24.0

March 1, 2070, at 1043

Otherworld Seattle, Outer Wastes, Washington State Route 99

Crystal sat casually on a leather sofa with an air of otherworldly grace granted by her vampiric body’s innate reflexes. Her crimson eyes stared unblinking at Shun Lee, the short boy sitting across from her on his sofa. The boy’s expression of unease gave him the look of a terrified lemming.

Eventually, she broke the internal silence and said, “He can see me. Stir Fry with Sauce.” As her guest didn’t react, he clearly couldn’t detect communication on the spirit link between her companions.

Crystal glanced around the RV under Rabbit, which displayed a marvel of technology and magic, seamlessly synchronizing advanced technology with mystical elements. The walls were lined with sleek, touch-responsive panels that glowed softly, showing various data and controls.

“Exactly,” Fluffyfeathers said in a loaded tone, bringing her attention back to the young boy.

Shun was dressed in practical clothes befitting a commando scout, his gear well-used but well-maintained. She noted he fiddled nervously with a small, sophisticated device that seemed unable to comprehend the RV's advanced systems. His eyes darted around, trying to make sense of his surroundings, defying his understanding of technology. It reminded Crystal of a cute little creature testing a trap for poison.

“His attitude is respect mixed with terror. Strangely, the terror seems more directed toward someone or something else. He exhibits a desire to impress you for some strange reason.” Rabbit asked over the spirit link with confusion.

“What are you looking for, Mr. Shun?” Crystal finally asked to break the ice. The boy had given his name when offering his services as a guide earlier. “We’ve been traveling for less than an hour, and you appear very unsettled.”

Crystal's attire was a striking contrast to the RV's muted grey-black interior—a skin-tight jumpsuit of blood red that seemed to shimmer with an inner light, providing protection akin to heavy armor while accentuating her form. In addition, her confident posture and serene expression belied the powerful aura she exuded as part of her Shroud.

The boy, Shun Lee, finally stopped analyzing his surroundings and said with a slightly guilty tone, “I don’t understand how you have an AI core in such a small space. Much less how it could be powered since none of my gear can detect the fusion reactor.”

“Fusion reactor?” Crystal told the other two on the spirit link chat group without breaking her poker face. “We do not have anything like that unless someone is about to come clean to me.”

“We don’t.” Rabbit said, “The spinning orb powers everything off itself by being imbued with runes. The eggs being dropped for sanitization aren’t part of any power source.”

Rabbit's own words highlighted the RV itself had been a fusion of arcane and modern, with runes etched into various surfaces concealed by plating. The symbols of power drew ambient mana from the vehicle’s mana core, fueling the entire RV’s systems in ways that defied conventional understanding.

Furthermore, with the increase in ambient mana, everything ran even smoother than in Crystal’s homeworld of Earth. The absence of a traditional power source added to the RV’s mystery while confusing Shun’s sensors. She understood immediately that the vehicle hinted at the advanced magical knowledge in her grasp. It made her even more incredible in the boy’s eyes.

Fluffyfeathers nodded from her perch on Crystal’s left shoulder, echoing her thoughts along the spirit link, “There’s nothing in Rabbit’s code that would be as efficient withdrawing off an inferior power source like electricity. I doubt this place can produce a miracle like what we have running our vehicle. We even have the Alchemy Jug and CHOOH2 as a backup if required.”

“That’s what I thought, which makes the boy’s confusion understandable. So, his comment can be construed to mean the corporations use fusion around here?” Crystal’s mind raced at the implications as she continued on the spirit link, “Well, I can already bet Arasaka stole that technology without a doubt. The chance to wean themselves away from exclusively using CHOOH2, they wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Her eyes flickered silver for a brief moment as she calculated options.

“Ask about the Net here,” Fluffyfeathers whispered insidiously as only a spirit chicken could.

“Ask about the Net, please.” Rabbit added hopefully as he adjusted their transit to avoid potholes.

It was a blessing in disguise that the map from Crystal’s world worked here. At least in the general sense, maps worked for a world so similar to her own, with more mana by far.

“Don’t worry, we aren’t using nuclear power, and there is no AI core in my vehicle,” Crystal said out loud to Shun with a brilliant smile. She technically wasn’t lying since Rabbit’s core was in one of the self-defending Militech boxes inside the dungeon.

The connection to the RV was maintained through the spirit link. It eliminated the possible weakness of her AI being hacked quite effectively or, even worse, physically damaged. Monsters didn’t bother trying to eat her cluster of boxes these days; at least, she hadn’t seen a body part from one in a long while.

Under pressure from her companions, Crystal finally segued into a question and asked, “Do you have something like the World Wide Web around these parts?”

Shun narrowed his eyes before shrugging and replying, “Are you talking about the Matrix, which is wireless? Everyone knows about it. Everyone that’s from around here, at least.” The boy glanced away as Crystal’s crimson eyes suddenly focused on him

“You are certain I’m not from this world?” Crystal said, curious, before Shun said firmly, “Certain.” She leaned back into her sofa, thinking out loud, “We must have made a mistake somewhere. The cover we planned to use was generated from goblins, after all. No doubt it wasn’t hard to see through.”

“You’re a Banshee elf with absolute control of their death aura. You have a living baby chicken on your shoulder. This vehicle has an AI but no AI core onboard. Combine those with the fact that you aren’t using a nuclear source, battery, or whatever. I don’t think you even use electricity, which makes no sense. You are an Outworlder. Not only those things, but…” Shun paused as he glanced at Crystal with a slight blush as his eyes slipped to her chest.

“Go on,” Crystal said, tapping her foot on the floor as she listened with crossed legs.

“Your method of dress and the fact that you are Cloaking pretty much put the final nail in the coffin,” Shun said with a gulp. “Banshee might be able to do that, but doing so while controlling their domain? No. That’s way beyond logic. The only explanation is being an Outworlder. The fact that you haven't consumed me and worn my skin as a cloak was a big tell, too.”

“What’s wrong with the way I dress?” Crystal said, confused.

“Skin-tight jumpsuits with the same armor quality of plate-mail that leave nothing to the imagination are something only mega-corporate royalty or Outworlders unfamiliar with our world would wear. You’re not royalty 'cause you don’t have enough minions, and this is a combat vehicle, not a luxury van.” Shun said with a shrug. “There’s also the fact that you have melons.” Crystal glanced down at her chest and said, “Melons?”

Shun nodded, “It means you’ve been fed a very excellent diet of the organic variety. A big chest is a sign of status. At least, that’s what Midnight told me. She seemed rather upset when we discussed the subject a few months ago.”

“Juice?” Rabbit said from a speaker nearby as a robotic arm stealthily offered the drink, causing the young boy to bolt upright with a horrified expression.

“Ah, you’re not afraid of me or Stir Fry with Sauce,” Crystal said in a knowing yet calm tone as she attempted to soothe the young boy. “Instead, you are afraid of an AI? How odd.”

“He’s a survivor of the SCIRE Incident,” Fluffyfeathers said along the spirit link. “It took me a bit to realize how to get in, but the Matrix is a slightly more complex net.”

Crystal got the file sent along the link, letting her mind flicker through the information in the fraction of a second it took. It took her control not to change her expression or react.

“Well, that explains it.” Rabbit said on the internal comms, clearly having seen the same file.

The RV trundled further in silence for a few minutes, cutting through the bleak landscape of the Outer Wastes. Inside, the tension was gone. Crystal, now more aware of Shun's past, chose her words with outstanding care. With access to the Matrix, information was accessible, but understanding and street-level smarts were worth a good bit.

"According to my companions, the Matrix here is more complex than our Net. Interesting." Crystal mused aloud, her eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern. "Shun, how do you normally navigate it? From what I can tell, it is quite different, yet very similar in many respects."

Shun nodded, looking slightly more at ease after a gulp of organic orange juice tested by one of his minor gadgets. "It's all about electronic and mana resonance and bio-electrical field signatures. You need to have the right cyberdeck and know how to blend in, or you stick out like a sore thumb. And that's dangerous. When someone sticks out, they look like an easy target. Vultures gather like flies on shit for someone like that."

Crystal nodded thoughtfully. "Is it dangerous because of corporate surveillance, too?"

"Obviously," Shun replied. "The corps has their Black Intrusion Countermeasures Electronics ready to fry any unauthorized intruder, but there's also the threat of rogue AIs and gang hackers. It's a jungle in there. B-ICE is just the most painless way to die."

Fluffyfeathers chirped in through the spirit link, "He’s correct. There have been no less than one hundred and seven attempts to hack us since entering the Matrix.”

“Have you responded politely?” Crystal replied along the link, her eyes showing a silver glint. Only a tiny flutter of her eyelid betrayed the rage held within.

“I haven’t done anything to civilian networks, but everything else is scorched earth and egg plantations. Our presence in this network is turning into a hunter-killer fortress platform. No worries.” Fluffyfeathers said while Rabbit sent a thumbs-up emoji over the spirit link.

“Would you have an example of the technology I could examine?” Crystal asked the young boy.

Shun hesitated but then shrugged before pulling out a sleek, worn cyberdeck. It looked like a black metal holder for a deck of cards. "I can give you a rundown, but it's not something you learn overnight. Most Shades spend a lifetime learning, developing, or using their tricks in the Matrix."

Crystal smiled with a frosty glaze to her crimson eyes. “I’m sure I can figure it out, Shun.”

While she listened as Shun began to explain the intricacies of the Matrix, Rabbit interjected over the spirit link, "We're approaching a checkpoint. Looks like Knight Errant security, according to their displayed Matrix credentials. From the news sources in this section of the Matrix, they are in talks with the city. It appears to be for the contract involving Seattle’s security situation. A serial killer is running around that the current holders of the contract, Lone Star, cannot find."

“A serial killer? Do they have a moniker yet?” Crystal asked internally.

“The Lone Star’s internal network calls the individual the Mayan Cutter.” Rabbit replied the AI’s tone was mocking, indicating what he thought of the current police.

“Who does the killer target, according to known M.O.?” Crystal asked without speaking aloud.

“All targets are verified to be SINless.” Fluffyfeathers said with a grin in her tone.

“System Identification Number?” Crystal asked, hazarding a quick guess.

“Bingo. By the way, yours is ZQY-Q8JU1P-4BXA8013-Z0R5-ID10T.” Fluffyfeathers sent.

Crystal rolled her eyes at the evil spirit chicken’s antics before her gaze shifted to the road ahead on the monitors. "Keep it smooth, Rabbit. Shun, pause that tutorial. We have a minor situation up ahead."

The RV, a lumbering behemoth of technological terror, gradually decelerated as it neared the looming checkpoint. The Knight Errant officers stood like statues of modern warfare, garbed in formidable mechanical armor that gleamed under the harsh sunlight. They were intimidating, each brandishing heavy weapons quickly, including menacing Gatling mini-guns. Their presence was a blatant challenge, a stark reminder of the power corporations wielded. Crystal was impressed; Knight Errant reminded her less of thugs and more like elite special forces as one of the region's two police entities. A palpable tension hung as the lead officer signaled for the RV to halt.

Inside the vehicle, Crystal and Shun exchanged glances, their eyes communicating a silent pact, an unspoken agreement. Crystal knew the volatile potential of their situation. She was poised like a coiled serpent, ready to strike if necessary but preferring productive peace if possible. It was easier to move around if she wasn’t on a wanted list.

The lead officer, as cold and impersonal as the steel of his armor, stepped forward to the RV’s sealed door. "Identification and purpose of travel?" he demanded, his voice devoid of emotion, echoing slightly through his helmet. As he spoke, a screen flickered to life on the side of the RV, strategically placed by the door’s side. The display was an apparent show of authority, a silent assertion of dominance. It projected the image of Crystal seated at ease with an annoyed expression.

She observed the officer's power play with a mixture of disdain and strategic calculation. Crystal could sense the minute micromovements of the officer that betrayed his attempt to assert control over the situation. Her response was carefully measured a blend of arrogance and indifference. "I'm just passing through, heading to Seattle for supplies," she declared, her voice laced with an undertone of uncaring lordship. Her posture remained relaxed, a silent challenge to the authority the officers represented.

The officer scrutinized her in the display, his gaze lingering for a moment longer as if comparing her image to an internal list. After what felt like an eternity, he nodded. "Proceed, but be aware of curfew hours. The Wastes aren't safe after dark. The Mayan Cutter has struck nearby, and the Lone Star pigs can’t find a trace of him." Crystal gave a casual wave of agreement as the display cut out, and the RV rumbled through the now accessible roadway.

As they drove from the checkpoint, Crystal said, "Well, that was informative. It also appears there is extensive hostility between the two police forces?"

Shun looked back at the fading checkpoint with a haunted look. "The Mayan Cutter is a problem, and if I wasn’t traveling with you, it might be dicey."

Crystal glanced at him and smiled before she said, "How could I let my cute little guide be harmed in transit? Let’s get back to that lesson on accessing the Matrix."

Hours later, the RV wound its way closer to Seattle’s massive defensive wall entrance, the landscape gradually transforming from desolate wastelands to the fringes of urban decay. The air was heavy with the scent of rain and the unspoken tension of a city on the edge. In the distance, massive mechanical farms patrolled by elite squads reminded Crystal of the Biotechnica plantation.

Inside the RV, as the gate appeared a mile away, the group's dynamic shifted subtly. Crystal directed the conversation toward strategizing as she said, "We need to blend in and gather intel," she stated firmly. "This world's Seattle is a nexus of corporate power plays and shadow dealings. The more we know, the better we can navigate. Do we have funds procured?"

Rabbit focused on driving, chimed in, "Security here is very dependent on magic. It couldn’t stand up to Stir Fry with Sauce at all."

Fluffyfeathers, perched attentively, shot Rabbit’s hologram a deadly look and added, "I was only able to acquire a few hundred thousand nuyen before a massive presence in the Matrix changed all the locks."

Fluffyfeathers projected a hologram of her own in the air with a flick of her downy fur feathers. Ancient symbols carved out the word ‘Celedyr’ before Crystal’s eyes. “This is the symbol left behind after all the locks changed. I didn’t attempt to fight further since I don’t know who we are dealing with now.”

Now more involved, Shun suggested, "That looks like Old Welsh. For something like that, it was probably a Dragon. Midnight told me there was one in the Matrix that likes to mess around. I bet they are contracted for Seattle’s cybersecurity. It's just a rumor, though; people attribute lots of crazy shit to the scaled overlords of legend and myth."

As they entered the run-down outskirts of Seattle after going through the wall's checkpoint, the city's skyline loomed ahead, a stark contrast of neon and steel against the gray skies. The outer streets were bustling with activity, a chaotic blend of street vendors, pedestrians, and the occasional patrolling drone.

Rabbit parked the RV in a discreet alleyway, its eyes scanning the surroundings. Turning into the alley had been easy, as the RV segmented sections to accommodate entry. The front of the RV shifted into icebreaker format, shoveling all the trash out at the opposite end. Between one blink and the next, a new gleaming steel wall sat between two brick-and-mortar stores. Crystal watched wires snaked out of the RV, drilling into the concrete. Gas, electricity, water, and more had been tapped within moments. While the RV didn’t need such resources, it would provide a decent cover.

"We'll split up. Rabbit, you and Fluffyfeathers surf the Matrix and pull what you can learn about the local scene. Shun, you're with me. We'll head to your local office and settle accounts. I don’t want a group of Shades making my life miserable in revenge for a mascot. Make sure to erase that little portal zone we entered from, too." Crystal said as the RV’s door opened into a tight fit with the alley’s wall.

“Scout. The word you were looking for was a scout.” Shun deadpanned as they exited the RV.

Crystal turned to Shun, "Ready to guide a poor innocent soul through the maze of the Outer District?" Shun nodded in agreement to her question, his eyes glancing around as the GPS connection to the Matrix fed him coordinates. "Do you need a weapon?"

“No, I’m always armed,” Crystal said with a mysterious smile.

Shun shrugged and took point, walking out the alley’s unsealed exit to the street. Crystal followed as her companions fed her a map with directions. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her short guide; it was just basic common sense.

As they navigated through the streets following a roundabout route to Midnight’s Mayhem, the Shade shop that Shun was part of, Crystal's mind noted the similarities between this world and hers. There were gangs, visible weapons, and guarded storefronts. If it wasn’t for the less metallic surroundings, she’d almost confuse her current location with a bad part of Noir City. A glance with Rune Eyes, though, told a different tale. There was magic everywhere, from gang glyphs to security runes.

Shun paused at the small group waiting for them as the duo cut into another alley from the street. “Midnight, Tusks, and Twitch?”

The trio leader in front of them waved her hand and said, “Greetings, dear client Banshee. Welcome to our fair city of eternal rain and gloom. Would you mind if I did a little check on my wayward employee?”

Crystal shrugged acquiesce as she looked at the group, examining them with standard and mystical sight. In the shadow-drenched alleyway of Seattle, where the overcast sky painted everything in shades of grey and neon, the trio that confronted her stood out as enigmatic figures, each embodying the essence of a Shade in this world – a blend of the futuristic, the mystical, and the dangerous.

Crystal observed the leader, known as Midnight, was a striking woman with a commanding presence. Her attire was a seamless blend of high-tech and style – a sleek, form-fitting armored jacket that shimmered with a subtle iridescence under the flickering neon signs, hinting at hidden defenses. Her hair was a cascade of black, styled in a way that half-shrouded her face, giving her an air of mystery. One of her eyes was replaced with a cybernetic implant, glowing faintly with an eerie purple light, signaling enhanced capabilities beyond regular human sight. A series of intricate tattoos, possibly magical, snaked up her visible skin, hinting at hidden powers or affiliations.

Standing to her right was a hulking figure, an ork whose size and musculature spoke of immense physical strength. His skin had a tinge of green, and his tusks, protruding from under his lower lip, added to his intimidating appearance. He was clad in heavy, patched armor adorned with various weapons – from a large, crudely modified shotgun slung across his back to multiple blades and clubs attached to his belt and thighs. His face bore scars and cybernetic enhancements, telling a story of how many battles survived.

On the left was a more unassuming human who seemed to blend into the shadows. This individual was lean, almost wiry, with a hood pulled low over their face, obscuring their features. However, the glint of their staring eyes, sharp and calculating, could be seen beneath the hood's shadow. They wore a long, dark coat, open at the front to reveal an assortment of gadgets and technological devices. Their fingers, adorned with rings and augmented with subtle cybernetics, danced with nervous energy, suggesting a hacker or a rigger – someone who commanded the digital world as quickly as others might wield a gun.

Crystal didn’t feel threatened because the magical might of the trio was a flickering candle to her powers. Shun strode over to Midnight, at which point he was poked in the cheek while the older woman admonished him about his life choices. After haranguing the younger member of her group, Midnight took out a small device that appeared to scan Shun. After looking at the readout, the Shade leader seemed to be satisfied.

“Thank you for your patience.” Midnight said with a short nod. Crystal shrugged again before she said, “I’ve deposited the amount for being a guide into your account, Shun.”

Twitch, true to his name, seemed to shudder as she finished before stating, “That would be impossible unless you hacked the Zurich-Orbital Gemeinschaft Bank and located him through customer information. He would have only given the company account number to you.”

Crystal smiled as she shrugged this time, a polite thing of edges and glass. Twitch shared a look with his leader that appeared to contain several meanings. Midnight gave her shrug before saying, “Shun?”

The boy’s eyes glazed briefly before he replied, “Everything is there, along with a bonus for…stuff.”

“A bonus for being adorable and cute,” Crystal said, smirking. It was fun to watch Midnight needle her young employee before the ork interrupted and said, “Boss, we need to go. There’s a Red Alert for this area.”

Midnight shifted to a business-like demeanor; glancing at Crystal, she said, “Red Alert means a mega is doing something shady in the area. Best to clear out before you get involved in it.”

Crystal smiled and said, “Thank you. I’ll take your words to heart.” The group of Shades turned and left at a quick pace. After they had departed, Crystal's expression soured as she muttered, “Does everyone and their grandmother have the ability to see me in this world?” A quick query along the spirit link made her relax. Fluffyfeathers informed her that not only was the ability to pierce a Cloak rare, but even better, it was expensive.

The more likely option was that Shun’s sight could be shared using magic. With a leap, she exited the alley to step onto a nearby rooftop. It took only a moment for the scent of blood on the wind to arrive before her. With a sinister grin, Crystal flickered off to see if the excitement of a Red Alert was worth anything.