with people they genuinely liked. But being together was different. Familiar. Grounding. Entirely theirs. Amber drew Maeve into another kiss. Maeve responded immediately, arms settling around her wife with the ease of long practice. For a while they stayed there, talking softly and laughing about the evening's more ridiculous moments. Then Amber's smile changed. Maeve noticed. "What?" "I was thinking this gathering has required an extraordinary amount of relationship management." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Has it?" Amber pulled her closer. "I believe a private debrief is essential." Maeve laughed. "Should I take minutes?" "Absolutely not." The laughter faded into desire without losing its warmth. They made love with the familiarity of women who knew each other's bodies and the attention of women who still refused to treat that knowledge as permission to become lazy. Amber said what she wanted. Maeve answered with the particular patience that always made Amber's bravado dissolve sooner or later. Amber climaxed first, hard enough to leave her momentarily unable to produce the clever remark Maeve was clearly expecting. Maeve looked unbearably pleased. "Don't," Amber warned when speech returned. "I haven't said anything." "Your face is smug." "Professional satisfaction." Amber stared at her, then burst out laughing and kissed her. Maeve's own climax came later, drawn out until her carefully maintained composure disappeared completely. Amber stayed close through it, then held her while the intensity ebbed into the slower warmth they both loved just as much. Afterward they rested together, peaceful and thoroughly content. Amber settled against Maeve. "Darling?" "Yes?" "Do you think Iris has recovered from the second gathering's contact list?" Maeve laughed. "Not remotely." Amber grinned. "Excellent." Maeve's familiar affection was unmistakable in her smile. "You're going to give her even more work." "Probably." "You're delighted." "Immensely." Maeve kissed her forehead. "Impossible woman." "Your impossible woman." Maeve held her closer. "Always." --- Morning arrived far too soon. Amber woke to the sound of a soft notification from the suite's hospitality system. She opened one eye. Then the other. A message waited on the display. **Good morning, Mrs. O'Sullivan.** **Our CEO would be delighted if you and Mrs. Maeve O'Sullivan could join him for a private breakfast at eleven.** **Please confirm at your convenience.** Amber read it. Then smiled. "Darling." Maeve made a sleepy sound. "Mm?" "We've been summoned." One green eye opened. "By whom?" "Our favorite corporate host." Maeve opened the other eye. "What time?" "Eleven." Maeve considered. "Tea first." Amber laughed. "Naturally." --- By ten-thirty, both women were dressed. Amber wore an elegant, comfortable daytime outfit. Maeve had selected a tailored ensemble that suited the retreat's executive atmosphere. Yukari's medallions remained concealed beneath their clothing. Neither had experienced anything unusual from them. Which was precisely what Yukari had intended. Before leaving the suite, Maeve checked their secure messages. Iris had sent a brief update. The preliminary discussions with several gathering contacts were progressing well. Rogue had no new evidence requiring immediate attention. And Brenda had apparently been forbidden from modifying a coffee machine. Amber laughed when she read that. "Again?" Maeve smiled. "Apparently." "Poor Brenda." "Poor coffee machine." Amber grinned. They left the suite together. --- The CEO's private breakfast room occupied a section of the executive wing they hadn't previously visited. Not a hidden chamber. Not the heavily protected lower corridor. Simply a beautifully appointed dining room reserved for a small number of senior associates. The hospitality coordinator greeted them. "Mrs. Amber O'Sullivan. Mrs. Maeve O'Sullivan. Welcome." Amber smiled. "Good morning." "Our CEO is expecting you." Maeve looked around appreciatively. "Lovely room." "Thank you." They were escorted inside. The CEO rose as they entered. "Ladies." Amber greeted him warmly. "Good morning." Maeve smiled. "Thank you for inviting us." "My pleasure." He indicated the table. "Please, sit." They did. The room overlooked a narrow natural cavern illuminated by warm morning lighting. Breakfast had been arranged with considerable care. Fresh fruit. Pastries. Coffee. Tea. And an assortment of other dishes. Amber regarded the table with approval. "Now this is excellent hospitality." The CEO laughed. "I was hoping you'd approve." Maeve accepted a cup of tea. "Very much." --- For the first part of breakfast, the conversation was relaxed. The CEO asked how they'd enjoyed the gathering. Amber answered enthusiastically. Maeve described several of the introductions they'd helped arrange. The CEO listened with genuine interest. He was particularly pleased to hear about Camille. "She's a promising young executive." Maeve nodded. "Very capable." "But inexperienced in this particular environment." "Understandably." Amber smiled. "She'll be fine." "I believe so." The CEO considered them for a moment. "You've both demonstrated something I value enormously." Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Which is?" "Discretion." Amber smiled. "Thank you." "And judgment." Maeve inclined her head. "We try." "No, you do more than try." He set down his coffee. "Many guests understand the pleasurable aspects of our gatherings." Amber laughed. "Understandable." "Others understand the commercial opportunities." Maeve smiled. "Also understandable." "But relatively few understand how to make those two things coexist without turning people into instruments." The words were carefully chosen. Maeve studied him. He was speaking sincerely. And that made the contrast with Barkuk Khazad's concealed activities sharper still. "People should remain people," she replied. The CEO smiled. "Precisely." --- The conversation turned toward O'Sullivan SAS. The CEO had been following the company's progress with considerable interest. He knew about several of the contracts originating from the gatherings. He'd heard favorable comments from the Sorens. And he was aware that Sabine Laurent had approached the firm about a potential engagement. "You're building an impressive network," he observed. Amber smiled. "We've met wonderful people." "And you're converting those relationships into genuine commercial value." Maeve nodded. "Where there's an appropriate fit." "Exactly." The CEO leaned back. "That's why I'd like to offer you something more substantial." Amber's expression brightened. "Oh?" "Not a contract." Maeve looked interested. "Then what?" "A standing invitation." He smiled. "To assist with selected gatherings whenever your schedules permit." Amber glanced toward Maeve. Her wife returned the look. Then Maeve turned back. "In the same capacity as last night?" "Broadly." "Helping new guests?" "Yes." "Making introductions?" "Certainly." "And retaining our freedom to enjoy the evening ourselves?" The CEO laughed. "Naturally." Amber grinned. "That last condition is particularly important." "I had gathered that." --- The offer was attractive. Professionally, it could place O'Sullivan SAS in contact with a remarkable number of influential people. Socially, it was something both women genuinely enjoyed. And investigatively, it represented another step closer to Barkuk Khazad's senior leadership. But Maeve had a question. "Would we be representing Barkuk Khazad?" The CEO considered. "In a limited hospitality capacity." "Not as employees?" "Certainly not." "Nor as exclusive commercial associates?" "No." Amber smiled. "So we remain entirely independent." "Of course." Maeve nodded. "Then I see considerable merit in the arrangement." The CEO smiled. "Excellent." Amber glanced toward her wife. Maeve smiled back. Then Amber turned toward their host. "We'd be delighted." He looked genuinely pleased. "Wonderful." --- They discussed the practical details. No formal obligations. No fixed schedule. No expectation that they attend every gathering. They would simply receive advance notice of selected events and an opportunity to help welcome guests when interested. The coordinator would manage the logistics. O'Sullivan SAS would remain independent. And any commercial arrangements arising from introductions would be negotiated separately. Maeve appreciated the clarity. Amber appreciated the freedom. The CEO appeared equally satisfied. Then the conversation changed. Not abruptly. But enough that both women noticed. The CEO set down his cup. "There's another matter." Maeve looked toward him. "Of course." He regarded them thoughtfully. "You've attended three of our gatherings now." Amber smiled. "All wonderful." "I'm glad." "And you've met many of our associates." "Yes." "You understand how the network operates." Maeve nodded. "Very well." The CEO paused. "Yet there remains a part of Barkuk Khazad that very few of our guests ever see." Amber kept her expression pleasantly interested. Maeve remained still. There it was. The subject they'd been approaching for weeks. --- "At our first private supper," the CEO continued, "I told you there was a source behind our remarkable good fortune." Maeve nodded. "I remember." Amber smiled. "How could we forget?" He returned the smile. "Most people assume I mean our relationships." "A reasonable interpretation," Maeve said. "Indeed." He considered them. "And relationships are tremendously important." "Naturally." "But they aren't the whole story." Amber tilted her head. "There's more?" "Considerably." Maeve regarded him. "Something connected with the history of this place?" He smiled. "You're perceptive." "Merely curious." "An excellent quality." The CEO leaned back. "The site has a remarkable history. One that predates Barkuk Khazad by a considerable margin." Maeve nodded slowly. "I suspected as much." "Did you?" "The architecture incorporates elements that appear much older than the modern development." He smiled. "Very good." Amber glanced between them. "Now I'm curious too." --- The CEO was silent for a moment. Then he spoke carefully. "Some of our most trusted associates have been permitted to see the older portions of the complex." Maeve's attention sharpened. "Below the guest areas?" "Yes." Amber raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea there was so much more to see." The CEO smiled. "Most guests don't." Maeve considered. "And those who do?" "They generally understand our organization rather differently afterward." There was no threat in his voice. No dramatic change in atmosphere. He sounded like a man discussing access to a valuable private collection. Amber smiled. "That sounds fascinating." "It is." Maeve looked toward him. "And you're considering inviting us?" The CEO regarded them both. Then nodded. "Yes." --- For a moment, neither woman spoke. The CEO continued. "I wouldn't extend such an invitation lightly." Maeve inclined her head. "I understand." "You're both discreet." "Thank you." "Professionally capable." "We try." "And you've demonstrated a genuine appreciation for the community we've built." Amber smiled. "We do enjoy it." "So I've observed." He leaned forward slightly. "More importantly, I believe you'll understand why some of us regard Barkuk Khazad as more than an ordinary corporation." Maeve studied him. There was pride in his expression. Not embarrassment. Not apprehension. Pride. He wanted them to see. To appreciate. To become part of the smaller group entrusted with his organization's deepest secret. "May I ask what we'd be seeing?" Maeve said. The CEO smiled faintly. "You may." He paused. "But I would prefer not to describe it in advance." Amber laughed softly. "Keeping the surprise?" "In a manner of speaking." Maeve considered. "Is it dangerous?" A sensible question. One that any capable executive should ask before agreeing to visit unfamiliar industrial facilities. The CEO answered without hesitation. "Not under the precautions we maintain." Maeve's expression remained calm. "Precautions?" "Extensive ones." "Understood." He regarded her approvingly. "I appreciate your caution." "Professional habit." "A very good one." --- Amber glanced toward her wife. Maeve met her eyes. They had discussed this possibility. Repeatedly. The medallions were prepared. Yukari had warned them not to interfere with the binding structure. And Rogue had made one thing exceptionally clear. Seeing something wasn't the same as being ready to act against it. They needed information. The CEO was offering it. Voluntarily. Because he trusted them. Amber turned back. "I think we'd be very interested." Maeve nodded. "Yes." The CEO smiled. "Excellent." "But," Maeve continued, "I'd like to understand the arrangements before we commit." "Naturally." "How many people?" "A small group." "Who?" "Several trusted members of our senior leadership." "Other guests?" "Not ordinarily." Maeve considered. "And the purpose?" The CEO looked at her. "To understand the foundation upon which our fortune rests." The answer was as precise as it was unsettling. --- Then he smiled. "There's no need to decide this instant." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" "I'd prefer you to consider the invitation properly." Maeve nodded. "A sensible approach." "We can arrange a private visit shortly." "During another gathering?" "Not necessarily." He considered. "Although one of our smaller inner-circle events would be an appropriate occasion." Amber smiled. "Another invitation." The CEO laughed. "Apparently." Maeve regarded him. "And when would that be?" "Within the next few weeks." There was no further explanation. But the timing mattered. The previous disappearances. The unusual hospitality bookings. The intervals Rogue had been studying. And now a smaller event involving the people who knew Barkuk Khazad's concealed foundation. Maeve smiled. "We'd be delighted to receive the details." The CEO inclined his head. "Then I'll arrange it." --- The remainder of breakfast was almost absurdly ordinary. They discussed the next gathering's schedule. Several prospective introductions. A possible business meeting with a senior Barkuk Khazad operations executive. And whether Amber and Maeve might someday host a similar event of their own. Amber brightened at that. "We've been thinking about it." The CEO smiled. "Have you?" "Yes." "A private gathering?" "Potentially." Maeve laughed. "Amber has rather ambitious ideas." "Only excellent ones." "Of course." The CEO regarded them with amusement. "I'd be interested to attend." Amber smiled brightly. "Then perhaps we'll invite you." He inclined his head. "I'd be honored." Maeve took another sip of tea. The absurdity of the situation did not escape her. They were discussing future social events with a man who might be responsible for the disappearance of several women. A man who had just invited them to see the hidden source of his company's prosperity. And yet he remained charming. Intelligent. Considerate. Perfectly comfortable. That was perhaps the most troubling part. --- Eventually, breakfast ended. The CEO rose. Amber and Maeve followed. He thanked them again for the gathering. They thanked him for his hospitality. Then he accompanied them to the reception-room doorway. "One last thing." Maeve turned. "Yes?" "When you visit the older chambers, I ask only that you approach what you see with an open mind." Amber smiled. "Naturally." Maeve regarded him. "An open mind doesn't prevent us from asking questions." The CEO laughed. "I would be disappointed if you didn't." "Good." He smiled. "Then I believe we'll get along very well." Amber offered her hand. He shook it warmly. Maeve followed. Then the two women departed. --- They waited until they were back inside their suite before speaking about the invitation. Amber closed the door. Maeve set down her bag. For a moment, neither said anything. Then Amber looked toward her wife. "That's it." Maeve nodded. "Yes." "The lower chambers." "Yes." "He wants to show us." "Very much." Amber folded her arms. "And he thinks we'll appreciate what we see." Maeve's expression became serious. "That's what worries me." Amber looked at her. "Because he believes it's good." "Because he believes it's worth sharing." They stood quietly for a moment. Then Amber smiled faintly. "Well." Maeve laughed once. "Yes, darling." "Looks like our networking strategy worked." Maeve nodded. "Almost too well." --- Amber crossed the room and took Maeve's hands. "We don't rush." "No." "We don't touch the binding." "Absolutely not." "We don't make assumptions about who's involved." "Agreed." "And if what we find confirms our suspicions..." Maeve met her eyes. "Then we leave with the information." Amber nodded. "And come back properly prepared." "With our people." "Exactly." They kissed. Then Maeve opened the secure communications interface. A short message went to Iris. **Private inner-circle invitation received. Possible access to older lower chambers within the next few weeks. No direct evidence yet. Further details pending.** Iris acknowledged it almost immediately. **Understood. We'll prepare a full review when you're home. Enjoy the remainder of your visit.** Amber laughed softly. "That's Iris." Maeve smiled. "Always practical." --- Their shuttle departed later that afternoon. The mountain disappeared behind them. Amber settled beside Maeve. Neither woman seemed particularly inclined toward conversation. They had crossed an important threshold. Not because they'd forced their way past security. Not because they'd discovered a hidden passage. But because they'd spent weeks building relationships. Enjoying themselves. Creating legitimate commercial value. And demonstrating that they understood the social world Barkuk Khazad had built. Now the CEO wanted to show them something almost nobody else was permitted to see. Amber looked toward Maeve. "Darling?" "Yes?" "Do you think he knows what he's actually keeping down there?" Maeve considered. "I think he knows more than we do." "That's not an answer." "It's the only one I can give." Amber nodded. "Fair." Maeve rested her head against Amber's shoulder. "We'll find out." Amber kissed her hair. "Together." "Always." --- Deep beneath the retreat, the permanent binding remained intact. The upper suppression network continued its work. The old chambers were quiet. And the creature held upon the ancient platform remained alive. Barkuk Khazad's CEO had made a decision. Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan had demonstrated the qualities he valued. They were ready, he believed, to understand the foundation of his organization's success. He expected admiration. Perhaps surprise. Certainly questions. He did not expect opposition. And he had no reason to suspect that the two women he'd just invited into his innermost circle already understood the purpose of the runes protecting his guests. The invitation had been extended. The next door would open soon. --- ## Chapter 19 — The Foundation of Fortune Iris Rourke had developed a new habit. Whenever Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan returned from a Barkuk Khazad gathering, she prepared coffee, opened the company's business-development system, and reminded herself not to react until she'd finished reading. It wasn't working particularly well. "Twenty-three." Ace smiled. "An excellent number." "Twenty-three active professional relationships originating from three gatherings." Mai sipped her tea. "Not all are prospective clients." "I know." "Several are personal friends." "I know." "And some are useful professional contacts without immediate commercial potential." Iris looked at her. "Mai." "Yes?" "You're not helping." Brenda laughed from the doorway. "What's the damage this time?" Iris turned the display toward her. Brenda examined it. Then whistled. "Jesus." Ace grinned. "That seems to be your standard financial assessment." "It's concise." Mai laughed. Iris scrolled through the records. The Sorens were proceeding with their preliminary acquisition assessment. Camille's robotics company had approved the first phase of its operational review. The aviation group had requested a formal proposal. Sabine Laurent's risk advisory organization was exploring a partnership. And Leonie Kessler had already arranged a technical introduction to her operations team. Several smaller prospects were developing more slowly. Which was perfectly reasonable. Iris preferred slow, well-founded relationships to expensive promises made in haste. She looked toward Ace. "I have to admit something." Ace brightened. "Oh, good." "Your business-development strategy is excellent." Mai smiled. "Thank you." Iris held up a finger. "That doesn't mean I'm endorsing everything Barkuk Khazad does." "Neither are we," Ace replied. "Good." Brenda approached the table. "But you're endorsing the part where everyone has a wonderful evening and your company makes money." Iris sighed. "Apparently." Ace grinned. "Then I think we're making progress." --- The meeting eventually became serious. Iris opened a separate file. "This is the part I'm less happy about." The display showed Barkuk Khazad's ownership structure. Some of its subsidiaries were entirely ordinary. Others were not. A network of financial services companies, hospitality operators, and special-purpose investment entities had produced a remarkable number of transactions whose commercial rationale was difficult to establish. Not necessarily illegal. But unusual. Very unusual. Mai studied the diagram. "Have you found a direct connection to the disappearances?" "No." "And the hospitality expenses?" "Still too fragmented." Ace leaned forward. "But you found something." Iris nodded. "A property record." She opened another document. "Barkuk Khazad acquired the Badlands site through a subsidiary several years before the retreat opened." "Nothing strange about that," Mai said. "Agreed. But the subsidiary also commissioned a geological and structural assessment." Brenda's attention sharpened. "Now you're speaking my language." Iris smiled. "I thought you'd appreciate it." The assessment contained ordinary information about the upper caverns. Load-bearing structures. Natural faults. Areas suitable for development. But several sections were missing from the public filing. And the missing sections all concerned the older, deeper portions of the cavern system. Brenda leaned closer. "That's interesting." "How interesting?" Ace asked. "Potentially very." "Why?" "Because you don't simply omit the structural relationship between two major underground spaces when you're planning a development of this size." Mai nodded. "Unless you don't want that relationship publicly documented." "Exactly." Iris folded her arms. "Or because those sections were legitimately confidential." Brenda glanced at her. "You're ruining my fun." "Professionally." "Terrible woman." Iris kissed her cheek. "You married me." "One of my better decisions." --- Rogue arrived at the safehouse that evening. She had no dramatic new evidence. That was the first thing she said. Ace looked disappointed. "You're becoming terribly predictable." Rogue sat. "Be grateful." Mai brought up the property assessment. Rogue examined it. Then studied the marked omissions. "Those all concern the lower caverns?" "Yes," Iris replied. "Can you get the original?" "I'm investigating legitimate avenues." Rogue smiled faintly. "How responsible." "Somebody has to be." Ace laughed. Rogue looked toward Brenda. "Engineering opinion?" Brenda enlarged one of the cross-sections. "The upper complex is supported by an extensive natural structure. Whoever developed it took serious care with the existing stone." "And below?" "Unknown." She pointed toward the omitted portion. "But this suggests a substantial void beneath the developed areas." Mai nodded. "Which matches the runic orientation." Yukari, who had been examining the display quietly, agreed. "Yes." Rogue looked toward her. "And your opinion?" "Whatever lies below is important enough that the entire upper complex was designed around keeping its influence contained." "Wonderful." "Not necessarily." Rogue gave her a look. Yukari smiled faintly. "I was being precise." "You're all becoming contagious." --- Shammy had been listening from the couch. Eventually, she spoke. "Has anyone else disappeared?" Rogue's expression softened slightly. "No new confirmed cases." "Good." "Yes." Shammy looked toward the missing women's photographs. "Any news about them?" "Not yet." Ace moved closer and sat beside her. Shammy leaned against her. Rogue continued. "The bookings still appear to occur much less frequently than the gatherings." Mai nodded. "Which suggests the two schedules aren't identical." "Exactly." "Do we know when the next unusual booking might occur?" "No." Rogue looked frustrated. "I've found intervals of roughly two to three months, but there isn't enough reliable data to call it a schedule." Yukari considered. "If an ancient entity requires some kind of periodic offering, the intervals might correspond to its needs." Rogue nodded. "That's one possibility." Shammy looked at her. "And another?" "That we're seeing a pattern where there isn't one." Mai nodded. "We can't rule that out." Ace glanced toward the display. "But now the CEO wants to show us the lower chambers." Rogue's expression changed. "That's the important part." --- They discussed the invitation. Not the gathering they had just attended. The smaller event the CEO had mentioned over breakfast. He had promised details within the next few weeks. Nothing had arrived yet. But the possibility had changed their priorities. Yukari looked toward Ace and Mai. "Your medallions." Both nodded. "They've been comfortable," Mai said. "Any unusual sensations?" "No." "Good." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Still no lightning." Yukari gave her a patient look. "That remains a feature." "Disappointing feature." Shammy laughed softly. Yukari continued. "They'll help you recognize interference with your judgment if the influence below reaches you." Mai nodded. "But they won't make us immune to everything." "Correct." "And they won't protect us from ordinary physical danger." "Correct." Ace sighed. "Terrible warranty." "Would you prefer none?" "No." "Then stop complaining." Brenda burst out laughing. --- The next question was more difficult. What would they do if the CEO actually showed them the source of Barkuk Khazad's fortune? Rogue answered first. "Observe." Ace nodded. "Agreed." "No heroics." "Agreed." "No experiments." Mai smiled faintly. "Especially agreed." Yukari looked toward her. "And don't interfere with anything that appears to be part of a binding." "I won't." Brenda leaned forward. "I want to emphasize that." Everyone looked at her. "If there's a permanent confinement structure down there, damaging it could be catastrophically stupid." Ace grinned. "That's an unusually technical description." "Accurate, though." Iris nodded. "Very." Brenda continued. "Until we understand the relationship between the upper suppression network and whatever is holding the thing itself, nobody changes the structure." Mai considered. "That's exactly what I've been saying." "I know." Brenda smiled. "It's nice when engineers and rune specialists agree." Yukari inclined her head. "Rare, but welcome." --- Rogue looked toward Shammy. "And you." Shammy turned. "Yes?" "When we eventually know enough to plan a rescue, your ability to identify living people will be crucial." Shammy nodded. "I know." "But not yet." "I understand." Rogue studied her. "You sure?" Shammy glanced toward the missing photographs. Then back. "I don't like waiting." "Neither do I." "But I understand why." Rogue nodded. "Good." Ace squeezed Shammy's hand. "We bring them home when we know where they are." Shammy smiled faintly. "All we can find." "All we can find." --- The invitation arrived eleven days later. It was delivered directly through the CEO's private office. No general guest roster. No public gathering schedule. No introductory materials. Just a carefully worded message. **Amber. Maeve.** **I would be delighted if you could join me for a private evening at the retreat next Thursday.** **Several members of our senior circle will be present. I believe the occasion would be appropriate for you to see the older portions of the site we discussed.** **The visit is entirely optional. You may decline without affecting our existing relationship.** **I hope to see you both.** Ace read the message addressed to Amber and Maeve. Then handed the display to Mai. Her wife studied the message. "Thursday." "Yes." "Not a normal gathering." "No." "Senior circle." "Yes." "And the older chambers." Ace smiled faintly. "Exactly." Mai looked up. For a moment, the familiar warmth of their corporate identities gave way to something more serious. "That's our invitation." Ace nodded. "It is." --- Iris received the news first. Then Rogue. Then Yukari and the others. The planning conversation was considerably shorter this time. They already knew the priorities. Maintain the covers. Observe. Do not touch the binding. Do not attempt a rescue without identifying the people who needed rescuing or establishing a safe way out. And above all, do not allow curiosity to become carelessness. Brenda reviewed the available structural information once more. Yukari checked the medallions. Rogue coordinated the communications arrangements. Iris prepared O'Sullivan SAS's schedule so that Ace and Mai could attend without creating awkward professional questions. Everything remained ordinary on the surface. Two successful executives accepting a private invitation from a valuable corporate associate. That was exactly how the CEO understood it. And exactly how they intended it to appear. --- Thursday arrived. The shuttle was familiar. The driver recognized them. But the retreat looked different. Not physically. The same mountain rose above the Badlands. The same entrance lights illuminated the developed caverns. The same polished stone and elegant architecture greeted arriving guests. What had changed was the atmosphere. The usual gathering wasn't taking place. There was no music drifting from the main chamber. No crowd of executives exchanging greetings. No familiar laughter from the bar. Only a few senior staff members moving quietly through the reception area. Amber glanced toward Maeve. "Rather peaceful." Maeve smiled. "Very." Their escort approached. "Mrs. Amber O'Sullivan. Mrs. Maeve O'Sullivan." They returned the greeting. "Our CEO is expecting you." Amber smiled brightly. "Wonderful." "May I escort you?" "Of course." --- They were taken directly to a private dining room. The CEO stood as they entered. "Amber. Maeve." Amber greeted him warmly. "Lovely to see you." Maeve smiled. "Thank you for inviting us." "My pleasure." He introduced the other guests. Three senior Barkuk Khazad executives. A woman responsible for much of the corporation's strategic investment activity. A man who oversaw several important operational holdings. And an older gentleman introduced simply as the site's principal custodian. That last title interested Maeve enormously. The custodian was silver-haired, quietly spoken, and possessed the patient manner of someone who had spent a lifetime studying things other people didn't understand. He greeted them courteously. "I've heard a great deal about you both." Amber laughed. "All good, I hope." "Very good." Maeve smiled. "Then we shall endeavor not to disappoint." The custodian returned the smile. "I suspect that will be difficult." --- Dinner was excellent. Of course it was. The retreat seemed incapable of serving anything that wasn't extraordinary. Amber complimented the chef. The CEO promised to pass along her appreciation. Conversation began with ordinary professional matters. O'Sullivan SAS. The contacts formed through the gatherings. Several developing contracts. The CEO was genuinely interested in the firm's progress. He asked intelligent questions. And listened carefully to the answers. The other executives were equally professional. None behaved like a theatrical cultist. None spoke in riddles. None suggested that an ancient power was about to be unveiled beneath their feet. If Amber hadn't known about the runes, she might have mistaken the occasion for an unusually exclusive executive dinner. Maeve found that contrast increasingly unsettling. The people at the table were intelligent. Competent. Comfortable. And apparently entirely at ease with whatever they had invited the O'Sullivans to see. --- Eventually, the CEO set down his glass. "I believe it's time." The room quieted. Amber looked toward him. "For our tour?" He smiled. "Yes." Maeve set down her teacup. "Wonderful." The principal custodian rose. "If you'll follow me." They did. --- The route began in the executive wing. Maeve recognized several corridors from earlier gatherings. The same carefully integrated runic inscriptions. The same suppression system. The same subtle downward orientation. Then they reached the heavily reinforced doorway she had noticed during their first visit. It stood closed. A security panel occupied the wall beside it. Above the frame, the runic structure was much denser than anywhere in the public areas. The custodian approached. He placed his hand against the panel. A quiet mechanism activated. The door opened. Amber looked through. A descending corridor extended beyond it. The stonework was older. Less polished. And markedly different from the luxurious guest areas above. Maeve studied the threshold. The inscriptions here were not merely decorative. They marked the transition between two distinct protective systems. She understood that immediately. The CEO turned toward them. "Before we proceed, I should explain something." Amber smiled. "Of course." "This part of the complex is considerably older than our corporation." Maeve nodded. "So you mentioned." "And what you'll see is not something we discuss with ordinary guests." "Understood." He looked between them. "I trust your discretion." Maeve inclined her head. "You have it." The CEO smiled. "Excellent." Then he gestured toward the corridor. "Shall we?" Amber returned the smile. "With pleasure." --- The descent was gradual. Not steep enough to be uncomfortable. But long enough that the familiar atmosphere of the retreat began to feel distant. The walls were rougher here. Old tool marks remained visible beneath later repairs. In several places, modern support structures had been incorporated into the natural stone. Maeve noticed the work immediately. Some of the engineering was recent. Other portions appeared much older. The custodian walked beside the CEO. Their conversation was quiet. Amber listened. Maeve studied the runes. As they descended, the suppressive inscriptions became increasingly concentrated. Then they changed. Not abruptly. But unmistakably. The familiar patterns continued along the upper walls. Below them, another arrangement appeared. Older. Deeper. Built around a different purpose. Maeve recognized the distinction. Not suppression. Confinement. Her pulse quickened. At last. The binding system. She kept her expression composed. --- The corridor ended at another doorway. This one was made from dark stone reinforced with modern metalwork. The runes surrounding it were ancient. Their arrangement was complex enough that Maeve couldn't understand every relationship at a glance. But she understood the central purpose. Containment. Absolute and deliberate. The custodian approached. He examined the inscriptions carefully. Then looked toward the CEO. "Everything remains stable." The CEO nodded. "Excellent." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Something that requires regular inspection?" The custodian smiled. "Something very old." Maeve regarded him. "Older than the retreat?" "Considerably." "Older than Barkuk Khazad?" "By an almost unimaginable margin." The CEO smiled. "I believe you're going to find this fascinating." Maeve returned the smile. "I'm certain we will." The custodian activated the door. The stone moved. Slowly. And the chamber beyond came into view. --- For several seconds, Amber could not understand what she was seeing. The space was enormous. A natural cavern transformed by centuries of deliberate work. Massive stone columns rose toward a ceiling lost in darkness. Runic inscriptions covered the floor, walls, and supporting structures. Some glowed faintly. Others were nearly invisible. At the center stood a vast raised platform. Its stone was darker than the surrounding cavern. Ancient markings had been carved into every visible surface. And upon it rested something alive. Something enormous. Something that did not belong to any ordinary category of living creature. Amber stopped. Beside her, Maeve went utterly still. The CEO watched their expressions. He was smiling. --- At first glance, the creature suggested an elephant. But only in the way a nightmare might borrow a familiar shape to make itself more terrible. Its enormous body was heavy and ancient. The skin appeared unnaturally thick, folded into deep ridges and marked by strange variations in color. Its head was grotesquely elongated. A trunk-like structure extended from its face, ending in a flattened, muscular opening that seemed horribly suited to fastening itself against living flesh. The limbs were immense. The proportions wrong. Its eyes were small relative to the massive head. But they were open. Watching. And beneath the sheer weight of its body, something moved with dreadful slowness. A breath. A faint muscular shift. An indication that the thing was not a statue. Not a preserved specimen. Not a carefully constructed illusion. It was alive. Amber felt a cold sensation settle in her stomach. Not ordinary fear. Recognition. The kind that came when an impossible suspicion suddenly acquired a physical form. Maeve's attention moved immediately to the platform. The runes. The arrangement. The way the entire structure directed its force inward. The old inscriptions weren't simply holding the creature in place. They were binding it to the platform. Permanently. And the newer suppression network above existed to prevent its influence from spreading through the retreat. The two systems were distinct. Exactly as she and Yukari had suspected. --- The CEO stepped forward. "Ladies." He spread one hand toward the platform. "Allow me to introduce you to the foundation of Barkuk Khazad's extraordinary fortune." The creature's eyes moved. Amber noticed. She wished she hadn't. The CEO continued. "An ancient being whose existence predates every civilization whose records we've studied." Maeve kept her voice steady. "Does it have a name?" The custodian answered. "Chaugnar Faugn." The name seemed to settle into the stone itself. Amber looked toward the enormous figure. "Chaugnar Faugn." The custodian inclined his head. "Yes." Maeve studied the platform. "And it's bound." The CEO turned toward her. His expression brightened. "You recognize that?" Maeve nodded. "The structure is unmistakably designed for confinement." The custodian looked interested. "You're familiar with runic systems?" "Enough to recognize certain arrangements." He regarded her with growing respect. "Remarkable." Maeve smiled modestly. "I've always been interested in old structures." The CEO laughed softly. "Then perhaps this visit was even more appropriate than I realized." --- Amber took a cautious step closer. Not toward the platform itself. Only far enough to see its construction more clearly. The creature remained motionless. Its eyes followed her. She noticed a faint warmth beneath her clothing. Yukari's medallion. Not painful. Not alarming. But unmistakable. A warning that something was attempting to reach beyond the ordinary senses. Amber stopped. The sensation faded. She remained exactly where she was. The CEO watched her. "Impressive, isn't it?" Amber looked toward the creature. "Extraordinary." That much, at least, was entirely sincere. Maeve moved beside her. Her own medallion had responded. A brief warmth. Then stillness. Neither woman acknowledged it. The protection was doing what Yukari had intended. Helping them recognize interference without drawing attention to itself. --- The CEO looked toward the custodian. "Perhaps you could explain the structure." "Certainly." The older man approached a section of the chamber wall. He indicated several runic patterns. "The original binding predates our occupation of the site." Maeve studied them. "Is the platform part of that original structure?" "Yes." "And the upper suppression network?" "A later development." She nodded. "To prevent its influence from reaching the occupied caverns." The custodian looked genuinely impressed. "Precisely." Amber glanced toward her wife. Then toward the CEO. "So this thing can't leave the platform." The custodian shook his head. "No." "Ever?" "Not while the binding remains intact." Maeve studied the inscriptions again. "And the binding is permanent?" "That is its design." The CEO smiled. "We take its preservation very seriously." Maeve nodded. "So you should." The words were carefully chosen. And entirely sincere. --- For a while, the custodian explained the history of the chamber. Much of it was uncertain. The oldest records were fragmentary. Several earlier expeditions had apparently discovered portions of the cavern before Barkuk Khazad acquired the site. The corporation had restored damaged sections of the upper suppression network. Modern engineering had stabilized the developed caverns. But the ancient platform itself had been left untouched. Brenda would have approved of that decision. Maeve recognized the irony. The same people who were exploiting the bound creature had also been extraordinarily careful not to release it. Their technical competence was real. So was their understanding of the danger. That made the arrangement more disturbing. Not less. --- Eventually, the CEO returned to the subject he'd promised to explain. "Fortune." Amber looked toward him. "Yes?" "People use the word casually." He smiled. "A fortunate acquisition. A fortunate introduction. A fortunate decision." Maeve nodded. "Common expressions." "But genuine fortune is something more profound." He gestured toward Chaugnar Faugn. "Our predecessors discovered that the presence of this being could influence probability." Amber regarded him. "Influence it how?" "Toward favorable outcomes." Maeve's expression remained thoughtful. "For anyone?" "Not indiscriminately." "Then for whom?" "For those whose relationship with the custodianship has been properly established." Amber glanced toward the executives accompanying them. They looked entirely comfortable. The CEO continued. "A successful negotiation. An unexpected opportunity. A competitor making precisely the wrong decision at precisely the right moment." Maeve recalled the logistics magnate from the first gathering. Three decisions that should have been disasters. Three improbable successes. She kept her expression neutral. "That's an extraordinary claim." The CEO smiled. "It is." "And you believe Chaugnar Faugn is responsible?" "I don't merely believe it." He looked toward the creature. "I've seen the results." --- Maeve considered the words carefully. "Does the influence require active participation?" The CEO's expression became appreciative. "An excellent question." The custodian answered. "Yes. The relationship must be maintained." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Maintained?" "Through an established arrangement." Maeve looked toward the platform. "An arrangement with Chaugnar Faugn?" "With the being and the custodianship that preserves its confinement." The answer was precise. And incomplete. Maeve nodded. "What does the arrangement require?" For the first time, the CEO paused before answering. Not because he appeared uncertain. Because he seemed to be deciding how much they were ready to hear. "An obligation," he said eventually. Amber kept her expression pleasant. "What sort?" The CEO looked toward the creature. "A periodic one." Maeve's attention sharpened. "Periodic?" "Yes." "How often?" "It varies somewhat. Usually several months." A small silence followed. Only several months. Not every gathering. Not every week. A much slower rhythm. Exactly what Rogue's investigation had begun to suggest. Amber looked toward the platform. "And the nature of the obligation?" The CEO smiled faintly. "That is a conversation for another stage of your introduction." Maeve regarded him. "You've already shown us something extraordinary." "Indeed." "And you're asking us to accept that its influence can affect real-world outcomes." "Yes." "Then understanding the cost seems important." The custodian watched her with unmistakable interest. The CEO nodded. "An entirely fair observation." He looked toward the chamber. "And one I expect you'll return to." --- The creature moved. Only slightly. But enough. Its enormous head shifted. The trunk-like appendage rose a fraction from the platform. Then settled again. Amber felt the medallion warm. This time, more noticeably. For a brief instant, something seemed to press against the edge of her awareness. Not words. Not an image. Something more primitive. An invitation to look closer. To believe that the creature understood her. That it might offer her something. Amber recognized the intrusion immediately. She refused to follow it. The sensation faded. Beside her, Maeve's expression remained composed. But her hand found Amber's. They stood together. The CEO noticed the gesture. He smiled. "Understandable." Amber looked toward him. "What is?" "To find the sight overwhelming." Maeve returned his smile. "It certainly requires some adjustment." "Of course." He gestured toward the door. "Perhaps we should return to the reception room." Amber nodded. "That sounds lovely." --- The walk back felt longer. Not because the corridor had changed. Because everything above it had acquired a different meaning. The runes. The reinforced door. The hospitality. The gathering chamber. The extraordinary success of Barkuk Khazad. They knew what lived beneath the mountain now. They had seen it. Heard its name. Watched its eyes move. And understood the difference between the platform that bound it and the system that protected the people above. What they still didn't know was the most important part. The obligation. The cost. And whether the missing women were connected to it. --- The CEO welcomed them into a smaller reception room. Refreshments were waiting. Amber accepted water. Maeve chose tea. The other executives settled nearby. For several minutes, conversation remained focused on the chamber. The custodian answered questions about the runes. The CEO explained the historical development of Barkuk Khazad's custodianship. The investment executive spoke about the organization's extraordinary success. No one seemed embarrassed. No one appeared troubled. They regarded the arrangement as a remarkable advantage. A carefully maintained foundation upon which they had built something exceptional. Maeve listened. And began to understand why the CEO had invited them. He wasn't trying to frighten them. He wanted them to admire what he'd accomplished. --- Eventually, the CEO looked toward Amber and Maeve. "Well?" Amber smiled faintly. "You certainly weren't exaggerating." He laughed. "No." Maeve regarded him thoughtfully. "I have a great many questions." "I expected as much." "Some technical." "Naturally." "Some commercial." He smiled. "Of course." "And some ethical." A small silence followed. The CEO didn't appear offended. Instead, he looked intrigued. "Ethical?" Maeve nodded. "Whenever extraordinary benefits are produced through a system whose obligations aren't fully understood, I consider the nature of those obligations important." The custodian inclined his head. "A sensible position." The CEO smiled. "Very sensible." Maeve held his gaze. "Then I hope you'll understand why I would want to know more before forming a final opinion." "Absolutely." Amber nodded. "Likewise." The CEO looked pleased. "Excellent." He leaned back. "I wouldn't respect you nearly as much if you accepted everything without question." --- The conversation continued for another half hour. Then the CEO made a second offer. Not immediate access. Not a demand. An invitation to remain involved. He wanted Amber and Maeve to continue attending gatherings. To maintain their professional relationships. And, when they felt ready, to learn more about the custodianship and its obligations. There was no pressure to decide tonight. Their existing business relationships would remain unaffected. They could take whatever time they needed. Maeve appreciated the structure. And recognized the calculation behind it. The CEO believed that familiarity would eventually lead to acceptance. He was willing to let them arrive at that conclusion themselves. Amber smiled. "We'll certainly think about what you've shown us." The CEO nodded. "That's all I ask." Maeve inclined her head. "Thank you." --- They returned to their suite later that evening. The door closed. Amber set down her bag. Maeve crossed to the window. For several seconds, neither spoke. Then Amber said quietly: "An elephant." Maeve looked toward her. Amber shook her head. "A gigantic, ancient, thoroughly unpleasant elephant." Maeve laughed once. Not because it was funny. Because the description was so absurdly inadequate. "Yes." Amber approached. "And the platform." "Permanent binding." "The upper runes." "Suppression." "The medallions." "Worked." Amber nodded. "They did." Maeve took her hand. For a while, they stood quietly together. Then Amber looked toward the floor. "Several months." Maeve nodded. "Yes." "Not every gathering." "No." "An obligation." "Yes." Amber's expression hardened. "The missing women." Maeve's thoughts were moving in exactly the same direction, but she didn't allow herself to leap past the evidence. "We still don't know." Amber nodded slowly. "I know." "We saw Chaugnar Faugn." "Yes." "We know it's alive and bound." "Yes." "And we know Barkuk Khazad's leadership believes maintaining an arrangement with it produces extraordinary fortune." Amber looked toward her. "But we don't know what they give it." Maeve's expression became very still. "Exactly." --- Amber drew her into an embrace. For a moment, neither spoke. Then Amber murmured: "Rogue is going to have opinions." Maeve laughed softly. "Several." "Yukari too." "Definitely." "And Brenda?" Maeve considered. "Brenda is going to want every available structural detail." Amber smiled. "Naturally." "And Iris will want to understand the commercial arrangement." "Of course." Their laughter faded. Maeve rested her forehead against Amber's. "We have what we came for tonight." Amber nodded. "Yes." "Now we leave normally." "Agreed." "And then we find out what the obligation means." Amber's expression hardened. "Together." Maeve kissed her. "Always." --- Far beneath their suite, Chaugnar Faugn remained upon the ancient platform. Its confinement was intact. Its body lived. Its eyes remained open. The older runes held. The newer suppression system continued protecting the occupied caverns above. Barkuk Khazad's leadership regarded the arrangement as an extraordinary success. For years, the corporation had prospered through a relationship that only a small number of people fully understood. And tonight, its CEO had introduced two more women to the secret. He believed Amber and Maeve O'Sullivan were intelligent enough to recognize its value. Discreet enough to protect it. And open-minded enough to accept the obligations that accompanied its benefits. He considered their visit a success. So did Amber and Maeve. But for entirely different reasons. They had finally seen the creature. Now they needed to discover what Barkuk Khazad had been giving it. --- ## Chapter 20 — The Cost of Fortune Amber O'Sullivan had developed a considerable appreciation for Barkuk Khazad's hospitality. The beds were excellent. The food was extraordinary. The staff were attentive without being intrusive. And the corporation's CEO had a genuine talent for making his guests feel that their company was a pleasure rather than an obligation. Unfortunately, she now knew what lived beneath all that polished stone. That was proving difficult to reconcile with breakfast. She regarded a beautifully prepared plate of pastries. Then looked toward Maeve. "Darling." Maeve glanced up from her tea. "Yes?" "Do you think the pastry chef knows?" Maeve's expression changed. Not dramatically. Just enough to show that she'd understood. "No." "You're certain?" "No. But I think it's unlikely." Amber nodded. "Good." She considered the pastries again. "Because I'd hate to discover that even the croissants are involved." Maeve laughed. A real laugh. The kind that came when the pressure of holding too many serious thoughts finally found an absurd little escape. "Amber." "What?" "Please eat your breakfast." "An excellent suggestion." And she did. --- Their final morning at the retreat was almost aggressively ordinary. A few senior executives passed through the dining room. The hospitality coordinator stopped to ask whether they had enjoyed their visit. The principal custodian appeared briefly, greeted them courteously, and thanked Maeve for her interest in the older architecture. Nobody behaved as though the previous evening had involved the revelation of a living entity older than recorded civilization. Amber found that remarkable. Maeve found it instructive. The inner circle regarded Chaugnar Faugn as an established part of their organization. Its existence wasn't a crisis to them. It was infrastructure. Ancient, dangerous infrastructure. But infrastructure nonetheless. And that distinction explained a great deal about their composure. --- Their CEO came to see them off. He was as pleasant as ever. "I trust you slept well." Amber smiled. "Beautifully." "And you've had time to consider what I showed you?" Maeve inclined her head. "Consider, yes. Understand completely, certainly not." He laughed. "I wouldn't expect you to." "It raises fascinating questions." "Naturally." "Particularly about the relationship between the binding and your organization's commercial success." The CEO regarded her with approval. "Precisely the sort of question I'd expect from you." Amber smiled. "She's very good at questions." "So I've noticed." Maeve continued. "I'd also like to understand more about the obligation you mentioned." For the first time that morning, the CEO's expression grew thoughtful. "Of course." "Especially what maintaining the arrangement entails." "A reasonable concern." He glanced toward the retreat entrance. "That's a more involved conversation than we have time for today." Maeve nodded. "I understand." "But I'd be pleased to arrange it." She smiled. "I'd appreciate that." The CEO looked between them. "You've both responded exactly as I'd hoped." Amber raised an eyebrow. "Have we?" "With curiosity rather than fear." She smiled faintly. "Some things deserve both." The CEO laughed. "An excellent observation." He shook their hands. "Travel safely, ladies." "Thank you," Maeve replied. Amber smiled. "See you again." "I look forward to it." --- They didn't discuss Chaugnar Faugn in the shuttle. Not immediately. The vehicle belonged to Barkuk Khazad. Its driver had served them on several previous visits. And although neither woman had observed any reason to distrust him personally, the distinction between trusting someone and assuming privacy remained important. Instead, they discussed ordinary matters. The Sorens' acquisition project. Camille's preliminary assessment. Sabine's risk-management proposal. Several invitations to dinner in Night City. And a possible introduction to a corporate aviation consortium. All genuine. All worth discussing. All entirely unrelated to the thing beneath the mountain, at least as far as they knew. Only after they'd returned the shuttle and resumed their own transport did Ace finally speak. "Right." Mai glanced toward her. "Yes?" "That thing is enormous." Mai nodded. "Very." "And alive." "Yes." "And the CEO thinks it's wonderful." "He certainly considers it valuable." Ace looked out at the Badlands. "There's something deeply unpleasant about being shown a monster and having your host look as proud as if he'd just bought a particularly rare painting." Mai considered. "To him, perhaps that's exactly what it was." Ace looked toward her wife. "An acquisition?" "An asset." The word hung between them. Then Ace shook her head. "That makes it worse." "Yes." --- They reached the safehouse early that afternoon. Shammy opened the door before they'd finished approaching. Ace barely had time to smile before she found herself wrapped in a warm embrace. "Hello, darling." Shammy held her tightly. "You're home." "Yes." Mai joined them. Shammy kissed her too. Then stepped back to examine both women. "Everything all right?" Ace nodded. "Yes." Mai smiled. "We're fine." Shammy looked at them. Then her expression changed. "You saw it." Neither answered immediately. They didn't need to. Shammy drew them into another embrace. From farther inside the safehouse, Brenda called out: "Did someone finally find the elephant?" Ace closed her eyes. "Oh, good grief." Mai started laughing. Brenda appeared in the doorway. Then stopped. She looked from Ace to Mai. Her grin faded. "Wait." Ace nodded. "Yes." Brenda stared. "You actually did?" Mai's smile became serious. "We did." Brenda looked toward Iris. "Get the display." --- Iris had already prepared the common-room system. Yukari was waiting. Brenda brought coffee. Shammy settled beside Ace and Mai. There was no elaborate introduction. No need to repeat weeks of information everyone already knew. Mai began with a single sentence. "The creature is called Chaugnar Faugn." Yukari went completely still. Iris noticed. "You recognize it?" Yukari didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked at Mai. "Are you certain of the name?" "That's what the custodian called it." "Describe it." Mai did. The immense body. The grotesque elephantine head. The extended feeding appendage. The small, watchful eyes. The ancient platform. And the strange sensation that had reached toward her awareness despite the suppressive network above. When she'd finished, Yukari remained silent for several seconds. Then she said: "I know that name." The room grew quiet. --- Yukari moved toward the display. "Not from anything recent." Mai watched her. "How old?" "Very." She considered. "There are fragments of stories concerning an ancient being of that name. Some accounts disagree about its origins. Others barely agree about its appearance." Brenda leaned forward. "But?" Yukari's expression was grave. "They agree about its appetite." Ace felt Shammy's hand tighten around hers. Iris asked the obvious question. "What appetite?" Yukari looked toward the photographs of the missing women still displayed in one corner of the investigation workspace. "Blood." Silence. Then Brenda said quietly: "Of course." --- Ace looked toward Yukari. "Human blood?" "That's what the accounts describe." "Does it kill?" Yukari regarded her. "The stories are not clinical observations." "Yukari." "Yes. They describe victims whose blood is taken." Shammy looked toward the display. "And the missing women?" Yukari shook her head. "We do not know." Mai nodded. "Exactly." Ace looked at her. "You're going to make that distinction every time, aren't you?" "Until we have proof." "Fair." Mai brought up her reconstructed drawing of the lower platform. "And we now have more than folklore." --- She described the runic arrangement in detail. Not merely the general impression she'd formed upon entering the cavern. The actual structure. The binding ring. The inward-facing inscriptions. The way several distinct rune sequences converged upon the raised platform. And, most importantly, the separation between the ancient confinement system and the newer suppression network installed through the developed upper caverns. Yukari studied the reconstruction carefully. "That is a binding." Mai nodded. "Unmistakably." "And the upper system?" "Still suppression." "Good." Brenda frowned. "Good?" Yukari looked toward her. "Good that they're separate." "Why?" "Because it means we may eventually have options for dealing with the upper complex without disturbing what holds Chaugnar Faugn." Brenda nodded slowly. "That's what I was hoping." Iris looked at the diagram. "Are you certain the platform itself can't be moved?" Mai shook her head. "I wouldn't assume that." Yukari agreed. "Nor should anyone attempt it." Brenda raised both hands. "Nobody's moving the ancient elephant platform." Ace glanced at her. "Thank you." "Yet." "Brenda." "What? I'm being responsible." Iris sighed. "An increasingly alarming phrase." --- Mai enlarged a particular section of the reconstruction. "This is the part I couldn't make sense of in the chamber." Yukari leaned closer. A narrow sequence of inscriptions extended away from the primary binding ring. The arrangement didn't appear to strengthen confinement. Nor did it resemble the upper suppression system. Instead, its orientation led toward a section of the cavern that Mai hadn't been able to examine properly. Yukari studied it. "Interesting." Brenda looked between them. "Good interesting or catastrophic interesting?" "Unknown," Mai replied. Ace groaned. "There's that word again." Yukari smiled faintly. Then pointed. "These marks aren't part of the central binding." "Agreed." "They could be directing something toward the platform." Mai nodded. "That was my thought." Iris folded her arms. "Something physical?" "Possibly," Yukari said. "Energy?" "Possibly." Brenda looked toward Ace. "She really does love that word." Ace nodded solemnly. "Runs in the family." --- Yukari ignored them. "The important point is that the binding and whatever this secondary arrangement does appear to be distinct." Mai nodded. "Yes." "Which means something can be introduced into the platform's operating environment without altering its confinement." Iris considered. "An offering." Nobody answered. Shammy looked at the diagram. Then toward the missing women's photographs. The implication was obvious. But it wasn't yet established. She spoke quietly. "We need to find out what that passage is for." Ace squeezed her hand. "We will." --- Iris brought up the corporate analysis. "Then let's consider the money." Brenda sighed. "At last. Something cheerful." Iris gave her a look. "You're welcome to leave." "And miss this?" "Thought not." The display changed. Barkuk Khazad's financial history appeared beside a sequence of hospitality expenditures. Iris had already examined many of these records. But now she had a different question. Not merely whether the expenditures were suspicious. Whether their timing corresponded to the corporation's most extraordinary successes. She highlighted several periods. An unusually profitable acquisition. A competitor's inexplicable withdrawal from a major tender. A regulatory decision resolved with extraordinary convenience. A financing arrangement approved under conditions that had initially appeared impossible. All favorable outcomes. All benefiting Barkuk Khazad. And several occurring shortly after unusual expenses appeared within its hospitality network. Ace stared. "How close?" Iris shook her head. "Not close enough to establish causation." "Of course." "But close enough to justify further investigation." Mai leaned forward. "The CEO claimed the creature influences probability." "Yes." "And said the relationship requires periodic maintenance." "Correct." Iris enlarged the dates. "Then these transactions may be relevant." Brenda studied the display. "Or the company spends heavily on hospitality whenever it's pursuing a major deal." Iris smiled. "Exactly." Ace looked toward her. "You're agreeing with Brenda?" "Because she's right." Brenda looked delighted. "Somebody record that." --- By late afternoon, Rogue had arrived. She entered the safehouse with the expression of someone who had already been informed that the situation was unpleasant and had no particular desire to discover how much worse it had become. "Let's hear it." Ace looked toward her. "We met an elephant." Rogue stopped. Then stared. "Of course you did." Brenda began laughing. Mai covered her face briefly. Rogue looked around the room. "Please tell me somebody's taking this seriously." Iris gestured toward the display. "Everyone except those two." Ace grinned. "Unfair." Rogue sat down. "Start talking." --- This time, the debrief was concise. The name. The appearance. The binding. The suppression system. The CEO's claim that Chaugnar Faugn could influence fortune. And the unresolved periodic obligation. Rogue listened without interruption. When they finished, she remained quiet for a moment. Then looked toward Yukari. "Chaugnar Faugn." Yukari nodded. "Yes." "Blood." "According to the surviving accounts." Rogue glanced toward the photographs of the missing workers. "Wonderful." Her voice contained no humor. --- Then she opened her own files. "I've got something new." Ace looked up. "What?" "Another booking approach." Shammy's expression changed immediately. "Someone missing?" "No." "Good." Rogue nodded. "Very." She brought up a redacted booking offer. A highly paid private engagement. A Badlands destination that would be disclosed only after acceptance. Transportation arranged by the client. Restricted communications during the booking. And no unconditional departure provision. Mai leaned forward. "Same structure as the earlier refusals?" "Almost identical." "Same agent?" "Different name. Same intermediary network." Iris studied the document. "Can you establish a direct Barkuk Khazad connection?" "Not yet." "Did the worker accept?" "No." Shammy exhaled. Rogue looked toward her. "She refused immediately." "Good." "Yes." Rogue continued. "She also agreed to let me retain a copy of the offer." Ace nodded. "That helps." "More than you think." --- Rogue opened the date. The requested engagement was scheduled for thirteen days later. Mai studied it. Then looked toward the financial timeline. "Thirteen days." "Yes." "How long since the last disappearance?" Rogue brought up the records. "Roughly two and a half months, depending on which case is actually connected." Yukari considered. "Within the interval the CEO described." "Yes." Iris folded her arms. "But we still don't know whether the booking is an offering." "No," Rogue replied. "Or whether the missing women were taken to the retreat itself." "Correct." Ace looked toward the calendar. "Then what do we know?" Rogue's expression hardened. "That somebody is trying to arrange another private engagement under conditions which would make it unusually difficult for the worker to leave." Shammy nodded. "That's enough to warn people." "Already happening," Rogue replied. She looked toward the photographs. "And enough to keep looking." --- The conversation continued. Rogue had made contact with several people familiar with the private booking network. Some remembered suspicious clauses. Others had encountered ordinary, well-paid engagements. The distinction remained important. Not every booking was dangerous. Not every client was corrupt. And not every person associated with Barkuk Khazad had any connection to the organization's hidden activities. Ace looked toward Iris. "How many legitimate prospects from the gatherings now?" Iris raised an eyebrow. "Still growing." "Any reason to suspect the Sorens?" "No." "Camille?" "None." "Sabine?" "No." "Leonie?" "None." Mai nodded. "Then we keep those relationships separate." Rogue regarded her. "From the investigation?" "From the accusations." A small silence followed. Then Rogue nodded. "Fair." Mai's professional contacts weren't evidence of wrongdoing. Neither were Ace's friendships. The investigation concerned Barkuk Khazad's leadership, the concealed arrangement beneath the retreat, and the missing people who might have been drawn into it. Not the adults who had attended ordinary gatherings and enjoyed themselves. --- Brenda returned to the structural diagram. "One thing still bothers me." Iris glanced toward her. "Only one?" "One particularly." Ace laughed. "Go on." Brenda indicated the runic platform. "If the creature is permanently confined, and the upper system prevents its influence reaching the guests, how does Barkuk Khazad benefit from it?" The room went quiet. Mai turned toward her. "That's an excellent question." Brenda smiled. "I have those." Yukari moved closer. "The suppression may not be absolute." Mai considered. "Or the influence may be directed selectively." "Exactly." Iris frowned. "Meaning some portion of what Chaugnar Faugn does could be allowed to reach chosen beneficiaries." "Possibly." Rogue sighed. "I'm beginning to hate that word." Ace grinned. "Welcome to the club." Brenda wasn't smiling. "Then the upper network isn't just protection." Mai studied the diagram. "It may also be part of the controlled arrangement." "And if that's true," Brenda continued, "we need to understand which portions suppress the creature and which portions allow its influence to be used." Yukari nodded. "Before touching anything." "Exactly." --- Iris turned toward her wife. "You're thinking about engineering options." "Yes." "For later." "Definitely." Brenda enlarged the cavern cross-section. "The platform stays intact. That's nonnegotiable." Yukari nodded approvingly. "Good." "The upper system is distributed through the stone. We know that much." "Yes." "And we know the chamber above is supported by considerable natural rock." Mai looked interested. "Go on." Brenda studied the geometry. "Not yet." Ace raised an eyebrow. "What?" "I have an idea." "That expression worries me." "It should." Iris looked at her. "Brenda." Her wife smiled. "Before you ask, I'm not suggesting we blow anything up." Ace looked relieved. "Good." "Yet." Ace closed her eyes. "Goddammit." Brenda laughed. Then turned serious. "We need the full structural relationship between the upper rune-bearing surfaces and the lower binding chamber before deciding anything. Until then, this is just a question of whether the geometry gives us options." Mai nodded. "Agreed." Yukari looked toward her. "And if we ever act, we preserve the ancient binding." "Absolutely." The four women exchanged a look of understanding. No plan had been made. But a possible line of thinking had begun. --- The meeting ended without any dramatic decision. That frustrated Ace more than she wanted to admit. They knew the creature's name. They knew it lived beneath the retreat. They knew its influence was believed to produce extraordinary fortune. And they had a plausible connection between the organization's periodic obligations and suspicious private bookings. But they still lacked proof that the missing women had been taken there. And they didn't know exactly what happened during the obligation. Until they did, attempting a rescue would be more guesswork than preparation. Rogue gathered her files. "I'll keep following the booking agent." Iris nodded. "And I'll continue the financial analysis." Brenda looked toward the structural diagrams. "I have some engineering work to do." Yukari glanced at Mai. "And I want to examine the runic reconstruction again." Shammy looked toward Ace. "What about us?" Ace considered. "Stay ready." Shammy nodded. It wasn't the answer she wanted. But it was the answer they had. For now. --- That evening, the safehouse returned to something resembling normality. Iris was making dinner. Brenda was helping, although Iris had already informed her that experimental modifications to the kitchen equipment were prohibited. Yukari was reading in the common room. And the Triad were together on the couch. Ace sat between Mai and Shammy. Shammy had one arm around her. Mai held Ace's hand. For a while, none of them spoke. Then Shammy asked: "What was it like?" Ace turned toward her. "What?" "Seeing Chaugnar Faugn." Ace considered. "Difficult to describe." "Try." Mai looked toward them. Ace sighed softly. "It looked wrong." Shammy listened. "Not just ugly. Not just enormous." Ace searched for the words. "It felt as though something had borrowed the idea of an animal without understanding why animals look the way they do." Shammy's expression became thoughtful. "And its eyes?" Ace looked toward Mai. Her wife nodded. "Watching," Mai said quietly. "Very," Ace agreed. Shammy rested her head against Ace's shoulder. "Did it frighten you?" Ace considered. "Yes." Shammy looked up. Ace smiled faintly. "Does that surprise you?" "A little." "Darling, I've never believed that being brave means being incapable of fear." Mai squeezed her hand. "And she wasn't the only one." Shammy looked toward her. "You too?" Mai nodded. "Yes." For a while, they remained together. Then Shammy kissed Ace. And Mai. "I'm glad you're both home." Ace held her close. "So are we." --- Later, Iris joined them with coffee. She sat in the armchair opposite. For a while, they discussed the legitimate business developing from the gatherings. Camille's project was progressing well. The Sorens had approved the next stage of their preliminary assessment. Sabine had requested another meeting. And the aviation company was preparing a substantial proposal. Ace smiled. "At least some things are going wonderfully." Iris nodded. "Quite wonderfully." Mai regarded her. "You've changed your opinion about the gatherings." Iris smiled faintly. "I've refined it." Ace laughed. "Very corporate." "Thank you." Iris took a sip of coffee. "The social structure itself isn't the problem." "Exactly," Mai said. "People meeting, enjoying one another's company, and developing business relationships can be perfectly legitimate." "Yes." Iris looked toward the investigation display. "The problem is what the organizers may be doing to sustain their extraordinary advantage." Ace nodded. "That's what we need to prove." Iris smiled. "And when this is over, whatever the outcome, I intend to keep the clients." Ace grinned. "Of course you do." "Good clients are good clients." Mai laughed. "An admirable philosophy." From the kitchen, Brenda called out: "Does this mean we're hosting one of those evenings ourselves?" Iris closed her eyes. Ace's grin became positively dangerous. Mai looked at her wife. Then laughed. "Not tonight, Brenda." "Just asking!" Iris sighed. "Of course you were." --- The following morning, Rogue sent another message. Not a conclusion. Not a breakthrough. A single piece of corroborating evidence. A transport vehicle associated with one of the missing workers had passed through a privately operated checkpoint in the Badlands. That much they already suspected. What Rogue had now recovered was a record linking the checkpoint's access authorization to a Barkuk Khazad facilities subsidiary. Not merely the same geographical area. Not merely a contractor that happened to operate nearby. An authorization issued under the corporation's own facilities network. Iris examined the record. Then looked toward Mai. "That's stronger." "Much." Ace leaned forward. "Does it prove she entered the retreat?" Iris shook her head. "No. The subsidiary controls more than one facility." "Of course." "But it does establish a direct administrative relationship between the worker's transport and Barkuk Khazad." Mai nodded slowly. "Another piece." "Yes." Shammy studied the record. "Which woman?" Rogue had included the relevant case number. The worker whose friend had first approached her about the disappearances. The woman who had left behind a cat she had every intention of coming home to. Shammy stared at the photograph. Then looked toward Ace. "Her." Ace nodded. "Yes." The room went quiet. --- Rogue called a few minutes later. "I've got one more thing." Iris looked up. "What?" "The CEO's office has scheduled another private inner-circle event." Mai's attention sharpened. "When?" "Not published yet. But one of the facilities contractors has received a preliminary service notification." Ace glanced toward the calendar. "How far out?" "Within the same week as the unusual booking offer." Silence. Rogue continued. "Still circumstantial." Mai nodded. "Yes." "But a hell of a lot of circumstantial evidence is starting to point in the same direction." Ace looked toward the date. A small private event. A periodic obligation. A suspicious booking. And the same facilities network that had handled at least one missing woman's final documented journey. She exhaled slowly. "Now we need to know what happens during that event." Mai's expression became serious. "Yes." --- The invitation arrived that afternoon. Ace and Mai received a personal message addressed to their O'Sullivan identities from the CEO's office. It was carefully worded. Warm. Professional. And entirely consistent with the relationship they'd spent weeks developing. **Amber. Maeve.** **I hope you've had an opportunity to reflect upon your visit to the older chambers.** **As promised, I'd be pleased to discuss the obligations of the custodianship in greater detail.** **We're arranging a small private gathering for selected associates later this month, and I believe the occasion would be appropriate.** **There is no expectation that you make any commitment. Your questions will be welcome.** **I hope you'll join us.** Mai read the message. Then looked at Ace. Neither smiled. Not immediately. The date matched the private event Rogue had identified. And fell within the period associated with the suspicious booking offer. Ace looked toward the missing woman's photograph on the adjacent display. Then back at her wife. "Another invitation." Mai nodded. "Yes." "Different from the others." "Very." Ace considered. "He still thinks we're going to admire what he's built." Mai looked at the message. "Yes." "And he wants to tell us what it costs." Mai's expression became very still. "I believe he does." For a moment, neither spoke. Then Ace took her hand. "Let's find out." Mai squeezed her fingers. "Together." --- The invitation remained open on the display. There was no need to accept immediately. They would speak with Rogue. With Iris. With Yukari and Brenda. They would examine what they knew, what they still needed, and what risks the next visit might present. The missing women had not been located. The lower holding areas remained unknown. And Chaugnar Faugn's periodic obligation was still only a phrase spoken by a charming man who believed his corporation had found the secret of good fortune. But Ace and Mai now understood something they hadn't understood before entering the lower chamber. Barkuk Khazad's success wasn't merely being celebrated at its gatherings. It was being maintained. Through a system its leadership regarded as deliberate, necessary, and worth preserving. And whatever that maintenance required, the CEO was preparing to explain it to them. For the first time, the two women had a real opportunity to discover the price of fortune. --- ## Chapter 21 — The Terms of the Arrangement The first thing Rogue said when she saw the invitation was: "That's a remarkably polite way to invite someone to meet a blood-drinking monster." Ace looked up from the common-room table. "To be fair, we've already met the monster." "Right. This time you're meeting its accountant." Brenda burst out laughing. Iris closed her eyes. "Must you?" Rogue regarded her. "What?" "Encourage her." Ace grinned. "Too late." Mai sat beside the main display, examining the invitation for the third time. The CEO's message was warm, personal, and perfectly consistent with the relationship Amber and Maeve had developed over the previous gatherings. Nothing about it suggested that the meeting would involve the disappearances of several women. But the date was troubling. The private event was scheduled for Thursday. Rogue's most recent suspicious hospitality booking had requested a worker for Friday evening. Different intermediaries. Different paperwork. But the same week. And, according to Iris's latest research, a Barkuk Khazad facilities contractor had requested additional transport capacity for the same period. Mai looked toward Rogue. "Have you established where the booking's replacement worker is coming from?" "Not yet." "Do we know whether anyone accepted?" "The original worker refused. I haven't confirmed a replacement." Shammy looked toward the display. "Then somebody might still be in danger." Rogue nodded. "Yes." Ace's expression hardened. "And we still don't know which facility." "Correct." Iris brought up the property records. "The retreat isn't the only site managed through that subsidiary." Brenda pointed toward a cluster of buildings on the terrain map. "There's a service compound farther down the ridge." "And several other locations," Iris added. Mai studied the map. "So we cannot assume that every suspicious transport ends beneath the main cavern." "No," Rogue replied. She leaned back. "But your CEO is offering to explain how the creature gets fed." Ace glanced at her. "He didn't quite use those words." Rogue smiled without humor. "Neither did I when I was seventeen and told my mother I was going out for a quiet evening." Brenda laughed. Iris sighed. "Wonderful analogy." --- Yukari was less interested in the invitation than in the medallions. She examined both carefully. Ace's first. Then Mai's. Neither showed visible damage. But the runic arrangements had changed slightly. Not enough to alter their appearance. Enough for Yukari to notice. "Interesting." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Good interesting?" "Useful interesting." "An improvement." Mai leaned closer. "The response to Faugn's influence?" Yukari nodded. "The protection engaged." "We felt it." "Did either of you experience a desire to approach the platform?" Ace considered. "For a moment." Mai nodded. "Something was inviting our attention." "Words?" "No." "Images?" "Not exactly." Yukari regarded them. "Good." Ace frowned. "Good?" "You recognized the influence as something separate from your own wishes." Mai nodded. "Yes." "Then the medallions performed their intended function." Brenda looked toward the display. "Can you strengthen them?" Yukari considered. "Perhaps. But stronger isn't automatically better." "Why?" "Because protection that constantly interferes with someone's perceptions can become another problem." Mai smiled faintly. "An elegant distinction." Yukari inclined her head. "Thank you." Ace looked at her pendant. "So we keep these." "Yes." "And don't assume they're invulnerability charms." "Correct." "Still no lightning." "Still no lightning." Brenda grinned. "Terrible customer service." --- Iris interrupted before the discussion could deteriorate further. "One question." Everyone turned. "What happens if the CEO asks you to become part of the arrangement?" Mai considered. "We don't accept anything." "Obviously." "But?" "We ask questions. We examine the terms. We defer any decision until we understand what he's proposing." Ace nodded. "We're capable businesspeople. No reasonable CEO should expect us to commit to an unknown arrangement on the spot." Rogue looked at her. "This one might." "Then he'll be disappointed." Iris nodded. "And if he wants a confidentiality agreement?" Maeve's corporate documents were already on the screen. Mai studied them. "We can accept ordinary confidentiality regarding the facility's design and commercial information. Not an obligation to conceal crimes." Iris smiled. "Exactly." Brenda leaned back. "And if the offer involves becoming personally acquainted with the elephant?" Ace gave her a long look. "Brenda." "What?" "No." "Just checking." Shammy laughed despite herself. --- The plan remained simple. Amber and Maeve would attend. They would keep their corporate identities intact. They would ask questions that were consistent with their professional interests and with what the CEO already knew about them. They would not touch the binding. They would not attempt to access restricted areas on their own. And they would not make promises about joining the custodianship. Rogue would continue monitoring the suspicious booking network. Iris would preserve the legitimate business relationships without allowing the investigation to spill into ordinary client communications. Brenda would keep examining the site's structural records. Yukari would remain ready to interpret anything new about the runes. And Shammy would wait. For now. Nobody liked that last part. Least of all Shammy. But she understood. They still had no confirmed location for the missing women. And bringing an extraction team into an unknown underground complex containing a permanently bound ancient entity would be reckless. Rogue looked around the table. "One more thing." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "If he tells you something ugly, you don't have to challenge him in the room." Mai nodded. "I know." Rogue's expression remained serious. "I'm not asking you to agree with him." "I understand." "I'm asking you to come home with the information." Ace looked toward Shammy. Then back at Rogue. "We will." --- Thursday evening arrived beneath a pale Badlands sky. Amber and Maeve traveled in the familiar shuttle. The driver recognized them. The receptionist greeted them warmly. And the hospitality coordinator escorted them directly to the executive wing. There was no ordinary gathering tonight. No crowded dance floor. No familiar laughter from the bar. The retreat was quieter. Almost solemn. Amber noticed the difference immediately. Maeve noticed something else. The upper runic system appeared unchanged, but several doors along the service corridor stood open. Attendants moved between them carrying equipment cases and sealed supply containers. Nothing obviously suspicious. A facility this large required constant maintenance. But the activity was concentrated near the route leading toward the older chambers. Maeve filed the observation away. Their escort brought them to a private reception room. "Please make yourselves comfortable. Our CEO will join you shortly." Amber smiled. "Thank you." The coordinator departed. --- The room contained six chairs arranged around a low table. Coffee, tea, and refreshments had been provided. A window overlooked a narrow section of natural cavern. Amber examined the furnishings. "Rather serious." Maeve smiled. "More than usual." "Think he's finally showing us the annual accounts?" "Possibly." Amber laughed softly. Then her expression sobered. "Darling." Maeve turned. "Yes?" "Whatever he says..." Maeve took her hand. "I know." "No decisions here." "Agreed." "And we keep our expressions under control." Maeve smiled faintly. "That may be easier for me than for you." Amber looked offended. "Terrible." "It's true." "Unfortunately." They kissed briefly. Then separated as footsteps approached the door. --- The CEO entered with the principal custodian and two senior executives. Amber recognized the investment director from their previous visit. The other was a man responsible for several of Barkuk Khazad's operational holdings. Introductions were unnecessary. Everyone had met. The CEO greeted the O'Sullivans warmly. "Amber. Maeve." "Lovely to see you," Amber replied. Maeve smiled. "Thank you for having us." "My pleasure." They settled into their seats. For the first twenty minutes, the conversation concerned ordinary business. The Sorens' acquisition project. Sabine Laurent's risk advisory services. O'Sullivan SAS's growing network. The CEO listened with genuine interest. He was clearly pleased that the gatherings were producing valuable relationships. Then he set down his coffee. "Now." The room grew quieter. "I promised to explain the obligations associated with our custodianship." Maeve nodded. "Yes." "And I believe you've had sufficient time to consider what you saw beneath the mountain." Amber smiled faintly. "Something difficult to forget." The CEO laughed. "Indeed." He turned toward the custodian. "Perhaps we should begin with the historical arrangement." --- The custodian activated the room's display. A diagram appeared. The ancient platform. The primary binding. The upper suppression network. And a third arrangement Maeve hadn't previously seen in full. It extended from a smaller chamber into the area surrounding Chaugnar Faugn's platform. Maeve recognized part of it immediately. The secondary runic sequence she'd noticed during their first inspection. Now she could see where it led. Not into the binding itself. Toward it. She leaned forward. "That structure is separate from the confinement." The custodian smiled. "Precisely." "And from the suppression network above." "Yes." "Then it serves another purpose." "It does." He enlarged the diagram. "The original custodians discovered that the creature's influence could be directed toward selected beneficiaries." Maeve nodded. "Without releasing it." "Exactly." Amber regarded the illustration. "An extraordinarily convenient arrangement." The CEO smiled. "Quite." The custodian continued. "Maintaining the relationship requires periodic renewal." Maeve looked toward him. "The obligation." "Yes." "At what interval?" "Typically between two and three months." There it was. No longer an uncertain estimate. No longer a pattern inferred from incomplete transport records. An established operating interval. Amber kept her expression pleasantly attentive. "And what determines the timing?" "The condition of the arrangement. There is some flexibility, but postponement eventually reduces its effectiveness." Maeve nodded slowly. "And renewal restores it?" "That is our experience." --- The investment director joined the conversation. "The commercial benefits are significant." She displayed several examples. An acquisition concluded under unusually favorable conditions. A major financing arrangement secured despite an uncertain market. A competitor withdrawing from a strategic project at an exceptionally convenient moment. Maeve recognized the transactions. Iris had already identified them as statistically remarkable. The director spoke about them with complete confidence. Not as someone speculating about luck. As someone reviewing the performance of a valuable corporate capability. Amber regarded the figures. "Extraordinary." The director smiled. "Indeed." Maeve looked toward the CEO. "And the periodic obligation makes these outcomes possible?" "In our experience, yes." "Then I'd like to understand the obligation itself." The CEO nodded. "Of course." He turned to the custodian. "Please." --- The display changed. The ancient platform remained visible. Beside it appeared a smaller chamber connected by the secondary runic arrangement. There was a raised stone enclosure. A drainage structure. And a series of containment inscriptions that Maeve recognized as deliberately isolating the space from the primary binding. Her expression remained composed. But she felt a chill. The custodian indicated the arrangement. "Chaugnar Faugn requires blood." Silence. Not because the answer was unexpected. Because hearing it stated so calmly changed something. Amber looked toward him. "Blood." "Yes." "Human?" "Yes." Maeve did not move. The custodian continued as though describing a specialized industrial process. "The contribution is made through the receiving chamber. The runic structure maintains separation from the binding platform while allowing the necessary transfer." Maeve studied the diagram. "So the creature never needs to leave its confinement." "Correct." "And the receiving chamber is part of the later construction." "Yes." "Built specifically for this purpose." The custodian nodded. "Precisely." Amber looked toward the CEO. "How much blood?" The CEO answered. "Enough to satisfy the renewal requirement." Amber held his gaze. "And what happens to the person providing it?" --- For the first time, the room became genuinely uncomfortable. Not visibly. Not enough that anyone could accuse the O'Sullivans of hostility. But the investment director stopped smiling. The operations executive looked toward the custodian. And the CEO considered his answer with unusual care. "That depends upon the circumstances." Maeve regarded him. "Which circumstances?" "The contribution process is demanding." "Medically?" "Yes." Amber's smile faded slightly. "How demanding?" The CEO looked at her. "Some contributors do not survive." A long silence followed. The words had been delivered without drama. Without cruelty in his voice. Without any of the theatrical excess Amber might have expected from someone involved in an ancient cult. That made them worse. Amber held his gaze. "And the ones who do survive?" "They receive medical care." Maeve's expression remained perfectly composed. "And after recovery?" The custodian answered this time. "That depends upon the agreement. Some arrangements cover a single renewal. Others establish a longer service term." Maeve looked from the custodian to the CEO. "Meaning the same contributor may be used for more than one renewal." The CEO did not flinch from the wording. "Where medically appropriate, yes." Amber heard the word *used* remain in the room long after he had finished speaking. It explained too much. The holding rooms. The medical annex. And why someone who had vanished months earlier might still be alive beneath the mountain. Maeve looked toward the diagram. Then back at him. "And the contributors understand the risks?" The CEO folded his hands. "They accept contractual obligations." Maeve held his gaze. "That isn't quite what I asked." He regarded her thoughtfully. "No." --- The investment director spoke. "The arrangements are handled through specialist intermediaries." Maeve looked toward her. "Private contractors?" "Among others." "And the individuals are compensated?" "Substantially." Amber asked quietly, "Personally?" The director paused. "Sometimes through designated beneficiaries." Maeve understood. So did Amber. They weren't discussing people who routinely walked away afterward. The CEO leaned forward. "I appreciate that this is difficult material." Maeve inclined her head. "Naturally." "And I appreciate your questions." "Thank you." He continued. "The obligation is not undertaken casually. The custodianship has developed procedures to ensure that each renewal is controlled and that unnecessary suffering is avoided." Amber looked toward the diagram. "Controlled." "Yes." "And the people who participate?" The CEO met her eyes. "They enter a binding agreement." "Can they withdraw?" Another pause. Then: "Not once the final commitment has been made." --- Maeve rested her hands calmly in her lap. Inside, everything had sharpened. The extraordinary success. The private booking intermediaries. The restricted communications. The missing women. The absence of an unconditional right to leave. The pieces were no longer merely suggesting a connection. They were beginning to describe the same mechanism. But she needed to understand exactly what the CEO believed he was telling them. "Are the contributors informed that the process may be fatal?" The CEO regarded her. "Not always in the terminology you or I might prefer." Amber looked toward him. "Why not?" He didn't look offended. He seemed to consider the question legitimate. "Because the arrangements are conducted through intermediaries whose commercial documentation is designed for the circumstances." Maeve nodded. "Which may mean they don't fully understand what they've agreed to." The CEO was quiet. Then he said, "That is possible." The answer was carefully measured. And devastating. --- For several seconds, Amber said nothing. She thought about the first missing woman's friend. The cat left behind. The promise to return. And the person who had disappeared after accepting an unusually lucrative private engagement. Then she looked at the CEO. He was the same man who had insisted that guests at his gatherings should remain free to choose whom they wanted to know. The same man who had praised Amber and Maeve for helping Camille decline an unwanted invitation. The same man who had said personal freedom was essential to his social philosophy. And now he was describing contracts that could not be withdrawn. Contracts whose true consequences were concealed behind carefully selected language. Amber felt something cold settle behind her ribs. But she knew better than to let it reach her expression. She asked a question consistent with the professional persona he respected. "And how does the custodianship manage the liability?" The CEO's attention sharpened. "An excellent question." --- He explained. Legal separation. Specialized intermediaries. Confidentiality provisions. Operational controls. A network of subsidiary companies that ensured the corporation's visible activities remained distinct from the custodianship's obligations. Iris would have recognized the structure immediately. Maeve certainly did. The arrangement had not evolved by accident. Someone had spent years designing the system. Not merely to maintain Chaugnar Faugn. To conceal the human cost. Maeve listened. Asked about governance. Asked about accountability. Asked who authorized each renewal. The answers were increasingly revealing. The final authorization came from the custodian and a small executive committee. The CEO retained ultimate responsibility. The operational arrangements were handled through designated facilities personnel. And the contributors were brought to the site through external service providers. Amber looked toward the operations executive. "Transport contractors?" "Yes." Her expression remained politely curious. "Would we recognize any of them?" He mentioned two companies. Maeve knew one immediately. The facilities intermediary Rogue had been tracing. She did not look at Amber. She didn't need to. --- The CEO observed the women carefully. Neither had panicked. Neither had raised her voice. Neither had condemned him. Instead, they were asking difficult, intelligent questions. He interpreted that as maturity. Their composure pleased him. "I don't expect you to form a conclusion today," he said. Maeve smiled faintly. "I appreciate that." "Many people require time to understand the scale of the benefits." Amber looked toward the display. "And the costs." He nodded. "Yes." "Do you ever question whether the arrangement is worth maintaining?" she asked. The CEO regarded her. "Of course." That surprised her. He continued. "Any responsible leader should examine the consequences of an arrangement this significant." Maeve leaned forward. "And what conclusion have you reached?" He answered without hesitation. "That the benefits extend far beyond the people directly involved." The investment director nodded. "Thousands of employees. Entire businesses. Communities that depend upon those businesses." The CEO spread his hands. "A handful of periodic obligations sustains prosperity on an extraordinary scale." Amber understood. He had built an ethical argument around the suffering of people whose voices never reached his executive meetings. And he believed that argument. Completely. --- The custodian closed the financial presentation. "Perhaps it would be useful to show you the receiving chamber." Maeve looked toward him. "Not the central platform?" "No. The adjacent facility." "Is it operational?" "Prepared." Amber raised an eyebrow. "For the next renewal?" The CEO nodded. "Yes." "When?" "Within the next few days." Maeve felt her pulse quicken. Several days. Not months. Not an indefinite future opportunity. The obligation was approaching. The CEO watched them. "Would you like to see the arrangement?" Maeve answered before Amber needed to. "Yes." Amber smiled faintly. "I think we should." --- The route took them through the familiar executive corridor. Past the heavily reinforced doorway. Down the long passage toward the older chambers. This time, the custodian stopped at a junction before the final binding entrance. A smaller corridor branched away. Maeve had seen its runic connection on the diagram. Now she could see its physical construction. The walls were reinforced with modern support structures. The floor was smooth. Several doors contained electronic access panels. And the runic inscriptions became denser toward the far end. Amber studied the corridor. "Quite a facility." The operations executive smiled. "We've invested considerably in keeping it dependable." Maeve nodded. "I can see that." They passed a small monitoring room. Several screens showed equipment status. Pressure readings. Environmental controls. Runic stability indicators. Brenda would have been fascinated. Maeve, beneath her perfectly composed corporate demeanor, was already reconstructing the arrangement in her head. The receiving chamber was separate. The binding was separate. The upper suppression network was separate. Three systems. Three different functions. And, importantly, three different structural relationships to the surrounding stone. --- The custodian stopped beside a broad observation window. Beyond it lay a chamber considerably smaller than the one containing Chaugnar Faugn. The room was clean. Almost clinical. Ancient stone formed part of its construction, but modern equipment occupied several carefully defined areas. The central receiving structure was empty. No blood. No victim. No active procedure. Maeve studied the runes. The purpose was unmistakable now. This was where the periodic obligation was fulfilled. Not on Chaugnar Faugn's platform. Not in the guest areas. Here. The CEO stood beside them. "We maintain strict operational controls." Maeve nodded. "Understandable." "The receiving structure is isolated from the primary binding." "So a failure here would not release the creature." "Correct." The custodian smiled approvingly. "You understand these systems remarkably well." Maeve returned the smile. "I've learned to respect anything designed to contain something dangerous." "An admirable principle." --- Amber glanced toward another doorway farther along the corridor. There were no runes surrounding it. Only an ordinary security panel and a small status light. Two staff members stood nearby. Neither wore the elegant uniforms of the upper retreat's hospitality staff. Their clothing was practical. Functional. The kind used by facilities personnel. Then the door opened. A woman emerged between them. She was wearing simple clothes. No evening dress. No expensive jewelry. No indication that she was a guest. One of the attendants was speaking to her quietly. Amber couldn't hear the words. But she saw the woman's face. And something inside her stopped. She knew that face. She'd seen it in Rogue's files. In the photographs of the missing workers. One of the women who had disappeared after accepting a private engagement. The one whose friend had been worried about the cat she'd left behind. Alive. Here. Walking under escort through Barkuk Khazad's lower service corridor. --- Amber didn't move. Didn't turn toward Maeve. Didn't allow her expression to change. Years of experience held the corporate smile in place. But her attention narrowed. The woman looked exhausted. Her movements were careful. When one attendant gestured toward the corridor, she obeyed. Then she glanced toward the visitors. For an instant, her eyes met Amber's. There was fear in them. Not embarrassment. Not the ordinary discomfort of someone unexpectedly encountering strangers in a service corridor. Fear. Amber held the woman's gaze for the briefest possible moment. Then looked away. The attendants led her through another door. It closed. The corridor became quiet again. --- The CEO noticed Amber's glance. "One of our contracted contributors." Her pulse was steady. Her voice was too. "I see." He smiled. "She'll be properly cared for until the renewal." Maeve turned toward him. "Contributors remain here before the procedure?" "Yes." "For how long?" "That varies." "Are they accommodated separately from the guest areas?" "Naturally." Maeve nodded. "Privacy and security." "Precisely." Amber looked toward the closed door. "May they receive visitors?" The CEO considered. "That depends upon the nature of the arrangement." "Family?" "Generally not during the preparation period." Amber smiled politely. "Understood." She understood far more than he knew. --- They returned to the monitoring area. The custodian explained several additional details. How the receiving chamber's runes connected to the ancient system. How the transfer could occur without disturbing the binding. How the upper suppression network ensured that ordinary guests remained unaffected by the creature's presence. Maeve listened intently. She memorized what she could. Not exact technical dimensions. Not every rune. The relationships. The load-bearing structures. The direction of the runic pathways. And the separation between the lower platform, the receiving chamber, and the upper developed cavern. At one point, the custodian pointed toward a section of the overhead stone. "The suppression network passes through this formation." Maeve looked up. "Into the upper gathering chamber?" "Among other areas." "And the foundation rock?" "Continuous through much of the formation." That mattered. She filed it away. Brenda would want to know. --- Their tour ended shortly afterward. The CEO escorted them back to the reception room. He seemed pleased. "An extraordinary amount to consider." Maeve smiled. "Very." Amber accepted a glass of water. "Your organization has certainly developed a remarkable system." "Thank you." The CEO sat opposite them. "I hope you'll reflect upon what you've seen." Maeve nodded. "Carefully." "And perhaps, in time, you'll consider becoming more closely associated with the custodianship." Amber smiled faintly. "That would be a significant commitment." "Indeed." "Not something we'd make without discussing it properly." "Of course." He seemed to appreciate the answer. The CEO valued careful people. He simply hadn't understood what Amber and Maeve would do with the information he'd given them. --- The remainder of the conversation stayed professional. The CEO didn't pressure them. He spoke about future gatherings. The development of O'Sullivan SAS. Potential introductions to senior executives who could become important clients. And the possibility of arranging a separate commercial partnership. Amber and Maeve responded warmly. They made no promises about Chaugnar Faugn. Accepted no special benefits. And committed to nothing beyond ordinary professional discussions. Before they departed, the CEO rose. "One final question." Maeve turned. "Yes?" "Was the visit useful?" She looked at him. Then answered with complete sincerity. "Extremely." Amber nodded. "More than you know." He smiled. "I'm delighted." --- They returned to their suite. The door closed. Amber crossed the room. Then stopped. For several seconds, she stood perfectly still. Maeve approached. "Amber." Amber's wife had never needed her real name to understand what she was feeling. Maeve touched her hand. Amber looked up. "She's alive." Maeve nodded. "I saw her." "The photograph." "Yes." Amber's voice became quiet. "The woman with the cat." Maeve held her gaze. "I know." For a moment, neither spoke. Then Amber sat on the edge of the bed. She looked down at her hands. The hands that had shaken the CEO's. Accepted his hospitality. Held his glass. And remained still while a frightened woman was escorted through a corridor only a few meters away. Maeve sat beside her. "You did the right thing." Amber looked toward her. "We left her there." "For now." "Maeve..." "If we'd tried to intervene, we wouldn't know how many others were there, where they were being held, or how to get them out." Amber closed her eyes briefly. "I know." Maeve took her hand. "And we now know she's alive." Amber opened her eyes. "Yes." "That changes everything." --- They remained together for a while. Then Maeve crossed to the room's private writing desk. She opened the small notebook she'd brought for ordinary business observations. No names. No accusations. Just brief notes that would mean nothing to anyone who didn't know the context. A floor arrangement. A corridor sequence. Three separate systems. The name of the facilities intermediary. The timing of the renewal. Amber watched. Then stood. "Add the door." Maeve looked up. "Which one?" "The one she came through." Maeve nodded. "Yes." "And the other door they took her through." "Yes." Amber remembered the corridor. The status light. The attendants. The distance from the receiving chamber. She described it carefully. Maeve drew a simple plan. Not a complete map. Enough to preserve what they had seen. When they finished, Amber looked toward the page. "We have a person." Maeve nodded. "A confirmed missing person." "Alive." "Yes." Amber's expression hardened. "And somewhere in this mountain, there may be others." Maeve took her hand. "We find out." --- They didn't contact Rogue from the retreat. Not with a message describing the missing woman. Not while connected to Barkuk Khazad's hospitality infrastructure. Their departure was scheduled for the following morning. They would leave normally. Accept the CEO's courteous farewell. Return through the same route they'd used for every other visit. And only when they were safely beyond the corporation's transport network would they report what they'd seen. Amber understood the reasoning. That didn't make waiting pleasant. Later, lying beside her wife, she stared at the ceiling. Maeve was still awake. "I can't stop seeing her." "I know." "The way she looked at us." Maeve turned toward her. "I know." Amber took a slow breath. "She didn't know who we were." "No." "Didn't know we're looking for her." "No." Amber's eyes closed. "Then we're going to have to make sure she finds out." Maeve held her close. "Yes." --- The next morning, the CEO joined them briefly before departure. He was as charming as ever. He thanked them for their visit. Asked whether their accommodations had been satisfactory. And reminded them that the invitation to deepen their relationship with Barkuk Khazad remained open. Amber smiled. "Thank you." Maeve inclined her head. "We appreciate your confidence." "Entirely deserved." They exchanged courteous farewells. The CEO watched them depart. He believed the evening had gone exceptionally well. His two promising associates had handled difficult information with composure. They had asked intelligent questions. And they had demonstrated no signs of panic or hostility. He expected they would return. He was correct. Just not for the reasons he imagined. --- The shuttle carried them away from the retreat. The familiar driver took the familiar road. Amber discussed the weather. Maeve spoke briefly about an upcoming commercial meeting. Both thanked the driver when he dropped them at their arranged transfer point. Only after they were inside their own vehicle did Ace finally turn toward Mai. "Now." Mai already had the secure channel open. Rogue answered almost immediately. "Report." Ace took a breath. "We saw one of them." Silence. Then Rogue's voice changed. "One of whom?" "Your missing women." Another silence. "Alive?" "Yes." "Where?" "Inside Barkuk Khazad's lower service complex." Rogue swore. Ace continued. "We saw her face. Confirmed against the photograph. She was under escort." Mai joined the conversation. "We also confirmed what the periodic obligation involves." Rogue was silent. Then: "Tell me." Mai looked at Ace. Ace nodded. "Human blood," Mai said. "The creature requires it every two to three months. The contributors are brought in through private contractors, cannot freely withdraw once committed, and some don't survive." Rogue said nothing for several seconds. Then her voice became very quiet. "Those bastards." --- Iris joined the call a moment later. Then Yukari. Brenda. Shammy. They listened as Ace and Mai gave the essential facts. The receiving chamber. The secondary runic system. The permanent binding. The upper suppression network. The lower service corridor. And the living woman they'd recognized. Shammy was silent throughout. Then she spoke. "She's alive." Ace answered. "Yes." "You're certain?" "Completely." Shammy closed her eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was steady. "Then we know where to begin." Rogue nodded. "Yes." Iris looked toward the corporate diagram. "And we now have a direct connection between a missing person's transport and the organization holding her." Mai nodded. "Yes." Brenda leaned toward the display. "And a better understanding of how the lower chambers connect." "Exactly." Yukari remained thoughtful. "The receiving chamber is not part of the binding?" "No." "And the upper runes remain separate?" "Yes." "Good." Rogue looked at her. "Good?" Yukari's expression was serious. "It means we may be able to remove the captives and end the custodianship's access to the creature without risking its release." Brenda nodded. "Provided the geometry allows it." Iris looked toward them. "Then that's what we need to establish." --- Rogue turned back toward Ace. "One question." "Yes?" "Do you know when the renewal is scheduled?" Ace looked toward Mai. Mai answered. "Within the next few days." Rogue's expression hardened. "Then we don't have much time." "No." Shammy looked toward the missing woman's photograph. "And we don't know how many people are down there." Ace nodded. "Not yet." Shammy looked up. "Then that's my job." The room went quiet. Mai considered her. Then smiled faintly. "Yes." Shammy nodded. "Good." Rogue leaned back. For weeks, they'd been trying to establish whether Barkuk Khazad was connected to the disappearances. Now they had a confirmed missing woman inside the lower complex. A known ancient entity that required human blood. A receiving chamber prepared for another renewal. And a corporation whose leadership considered the deaths of contributors an acceptable operating cost. The investigation had changed. Not because of a suspicion. Not because of a statistical pattern. Because Ace and Mai had seen a missing woman with their own eyes. Rogue looked around the call. "Everyone back to the safehouse." Brenda straightened. "All of us?" "All of us." Iris nodded. "Agreed." Rogue's voice was cold. "We have people to bring home." --- In the lower chambers of Barkuk Khazad, the ancient binding remained intact. Chaugnar Faugn rested upon its platform. The receiving structure stood ready. The runes maintained their carefully designed separation between the creature, its custodians, and the occupied caverns above. The next renewal was approaching. The corporation's leadership considered its preparations orderly. Professional. Necessary. And entirely under control. They didn't know that one of their selected contributors had been recognized. They didn't know that the two women invited to admire the custodianship had spent their journey home describing its weaknesses to people who intended to destroy it. And they didn't know that, for the first time, Rogue's investigation had found someone it could still save. The cost of fortune was no longer a mystery. It had a face. And someone was waiting for her to come home. --- ## Chapter 22 — The Living Count Rogue was already at the safehouse when Ace and Mai arrived. That alone told them something about her mood. She didn't particularly enjoy waiting. And she certainly didn't enjoy waiting when one of the people she'd been trying to find for months had finally been seen alive. Ace barely made it through the door before Shammy embraced her. Mai received an equally enthusiastic welcome. Then Rogue spoke. "Common room. Now." Ace looked toward her. "Hello to you too." "Hello. Common room." Brenda grinned. "She's been like this for twenty minutes." Rogue gave her a look. "Thirty." "See?" Iris was already standing beside the main display. Yukari had prepared the runic reconstruction. And on the central screen was a photograph. The missing woman. The one Ace and Mai had recognized in Barkuk Khazad's lower service corridor. She was smiling in the picture. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, and she was holding a large, thoroughly unimpressed black-and-white cat. The contrast with the exhausted woman they'd seen beneath the mountain was almost unbearable. Ace stopped in front of the photograph. For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Rogue said quietly: "Tell me exactly what you saw." --- Mai began with the layout. The receiving chamber. The separate holding corridor. The monitoring room. The connection to the ancient platform. And the physical relationship between the modern service structures and the older stonework. She had memorized as much as possible during the tour. Not the exact dimensions. She hadn't had the opportunity to measure anything. But the sequence of doors, relative positions, and visible connections were clear. Brenda listened without interruption. That was unusual enough to attract Iris's attention. Eventually, Mai finished describing the corridor. Brenda pointed toward the display. "Show me where the woman appeared." Ace stepped forward. "Here." She indicated the first doorway. "And the attendants took her through this one." Brenda placed two markers. "How far apart?" "Maybe ten meters. Twelve at most." "Could you see beyond the second doorway?" "No." "Windows?" "None that I noticed." "Ventilation?" Ace hesitated. "Not sure." Brenda nodded. "Good." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Good?" "Good that you didn't invent an answer." Mai smiled faintly. "She's been doing that all day." Brenda grinned. "Someone has to keep our intelligence reliable." --- Rogue brought up the woman's file. "You're certain?" Ace turned toward her. "Yes." "No possibility of mistaken identity?" Mai answered. "We both recognized her independently." Rogue nodded. "Describe her." They did. The face. The hair. The tired expression. The way she moved. The fact that two attendants had accompanied her through the corridor. Rogue compared their descriptions with the available photographs. Then she closed the file. "All right." Her voice was steady. But her expression had changed. "We have our first confirmed survivor." Shammy looked toward the photograph. "Does her friend know?" "Not yet." "Are you going to tell her?" Rogue considered. "When I can give her something more than a reason to be terrified." Shammy nodded slowly. Ace looked at her. "You're thinking about the cat." Shammy smiled faintly. "Someone's looking after it." "Yes." "And she's been waiting for her friend to come home." Nobody answered immediately. Rogue looked toward the photograph. "Then we'd better make sure she does." --- Iris changed the display. A map of Barkuk Khazad's retreat appeared. Beside it was the incomplete geological assessment she'd recovered from the corporate property records. "Before we discuss extraction," she said, "we need to know what we're actually planning around." Brenda nodded. "Exactly." She enlarged the cross-section. The upper gathering complex occupied an extensive natural cavern. Below it lay older stone formations, reinforced passages, and the deeper chamber containing Chaugnar Faugn. The ancient platform was separate from the modern receiving facility. The upper runic suppression network extended through the developed cavern's walls and supporting formations. But the relationship between those structures remained only partially documented. Brenda pointed toward the missing portion of the geological assessment. "This is our problem." Ace leaned forward. "The blank section?" "Yes." "Because?" "Because I can't tell whether this is a continuous load-bearing formation or two separate structures connected by later reinforcement." Mai considered. "And that determines whether the upper runes can be moved without disturbing the platform." "Precisely." Yukari nodded. "The ancient binding must remain intact." Brenda looked at her. "That's our first engineering requirement." "And the second?" Iris asked. "Nobody dies because I misunderstood a drawing." The room went quiet. Then Iris smiled. "That one I particularly like." --- Brenda continued. "I've been thinking about the upper suppression network." Mai looked interested. "Go on." "Yukari says those runes can continue functioning if their physical arrangement remains appropriate." Yukari nodded. "Potentially. Their relationships matter more than the original decorative placement." "Then here's the idea." Brenda indicated the upper cavern. "What if we could relocate some of the rune-bearing stone into a position that reinforces the lower containment?" Ace blinked. "Relocate?" "Yes." "How much stone?" Brenda smiled. "Enough." Iris closed her eyes. "That answer worries me." "It should." Mai studied the diagram. "You're thinking about bringing part of the upper structure down toward the lower chamber." "Exactly." Yukari leaned closer. "Without touching the platform." "Correct." "And keeping the rune sequences effective." "If we can." Iris folded her arms. "That's a remarkable number of conditions." Brenda nodded. "Which is why I'm not proposing we do it tomorrow." Ace grinned. "Progress." --- Yukari examined the proposed geometry. "If the rune-bearing structures remain intact enough to preserve their relationships, they could increase the suppression around the bound creature." Mai nodded slowly. "Instead of simply destroying the network." "Yes." Brenda looked pleased. "And if the upper cavern becomes inaccessible afterward, so much the better." Iris regarded her. "You're talking about permanently closing the retreat." "Eventually." "With everyone outside." Brenda looked at her. "Obviously." Iris held her gaze. "Everyone." "Everyone." "Guests, staff, security, prisoners, everyone." Brenda's expression became serious. "Yes, Iris." Shammy looked up. "That's where I come in." Brenda turned toward her. "Exactly." --- Rogue leaned forward. "Before anyone starts redesigning the mountain, we have to find the people." Ace nodded. "Agreed." "And we need to know how many there are." Shammy regarded the map. "I can help." Rogue looked at her. "How close do you need to get?" Shammy considered. "That depends on the stone and how many people are close together." "Can you detect them from outside the retreat?" "Not from here." Brenda laughed. "Well, that would have been convenient." Shammy smiled. "I could try from the surrounding ridge." Yukari's expression became thoughtful. "The upper suppression network shouldn't prevent you from sensing ordinary people." "No." "But Chaugnar Faugn might interfere if you get too close." Shammy nodded. "I know." Ace looked toward her. "How close?" "Close enough to learn something useful. Not close enough to let it notice me, if I can avoid it." Mai considered. "Then Yukari should accompany you." Yukari nodded. "I was about to suggest that." Rogue looked toward the map. "And I can get you near the outer property boundary without attracting attention." --- Iris wasn't satisfied. "That's reconnaissance, not an extraction." "Correct," Rogue replied. "And what happens if Shammy finds people?" "We document what she can sense and leave." Shammy looked toward her. "Even if they're close?" Rogue met her eyes. "Especially then." Shammy remained quiet. Rogue continued. "If we try to rescue one person without knowing how many others are held nearby, their guards will know somebody has found the facility." Shammy looked toward the photograph. "And the others could be moved." "Or killed," Rogue said. Nobody liked hearing it. But nobody disputed it. Ace reached for Shammy's hand. "We do this properly." Shammy nodded. "I know." --- The first reconnaissance took place that evening. Rogue drove. Yukari sat beside her. Shammy occupied the rear seat with Ace and Mai. The vehicle followed a public Badlands route that passed several kilometers from the retreat before approaching a rocky stretch of terrain bordering the larger property. Rogue had already examined the available maps. She selected a stopping point outside the company's marked perimeter. No security checkpoint. No restricted road. No reason for anyone to question a vehicle stopping in the Badlands. When the engine fell silent, the mountain stood dark against the evening sky. Only the distant retreat lights indicated the luxury complex hidden inside it. Rogue looked back. "This is as close as I want the vehicle." Shammy nodded. "That's enough to start." --- They climbed a short distance over uneven ground. The air was cool. The sky was clear. Far away, the illuminated entrance to Barkuk Khazad looked almost inviting. Ace regarded it. "Hard to believe what's down there." Mai nodded. "Yes." Yukari stopped near a natural rock formation. "This should be far enough from the main complex to avoid unnecessary attention." Shammy moved beside her. Then closed her eyes. For a while, nothing happened. At least nothing visible. Shammy's elemental senses reached into the surrounding environment. She could perceive subtle variations in pressure and living activity that ordinary humans would never notice. The landscape wasn't empty. There were small animals. Movements through the rock. Faint traces of machinery farther away. And, beneath the distant retreat, something different. A concentration of life. Shammy opened her eyes. "People." Rogue looked at her. "How many?" "Too far away to count reliably." "Where?" Shammy indicated the mountain. "Inside." Ace glanced toward Mai. Mai nodded. That much was expected. The retreat contained staff. Security. Facilities personnel. And possibly the missing workers. They needed more precision. --- Shammy shifted her attention. The upper cavern was easier to distinguish. Many living presences. Distributed across the complex. Some moving. Some stationary. Perfectly consistent with a functioning hospitality facility. Then she concentrated lower. The stone made everything harder. The distance mattered. And beneath the ordinary patterns of life, something else seemed to distort the surrounding sensations. Shammy frowned. Yukari noticed immediately. "What's wrong?" "Something strange." "The creature?" "Possibly." Yukari moved closer. "Describe it." Shammy considered. "It's like trying to hear someone speaking while a very large machine is running beside them." Ace looked toward her. "Can you shut it out?" "I'm trying." Yukari placed a hand lightly against Shammy's shoulder. A faint golden radiance passed through her fingers. Not a transformation. A carefully directed protective working. The sensation of pressure around Shammy softened. She exhaled. "Better." Yukari smiled. "Good." --- Shammy concentrated again. This time, she could distinguish a small cluster of people beneath the upper complex. Not in the main gathering cavern. Lower. Near the section Ace and Mai had described. The patterns were faint. Partially obscured by stone. But unmistakably human. She counted carefully. One. Two. Three. Then a fourth presence moved close enough to overlap another. She waited. The signals separated. Four. A fifth farther away. Then another. Shammy opened her eyes. "At least six." Rogue went still. "Six people?" "At least six in one lower area." Ace looked toward the mountain. "Prisoners?" Shammy shook her head. "I can't tell." "Could they be guards?" "Yes." "Staff?" "Yes." "All of them?" "I don't know." Rogue nodded. "Then we record exactly that." Shammy looked frustrated. "I wish I could be more certain." Mai touched her arm. "You're telling us what you can actually distinguish. That's what we need." Shammy nodded. Then closed her eyes again. --- The second cluster was farther along the lower formation. Smaller. More difficult to distinguish. Several presences seemed to move through a corridor. Two remained relatively close together. Another was separated from them. Shammy tried to follow the movement. For a moment, she could distinguish the shapes of five separate human presences. Then the signal became confused by the surrounding machinery. She opened her eyes. "There's another group." Rogue looked toward her. "Where?" Shammy indicated a slightly different part of the mountain. "Farther along the lower corridor." "How many?" "I could distinguish five for a moment. But I can't be certain there aren't more." Mai nodded. "That's useful." Ace looked toward her. "Even without knowing who they are?" "Yes." Mai turned toward Rogue. "The lower area is occupied beyond the receiving chamber itself." Rogue nodded slowly. "And it isn't simply one woman and two attendants." "Exactly." --- Shammy tried once more. This time, she focused on the relationship between the two clusters. The first was relatively stationary. The second included movement. A faint transition connected them. She sensed two people walking together. Then a third nearby. They moved toward the first cluster. Stopped. And eventually separated. Shammy opened her eyes. "There's a connection." Brenda would have wanted a drawing. Shammy knew that. She crouched beside a flat piece of stone and traced a simple arrangement with her finger. "Here." She marked the first cluster. "And here." The second. "Something connects them. People move between the two areas." Mai studied the sketch. "A corridor?" "Probably." "Are you certain?" "Of the movement, yes. Of the exact corridor, no." Rogue nodded. "Good distinction." Shammy looked toward Ace. "Can you remember where the woman was escorted?" Ace knelt beside the sketch. "She came through a door near the receiving chamber." She indicated a position. "Then they took her farther along the service corridor." Mai joined them. "And that direction matches the second cluster." Shammy studied the drawing. "Then I think we're looking at the same place." --- Yukari suddenly turned toward the mountain. Her expression sharpened. Shammy felt it too. A change. Not among the ordinary human presences. Something deeper. A vast, unfamiliar pressure seemed to shift beneath the ancient stone. It wasn't moving physically. Not in any way Shammy could identify. But the sense of attention changed. The way it had when Amber and Maeve stood before the platform. Only this time, the pressure seemed to reach toward Shammy. She stiffened. Yukari's hand settled firmly on her shoulder. "Enough." Shammy opened her eyes. The sensation vanished. Not entirely. But enough. Ace moved immediately beside her. "Are you all right?" Shammy nodded. "Yes." Mai looked toward Yukari. "Faugn?" Yukari regarded the mountain. "I can't be certain." Rogue folded her arms. "Then we're leaving." Nobody argued. --- They returned to the vehicle. Only once they were moving away did Shammy speak. "It noticed something." Ace turned toward her. "You're sure?" Shammy considered. "No." Yukari nodded. "Neither am I." "But?" "It felt as though something was becoming aware of where I was looking." Rogue glanced toward the rearview mirror. "Does that mean it knows somebody was there?" Yukari shook her head. "Not necessarily." "Could it?" "Possibly." Rogue sighed. "I really hate that word." Ace grinned faintly. "You're getting excellent practice." But Shammy wasn't laughing. She looked toward the dark mountain behind them. "I don't think it knew who I was." Yukari considered. "Neither do I." "And I don't think the people inside knew we were there." Rogue nodded. "Good." Shammy looked toward Ace. "But there are people down there." Ace took her hand. "Yes." "More than one." "Yes." Shammy's expression became serious. "And they're alive." Mai looked toward her. "That's what matters." --- Brenda was waiting when they returned to the safehouse. She had a large display ready. Iris stood beside her. Rogue barely made it through the door before Brenda asked: "Well?" Ace laughed. "Hello, Brenda." "Hello, Ace. Well?" Shammy approached the display. "I found two clusters." Brenda's expression sharpened. "Show me." Shammy reproduced the sketch. The two groups. Their relative positions. The apparent movement between them. And the approximate direction toward the receiving chamber. Brenda compared the information with Mai's reconstruction. Then enlarged the incomplete geological assessment. "Hmm." Iris looked toward her. "That is not a reassuring sound." Brenda didn't answer. She was studying the diagram. Then she looked toward Shammy. "This second group." "Yes?" "Could it be farther along the same lower formation?" "Possibly." "Not beneath the main gathering chamber?" Shammy considered. "I think so." Brenda nodded. "Good." Iris folded her arms. "Why?" Brenda pointed toward the display. "Because if the holding facilities occupy a separate lower extension, we may be able to approach them without entering the central binding chamber." Mai looked interested. "And without disturbing the platform." "Exactly." Yukari nodded. "That would be preferable." --- Iris looked toward Rogue. "Can your transport records tell us how people reach that extension?" Rogue considered. "The facilities subsidiary operates a service compound farther down the ridge." Brenda enlarged the property map. "This one?" "Yes." Iris leaned forward. "It's connected to the main retreat?" "Administratively," Rogue replied. "We haven't confirmed a physical connection." Mai studied the lower formation. "Could there be a service tunnel?" Brenda nodded. "Certainly." "Do we know?" "No." Rogue looked toward her. "Can you establish it?" Brenda considered. "Not from the records I have." Iris nodded. "Then we need better records." Brenda smiled. "Or better observations." Ace looked toward her. "Not another nighttime expedition." "Not necessarily." Brenda indicated the property boundary. "If the holding areas connect to the service compound, there may be ordinary facilities routes we can identify without approaching the ancient chamber." Rogue nodded. "That's something I can investigate." --- The conversation moved toward timing. Rogue displayed the next scheduled contractor movements. Several were ordinary deliveries. One involved a facilities vehicle scheduled to arrive the following morning. Another concerned personnel transportation. Then a third entry caught Iris's attention. "What's that?" Rogue leaned forward. "Which?" "This service authorization." It was associated with the lower facilities network. The date was two days away. And its description was unusually vague. **Restricted operational support.** Brenda frowned. "That's not much of a description." Rogue nodded. "No." "Does it specify which facility?" "Only the subsidiary." Iris studied the authorization. "Could be routine maintenance." "Yes." "Or preparation for the renewal." "Yes." Mai looked toward the date. "Then we have a probable operational window." Ace nodded. "And a very limited amount of time." --- Shammy looked toward Rogue. "Do we know whether the missing woman is still there?" Rogue shook her head. "Not since Amber and Maeve saw her." "Could they move her?" "Yes." "Before the renewal?" "Possibly." Shammy looked down. Ace moved beside her. "Darling." Shammy looked up. "We're getting closer." "I know." "But we need to know how to reach them." Shammy nodded. "I know." Ace kissed her forehead. "And once we're close enough, you can give us the count we need." Shammy's expression softened. "Every person." "Every person." --- Later that night, the planning continued. Not as one enormous discussion. In smaller groups. Iris and Rogue examined the financial and facilities records. Brenda reconstructed the likely relationship between the upper rune-bearing cavern and the lower complex. Mai and Yukari worked through the binding and suppression diagrams. Ace reviewed the names and descriptions of the missing workers, making sure the team could recognize them if the opportunity arose. Shammy sat beside her. Occasionally, she glanced toward the photographs. Then returned to the notes from her reconnaissance. There was no dramatic breakthrough. No sudden map revealing every passage. No convenient answer to the question of how many captives remained alive. But the unknowns were becoming smaller. And the time available was becoming shorter. --- Shortly before midnight, Brenda finally looked up from the structural display. "I have something." Iris turned. "Something useful?" "Potentially." Ace laughed from the couch. "That word again." Brenda ignored her. "Look." She displayed three cross-sections. The upper cavern. The ancient binding chamber. And the possible lower service extension. Then she highlighted a continuous band of stone descending from the developed upper area toward the older cavern. "This formation appears in the original geological records." Mai approached. "Yes?" "The upper rune network is built into it." Yukari nodded. "Correct." "And the original binding platform is supported by a different formation." Mai studied the diagram. "Are you sure?" "No." Brenda pointed toward the missing section. "Not yet. But if these two formations are structurally independent, we could alter the upper one without compromising the lower platform." Yukari considered. "And potentially bring its rune-bearing surfaces closer to the ancient chamber." "Exactly." Iris looked toward her wife. "How close?" Brenda smiled. "Close enough to matter." Iris sighed. "Brenda." "What?" "Please don't look quite so pleased about the possibility of collapsing a mountain." Brenda grinned. "Only part of one." Ace burst out laughing. --- Yukari didn't laugh. She was studying the proposed relationship. Then she looked toward Brenda. "If the geometry is correct, your idea may work." Brenda's grin widened. Mai nodded slowly. "But the runes must remain intact enough to function." "Agreed." "And the ancient platform must not be disturbed." "Absolutely." "And nobody can still be inside the affected areas." Brenda turned toward Shammy. "That's why we have her." Shammy looked up. "I'll count them." Iris regarded her. "Not approximately." Shammy nodded. "Every living person I can detect." Yukari added quietly: "And we must account for places where your senses may be obstructed." Shammy considered. "Then we check them another way." Rogue nodded. "Exactly." --- The room fell quiet. For the first time, a possible end to Barkuk Khazad's operation was taking shape. Not a complete plan. Not yet. But a sequence of requirements. Find the holding area. Identify and remove the captives. Evacuate everyone from the affected complex. Preserve the ancient binding. Strengthen the suppression system if the structure allowed it. And permanently prevent the corporation from accessing Chaugnar Faugn again. Brenda looked toward the display. "After that..." Iris folded her arms. "After that what?" Brenda smiled sweetly. "We close the entrance." Ace groaned. "I know that expression." Rogue looked toward her. "So do I." Mai laughed softly. Iris regarded her wife. "Brenda." "Yes, darling?" "No premature explosions." Brenda placed one hand over her heart. "I would never." Nobody believed her. --- The final interruption came from Rogue's communicator. She answered. Listened. Then her expression changed. "Understood." She ended the call. Everyone turned toward her. Ace raised an eyebrow. "What?" Rogue looked toward Iris. "One of my contacts has confirmed that the facilities compound is expecting additional personnel tomorrow." Mai's attention sharpened. "How many?" "Unknown." "Purpose?" "Restricted service work." Brenda frowned. "Again." Rogue nodded. "Yes." "Does the transport originate from the same intermediary?" "One of them." Iris considered. "Could be staff." "Certainly." "Could be additional contributors." "Possibly." Shammy looked toward the photographs. "And we don't know." Rogue met her eyes. "Not yet." Then she looked around the room. "But there's one more detail." Ace leaned forward. "Go on." "The compound has requested temporary accommodation supplies." Iris frowned. "For staff?" "That's how it's classified." "How much?" Rogue displayed the quantity. Not enough for a major workforce. More than a handful of temporary technicians would normally require. Brenda studied it. "That could support a small group for several days." Mai nodded. "Or people being held there." Rogue's expression hardened. "Exactly." --- Ace stood. "Then we need to find that connection." Rogue nodded. "Yes." "Before the renewal." "Yes." Shammy rose beside her. "And I need to get close enough to count everyone." Yukari looked toward them. "With protection." "Agreed," Mai said. Brenda folded her arms. "And I need better geometry before I touch a single support." Iris nodded. "Good." Rogue looked around the room. For the first time in weeks, everyone had a clearly defined task. Not an abstract investigation. Not another hopeful search through incomplete records. A living woman had been found. Other human presences had been detected near the same lower complex. And the next renewal was approaching. Rogue looked toward the photograph of the missing woman. Then toward the team. "All right." She stood. "We're done guessing about whether this place is involved." Ace nodded. "Agreed." "Now we find the people." Shammy's voice was quiet. "And bring them home." Rogue looked at her. "Yes." --- Much later, after the others had gone to bed, Shammy remained in the common room. The photographs were still on the display. She studied them one by one. Six missing women. Six ordinary lives interrupted. Somewhere beneath the mountain, at least one was still alive. Possibly more. Shammy thought about the pressure of human presences she'd sensed through the rock. How small they had seemed beside the vast, unnatural weight of Chaugnar Faugn. How ordinary. How fragile. And how very much alive. Ace entered quietly. She approached without speaking and sat beside her. For a while, they looked at the photographs together. Then Shammy said: "I couldn't count them all." Ace took her hand. "Not tonight." "What if I miss someone?" Ace considered. "Then we don't declare the building empty until we've checked another way." Shammy looked toward her. "Even if it takes longer?" "Even then." Shammy nodded slowly. "Good." Ace kissed her. Then rested against her shoulder. A little later, Mai joined them. She sat on Shammy's other side and took her free hand. None of them spoke for a while. They didn't need to. The mountain would still be there tomorrow. The binding would still hold. And the people inside would still need them. They had begun to discover where those people were. Next, they would find a way to reach them. --- ## Chapter 23 — The Other Entrance By nine the following morning, Brenda had declared war on a geological survey. Iris discovered this when she entered the safehouse common room carrying two cups of coffee. Her wife was standing in front of the main display, glaring at a cross-section of the Badlands. "Good morning, darling." Brenda didn't turn. "Whoever prepared this drawing should be arrested." Iris glanced at the display. "Before or after breakfast?" "Preferably before." She handed Brenda a cup. "What's wrong with it?" "Everything important is missing." "That was rather the point of the redactions." "Yes, but they could at least have left the dimensions." Iris smiled. "I suspect Barkuk Khazad would disagree." Brenda took a long drink of coffee. Then pointed toward the screen. "Look at this." Iris approached. The original geological assessment showed a substantial natural formation extending from the upper retreat toward the lower cavern complex. Several measurements were visible. Others had been omitted. And the boundaries between the older stonework and the later engineering were incomplete. Brenda enlarged the relevant section. "This formation supports part of the developed upper cavern." "Yes." "And this one supports the ancient platform." "According to Mai." "Exactly." Brenda pointed toward the space between them. "But I can't tell whether the formations are independent or connected through the missing section." Iris considered. "And that matters because you want to collapse part of the upper structure." "Eventually." "Without damaging the lower one." "Exactly." Iris studied the drawing. Then looked toward her wife. "Have you considered asking a geologist?" Brenda turned. For several seconds, she stared at Iris. Then her expression brightened. "Darling." "Oh, no." "You're brilliant." "I know." Brenda kissed her. Iris laughed. "Please don't look quite so delighted." "Too late." --- Ace arrived in the common room a few minutes later. Shammy was beside her. Mai followed carrying tea. Yukari appeared shortly afterward. Brenda was already searching through the available contractor records. Ace regarded the display. "Still fighting the mountain?" Brenda grinned. "The mountain is losing." Iris raised an eyebrow. "The mountain hasn't noticed." "Minor detail." Shammy looked toward the diagram. "Have you found the way in?" "Not yet." "Good news, though?" Ace asked. Brenda nodded. "Possibly." Mai laughed. "There it is." Brenda ignored her. "I'm trying to identify who prepared the original structural assessment." Iris added, "Specifically, someone who worked on the site before Barkuk Khazad finished restricting the documentation." Yukari considered. "Would they know the older chambers?" "Probably not," Brenda replied. "But I don't need someone who knows about Faugn. I need someone who knows how the mountain is put together." Ace nodded. "That sounds useful." "It would be." Shammy looked toward the map. "And the people?" Brenda's expression softened. "We're working toward them, darling." --- Rogue called shortly afterward. She was at Afterlife. That was where she usually preferred to conduct her business, and there was no reason to move every conversation to the safehouse simply because this investigation had become extraordinary. Her image appeared on the display. "Morning." Ace smiled. "Good morning." Rogue looked at Brenda. "You found something?" "Not yet. But I need the name of whoever performed the original geological assessment." Rogue considered. "Why?" Brenda explained. For once, she managed to do so without mentioning explosives. Iris looked impressed. Rogue listened. Then nodded. "I can help." Brenda brightened. "Wonderful." "Don't celebrate yet." "Terrible attitude." "The original development used several subcontractors. I know somebody who worked with one of them." "Engineering?" "Surveying and site access." Brenda looked delighted. "Even better." Rogue glanced toward Iris. "Can you send me the relevant company names?" "Already prepared." "Good." Then Rogue's expression became serious. "Another thing." Ace leaned forward. "What?" "The facilities compound received additional personnel this morning." Shammy looked up immediately. "How many?" "Unknown." "Contractors?" "That's how they're classified." Mai frowned. "And the restricted service work?" "Still scheduled." "Tomorrow?" "Yes." Rogue folded her arms. "I don't like the timing." Nobody did. --- After the call, the room became quieter. The information wasn't enough to act upon. But it established a useful distinction. The service compound was operating. Additional people were arriving. And Barkuk Khazad was preparing for the renewal. Shammy studied the map. "Can we go closer today?" Yukari looked toward her. "Closer than yesterday?" "From another direction." Mai regarded the terrain map. "The service compound side." Shammy nodded. "I couldn't distinguish everything through the stone from the first position." Ace considered. "And you think the other side might help." "Yes." Yukari examined the topography. "It might. But I don't want you approaching the inner complex again without a clear limit." Shammy nodded. "We stop if Faugn's influence becomes noticeable." "Before it becomes strong." "Agreed." Ace looked toward Mai. "Then perhaps we can make a second reconnaissance." Mai nodded slowly. "Once Rogue confirms a safe observation point." --- By lunchtime, Rogue had found the person they needed. Her name was Darya Noll. She was a former site surveyor who had worked on the original Badlands development years before the retreat became an exclusive corporate destination. Darya knew nothing about Chaugnar Faugn. Nothing about missing workers. And, as far as Rogue could establish, nothing about the custodianship. What she did know was the mountain. And she was willing to speak about it. Rogue arranged a meeting at a quiet commercial workshop outside the city. Not at the retreat. Not at the safehouse. A neutral location. Brenda and Iris attended together. Ace and Mai remained at home with Shammy and Yukari, preparing the second reconnaissance. --- Darya was a practical woman in her late fifties. She wore battered work boots, a plain jacket, and the expression of someone who considered most corporate management structures an unnecessary obstacle to actual work. Brenda liked her immediately. After introductions, Darya examined the geological assessment. Then laughed. "Oh, this old disaster." Brenda leaned forward. "You recognize it?" "Of course." "You worked on it?" "Part of it." Iris smiled. "Then we're very interested in your professional opinion." Darya looked toward the marked sections. "Why?" Brenda answered carefully. "We're evaluating the structural relationship between the original caverns and the later development." Darya studied her. "You're engineers?" "Among other things." "Hm." She enlarged the drawing. Then pointed toward the omitted section. "That part was never supposed to be public." Brenda's attention sharpened. "Why?" "Because the client considered the lower formation commercially sensitive." Iris nodded. "Was that unusual?" "Not particularly. Companies hide all sorts of things." Darya looked at the diagram again. "But it made my job more complicated." --- The conversation lasted almost an hour. Darya had no complete copy of the final restricted plans. She had left the project before the later modifications. But she remembered the original geological formation well enough to challenge several of Brenda's assumptions. "This isn't one continuous mass of rock." Brenda leaned closer. "You're certain?" "Yes." Darya indicated a natural boundary. "Old fracture zone. Stable, but distinct." Brenda's expression changed. "And the lower formation?" "Separate primary support." "Independent?" "Structurally, mostly. But don't confuse mostly with completely." Iris smiled faintly. "I suspect that's an important warning." Darya nodded. "Very." Brenda studied the diagram. "If someone modified the upper formation, could the lower one remain stable?" Darya regarded her. "Depends what you mean by modified." "Redistributing material within the upper cavern." Darya's eyes narrowed. "That's a remarkably polite way to say something potentially stupid." Iris started laughing. Brenda looked offended. "I haven't proposed anything yet." "Good. Don't, until you have current measurements." Brenda sighed. "I like you less already." Darya smiled. "Excellent. That means you're listening." --- The most useful discovery came later. Darya opened an old project photograph. It showed a partially completed service compound beside the mountain. Heavy machinery stood near a concrete entrance. A temporary construction road wound toward the ridge. And behind the machinery was an opening in the rock. Brenda leaned forward. "What's that?" Darya glanced at the photograph. "Service passage." "To where?" "The lower development." Iris became attentive. "Not the main retreat?" "No." Darya pointed toward the entrance. "That passage was built for construction access and emergency movement. The main hospitality areas came later." Brenda studied the photograph. "Does it still exist?" "I assume so." "Has it been modified?" "Almost certainly." Iris asked, "Was it intended for personnel evacuation?" "Originally, yes." Brenda looked toward her wife. For the first time all morning, she wasn't smiling. That passage might be the difference between getting people out and leaving them trapped beneath the mountain. --- Darya continued. "The original construction design required an independent emergency route from the lower work area." Brenda nodded. "Standard practice." "Exactly. But the client later incorporated that route into a more complicated private facilities system." "Do you know the final arrangement?" "No." Darya folded her arms. "And I wouldn't trust the early drawings for anything beyond identifying where to look." Brenda smiled. "That's already more than we had." Darya regarded her. "Whatever you're planning, be careful." Iris nodded. "We intend to be." Darya looked toward the geological cross-section. "That mountain is old. Some of those formations have survived an extraordinary amount of time. It would be a shame if somebody with more confidence than information decided to redesign them." Brenda laughed. "Understood." Then she added, quite sincerely: "Thank you." --- When they returned to the safehouse, Brenda was carrying a new drawing. Not a complete map. Not a rescue route. A possible route. That distinction mattered. She found Shammy in the common room with Ace, Mai, and Yukari. "Got something." Ace looked up. "Something good?" Brenda placed the drawing on the display. "Potentially very good." Mai studied it. "A service passage." "Originally designed for construction access and emergency evacuation." Shammy moved closer. "From the lower area?" "Yes." "To outside?" "Yes." Shammy looked toward Ace. "Then they might be able to leave that way." Brenda nodded. "If it still connects to the occupied lower facilities." Yukari studied the route. "And if it doesn't interfere with the binding." "Correct." Mai looked at the diagram. "This route appears to approach the receiving and holding areas from the side." "Exactly." "Not through the ancient chamber." Brenda smiled. "Which is why I like it." --- Ace studied the photograph of the old compound. "Is this the same location Rogue found in the transport records?" Iris nodded. "Yes." "Then we have a physical connection between the service compound and the lower development." "Historically," Iris corrected. Ace smiled. "Historically." "Whether that connection remains usable is still unconfirmed." "Understood." Shammy examined the location. "Could we observe it from outside the property?" Rogue's voice answered through the display. "That's what we're checking." She had joined the call from Afterlife. A terrain map appeared beside the old photograph. Rogue highlighted a public ridge overlooking the service compound. "This position is outside the marked boundary." Mai leaned forward. "How far?" "Far enough that nobody should have a reason to care about a parked vehicle. Close enough to observe the exterior approach." Shammy looked at the map. "And closer to the lower facilities than yesterday's position." Yukari considered. "Potentially." Rogue nodded. "That's where we'll go." --- They left before sunset. This time, Brenda joined them. Iris remained at the safehouse with the engineering records and secure communications. Rogue drove the lead vehicle. Ace, Mai, Shammy, Yukari, and Brenda followed in a second. The route took them around the eastern side of the ridge. The terrain was rougher. Less developed. But it provided a clear view of the service compound from outside the corporation's property. Rogue chose a stopping point screened by a natural rock formation. Everyone stepped out. The retreat itself was mostly hidden from here. Only a few distant lights marked its position. The service compound was another matter. They could see it clearly. A collection of low buildings. A fenced equipment area. Several parked vehicles. And a large entrance set directly into the rock. Brenda regarded it through binoculars. "Well." Ace glanced toward her. "Good?" Brenda lowered the binoculars. "Very." --- The old construction photograph had shown an unfinished concrete passage. The modern entrance was considerably more elaborate. Security doors. Lighting. Ventilation equipment. A broad access road. And several smaller service structures. But the position matched. The opening in the mountain was still there. Mai compared the exterior with the old drawing. "Same alignment." Brenda nodded. "Yes." "Same lower formation." "Looks like it." Yukari studied the rock. "The ancient binding is deeper and farther toward the central cavern." Mai nodded. "Agreed." Ace looked toward the compound. "So if the passage connects to the holding areas..." Brenda finished the thought. "We may have a way to reach them without approaching Faugn's platform." --- Shammy moved to a sheltered position farther along the ridge. Yukari followed. Ace remained close enough to help if needed. Rogue watched the compound. Brenda examined the engineering features. Mai studied the terrain and the relationship between the newer construction and the old natural formation. Each had a different task. And, for once, nobody needed to explain why. Shammy closed her eyes. The first sensations were familiar. Animals moving through the Badlands. A few human presences near the exterior compound. Machinery. Airflow. Pressure. Then she reached toward the mountain. The difference was immediate. From this side, the lower facilities were considerably easier to distinguish. The massive upper cavern no longer sat directly between her and the area she was trying to examine. Neither did the densest part of the suppression network. She took a slow breath. Yukari rested one hand lightly against her shoulder. "Take your time." Shammy nodded. --- The first human cluster appeared clearly. Several people inside the service compound. Most moving. One stationary. Shammy distinguished six simultaneous presences. Then another appeared near the exterior entrance. Seven. She opened her eyes. "Seven in the compound." Rogue looked toward her. "At this moment?" "Yes." "Do you know what they're doing?" "No." Rogue nodded. "Good." Shammy closed her eyes again. Beyond the compound lay the entrance. Then a passage. A surprisingly long one. She followed the pattern of living movement through the stone. Two people were walking in the direction of the mountain. Another was approaching them from deeper inside. For a moment, all three were easy to distinguish. Then the machinery interfered. Shammy waited. The signals separated again. "There's a passage," she said quietly. Brenda turned immediately. "From the compound?" "Yes." "How far?" "I can't measure it precisely." "That's fine." "It goes toward the lower complex." Mai looked toward her. "You're sure?" "Of the movement, yes." Brenda smiled. "That's enough." --- Shammy continued. Farther inside, she encountered the cluster she'd sensed during the previous reconnaissance. The signals were clearer now. Several human presences occupied a relatively confined area. Most were stationary. One moved slowly. Another remained at the edge. She counted. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Then a seventh became distinguishable from the others. Shammy waited. No overlap. Seven separate people. She opened her eyes. "Seven in the first lower area." Ace looked toward her. "Same place as yesterday?" "I think so." "Could you recognize the woman we saw?" Shammy shook her head. "I can't tell who they are." Mai nodded. "That's fine." Shammy looked toward the mountain. "But there are seven people there right now." Rogue recorded the observation. --- The second cluster was harder. It lay closer to the receiving chamber. The machinery and the creature's distant influence complicated everything. Shammy concentrated carefully. Three people. Then four. A fifth presence moving toward the corridor. But one of them might have been someone she'd already counted in the connecting passage. She resisted the urge to add the numbers. Instead, she followed the movement. Waited. And counted again. At one moment, she could distinguish twelve separate human presences across the lower complex and its connecting passage. Twelve simultaneously. That didn't establish how many were prisoners. Nor whether the people she'd sensed in the service compound should be added. Some could be moving between areas. But it was a more reliable observation than the previous night's uncertain clusters. She opened her eyes. "At least twelve in the lower system at one time." Rogue looked toward her. "Confirmed separate?" "At the moment I counted, yes." "Good." Shammy frowned. "But I think there's another area." --- Yukari moved closer. "Where?" Shammy indicated a part of the rock beyond the main passage. It didn't align with Brenda's historical drawing. Not quite. Brenda examined the terrain. "That's interesting." Ace looked toward her. "Why?" "Because the old survey doesn't show a developed chamber there." Mai considered. "Later construction?" "Possibly." Shammy closed her eyes again. There was a faint human presence. Then another. Both almost lost beneath the pressure of machinery and stone. They were separated from the first cluster. Not by an enormous distance. But sufficiently that Shammy hadn't recognized them during the previous reconnaissance. She waited. The signals remained. "Two more." Rogue's expression sharpened. "Where?" Shammy indicated the rock. "Somewhere beyond the passage." "Could they be maintenance workers?" "Yes." "Could they be captives?" "Yes." Rogue nodded. "Then we don't know." Shammy looked frustrated. "No." Ace rested a hand on her shoulder. "But now we know that area needs checking." Shammy nodded. "Yes." --- Brenda studied the position. The old drawing didn't show the chamber. But there was a feature that might explain it. A narrow natural formation extending away from the main service passage. She enlarged the photograph and compared it with the original survey. "Hm." Iris's voice came through the secure channel. "Brenda?" "Yes?" "That sounded like your dangerous thinking noise." Brenda smiled. "Darling, I have several." "Unfortunately." Brenda pointed toward the formation. "This could be a later extension." Mai considered. "With its own access from the service passage?" "Maybe." "And the two people Shammy senses are inside it." "That's the leading possibility." Iris nodded. "Then we add it to the list of areas that must be physically checked." Shammy looked toward her communicator. "Even if we can't see it?" "Especially then," Iris replied. --- The reconnaissance might have ended there. They'd already learned more than they'd reasonably expected. A probable service passage. A more reliable count of human activity. And a previously unidentified area containing at least two people. Then a vehicle approached the compound. Rogue noticed first. "Movement." Everyone became still. A dark transport vehicle appeared along the access road. It stopped at the security checkpoint. The gate opened. The vehicle entered. Brenda watched through binoculars. "Not a large truck." "No," Rogue replied. The vehicle continued toward the mountain entrance. Then stopped beside a service building. Two people emerged from the front. A driver and another person. Both remained outside. A moment later, the rear passenger door opened. Rogue adjusted her binoculars. "Someone else." Ace looked toward the compound. Shammy closed her eyes. A human presence had appeared beside the vehicle. Then another. Two passengers. Both escorted toward the service entrance. Shammy tracked them. "They're going inside." Rogue's expression hardened. "Can you follow them?" "I'll try." The two presences moved through the compound. Past the outer entrance. Into the passage. Then deeper toward the lower facilities. Shammy concentrated. The signals approached the area containing the first cluster. Stopped. And separated. A few minutes later, two other human presences moved back toward the compound. The vehicle eventually departed. Shammy opened her eyes. "Two people were brought into the lower system." Ace went still. "You're sure?" "Yes." "Do you know who they were?" "No." "Did they leave?" "The two people I followed did not return along the same route while I was watching." Rogue looked toward the compound. "That doesn't prove they were prisoners." "No," Shammy replied. "But they're still inside." --- Mai checked the time. Then the facility schedule. The restricted service work was due the following day. The renewal was expected shortly afterward. And now two additional people had entered the lower system under escort. She looked toward Rogue. "The timing is getting worse." Rogue nodded. "Yes." Brenda lowered her binoculars. "I want one more observation." Iris's voice sharpened. "What kind?" "Not people. Machinery." She pointed toward the exterior ventilation structures. "The compound has several systems serving the lower passage." Mai looked interested. "Could they interfere with Shammy's senses?" "Some of them." Yukari nodded. "That would explain part of the distortion." Brenda considered. "And it tells us something else." Ace looked toward her. "What?" "If we ever need to evacuate people through that passage, we need to know which systems are ordinary building services and which might be essential to the runic containment." Mai nodded. "Absolutely." "Because I'm not shutting down anything until we understand that difference." Iris sounded relieved. "Thank you." Brenda smiled. "See? Responsible." --- They spent another twenty minutes observing the compound. No attempt to approach. No interference with equipment. No photographs taken from inside the property. Just careful attention to what could be established from their position. Several staff movements were recorded. An exterior loading area was identified. The possible emergency route was confirmed as a modern access passage. And Brenda established that at least some of the ventilation equipment served the lower facilities independently of the main gathering cavern. That last point mattered. If the service passage became their extraction route, it would need to remain usable throughout the operation. The upper cavern could be dealt with later. The people had to come out first. --- Then Yukari placed a hand on Shammy's shoulder. "Enough." Shammy opened her eyes. She hadn't felt Chaugnar Faugn's influence as strongly as the previous night. But she was becoming tired. And the pressure beneath the mountain had begun to change again. Not enough to identify a deliberate response. Enough to justify leaving. She nodded. "I'm ready." Rogue lowered her binoculars. "Good. We're going." Nobody argued. --- The drive back to Night City was quiet. Ace sat beside Shammy. Mai was reviewing her notes. Yukari watched the darkening landscape. Brenda examined the old geological drawing, occasionally making a small correction. After a while, Shammy spoke. "At least twelve." Ace looked toward her. "Yes." "And two more in another area." Mai nodded. "At least two presences in an area we couldn't map. We don't yet know whether they overlap with the twelve over time." Shammy sighed. "I know." Ace smiled gently. "You're doing exactly what we need." Shammy looked toward her. "But I still can't tell which are prisoners." "No." "Or whether there are people in rooms my senses can't reach." "No." Shammy rested her head against Ace's shoulder. "Then when we go in, I want to check every room." Mai reached back and took her hand. "We will." --- That evening, the safehouse common room became a planning room again. A temporary one. Not a newly invented room with a conference table that had somehow appeared overnight. Just the familiar common room, with its large display, comfortable seating, and an increasing collection of diagrams that Brenda seemed determined to fill with alarming annotations. Rogue joined them after finishing her work at Afterlife. Her arrival was unusual. But the situation justified it. The next renewal was approaching. And they now had enough information to begin discussing a real extraction. Iris stood beside the display. "Let's separate what we know from what we suspect." Ace grinned. "Your favorite activity." "One of them." Brenda laughed. Iris brought up the first diagram. "Known: at least one missing woman was observed alive inside the lower facilities." Rogue nodded. "Confirmed." "Known: Chaugnar Faugn is permanently bound on the ancient platform." Mai and Yukari agreed. "Known: the receiving chamber operates separately from the binding." "Yes," Mai replied. "Known: a service passage connects the exterior compound to the lower facilities." Shammy nodded. "I followed people through it." "Likely, but not physically verified from inside," Iris clarified. Brenda nodded approvingly. "Fair." Iris continued. "Known: multiple human presences occupy the lower complex, including an additional area not present on our historical survey." Shammy nodded. "Yes." "Unknown: which of those people are captives." Rogue folded her arms. "Unknown: how many missing women are still alive." Iris looked toward Shammy. "Unknown: whether there are occupied rooms your senses cannot distinguish through the structure." Shammy nodded. "Yes." Finally, Iris looked toward Brenda. "Unknown: whether we can alter the upper cavern without disturbing the ancient platform." Brenda sighed. "Still unknown." --- For a while, nobody spoke. Then Ace looked toward the display. "All right." Rogue raised an eyebrow. "All right what?" "We know enough to stop treating this as an abstract investigation." Mai nodded. "Agreed." "But not enough to start breaking doors." "Also agreed." Ace looked toward Shammy. "Then our next step is reaching the lower facilities." Shammy nodded. "And counting everyone properly." Rogue considered. "Before the renewal." "Yes." --- Brenda changed the display. The service compound appeared. She highlighted the entrance. Then the probable lower passage. Then the previously unidentified extension. "This is the best route we've found." Mai nodded. "It avoids the central platform." "Yes." "And most of the upper suppression network." "Yes." Yukari studied it. "But it approaches the receiving chamber." Brenda nodded. "Which means we still need protection against Faugn's influence." Yukari looked toward Shammy. "And that applies to anyone entering the lower complex." Shammy smiled faintly. "I know." Brenda turned toward Iris. "Then we've got three separate problems." Iris folded her arms. "I'm listening." "Get the people out." "Yes." "Keep the ancient binding intact." "Yes." "And make sure nobody can ever use the place to feed Faugn again." Iris nodded. "Exactly." Brenda regarded the display. "The first two determine whether we can safely do the third." --- Rogue moved closer. "And the people running the place?" Brenda looked toward her. "What about them?" "They'll try to stop us." Ace nodded. "Probably." Rogue's expression remained serious. "And we're not turning every employee into a target." Mai looked toward her. "Agreed." "Some staff might know exactly what's happening." "Yes." "Some might have no idea." "Also yes." Iris nodded. "Then we need a way to get everyone out, including the people who have no idea why they're being evacuated." Brenda smiled. "That's where the service passage may help." Shammy looked toward the map. "And if someone refuses to leave?" Rogue considered. "Then we adapt. But nobody gets written off because they're inconvenient." Ace nodded. "Agreed." --- The conversation continued. No one proposed a detailed assault that evening. They didn't yet know enough about the lower service compound's security or internal layout. But they could establish the requirements. A route into the lower facilities. A reliable means of distinguishing captives from staff once inside. A complete evacuation. A final human count. And a separate containment operation only after the occupied areas had been cleared. Brenda's proposed upper-cavern collapse remained contingent upon better structural information. Yukari's runic assessment remained contingent upon seeing the precise arrangement. And Rogue's investigation had to continue even if the physical rescue succeeded. Because the company's financial structure would still need to be exposed. The missing women deserved more than simply being removed from the mountain. They deserved an accounting of what had happened. --- At one point, Iris looked toward Rogue. "What happens after the rescue?" Rogue regarded her. "The corporation?" "Yes." "We follow the money." Iris nodded. "There's enough suspicious activity to justify a much deeper investigation." "And the CEO?" Rogue's expression hardened. "He knows exactly what he's doing." Mai considered. "He knows people can die." "Yes." "And he's accepted that as an operational cost." "Exactly." Ace looked toward the display. "He still thinks he's a good host." Nobody laughed. Rogue shook her head. "People can believe all sorts of things about themselves." --- The meeting finally broke up shortly before midnight. Rogue returned to Afterlife. Iris put away the corporate records. Brenda remained in the common room with her diagrams. Yukari took a fresh copy of the runic reconstruction. And the Triad retreated to their shared bedroom. Ace sat on the edge of the bed. Mai joined her. Shammy remained standing for a moment. Then sat between them. Neither Ace nor Mai spoke immediately. Finally, Shammy looked toward her lovers. "Can I say something?" Ace smiled. "Always." Shammy hesitated. "I don't want to spend another evening standing outside that mountain while people are held inside." Mai took her hand. "I know." "I understand why we had to." "Yes." "But now we know there's a passage." Ace nodded. "And people." "Yes." Shammy looked down. "I want to go in." For a moment, nobody spoke. Then Ace moved closer. "So do I." Shammy looked toward her. "Really?" "Of course." Mai nodded. "We all do." Ace took her other hand. "But when we go in, we go in with a way to bring everyone out." Shammy considered. Then nodded. "All of them." "As many as we can find," Mai said. Shammy looked toward her. "And we check twice." Mai smiled. "Twice if necessary." Ace kissed her. "Three times if it takes that." Shammy finally smiled. "Good." --- Much later, after the safehouse had grown quiet, Brenda remained in the common room. Iris found her studying the geological drawing. "Still working?" Brenda glanced up. "Thinking." "That worries me." Brenda laughed softly. Iris approached and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Anything new?" Brenda pointed toward the old service passage. "Maybe." Iris examined it. "What am I looking at?" "An emergency route that somebody built years before they turned this place into a corporate retreat." "Yes." "And a lower formation that probably doesn't depend entirely on the upper cavern for support." "Yes." "And a permanent binding that we absolutely cannot disturb." Iris nodded. "All familiar." Brenda smiled faintly. "Then there's the interesting part." Iris sighed. "Of course there is." "If the service passage gives us a safe way to remove everyone, and if the geological relationship is what I think it is..." She paused. Iris waited. Brenda continued. "We might be able to bring the rune-bearing upper structure down into a position that makes the lower containment stronger." Iris studied the display. "Rather than simply sealing the entrance." "Both." "Both?" Brenda's smile widened. "First reinforce the suppression." "And then?" "Close every route anyone could use to get back in." Iris looked toward her. "Without harming the creature's binding." "Exactly." "And without anyone inside." Brenda's expression became serious. "Not a single living person." Iris nodded. "Then perhaps it could work." Brenda looked pleased. "Perhaps." Iris kissed her. "You're going to enjoy the final part of this far too much." Brenda laughed. "Darling, I intend to be extremely professional." "That's what frightens me." --- Rogue's final message arrived shortly after one in the morning. Iris read it first. Then called Brenda back to the display. The message was short. A logistics contact had confirmed that the private facilities network was preparing for a restricted event. The renewal itself was expected on Monday night. Not an indefinite date. Not a vague operational window. Monday. And tomorrow was Sunday. Iris read the message again. Then looked toward Brenda. "That gives us one day." Brenda's expression became still. "For the extraction." "Yes." Brenda glanced at the structural drawing. Then toward the separate diagram of the ancient platform. The conditions hadn't changed. The binding remained untouchable. The people had to come out. And no one would collapse anything until Shammy and the others could account for every living person. But now the timetable was real. Brenda looked toward Iris. "Then tomorrow we prepare to go in." Iris nodded. "And this time, we make sure everyone comes out." --- Far beneath the mountain, the receiving chamber remained empty. The ancient platform held Chaugnar Faugn in place. The upper suppression network continued its quiet work. In the lower service complex, people moved between rooms. Some worked. Some guarded. Some waited. And a number of them had no freedom to decide when they would leave. The corporation's leadership expected another orderly renewal. They had scheduled the necessary personnel. Prepared the facilities. And arranged the transport. They believed the system remained secure. Outside their property, however, someone had finally found the other entrance. And the people who had been looking for the missing women now knew where to begin. --- ## Chapter 24 — No One Left Behind Sunday, 11:47 p.m. The safehouse common room had become unusually crowded. Rogue occupied her customary position near the main display, looking as though the entire city had personally offended her. Iris sat beside Brenda, reviewing the latest facilities information. Ace and Shammy shared the couch. Yukari stood near the window. And Mai was holding her communicator. She regarded it for a moment. Then smiled. "Well." Ace looked up. "Yes, darling?" "I think it's time to call someone." Rogue raised an eyebrow. "Who?" Mai's smile widened. "Jello." Brenda stopped reviewing the structural drawings. "Oh." Iris looked toward her. "Oh?" Brenda grinned. "Now we're talking." --- Jello answered on the third signal. "Mai?" "Hello, darling." There was a pause. "That tone." Mai laughed. "What tone?" "The one you use when you're about to tell me something absolutely ridiculous." Ace started laughing. Mai ignored her. "Would you happen to be busy tomorrow?" Another pause. "Define busy." "Available for a little operation." "What kind?" "Corporate facility. Hostages. Armed security. Underground complex." Jello sighed. "Of course." "And an ancient entity." Silence. Then: "An ancient what?" "Chaugnar Faugn." The silence became considerably longer. When Jello finally spoke, the humor had disappeared. "Say that again." "Chaugnar Faugn. Permanently bound beneath the facility." "You're certain?" "Completely. Ace and I saw it." Another pause. "Is the binding intact?" "Yes. And it has to remain that way." Jello exhaled. "Mai, what the hell have you gotten yourselves into?" Mai smiled sweetly. "An unusually interesting corporate networking opportunity." Brenda collapsed into laughter. --- Jello listened to the full explanation. The missing women. The periodic blood obligation. The holding areas. The next renewal, scheduled for Monday night. And the narrow window in which the captives could still be rescued. By the time Mai finished, Jello was silent. Then: "How many hostages?" "At least eight possible captives. Exact number unconfirmed." "Armed opposition?" "Unknown strength." "Internal layout?" "Partial." "Ancient monstrosity?" "Very much present." Jello sighed. "You really know how to sell a job." Mai's expression softened. "Jello, we need the WWC." "The whole team?" "Yes." A short silence followed. Then Jello answered. "I'll speak with Badger." Mai smiled. "Thank you, darling." "And Mai?" "Yes?" "Nobody touches the binding." "Agreed." "Good." The connection ended. --- Rogue looked toward Mai. "That's your solution?" Mai smiled. "Part of it." Brenda leaned back. "An excellent part." Ace grinned. "And Reyes and Kiro." "Already contacted," Mai replied. Iris looked impressed. "When?" "While Brenda was threatening the geological survey." Brenda raised a finger. "That survey deserved it." Rogue sighed. "Fine." Then she looked around the room. "If we're doing this, we're doing it properly." The laughter faded. She pointed toward the missing women's photographs. "We get them out." Shammy nodded. "All of them." "And nobody damages the ancient binding." Yukari inclined her head. "Agreed." Rogue glanced toward Brenda. "Which means no explosions until everyone is clear." Brenda smiled. "Understood." Iris studied her. "Brenda." "What?" "I mean it." Her wife kissed her cheek. "So do I." --- Jello called back twenty minutes later. Mai answered immediately. "Hello?" "We're in." Mai smiled. "All of you?" "All of us." A second voice sounded in the background. "Jello. Put me on." The connection changed. Badger appeared. "Mai." "Hello, Badger." "I've heard the outline." "Good." "Let me make sure I understand the situation." Mai nodded. "Go ahead." "Your target is a corporation maintaining human captives beneath a mountain." "Correct." "Security strength uncertain." "Correct." "And there's an ancient blood-drinking entity inside." "Yes." "Which must remain permanently bound." "Absolutely." Badger considered. Then said: "So the objective is rescue, not extermination." Mai smiled. "Exactly." "Good." Behind Badger, Jello could be heard laughing. "What?" Badger demanded. "Nothing." "Jello." "I just love how normal this conversation sounds." --- Badger continued. "We'll bring everyone." Mai nodded. "Thank you." "But I want one thing understood." "Of course." "Once we're inside, nobody improvises around the entity." "Agreed." "Nobody touches anything marked as part of its binding." "Agreed." "And nobody gets left behind because they're on the wrong side of the corporate payroll." Mai's expression warmed. "That's exactly what we want." Badger nodded. "Then we'll see you in the morning." The connection ended. For a moment, the safehouse was quiet. Then Brenda looked toward Ace. "Now that's firepower." Ace grinned. "Finally." --- Monday, 9:15 a.m. The WWC arrived without ceremony. One moment, the safehouse was occupied by the usual residents and Rogue. The next, its common room contained Badger, Heavenly Father, Grouse, Skulker, and Jello. Reyes and Kiro arrived shortly afterward. Ace embraced Reyes. Mai greeted Kiro warmly. And Jello received a particularly enthusiastic hug from Mai. "Missed you, darling." Jello laughed. "Apparently enough to invite me underground with a monster." "Only because I know you enjoy interesting company." "Terrible woman." "Frequently." --- Badger studied the main display. No introductions were necessary among the people who already knew one another. The others received brief greetings. Then the conversation turned serious. The incomplete structural map appeared. Mai identified the ancient binding chamber. Yukari explained the suppression network. Brenda showed the suspected service passage. Shammy described the human presences she'd detected. Rogue summarized the missing-person investigation. And Iris explained what was known about Barkuk Khazad's facilities subsidiary. Badger listened. Asked several questions. Then looked toward the group. "All right." The room quieted. "We have two objectives for today." Ace nodded. "Rescue." "First and foremost." "And?" "Account for every living person inside the affected complex." Shammy looked toward Badger. "That's my responsibility." Badger regarded her. "Your ability will be essential. But we're not making you the only safeguard." Shammy nodded. "Good." "We'll reconcile your observations with physical searches and whatever occupancy records we can obtain." Iris smiled. "Exactly." --- Jello and Kiro moved to the technical display. Kiro examined the network diagram. "Interesting." Jello grinned. "Good interesting?" "Corporate-security interesting." "Even better." They began discussing the facility's monitoring systems. Neither wanted to interfere with anything connected to the ancient binding. That restriction was absolute. Ordinary access controls and communications were another matter. But even there, they needed to understand what each system actually did before changing anything. Kiro looked toward Yukari. "How much of the monitoring equipment is part of the containment?" Yukari shook her head. "Unknown." Mai joined them. "The original binding is runic, not electronic. But the modern systems monitor its stability." Jello nodded. "Then we leave those monitors alone." "Exactly." Kiro studied the diagram again. "We work around them." Jello grinned. "Now we're getting somewhere." --- Reyes stood beside Ace. "How bad?" Ace considered. "The creature?" "Everything." Ace sighed. "Bad enough." Reyes looked toward the photographs of the missing women. Then toward the facility map. "How many confirmed alive?" "One identified by sight. Several additional human presences in the lower facilities." Reyes nodded. "And the rest?" "Unknown." Her expression hardened. "Then we'd better find out." Ace smiled faintly. "Exactly." --- Heavenly Father had remained quiet through much of the briefing. Eventually, Heavenly Father looked toward Rogue. "What happens to the people running the place?" Rogue folded her arms. "The ones responsible for the disappearances will answer for it." "And the ordinary workers?" "We get them out too." "Even the armed guards?" Badger answered. "Anyone who stops fighting and can be safely moved." Heavenly Father nodded. "Good." Skulker looked toward the facility map. "And if they don't stop?" Badger's expression remained steady. "Then we stop them." No one needed clarification. --- By noon, the roles were established. Rogue and Iris would coordinate the external operation and the evacuation support. Brenda would monitor structural conditions and examine the actual facility geometry as access became available. Yukari would remain close enough to provide protection against Chaugnar Faugn's influence. Mai would handle runic observations and help coordinate the rescue inside. Ace, Reyes, and Kiro would accompany the entry teams. Shammy would locate and track living people. And the WWC would provide the force necessary to keep the operation from collapsing the moment Barkuk Khazad's security realized what was happening. There would be no approach to the ancient platform. No attempt to destroy the creature. And no structural changes until every person had been evacuated. Badger looked around the room. "Questions?" Brenda raised her hand. "Yes?" "When do I get to work?" Iris closed her eyes. "Darling." Badger regarded Brenda. "When the people are out." Brenda smiled. "Excellent answer." --- Monday, 3:42 p.m. The Badlands were quiet. From the ridge overlooking Barkuk Khazad's service compound, the retreat seemed almost peaceful. The main guest areas were not hosting a gathering. Only a small number of senior personnel were expected on site. The lower service complex, however, was preparing for the renewal. A transport vehicle had arrived earlier. Several staff members had moved between buildings. And the large entrance into the mountain remained active. Rogue studied the compound. "Still looks ordinary." Badger nodded. "That's the point." Jello glanced toward the facility. "Shall we ruin their afternoon?" Badger looked over. "Professionally." Jello grinned. "Naturally." --- The operation began with the external security team discovering that its ordinary routines were no longer under its control. A warning sounded. Personnel moved. Several guards responded. But the response was nowhere near fast enough to overcome the people approaching the compound. The first serious resistance came near the service entrance. An armed security team attempted to hold the passage. Skulker reached the confrontation ahead of the others. For a few seconds, the air filled with shouted orders, heavy impacts, and the unmistakable violence of a professional force encountering people who had never expected to face anything like it. Reyes moved in beside the WWC team. A security officer fired. The shot struck the surrounding structure. The return of force was immediate. The officer went down, wounded and disarmed. Another guard dropped a weapon and raised both hands. Badger's voice cut through the confusion. "Don't shoot. Hands visible." The guard complied. Heavenly Father moved forward to secure the surrendering personnel. No one wasted time punishing people who were no longer a threat. The objective was beyond the entrance. --- Inside the service passage, the resistance intensified. Barkuk Khazad's security forces weren't amateurs. They knew the facility. They had prepared defensive positions. And several clearly understood that an unauthorized intrusion into the lower complex would have consequences far beyond an ordinary corporate security breach. Unfortunately for them, the WWC had been invited precisely because this wasn't an ordinary breach. Grouse identified a second security group moving toward the passage. Badger adjusted the team's movement. Skulker and Reyes intercepted the threat. Ace remained close to Mai and Shammy, keeping the route ahead clear. Kiro and Jello worked together to maintain the team's communications and keep the facility's ordinary control systems from trapping them in isolated sections. The fighting was sharp. Loud. And brief. When it ended, several guards were wounded. Others had surrendered. The passage was open. And no one had touched a single runic structure. --- Shammy stopped near the first junction. Her expression sharpened. "People." Badger turned. "Where?" "Left. Behind the next doors." "How many?" Shammy closed her eyes. "Six." Mai looked toward her. "Same group you sensed from outside?" "I think so." Yukari moved closer. "Any interference?" "Some. But not enough to lose them." Ace regarded the closed corridor. "Then we start there." --- The first holding area was a row of secured rooms. Not a conventional prison. That would have been too obvious. The facilities were clean. There were beds. Bathrooms. Basic furnishings. Even a small common area. But the doors were controlled from outside. The windows didn't open. And the women inside were not free to leave. When the first door opened, the woman standing inside recoiled. She looked toward the armed figures in the corridor. Then toward Ace. Her eyes widened. "You." Ace stopped. She knew that face. The woman from Rogue's photograph. The one holding the black-and-white cat. The woman she'd seen escorted through the lower corridor. Ace lowered herself slightly so they were at eye level. "Hello." The woman stared. "I saw you." "Yes." "With the executives." "Yes." Her expression became frightened. "Are you one of them?" Ace shook her head. "No." "Then..." "We came back for you." --- For a moment, the woman didn't respond. Then her face changed. Not into immediate joy. Into disbelief. The kind that came when someone had spent too long expecting the worst. "You're getting us out?" "Yes." "All of us?" Ace looked toward Shammy. Shammy nodded. "Every person we can find." The woman covered her mouth. Then began crying. Ace moved closer. "Can you walk?" She nodded. "Yes." "Good." Reyes appeared beside the doorway. "Safe route's ready." Ace looked toward the woman. "Let's go." --- The next rooms opened. Another woman emerged. Then another. One was angry. Another was barely able to stop trembling. A fourth kept asking whether anyone had notified her family. A fifth wanted to know whether the guards would come back. The sixth remained silent until Shammy approached. Then she asked: "Are you real?" Shammy's expression softened. "Yes." The woman stared at her. Then began crying. Shammy embraced her gently. "You're going home." --- The six were gathered in the holding area's small common space. Two were weak enough to require assistance. One had difficulty walking. All were conscious. And all were terrified of being returned to the rooms they'd just left. Badger looked toward the corridor. "We move them out now." Ace nodded. "Agreed." Shammy closed her eyes. Then opened them again. "Wait." Everyone stopped. "What?" Mai asked. "One of the presences is moving." "Where?" "Toward the receiving chamber." Badger looked toward the remaining corridor. "One of ours?" Shammy shook her head. "No. Someone else." Mai's expression sharpened. "The transfer." Ace looked toward her. "The renewal." The facility's leadership had evidently recognized the intrusion. And someone was attempting to move a captive toward the receiving chamber before the rescue team could reach her. --- Badger made the decision immediately. The six rescued women would continue toward the exterior passage under protection. The remaining team would intercept the transfer. Shammy guided them. Yukari remained beside her. The air grew heavier as they approached the older section. Mai recognized the change. The secondary runic system was nearby. The ancient binding lay deeper still. And somewhere beyond the stone, Chaugnar Faugn remained alive. Shammy stopped. "Three people ahead." Ace looked toward her. "One captive?" "I think so." "Two escorts?" "Yes." Badger nodded. "Then we stop the transfer." --- The confrontation happened near the receiving chamber's outer passage. Two armed attendants were escorting a woman whose wrists had been restrained. She looked exhausted. One guard recognized the approaching group and shouted. The second reached for a weapon. Skulker moved. Reyes followed. The confrontation ended almost before the woman understood what was happening. One guard surrendered. The other was disarmed after a brief struggle. Neither reached the receiving chamber. Ace approached the woman. "It's all right." She stared. "Who are you?" "Someone who came to get you out." The woman looked toward the guards. Then toward the corridor. "You're not taking me in there?" "No." Her face crumpled. "Thank you." Mai approached. "Can you walk?" The woman nodded. "Yes." "Then let's get you out of here." --- Jello's voice sounded over the communications channel. "Mai, we've got a problem." Mai stopped. "What?" "The facility's senior staff are trying to restrict access to the lower service areas." "Can they lock us in?" "Not if Kiro and I have anything to say about it." "Good." "But they're also attempting to isolate several monitoring systems." Mai's professional knowledge had prepared her to recognize the significance. "Do not shut down anything tied to the binding." "Already understood." Kiro joined the channel. "We've separated the ordinary access controls from the containment monitoring." Mai nodded. "Excellent." Jello continued. "And there's another thing." "What?" "According to the lower facilities register, there's a medical annex beyond the holding area." Shammy looked up. "That's the place I sensed." Mai nodded. "Two people." "Possibly more," Jello replied. "The records are incomplete." Badger looked toward the corridor. "Then we check it." --- The medical annex was the hardest part of the rescue. Not because the guards were stronger. Because the people inside were in worse condition. The first patient lay on a narrow bed. She was conscious but barely responsive. The second sat beside the wall, her knees drawn toward her chest. Both were women. Both had been held in the lower complex. And neither was capable of walking out without help. Shammy entered quietly. She knelt beside the woman on the floor. "Hello." The woman looked at her. "Are you a doctor?" "No." "Then why are you here?" "To help you leave." The woman stared. "Can I?" Shammy's expression softened. "Yes." "Really?" "Really." The woman began crying. --- The other patient needed medical assistance. Rogue had arranged an independent emergency team at the exterior staging area. The rescue group had brought equipment suitable for moving someone who couldn't walk. But there was no pretending the journey would be comfortable. Ace looked toward the patient. "We're going to move you." The woman opened her eyes. "Where?" "Outside." "Why?" "Because you don't belong here." A faint expression crossed her face. Then she whispered: "Please." Ace took her hand. "We've got you." --- The evacuation began moving through the service passage. Six women from the holding area. One intercepted before the receiving chamber. And two from the medical annex. Nine captives. Not eight. The extra woman had been in motion during Shammy's earlier reconnaissance, making it impossible to establish a reliable total from outside. Now they could count them properly. Nine. All alive. Some in much worse condition than others. But alive. Shammy stood in the corridor as the last stretcher passed. She closed her eyes. Counted. Then looked toward Mai. "Nine out." Mai nodded. "Good." Shammy didn't smile yet. "There may still be more." "Then we keep looking." --- The operation was not finished. Far from it. Barkuk Khazad's security had lost control of the lower service passage. But the upper complex still contained staff. Several members of the custodianship remained near the ancient chamber. And the CEO had arrived for the renewal. Rogue's voice came over the channel. "He's on site." Ace looked toward Mai. "Of course he is." Mai nodded. "Monday night." Badger studied the facility display. "Then we're securing the remaining occupied areas." Yukari's expression became serious. "And nobody approaches the platform unnecessarily." "Agreed," Badger replied. --- The upper executive corridor was where they encountered the CEO. He stood beside the principal custodian and two security officers. Several alarms were sounding in the distance. The CEO looked furious. Not panicked. Furious. He recognized Ace and Mai immediately. His expression changed. "Amber? Maeve?" Ace stopped. For a moment, she regarded him. Then she smiled faintly. "Those are the names you knew us by." The CEO stared. Mai stood beside her. "You had a remarkable organization," she said quietly. His expression hardened. "You've betrayed my trust." Ace's smile disappeared. "No." She looked toward the corridor leading to the holding areas. "You betrayed theirs." --- The CEO looked between them. "You don't understand what you're interfering with." Mai nodded. "We understand considerably more than you think." "The custodianship is essential." "To your profits?" Ace asked. "To thousands of people." "Then perhaps you should have found a way to support those people without sacrificing others." The CEO's expression became cold. "You are making an extraordinary mistake." Yukari stepped forward. "No." The CEO looked toward her. She regarded him calmly. "The ancient binding will remain intact." That caught his attention. "You understand the binding?" "Yes." "The creature must not be released." "We agree." He seemed momentarily confused. Mai continued. "We aren't here to free Chaugnar Faugn." Ace looked at him. "We're here to free the people you've imprisoned." --- The custodian spoke for the first time. "The renewal cannot be interrupted." Yukari turned toward him. "It can." "You don't understand the consequences." "I understand the distinction between a binding and a feeding arrangement." The older man went still. Yukari continued. "The creature is confined by the ancient structure. The renewal serves the arrangement you've built around it." The custodian stared. Mai nodded. "And we intend to end that arrangement without damaging the confinement." For the first time, genuine uncertainty appeared in the custodian's expression. He looked toward the CEO. Then toward the corridor leading downward. "You can't simply abandon it." Yukari's voice remained calm. "Watch us." --- One security officer lowered his weapon. The other hesitated. Badger stepped forward. "Everyone's leaving." The CEO looked toward the armed team. "You have no authority here." Rogue's voice sounded from the channel. "Neither did you over those women." The CEO turned sharply. He recognized the voice. Rogue continued. "Your private booking network is finished. Your facilities records are already in our hands. And we've got living witnesses." For a moment, the CEO said nothing. Then he looked toward Ace. "You have no idea what you've destroyed." Ace regarded him. "Not yet." She glanced toward Brenda, who had just joined the group from the lower service passage. "But I suspect we're about to find out." --- The executive and security personnel were escorted toward the exterior. No one was permitted to return to the lower chambers. Not the CEO. Not the custodian. Not the armed guards. The final confinement remained untouched. Heavenly Father accompanied several of the detained personnel. Skulker remained with the security team controlling the corridor. Grouse checked the rooms beyond the executive area. Reyes and Kiro helped move the remaining staff toward the evacuation route. And Jello maintained communication between the groups. The WWC had done exactly what Mai had asked. They had brought sufficient force to prevent the rescue from becoming a desperate fight for survival. But they hadn't turned the complex into a battlefield of indiscriminate destruction. That distinction mattered. --- The next hour was spent doing something considerably less dramatic. Counting people. Checking rooms. Comparing occupancy records. Confirming that the lower holding areas were empty. Verifying that no maintenance personnel had been trapped in a locked service section. And making sure the upper complex contained no guests, staff, security officers, or custodians who had been overlooked. Shammy moved through the cleared sections with Yukari beside her. The pressure from Chaugnar Faugn remained unpleasant. But the protection helped. And the team never approached the ancient platform itself. They checked the lower corridor. The holding rooms. The medical annex. The receiving chamber. The upper executive wing. The service compound. And every accessible occupied space connected to the developed cavern. The result was encouraging. Then Shammy stopped. "Wait." Badger turned. "What?" "One more." --- The remaining presence was faint. Separated from the main corridors. Partially obscured by machinery. A human being. Stationary. Brenda examined the facility plan. "Utility area." Kiro checked the available records. "One maintenance technician assigned there." Rogue looked toward the group. "Still inside?" "Apparently." Shammy nodded. "Yes." Badger didn't hesitate. "We get them." --- They found the technician in a small maintenance room. The person had been injured during the initial security response and had taken shelter behind a locked door. Conscious. Frightened. And convinced that the fighting outside meant the entire facility was being destroyed. Ace approached carefully. "It's over." The technician stared at her. "Who are you?" "Someone making sure everyone gets out." "Are they going to kill us?" "No." The technician looked uncertain. Ace offered her hand. "Come on." After a moment, the technician accepted. --- Outside, the evacuation area was crowded. Not chaotic. Organized. The nine rescued women had been moved into medical care. Two required immediate treatment. Several others needed assistance, food, clean clothing, and reassurance that they were no longer prisoners. Rogue was speaking with the medical team. Iris had joined her. They were coordinating identification and the preservation of evidence. The six women from the original missing-person investigation were among those rescued. Rogue had confirmed their identities against the records. All six. Alive. The remaining three had been brought into the network more recently. One of them had apparently been scheduled for the renewal that night. All nine were now outside Barkuk Khazad's control. --- Ace approached the woman from the photograph. She was sitting beneath a blanket. A medic had just finished examining her. When she saw Ace, her expression changed. "You." Ace smiled gently. "Hello again." The woman looked around. "Is it really over?" "You're out." "And the others?" "Out too." The woman closed her eyes. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then she began crying. Ace sat beside her. The woman reached for her hand. "Thank you." Ace held it. "You're welcome." After a while, the woman looked up. "Can I ask something?" "Of course." "My cat." Ace smiled. "The black-and-white one?" The woman stared. "How did you know?" "Your friend showed us a photograph." Her eyes widened. "She's alive?" Ace laughed softly. "Your friend?" "Yes." "Very much." "And my cat?" "Also very much. Apparently still thoroughly unimpressed with the world." The woman made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob. Then covered her face. Ace held her gently while she cried. --- A little farther away, Shammy stood beside Mai. She was watching the rescued women receive care. Nine people. Nine living people who had been held beneath a mountain and told that their lives belonged to someone else's fortune. Now they were outside. Breathing fresh air. Seeing the sky. And beginning the difficult process of understanding that they were free. Shammy looked toward Mai. "We got them." Mai smiled. "Yes." "All nine." "All nine." Shammy's eyes filled. Mai drew her into an embrace. For a while, neither spoke. Then Shammy laughed softly. "What?" Mai asked. "I keep counting them." Mai kissed her forehead. "That's all right." "Even though they're outside." "That's all right too." --- Rogue approached them. Her expression was tired. But there was something else in it. Relief. "All six." Mai nodded. "Yes." "Every woman from the original cases." Shammy looked toward her. "Alive." Rogue nodded. "Alive." For a moment, the famously hard-edged fixer said nothing. Then she looked toward the medical area. "Good." The word was quiet. And meant more than an entire speech. --- Inside the mountain, Brenda was conducting the last structural review with Yukari. The WWC had secured the surrounding corridors. The custodian and CEO were outside under guard. The ancient platform remained undisturbed. The receiving chamber was empty. And no captive remained in the lower facilities. Brenda examined the load-bearing formation. Then compared it with Darya Noll's old geological survey. Several measurements were finally available from the actual site. She studied them carefully. Then looked toward Yukari. "Well." Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "Darya was right." "About?" "The two formations." Brenda pointed toward the stone. "The upper rune-bearing structure and the ancient platform don't share the same primary support." Yukari studied the arrangement. "That is encouraging." "Very." "But we must examine the runic relationships." "Already on my list." Yukari smiled. "Good." --- Mai joined them shortly afterward. She examined the inscriptions. Then looked toward the central cavern. "Still intact?" Yukari nodded. "Completely." "Any change in Faugn's behavior?" "Some agitation." Brenda raised an eyebrow. "Because the renewal isn't happening?" "Possibly." Mai studied the older runes. "But the binding is holding." "Yes." Brenda folded her arms. "Then we have time to do this properly." Mai looked toward her. "How much time?" "Enough to finish the evacuation and verify the structure." Yukari nodded. "And afterward?" Brenda smiled. "Afterward, darling, we make certain nobody ever uses this place for another renewal." --- The final evacuation check took considerably longer than anyone wanted. Shammy performed another full sweep from the safest available positions. Grouse and Skulker checked the physical areas. Kiro and Jello reconciled occupancy information with the people who had been brought outside. Reyes helped confirm that the detained security personnel were accounted for. Rogue and Iris checked the evacuation roster. The service compound was empty. The holding areas were empty. The medical annex was empty. The receiving chamber was empty. The executive wing was empty. The main gathering areas were empty. The remaining maintenance rooms had been checked. No living human presence remained within the parts of the complex that could be affected by Brenda's proposed structural operation. Shammy stood beside the exterior entrance. She closed her eyes one final time. Yukari remained close. For a while, she listened. Not to machinery. Not to the distant unnatural pressure beneath the mountain. To life. She searched the familiar occupied spaces. The lower passage. The service compound. The upper cavern. The secondary rooms. The isolated extension. Nothing. No human presence. She opened her eyes. Then looked toward Badger. "Clear." Badger nodded. "Confirmed?" Shammy looked toward the teams waiting nearby. "Everyone we found is outside." Grouse's final report matched. The physical searches were complete. The occupancy records had been reconciled. And the rescued women were accounted for. Badger looked toward Rogue. "Evacuation complete." Rogue nodded. "Good." --- The sun was beginning to disappear behind the Badlands ridge. The retreat's lights still glowed inside the mountain. The same beautiful chambers that had hosted extraordinary gatherings. The same rooms where Amber and Maeve had met friends, lovers, and genuine business partners. The same place where Camille had learned she could enjoy herself without surrendering her choices. And beneath those rooms, the receiving chamber where other women had been denied that freedom entirely. Ace stood beside Mai. Shammy joined them. Reyes and Kiro were nearby. The WWC had gathered at the staging area. Rogue was speaking with Iris. And Brenda was looking toward the mountain with an expression Ace recognized immediately. Ace groaned. "Oh, no." Mai smiled. "What?" "That look." Brenda turned. "What look?" "The one you get before something very large becomes something very small." Brenda grinned. "Not this time." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" Brenda looked toward Yukari. "First we make the suppression stronger." Yukari nodded. "Yes." "And preserve the ancient binding." "Absolutely." Brenda smiled. "Then we close the entrance." Iris approached. "After the structural verification." "Of course." "And only with everyone outside." Brenda looked toward Shammy. "Everyone." Shammy smiled. "Everyone." --- Badger regarded the mountain. "What's the final plan?" Brenda turned toward the display. She brought up the revised geological cross-section. The upper rune-bearing structure. The separate ancient platform. The now-empty service complex. And the sections whose relationships had finally been confirmed from inside. Mai studied it. Yukari nodded slowly. Iris examined the evacuation boundary. Rogue folded her arms. Brenda looked from one to the next. Then smiled. "Well." Ace sighed. "Here we go." Brenda's grin widened. "Now that everyone's out..." She looked toward the mountain. "...I believe it's my turn." --- ## Chapter 25 — Brenda Boom Presents *Featuring Skulker* The first thing Skulker said when he saw Brenda's structural model was: "No." Brenda stared at him. "Excuse me?" "No." "Would you care to elaborate?" Skulker pointed at the display. "You want to bring down that section of the upper cavern." "Correct." "Into the lower chamber." "Correct." "And preserve an ancient containment structure that neither of us understands completely." Brenda smiled. "Now you're getting it." Skulker folded his arms. "No." Across the temporary command area, Ace covered her mouth. Mai looked delighted. Iris closed her eyes. "Oh, dear." Jello leaned toward Kiro. "This is going to be beautiful." Kiro smiled. "I suspect you're right." The Badlands sun was sinking toward the horizon. Behind the assembled group, the last evacuation vehicles were preparing to leave. Nine rescued women were receiving medical care. The remaining staff and security personnel had been accounted for. The corporation's senior leadership was under guard. And the mountain, for the first time in years, contained no human beings. Only its machinery. Its empty rooms. Its ancient inscriptions. And Chaugnar Faugn. The creature remained upon its platform, confined by runes older than any structure Barkuk Khazad had constructed. The binding was intact. And keeping it that way was the single most important requirement of everything Brenda intended to do. Skulker studied the model again. "This isn't a conventional demolition." Brenda nodded. "Obviously." "You can't treat this as a problem of destroying something." "I'm not." "Then explain what you're trying to accomplish." Brenda's expression changed. The playful grin faded. What remained was the focused attention of an engineer who understood precisely how much could go wrong. She enlarged the model. "The upper developed cavern contains an extensive runic suppression network." Skulker nodded. "Understood." "The ancient platform occupies a structurally separate lower formation." "According to the revised survey." "And the original binding is independent of the upper network." Yukari stepped forward. "That part I can confirm." Skulker looked toward her. "Completely?" "Within the limits of what we've examined, yes. The confinement does not depend on the upper suppression inscriptions." "Good." Brenda indicated the space between the formations. "I want to relocate the upper rune-bearing stone into the lower cavern's outer containment area." Skulker studied the geometry. "Without striking the platform." "Exactly." "And without destroying the inscriptions." "Precisely." He was quiet for several seconds. Then he looked toward her. "You don't want a demolition." Brenda smiled faintly. "No." "You want a structural transfer." "Now we're talking." Skulker looked at the model again. Then, very slowly, he smiled. "Oh." Brenda's grin returned. "Yes." "Oh, that's interesting." From behind them, Iris made a small noise. Ace glanced toward her. "What?" Iris watched the two specialists. "I liked it better when he was saying no." Skulker moved beside Brenda. "Show me the independent formations." She did. The model changed. The ancient platform remained highlighted in one region. The upper developed cavern occupied another. Between them lay a natural structural separation that Darya Noll's geological assessment had helped establish. Brenda had subsequently confirmed the relationship using information gathered during the rescue. It wasn't perfect. No engineering model ever was. But it was substantially better than the incomplete records they'd begun with. Skulker examined the separation. Then pointed toward a section of the upper formation. "That's the problem." Brenda nodded immediately. "I know." Ace looked between them. "What problem?" Skulker answered without looking away. "The upper cavern was designed to stay where it is." Brenda laughed. "A very inconsiderate design choice." "And the ancient chamber was never designed to receive a substantial amount of additional material." "Not directly." He regarded her. "Exactly." Brenda enlarged a natural depression running around the outer portion of the lower cavern. "This is where I want the material to settle." Skulker studied it. "Not on the platform." "Nowhere near the platform." "The surrounding formation would have to accept the additional load." "Yes." "And the runes would have to remain effective." Brenda turned toward Yukari. "That's her department." Yukari smiled. "Thank you for the warning." Mai joined them. She and Yukari had spent much of the afternoon examining the runic structure from the information gathered during the rescue. The ancient binding was not something they intended to alter. Its relationships were too old. Too complex. And, most importantly, already functioning. Chaugnar Faugn was confined. That was a success worth preserving. The upper suppression network was different. Its purpose was to limit the creature's influence upon the occupied areas. And unlike the ancient binding, substantial portions of the suppression network had been installed or restored during Barkuk Khazad's development of the retreat. Maeve's earlier observations had established that the runic inscriptions were not merely decorative patterns. They formed connected sequences. Their relative positions mattered. Mai indicated one section of the model. "If these surfaces are shattered indiscriminately, the runes won't necessarily continue functioning." Skulker nodded. "Understood." "But if the relevant sections remain sufficiently coherent..." Yukari completed the thought. "Their suppressive effect may remain intact." Brenda smiled. "And if those sections end up closer to the ancient chamber?" Yukari considered. "The effect could become substantially stronger." Skulker looked toward Brenda. "Could." She nodded. "Could." "Not will." "Not until we verify the final position." He studied her. Then smiled. "Good answer." Brenda grinned. "I have those occasionally." From behind them, Iris murmured: "More frequently than she admits." For almost forty minutes, Brenda and Skulker argued. Not angrily. Not competitively. Professionally. Every suggestion was challenged. Every assumption examined. Every proposed structural change compared against the one restriction neither intended to violate. The ancient platform must remain untouched. Skulker rejected several of Brenda's initial ideas. Brenda rejected two of his. At one point, they stood on opposite sides of the display, glaring at the same section of stone. "That would compromise the upper formation," Brenda said. "Only if the boundary behaves the way you're assuming." "It will." "You don't know that." "I have the geological assessment." "An assessment written before the final development." Brenda opened her mouth. Then stopped. She considered. Finally, she nodded. "Fair." Skulker smiled. "Thank you." "But your alternative creates a different problem." "Which?" Brenda indicated the model. "The suppression surfaces wouldn't remain in the relationship Yukari needs." Skulker looked toward the fox woman. Yukari nodded. "She's correct." He sighed. "Fine." Brenda smiled sweetly. "Thank you." They regarded one another. Then both started laughing. Jello watched from nearby. He looked toward Ace. "Is this normal?" Ace considered. "For Brenda?" "Yes." "Completely." Jello nodded toward Skulker. "For him too." Kiro glanced at the display. "They're enjoying themselves." "Far too much." Iris approached. "Do you have any idea how alarming that is?" Jello smiled. "Absolutely." "Then why are you smiling?" "Because I haven't seen Skulker this happy about a technical problem in months." Iris looked toward her wife. Brenda was gesturing enthusiastically at a section of the model. Skulker had begun drawing a revised arrangement beside it. Both appeared absolutely delighted. Iris sighed. "I married one of them." Jello laughed. "My condolences." Eventually, Brenda stepped away from the display. "All right." Skulker nodded. "All right." Ace raised an eyebrow. "Have you two finally agreed?" Brenda smiled. "On most things." "Most?" Skulker folded his arms. "We still have one concern." Iris approached immediately. "Which is?" "The lower cavern's response." Brenda nodded. "Everything else looks acceptable. But until we verify the final structural relationship, I won't authorize the change." Ace smiled. "That sounds reassuringly sensible." Skulker looked at her. "Your friend is a very good engineer." Brenda blinked. Then smiled. "Thank you." He continued. "And she's sufficiently stubborn to be dangerous." Ace burst out laughing. Brenda looked delighted. "That might be the nicest thing anyone has said to me all week." Iris folded her arms. "Really?" Brenda turned toward her. "Professionally, darling." "Of course." Badger joined them. "Status?" Skulker answered. "We have a viable concept." "Ready?" "Not yet." Badger nodded. "What remains?" "Final structural confirmation. Runic verification. Evacuation check." "Good." He glanced toward the mountain. "And the receiving chamber?" Mai answered. "Empty." "The holding areas?" "Empty." "The executive wing?" "Cleared." Badger looked toward Shammy. "And your assessment?" Shammy stood beside Yukari. "The entire affected complex was empty when I made the last count." "Can you confirm again before we proceed?" "Yes." Badger nodded. "Then that's what we'll do." The next phase was less dramatic than Brenda would have preferred. And considerably more important. They reviewed the collected structural data. Compared the actual cavern geometry against the historical survey. Examined the runic relationships. Checked the expected boundaries of the proposed alteration. And challenged the assumptions again. Skulker was particularly interested in what would happen outside the intended area. Brenda appreciated that. She had already examined the primary structural relationship. Skulker insisted on considering the consequences if the mountain behaved differently from their model. Not merely whether the upper formation could be moved. Whether the surrounding stone would remain stable afterward. Whether the outer service passage would become inaccessible as intended. And whether the lower platform would remain completely isolated from the structural changes. At one point, he turned toward Brenda. "You're designing for the result you want." Brenda nodded. "Yes." "I'm designing for the result you don't want." She considered. Then smiled. "That's why this works." Skulker returned the smile. "Exactly." --- Yukari and Mai had their own disagreement. "The lower runes will function," Mai said. Yukari studied the model. "Most likely." "You're concerned about this sequence." "Yes." Mai enlarged a portion of the suppression network. Several inscriptions occupied a long section of curved stone. Their arrangement was unusually precise. "The entire sequence needs to remain coherent," Mai observed. Yukari nodded. "And it must not end up inverted relative to the ancient platform." Brenda looked up immediately. "Explain." Yukari indicated the model. "The suppression has direction." Skulker frowned. "Direction?" "Not simply distance. Its orientation determines where the effect is concentrated." Brenda examined the proposed final arrangement. "Then we need to preserve that." "Exactly." Skulker looked toward Brenda. "That changes our options." She nodded. "It does." For several minutes, the four worked together. Mai and Yukari described what the runic structure required. Brenda interpreted those requirements in terms of the surrounding stone. Skulker examined which outcomes the demolition process could reliably support. They discarded another proposal. Then a second. Finally, Brenda stepped back. "There." Yukari studied the revised model. Mai leaned closer. Skulker examined it. For a long moment, nobody spoke. Then Yukari smiled. "That arrangement could work." Mai nodded. "Yes." Skulker looked toward Brenda. "Structurally?" "Within the verified limits." He considered. Then nodded. "All right." Brenda's grin widened. "All right?" "Yes." She spread her hands. "Well, that took long enough." Rogue had spent the afternoon making sure nobody could interfere with their work. The CEO and the principal custodian remained under guard at a separate secured location. The corporation's operational records had been preserved. Its upper facilities were empty. And the rescued women were being cared for well away from the mountain. The nine former captives had been given medical attention, food, clean clothing, and the opportunity to contact people they trusted. No one was being pressured to make statements immediately. Rogue had already secured the evidence necessary to begin pursuing the people responsible. Iris was helping preserve the corporate and financial records. Several of Barkuk Khazad's apparently legitimate businesses would continue to exist after the scandal. Others would almost certainly not. But that was a problem for later. Tonight, the priority was the mountain. Rogue approached Badger. "How are they doing?" He looked toward the group surrounding the structural display. "Very well." "That sounds suspicious." Badger smiled faintly. "They're arguing." "That I can see." "Which is exactly what I wanted." Rogue regarded him. "Explain." "Skulker doesn't trust a plan simply because somebody sounds confident." "Good." "And Brenda doesn't trust somebody else's demolition assumptions simply because they're experienced." Rogue nodded. "Also good." Badger looked toward the model. "They're forcing each other to justify every decision." Rogue smiled. "Then perhaps we won't have an ancient elephant walking out of the mountain." "That's the objective." Shammy performed the final living-person check as dusk deepened into night. Yukari stood beside her. Ace and Mai remained close. Grouse accompanied them, comparing Shammy's observations with the physical search results. Shammy closed her eyes. The mountain was quiet. Not empty. Never empty. There were animals moving through the surrounding Badlands. Small living presences in the rock. The distant activity of the evacuation teams beyond the exclusion area. And beneath the mountain, something enormous. Something that did not feel remotely human. Chaugnar Faugn. Still bound. Still alive. Still waiting. Shammy concentrated on the regions that mattered. The former holding area. Empty. The medical annex. Empty. The service corridor. Empty. The receiving chamber. Empty of humans. The upper gathering area. Empty. The executive wing. Empty. The maintenance extension. Empty. She searched again. The old rooms. The spaces partly obscured by machinery. The route that had led to the service compound. No human presences remained. She opened her eyes. "Clear." Grouse looked toward her. "Everything?" "Everything I can reach." He nodded. "Matches the physical search." Yukari regarded the mountain. "And the ancient chamber?" "No human presence." "Good." Shammy looked toward Ace. "Nobody left." Ace smiled gently. "Nobody left." The specialists completed their preparations while the rest of the team remained outside the affected area. Brenda and Skulker had agreed on a controlled structural operation rather than a broad, destructive blast. The purpose was not to pulverize the upper cavern. It was to redirect selected rune-bearing stone into the lower containment region while preserving the ancient platform. The remaining entrances would be sealed afterward. Every part of the work had been reviewed against the latest structural information. And every person involved understood the consequences of getting it wrong. Brenda looked toward Skulker. "Ready?" He examined the final status. "Almost." She raised an eyebrow. "Almost?" "One more check." Brenda laughed. "I was going to say the same thing." They reviewed the conditions together. Then Skulker stepped back. "Now." Brenda smiled. "Good." The two of them returned to the staging area. Badger was waiting. "Status?" Skulker nodded. "Ready for final authorization." Brenda looked toward Yukari. "Runic?" Yukari closed her eyes. A faint golden radiance surrounded her hands. She reached toward the distant structure. Not to change it. Only to examine the relationships she could perceive. The ancient binding was stable. The upper suppression network remained active. Chaugnar Faugn's presence pressed against the edge of her awareness. Old. Hungry. Immensely unpleasant. But confined. She opened her eyes. "Stable." Mai nodded. "The suppression sequence is intact." Brenda turned toward Shammy. "Living count?" "Clear." "Physical search?" Grouse answered. "Confirmed." "Evacuation?" Rogue nodded. "Everyone outside." "Exclusion area?" Badger looked toward the surrounding teams. "Secure." Brenda took a slow breath. Then looked toward Skulker. "Well?" He regarded her. Then smiled. "Let's do it." For a moment, nobody moved. The entire group stood looking toward the mountain. The retreat's entrance lights still glowed in the darkness. From this distance, it looked beautiful. A luxury destination carved into stone. A place where Amber and Maeve had spent several extraordinary evenings with people they genuinely liked. A place where real friendships had begun. Where business relationships had flourished. Where couples had enjoyed one another's company. Where guests had danced, laughed, and discovered new possibilities. And where, beneath all that warmth, the corporation's leadership had hidden a system that treated human lives as an acceptable price for prosperity. Ace watched the lights. Then looked toward Mai. Her wife took her hand. Shammy joined them. The three stood together. Waiting. Skulker looked toward Brenda. "Any last doubts?" She considered. "One." He raised an eyebrow. "The runes?" "No." "The structure?" "No." "Then what?" Brenda smiled. "I'm wondering whether you realize how much I'm going to enjoy this." Skulker laughed. "Oh, I do." Behind them, Iris groaned. "Wonderful." Jello grinned. "She's found her soulmate." Iris turned sharply. "Excuse me?" "Professionally." Brenda burst out laughing. "Exactly!" Skulker shook his head. "God help us." He was smiling. The first stage began. A deep sound rolled through the mountain. Not a single violent report. A sequence of heavy, distant movements, each merging into the next until the stone itself seemed to respond. The upper cavern trembled. Dust appeared around its illuminated entrance. Then the lights flickered. From the staging area, the team watched the external monitoring display. The selected rune-bearing section was moving. Slowly at first. Then with the immense, unmistakable weight of stone surrendering its former position. Brenda watched without blinking. Skulker stood beside her. Neither spoke. The upper formation descended toward the lower cavern's outer containment region. The movement was enormous. And frighteningly beautiful. A great mass of ancient stone settling into a new relationship with the mountain that had held it for centuries. Then the monitoring display changed. Brenda's breath caught. "Wait." Skulker looked immediately. "What?" "The final position." Mai leaned forward. Yukari closed her eyes. The movement continued for another few seconds. Then stopped. Silence. Nobody celebrated. Not yet. Brenda studied the structural readings. Skulker examined the result. Mai watched the rune sequence. Yukari remained completely still. For several long seconds, there was nothing but the distant sound of settling stone. Then Yukari opened her eyes. "The ancient binding is intact." Ace exhaled. Shammy squeezed her hand. Mai looked toward the display. "And the upper suppression?" Yukari's expression changed. Surprise. Then growing understanding. Then a slow smile. "It's stronger." Brenda turned. "How much?" Yukari considered. "The active suppression has been redirected toward the lower chamber." Mai nodded. "The rune-bearing surfaces remained coherent." Skulker looked at Brenda. "Structural stability?" She checked again. Then smiled. "Within the expected range." Skulker let out a breath. "Well." Brenda grinned. "Well indeed." Deep beneath the mountain, Chaugnar Faugn moved. The creature had remained alive through the entire operation. Its ancient binding had not weakened. But something around it had changed. The upper suppression network, once distributed through the developed retreat, now concentrated much of its effect around the lower chamber. The influence that Barkuk Khazad's custodians had spent years attempting to direct outward could no longer reach as freely through the surrounding stone. The enormous creature shifted upon its platform. Its trunk-like appendage rose. Its small eyes moved. And a pressure older than civilization struck against the strengthened suppression. For a moment, Yukari felt it. An ancient hunger. An attempt to reach outward. Then the new runic arrangement answered. Not with light. Not with a dramatic explosion. With resistance. Absolute. Unyielding. Chaugnar Faugn remained bound. And the pathways through which its custodians had once exploited its influence were no longer available. Yukari opened her eyes. "It's holding." Mai smiled. "Good." "More than holding." Brenda leaned forward. "What do you mean?" Yukari regarded the mountain. "The creature's influence is substantially more restricted than before." Skulker nodded. "Then the first objective is complete." Brenda looked toward him. "First objective." He smiled. "Yes." She slowly turned toward the remaining entrances. And her grin became positively dangerous. Iris saw it. "Oh, no." Ace laughed. "Here we go." Jello folded his arms. "This is the part I've been waiting for." Kiro smiled. "You're not the only one." Badger looked toward Brenda and Skulker. "Final stage?" Skulker nodded. "Ready." Brenda examined the remaining access routes. The main retreat entrance. The service compound passage. And the other routes that had once allowed the custodianship to move people and equipment through the mountain. All were empty. All had been accounted for. And all would now be rendered permanently inaccessible. Iris looked toward her wife. "Brenda." "Yes, darling?" "One last time." Brenda's smile softened. She knew what Iris was asking. Not whether the work was impressive. Not whether it would make an extraordinary story. Whether it was safe. Whether they had done everything possible to protect the people who had escaped. And whether the ancient entity would remain confined. Brenda took her hand. "Everyone is out." Iris nodded. "The binding?" "Untouched." "The suppression?" "Stronger." "And the remaining entrances?" Brenda smiled. "About to become a historical curiosity." Iris regarded her for a moment. Then kissed her. "All right." Brenda's expression brightened. "Really?" "Yes." Iris stepped back. "Just don't make me regret marrying you." Brenda laughed. "Never." Skulker approached her. "Ready?" Brenda grinned. "Born ready." He glanced toward the others. "Badger?" "Authorized." "Yukari?" "Binding stable." "Shammy?" "No humans inside." "Rogue?" "All personnel accounted for." Skulker looked toward Brenda. "Then I believe the honor is yours." She stared at him. For a moment, genuine surprise crossed her face. "You're sure?" He smiled. "You designed the structural concept." "You made it work." "We made it work." Brenda's expression softened. Then she offered her hand. Skulker took it. "Pleasure working with you." He grinned. "Likewise." A pause. Then Brenda leaned closer. "Do you think we could do this again someday?" Skulker laughed. "Let's finish this one first." Brenda turned toward the mountain. The retreat's entrance lights still burned. For a moment, she remembered the beautiful chambers Amber and Maeve had described. The music. The gatherings. The guests. The remarkable hospitality. She understood why her friends had enjoyed themselves there. And she understood why destroying those rooms was necessary. It wasn't the pleasure that had corrupted Barkuk Khazad. It wasn't the friendships. It wasn't the legitimate business. It was the hidden belief that other people's lives could be spent to guarantee prosperity. The corporation had built a palace above a prison. Now the palace was empty. The prisoners were free. And the ancient thing beneath it would remain exactly where it belonged. Brenda smiled. "Well, you greedy bastards." Ace laughed softly. "Oh, this is going to be good." Brenda looked toward the assembled team. Then raised one hand with theatrical solemnity. "Ladies, gentlemen, and assorted extraordinary beings..." Iris closed her eyes. "Brenda." "...it gives me great pleasure..." Skulker was openly grinning. "...to present..." Jello began laughing. Brenda turned toward the mountain. "BRENDA BOOM!" The final collapse rolled through the Badlands. A tremendous, deep concussion. Then another. The mountain seemed to draw inward upon itself. The illuminated main entrance disappeared behind an immense fall of stone. The service access followed. Dust surged upward through the darkness. For several seconds, the ridge was obscured by a spreading cloud. Then the heavy sounds began to fade. Stone settling. Air escaping. The distant rumble of a cavern returning to silence. The retreat was gone. Not the entire mountain. Not the ancient platform. Not Chaugnar Faugn. Only the human-made access that had allowed Barkuk Khazad to turn an imprisoned eldritch entity into a commercial advantage. The remaining routes had been sealed. The upper developed structures were no longer usable. And the rune-bearing stone now reinforced the lower chamber's suppression. For a long moment, nobody spoke. Then Skulker looked toward the monitoring display. He checked the result. Once. Twice. Then turned toward Brenda. "All closures confirmed." Brenda nodded. "Structural stability?" "Within the verified limits." Yukari opened her eyes. "The binding remains intact." Mai smiled. "And the suppression?" "Strong." Shammy looked toward the mountain. "No human presences inside." Badger nodded slowly. "Then we're finished." Brenda stared at the sealed entrance. Then turned toward Skulker. Her grin was enormous. "That." He smiled. "Yes?" "Was beautiful." Skulker laughed. "Absolutely." Jello was the first to applaud. Kiro joined immediately. Then Reyes. Ace began laughing. Mai shook her head with a smile. Heavenly Father looked toward Badger. "I suppose we should encourage them." Badger considered. "No." A pause. Then he smiled. "Too late." Even Rogue laughed. Brenda turned toward the group and took an exaggerated bow. "Thank you, thank you." Iris folded her arms. "Finished?" Brenda looked toward her. "Almost." Iris raised an eyebrow. Brenda approached. Then kissed her. A long, delighted kiss. When they separated, Iris smiled despite herself. "Now?" Brenda grinned. "Now." Skulker approached Badger. "Mission complete." Badger looked toward the sealed mountain. "Creature?" "Contained." "Personnel?" "Evacuated." "Hostages?" "Recovered." "Facility?" Skulker smiled. "Retired." Badger nodded. "Good work." Then he looked toward Brenda. "Excellent collaboration." Brenda smiled. "Likewise." Badger turned toward Mai. "Glad you called." Mai's expression warmed. "So am I." Jello approached and embraced her. "Next time, darling..." Mai laughed. "Yes?" "...could you invite us to a normal party?" Ace grinned. "Careful what you wish for." Jello stared at her. "Oh, no." Brenda burst out laughing. Rogue stood a little apart from the others. She was looking toward the medical staging area, where the last of the rescued women had been transferred to safer accommodations. The first missing woman's friend had already been contacted privately. The reunion would happen soon. So would the difficult questions. The interviews. The medical recovery. The investigation into the people who had authorized the disappearances. The corporate records would tell their own story. So would the survivors. And the machinery of Barkuk Khazad's extraordinary fortune would never function again. Iris approached Rogue. "Thinking?" Rogue nodded. "About the women." "All nine are safe." "Yes." "And the original six have been identified." "Yes." Rogue looked toward the sealed mountain. "For a while, I wasn't sure we'd find any of them." Iris said nothing. Rogue continued. "Six people vanish. Everyone assumes they took a better contract, skipped town, or decided not to come back." Iris nodded. "Until somebody starts looking." "Exactly." Rogue glanced toward the group. Ace was laughing with Reyes. Mai stood beside Jello. Shammy had one arm around Yukari. Brenda and Skulker were still arguing cheerfully about the structural model. Rogue smiled faintly. "Good thing we did." --- Later, as the vehicles prepared to leave, Ace found Brenda standing beside the sealed mountain's final survey display. "Hey." Brenda turned. "Hello." Ace smiled. "That was spectacular." Brenda looked pleased. "Thank you." "And Skulker?" Brenda laughed. "Wonderful." "You two certainly got along." "He's excellent." Ace grinned. "So are you." Brenda's expression softened. "Thank you." Ace looked toward the mountain. "Faugn's really staying down there?" Brenda nodded. "Yes." "And nobody's going to reopen the place?" "Not without overcoming a great deal of inaccessible stone and a considerably stronger suppression network." Ace smiled. "Good." Brenda looked toward her. "That creature was never my target." Ace nodded. "I know." "The people exploiting it were." For a moment, neither spoke. Then Ace kissed Brenda's cheek. "Beautiful work." Brenda smiled. "Thanks, darling." The group began gathering near the vehicles. Reyes stood beside Kiro. The WWC were preparing to depart. Rogue was already speaking with Iris about the evidence. Yukari had completed one final distant examination of the runic system. And Shammy was standing quietly beside Mai. Ace joined them. "Everything all right?" Shammy nodded. "Yes." Mai looked toward the mountain. "It's over." Shammy smiled faintly. "For the women, at least, the worst part is." Ace put an arm around her. "And Faugn?" Yukari approached. "Still bound." "Forever?" Yukari considered. "As far as we can responsibly arrange." Ace smiled. "Good enough." Shammy took Mai's hand. For a while, the three women stood together. Then Shammy looked toward the medical vehicles in the distance. "Nine." Ace nodded. "Nine." "All alive." Mai smiled. "All alive." Shammy closed her eyes briefly. Then opened them. "That's the part I'll remember." Ace kissed her. "So will I." Brenda arrived beside Iris a few minutes later. She looked thoroughly pleased with herself. Iris looked fondly exasperated. Ace regarded them. "Well?" Brenda grinned. "Well what?" "Happy?" "Immensely." Iris sighed. "She's been smiling for the last twenty minutes." "Can you blame me?" Mai laughed. "Not remotely." Brenda looked toward Skulker, who was speaking with Badger near the WWC vehicle. "That man is an absolute treasure." Iris raised an eyebrow. "Professionally?" Brenda smiled sweetly. "Entirely." Ace started laughing. Iris shook her head. "Somehow I knew you'd say that." The final vehicles departed under the darkening Badlands sky. Behind them, Barkuk Khazad's retreat no longer existed as a functioning facility. The human-made access to its ancient secret had been sealed. The binding platform remained intact. Chaugnar Faugn remained alive. Its influence was more tightly suppressed than before. And the people who had been held beneath the mountain were finally free. The next morning would bring consequences. Financial records. Corruption allegations. Questions about the company's remarkable success. Arrests and investigations. The beginning of an enormous corporate scandal. But those matters could wait until morning. Tonight belonged to the people who had survived. And to the friends who had brought them home. As the last WWC vehicle prepared to leave, Skulker called toward Brenda. "Hey!" She turned. "Yes?" He raised a hand. "Next time you've got an impossible engineering problem..." Brenda grinned. "...I'll call you." "Good." Jello leaned out of the vehicle. "Please don't!" Everyone laughed. Brenda waved. Skulker returned the gesture. Then the vehicle pulled away. Iris stood beside her wife. After a moment, she said quietly: "You realize you've made a new friend." Brenda smiled. "A very good one." "With explosives." "Naturally." Iris sighed. "Why am I not surprised?" Brenda slipped an arm around her waist. "Because you know me." Iris smiled. "Unfortunately well." Brenda kissed her cheek. Then looked one last time toward the mountain. Her expression became thoughtful. "Beautiful work." Iris regarded the distant, silent ridge. Then leaned against her. "Yes, darling." A pause. "Beautiful work." --- ## Epilogue — The Real Price of Fortune Tuesday morning brought bad news for Barkuk Khazad. Very bad news. The first financial reports appeared shortly after seven. By eight, several major Night City business outlets were carrying the story. By nine, the corporation's carefully cultivated reputation had begun collapsing considerably faster than its former retreat. Not that anyone outside a very small circle understood the irony. The public reports concerned serious allegations of financial misconduct. Money laundering. Fraudulent transactions between subsidiaries. Undisclosed transfers. Questionable acquisition financing. And a collection of irregular payments routed through hospitality and facilities companies that investigators had begun examining with considerable interest. There was no mention of Chaugnar Faugn. No ancient binding. No subterranean receiving chamber. And certainly no explanation of why a company had enjoyed such an extraordinary run of commercial good fortune. To the public, Barkuk Khazad was a rapidly growing corporation whose financial success had finally attracted the wrong kind of attention. To the people who knew what had lived beneath the mountain, the reports were rather more satisfying. At the safehouse, Brenda was watching the morning news with a cup of coffee. Ace entered the common room. "Morning." Brenda smiled. "Good morning." Ace glanced toward the display. Then stopped. "Oh." Brenda's grin widened. "Oh, indeed." A reporter was discussing the investigation into Barkuk Khazad's corporate holdings. Several senior executives were being questioned. Financial records had been secured. Regulators and independent investigators were examining the company's complex network of subsidiaries. And the corporation's private Badlands retreat had been closed following a major structural incident. Ace started laughing. "A structural incident?" Brenda nodded solemnly. "Terrible thing." "Really?" "Absolutely devastating." Ace regarded her. "Any idea what caused it?" Brenda took a sip of coffee. "Unfortunate geological circumstances." Ace dissolved into laughter. --- Mai arrived a few minutes later. Shammy followed. Yukari was already sitting near the window, drinking tea. Iris emerged from the kitchen carrying breakfast. For several minutes, everyone watched the news. The coverage was extensive. Barkuk Khazad's remarkable growth had attracted considerable attention even before the scandal. Now financial analysts were questioning whether its success had depended upon illegitimate arrangements concealed within its corporate structure. Several former business partners were issuing carefully worded statements. Investors were demanding explanations. And the company's leadership was discovering that professional admiration could disappear with astonishing speed. Iris regarded the display with satisfaction. "Well." Ace glanced toward her. "Yes?" "That should keep the investigators occupied." Mai nodded. "Rogue managed to get the financial evidence into the right hands." "She did." Brenda smiled. "With a little assistance." Iris looked toward her. "From your engineering department?" "Naturally." Ace laughed. Shammy was quieter. She watched the report for a few moments. Then looked toward Ace. "Are the women safe?" Ace smiled. "Yes." "All nine?" "All nine." Shammy nodded. "Good." Mai moved closer. "The medical team says two will need more substantial treatment and rehabilitation. The others are recovering, but they'll all need time." Shammy looked relieved. "And nobody has to go back?" "No," Mai answered. "Not ever?" Ace took her hand. "Not to that place." Shammy nodded slowly. Then smiled. "That's the important part." Rogue wasn't at breakfast. She was at Afterlife, where she belonged on an ordinary morning. And where she was currently handling a considerable number of extremely unpleasant telephone calls. Some concerned Barkuk Khazad. Others concerned the rescued women. Several involved people who were suddenly very interested in knowing precisely how much information Rogue possessed about the corporation's private booking arrangements. She was not inclined to satisfy their curiosity. Her communicator sounded again. She answered. "Rogue." A familiar voice spoke. "We have confirmation." Rogue leaned back. "All six?" "Yes. Identity checks complete." "And the other three?" "Confirmed as recent captives. All receiving appropriate care." Rogue nodded. "Good." "One of the original six wants to speak with you." "Which one?" "The woman from the photograph." Rogue's expression softened. "The cat?" "Yes." Rogue closed her eyes briefly. "All right. Put her through." The woman's voice was quiet. "Hello?" "Hello." "Are you Rogue?" "Yes." A pause. "I was told you were looking for us." Rogue looked toward the photograph on her desk. "Yes." "For a long time?" "Long enough." The woman was silent. Then she asked: "Why?" Rogue considered her answer. "Because someone who cared about you refused to believe you'd simply disappeared." A long silence followed. Then the woman began crying. Rogue waited. She had no intention of rushing her. Eventually, the woman spoke again. "My friend?" "She's safe." "And..." Her voice broke. Rogue understood. "Your cat's safe too." A small, disbelieving laugh came through the connection. "Really?" "Really." "He's probably furious." Rogue smiled faintly. "From what I've heard, he has a reputation." The woman laughed again. Then cried. Rogue remained on the connection until she was ready to end it. --- The reunion happened that afternoon. There were no cameras. No journalists. No corporate representatives. Just a quiet room in a secure recovery facility. A woman who had spent months fearing she would never leave the mountain. A friend who had spent those same months refusing to stop looking. And a large black-and-white cat in a travel carrier. The moment the carrier opened, the animal emerged with an expression of profound irritation. He looked around. Considered the unfamiliar surroundings. Then noticed the woman sitting nearby. His ears moved. He stopped. She held out her hand. "Hello, darling." The cat approached cautiously. Sniffed her fingers. Then pressed his head against her palm. The woman began crying. Her friend wrapped an arm around her. For several minutes, neither spoke. The cat climbed into the woman's lap, settled against her, and began purring with remarkable determination. It didn't erase what had happened. There would be difficult days ahead. Medical appointments. Questions. Memories that wouldn't disappear simply because she was safe. But for the first time in months, she was holding someone who had been waiting for her. And that was enough for one afternoon. --- The WWC's after-action gathering was considerably less emotional. At least initially. Badger had arranged a private meeting with the team to review the operation. Jello arrived with coffee. Grouse had already examined the reconnaissance records. Heavenly Father was reviewing the evacuation report. And Skulker was staring at a structural model. Badger noticed. "Still looking at it?" Skulker nodded. "Yes." "Why?" "Because it's beautiful." Jello groaned. "Not you too." Skulker looked up. "What?" "You've caught Brenda's disease." Heavenly Father laughed. Badger regarded the display. "The operation was successful." Skulker smiled. "Very." "Binding intact." "Completely." "Captives recovered." "All nine." "Personnel evacuated." "Confirmed." Badger nodded. "Then excellent work." Skulker considered. "Brenda's a remarkable engineer." Jello grinned. "Oh, we noticed." "She actually listens when someone challenges her assumptions." Grouse looked amused. "A rare quality." Skulker nodded. "And she doesn't confuse enthusiasm with competence." Jello laughed. "Well, she certainly has plenty of enthusiasm." Skulker smiled. "So do I." Badger closed the report. "Unfortunately for the rest of us." Later, Jello called Mai. She answered from the safehouse. "Hello, darling." "Hello, trouble." Mai laughed. "How are you?" "Recovering." "From the operation?" "From watching Skulker and Brenda discover each other." Mai burst out laughing. Jello continued. "I've never seen two people so delighted by a geological cross-section." "Professionals." "Absolutely terrifying professionals." Mai smiled. "Did Badger approve of the result?" "Very much." "Good." Jello's voice softened. "How are the women?" "Recovering. All nine are safe." "Excellent." "And the WWC?" "Very pleased to have helped." Mai's expression warmed. "Thank you again." "Anytime, darling." A pause. "Although next time..." Mai laughed. "Yes?" "Please invite us to an actual party." Mai's smile widened. "Careful." Jello went quiet. "What?" "We've been discussing a few possibilities." A long silence followed. Then Jello said: "Mai." "Yes?" "What kind of possibilities?" She laughed. "Much more pleasant ones." "Define pleasant." "No ancient blood-drinking entities." Jello considered. "That's a promising start." --- Over the following days, the consequences continued spreading through Night City. Barkuk Khazad's senior leadership faced increasingly serious scrutiny. Financial investigators began reconstructing the company's network of questionable transactions. Several shell companies were identified. Payments to facilities and hospitality intermediaries became the subject of formal inquiries. The private contractor network connected to the disappearances began falling apart under the weight of recovered documents and witness testimony. The CEO's public reputation was ruined. The people who had helped organize the blood obligations were no longer operating in secrecy. And the company's extraordinary run of commercial success had come to an abrupt end. What happened beneath the mountain remained outside the public story. There was no need to explain the existence of Chaugnar Faugn to a city already burdened with more than enough dangerous legends. The ancient creature remained alive. Permanently bound. Its influence suppressed more tightly than before. And the routes that had allowed people to exploit it were sealed. For all practical purposes, the custodianship was finished. There was one other consequence. One that Iris Rourke appreciated enormously. O'Sullivan SAS continued doing business. Not with Barkuk Khazad. With the people Amber and Maeve had met during its gatherings. Nicolette and Adrian Soren remained delighted with the firm's preliminary work. Camille Voss's robotics assessment was progressing. Sabine Laurent had approved a specialist consultation. Leonie Kessler wanted to explore a broader operational partnership. And the aviation group had requested another meeting. None of these relationships depended upon the collapsed corporation remaining in existence. They were genuine professional connections. Built between capable people who liked and respected one another. And several of them had grown into friendships that would continue long after the scandal disappeared from the headlines. Nicolette called Amber on Thursday afternoon. "Darling!" Amber smiled. "Nicolette!" "Are you all right?" "Perfectly." "Maeve?" "Wonderful." Nicolette sighed. "Good. Adrian and I were concerned when we heard about the retreat." Amber's expression softened. "Thank you." "Did you know anything was wrong?" Amber considered. "We knew there were serious questions about the organization." Nicolette was quiet. Then she said: "I feel rather foolish." "Why?" "Because I genuinely enjoyed those gatherings." Amber smiled. "So did we." "But apparently the people organizing them were doing terrible things." "Some of them were." Nicolette sighed. "I keep thinking about all the pleasant evenings." Amber's voice became gentle. "Nicolette, those evenings were real." A pause. "So were the friendships." "Yes." "And the conversations." "Yes." "And the perfectly ridiculous hotel proposal Adrian keeps defending." Nicolette burst out laughing. "Oh, God." Amber grinned. "Exactly." Nicolette's voice softened. "Thank you." "You're welcome." After a moment, she added: "We'd love to have dinner with you and Maeve sometime." Amber smiled. "We'd love that." "Somewhere ordinary." "An excellent idea." "And preferably somewhere Adrian doesn't try to purchase the property." Amber dissolved into laughter. "No promises." --- That evening, Amber and Maeve were at the O'Sullivan SAS offices. Iris had called a private meeting to review the firm's recent business development. Brenda was present in her corporate identity, Jessie O'Sullivan. The office was closed for the day. There were no clients. No visitors. Only the four women, a collection of financial reports, and an extraordinary amount of satisfaction. Iris brought up the latest projections. "Well." Amber smiled. "That sounds promising." "It is." Maeve leaned forward. "How promising?" Iris indicated the figures. "If the current engagements proceed as expected, we'll be looking at a substantial improvement in our forward revenue position." Amber grinned. "Wonderful." "And the client concentration is healthier than before." Maeve nodded. "Even better." Iris continued. "Several of the new relationships are independent of one another, which reduces our exposure to any single client." Jessie leaned back. "Meaning our little networking experiment worked." Iris smiled. "Rather spectacularly." Amber laughed. "Little?" "Fine. Our extraordinarily successful networking experiment." Maeve regarded the display. "And all without accepting a single contract from the CEO's custodianship." Iris nodded. "Precisely." For a while, they reviewed the numbers. Then the conversation shifted. Not toward the collapsed corporation. Toward what had made the gatherings enjoyable in the first place. The hospitality. The personal connections. The freedom to spend time with people they liked. The absence of conventional corporate posturing. And the astonishing ease with which genuine professional opportunities had developed from relationships that had never felt like sales meetings. Amber sat back. "The irritating thing is that their social model was actually good." Jessie raised an eyebrow. "Apart from the ancient blood-drinking elephant under the floor." Maeve took a calm sip of tea. "A material defect in the business model." Iris stared at her for one beat. Then laughed. "That's one way to describe it." Amber smiled. "I'm serious. Good food. Interesting people. Enough privacy that everyone stopped performing for the room. And half the best business conversations happened because nobody was trying to have a business conversation." Iris nodded slowly. "That part worked." "Very well," Maeve agreed. "The coercive rule and the sacrificial infrastructure were the parts worth consigning to the mountain." Jessie grinned. "Quite an asterisk." "A substantial one," Iris said. Amber looked at the network of new clients on the display. "Still, there are lessons in there worth remembering." Maeve glanced at her wife. She knew that expression. Not a plan yet. Not even a proposal. Just one of Amber's dangerous little ideas finding a comfortable shelf somewhere behind her eyes. Maeve smiled and let it stay there. There would be another evening for that conversation. For now, O'Sullivan SAS had contracts to deliver and friends worth keeping. A comfortable silence followed. The business reports remained open. And the four women sat together, contemplating just how much had changed since Amber and Maeve first accepted an invitation from Barkuk Khazad. Eventually, Amber leaned back. A slow smile spread across her face. "You know, it's remarkable how many excellent business deals begin with sex." Maeve turned toward her wife. "Do you object?" Amber laughed. "Not in the slightest." Maeve smiled. "Neither do I." Iris looked between them. Then laughed. "Well, next time I want in." Jessie straightened immediately. "Hey! I want in too!" Maeve regarded her with perfect composure. Then smiled sweetly. "Sure thing, Jessie. O'Sullivan SAS wants your pussy to do the necessary work, too." For one glorious second, there was complete silence. Then Iris lost it. She laughed so hard she nearly dropped her tablet. Amber collapsed against Maeve, helpless with laughter. Jessie stared at her. Then threw back her head and roared. "MAEVE!" Maeve calmly took another sip of tea. "What?" Iris was still laughing. Jessie pointed at her. "You!" Maeve raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" "You're absolutely terrible!" Amber wiped tears from her eyes. "Darling, she's magnificent." Jessie started laughing again. Iris couldn't even speak. And Maeve, the picture of innocent corporate professionalism, simply smiled. "Well," she said, "we do believe in everyone contributing to the success of the company." That finished Iris completely. Outside, Night City continued its endless business. Corporations rose. Corporations fell. Deals were made. Fortunes changed hands. And somewhere beneath a sealed Badlands mountain, an ancient horror remained bound in darkness. Barkuk Khazad had believed prosperity could be purchased with other people's lives. It had been wrong. O'Sullivan SAS had discovered something rather more sustainable. Trust. Competence. Friendship. And the occasional exceptionally enjoyable evening. No blood obligations required. No eldritch entity necessary. Just good people, good company, and the freedom to decide what happened next. THE END — ACE 223 ❤️