Seeking Strays

My legs kicked as I sat on the parapet of a roof bundled in my hoodie. Rain pattered down all around me, and fell on dark streets. A brown out rolled through the eastern district not that long ago—quickly followed by a blackout as the rioting intensified. Honestly, it was a surprise the Peace Keepers hadn’t gotten a hand on that quite yet.

“You seem happy, Operator Reyna.” Vigil sat just next to me on the side of the brick wall surrounding the roof. My tail curled around him protectively, and kept him mostly dry.

”How could I not be?” I stretched out, and my ears perked upright toward gunshots in the distance. “To think, I’d be a teacher… it’s practical stuff, but still!”

”… will it interfere with finding the Grail Knight?” His eyes dimmed slightly.

My legs paused mid swim, and the tip of my tail thwacked against the brickwork. “No, it might make it easier. The academies plugged into the whole UCS network.”

”Affirmative.” Vigil went silent for a few moments as we sat in the rain.

Not only that, buy Sister Neriyov was safe and well. I was incredibly worried about her after the fiasco in the church. As it turned out, she happened to be out of the city for the next three days. Although the Mire was dangerous, heading between other cities wasn’t nearly as bad as going beyond the fringes.

“What are you going to buy?” He asked.

”With the Vitae? I’m not sure yet.” I hadn’t had much of a chance to think about it. With a thought, I brought up the Biosystems’ interface.

| Subject: Reyna Vargriev

Subject Species: Silver Wolf Apex

Subject Profile: 

STR - 1.7 ACU - 1.3

AGL - 2.5 PSI - 2.5

RES - 0.8 ANM - 0.2 

Traits: Regeneration, Rage, Mutant, Witness

NLC - 10/158

=Blackwater Anomalous Biosystems V7.77

=Blackwater Anomalous Rend

=Templar Basic Immuno Mask(10)

Vitae: 101

Blackwater Catalogs: Basic Nyter |

“What do you think would be smart? More nanites, or another catalog?” I was thinking about going for the Blackwater Anomalous Catalog, to be honest. I was pinning all my hope on there being something in there for me.

”This unit is unsure.” Vigil proved to be as unhelpful as ever.

”Yeah, well…” I hesitated for a few more moments before pulling up the catalog list and purchasing the Blackwater Anomalous

++ Catalogs Available: ++

| Blackwater Consumables - 100 V |

| Blackwater Anomalous - 100 V |

“Operator, after further consideration, this unit suggests the Blackwater Anomalous Catalog,” Vigil said. “Given the nature of Rend and the Biosystems, there is a likelihood of acquiring other esoteric strains.”

”I was thinking the same thing.” My tail gave an annoyed twitch. With both of us on the same track, I purchased Blackwater Anomalous and watched my Vitae drain away. A shiver went down my spine, and I pulled my hoodie tighter around myself.

++ Catalog - Blackwater Anomalous - Purchased ++

| + Daily Curio(3h 21m): 

A Really Nice Chair 

-50V > 5V

+ Blackwater’s Choice(3h 21m):

Psionic Technique: Jouste

-50V

+ Anchor Estate Liquidation(3d 11h):

Owner: Vincent Malfescence(deceased)

[ Open? ]

+Blind Acquisitions: 

Lost and Found - 10V

Basic Catalogs - Locked

Veil Curio - Locked

+ Blackwater Bounties:

Locked 

+ Blackwater Anomalous Relay: 175/500 |

… what the hell did I just open? I stared at the entries with wide eyes. This was totally different from the other catalog. Although… A Really Nice Chair, really? Why the hell would I want to buy something like that?

| A Really Nice Chair

Type: Furniture

Anomalous Property: Restful Embrace

Effect: Accelerates stamina recovery | 

Oh… yeah, that actually might be worth it. For only five Vitae? Ugh, I didn’t have any more. Not that it’d matter. There was no way I was going to buy a chair of all things. ‘Sides, it looked like the catalog would change out its Daily Curio soon.

Blackwater’s Choice looked like it was the same thing as the Daily Curio, though maybe directed at me? Stuff I’d be specifically interested in? I wasn’t totally sure, but Jouste was definitely interesting. I hadn’t realized Psykers could use additional techniques outside of our ability.

The Anchor Estate Liquidation was downright unsettling though. Anchor was what the Blackwater Biosystems originally called me. It was only natural there were other Anchors, though that didn't make the Estate Liquidation any better. Was the Biosystems selling what other people had purchased?

The Blackwater Anomalous was closer to another Biosystems than a true shopping catalog. The bottom of it was what caught my eye more than anything else, though. “You see this?”

”Affirmative, Operator. It will take some time for this unit to account for the new catalog.” Vigil’s eyes flickered rapidly just as they usually did when he was processing something. “This unit suggests spending 325 more Vitae.”

”I was thinking the same thing.” Back when the first three Catalogs popped up, the Biosystems said something about a relay. If I was reading this right, then with just 325 more Vitae sunk into the system, I could have a chance at getting new Catalogs… Just how long would this take me?

Unfortunately, I didn’t have much longer to think about it. One of my ears cocked backward to the stairs behind me. I quickly swept Vigil into my pocket, and coiled my tail into my lap. “They’re here.”

“Operator, why do you continue to work for this organization?” Vigil asked from my pocket. He was with me when I got the message to meet up.

”Reasons.” Too many of them to get into with the robot. Sylvie’s face flashed through my mind. She was about the only good one. I took a deep breath, and pulled my mask back into place. It wouldn’t do much, but hopefully it’d at least help hide my identity.

The door opened up behind me, and a person stepped out onto the roof. My ear twitched, and my tail stilled as I recognized her. Lena waved politely to me. “…”

“Lena.” She looked good—looked like she had back when she ditched me in the Mire. Her short bob hair was split down the middle, with one side dyed white and the other black. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Her hands flashed in front of her chest in sign language. I wished I didn’t know it so I could ignore her, but Hades’ language studies had been quite thorough. ‘Glad you’re alive.’

”That makes one of us.” I bit out, and tried to hide my glare. “How’s the city been?”

‘The same. I came to see you in the hospital.’ The Awoken Lieutenant just shrugged and tipped her head to me. ‘Your sister’s cute.’

Was that supposed to be a threat? What, that if I didn’t comply they’d do something to Sylvie? It was even more of a reason to go hard on her at the academy so she’d be able to take care of herself. My time away had only reinforced the thought that I wouldn’t always be along. “… you didn’t do anything, did you?”

‘Kept my hands to myself.’ She chuckled likely, and waved back toward the door. ‘Came to escort you. New job, and new armor.’

”Heh, right.” This definitely wasn’t a social call. The only reason the syndicate would want me was for work. ”Job?”

’Urgent. Research stolen.’ She waved me over, and held the door open.

“I’m coming.” I stared off the side of the building for a moment, and briefly contemplated throwing myself off. I really didn’t want to be alone with her of all people… 

It passed after a moment, and I swung back over the parapet to follow Lena. Not like I had much of a choice. I still had to keep good relations with Hades no matter how much I didn’t want to.

I followed her down to a waiting SUV, and she drove us off into the city. I stared out the window, and watched the city pass us by. Eventually, we rolled to a stop and pulled into a parking garage just underneath Hellfire Industries, one of Hades’ front organizations.

I adjusted my mask, and tried not to flinch as Lena turned off the car. “Um… should I cover up more?”

’You’d just look more suspicious.’ She signed to me, and popped open the door. ‘Fine as you are. No one will know.’

”I-if you’re sure…” I pulled lightly at my tail. Having this stupid thing out was already giving me away. I really, really didn’t want anyone in the syndicate to know who I was. That was especially true given my recent popularity.

‘It’ll be fine.’ She slammed her door shut, and started to walk without me.

I quickly got out of the SUV and followed after her. We slipped into Hellfire Industries, and moved through the heavy industrial plant. Welders worked round the clock, and the loud noise made my ears throb. Thankfully, it only lasted for a moment before we entered a side office. 

Lena walked up to one of the walls and tapped on the surface. A retinal scanner seamlessly popped out of the wall, and she waved me over. ‘You do it.’

”I… am I in the system?” I’d never been to any of Hades’ hidden bases by myself. Usually, it was under guard, escorted by Cerberus, or in a cage.

‘Why wouldn’t you be? Didn’t Haman promote you?’ Her head tilted to the side, and her domino hair swished around her small face.

”I don’t know.” Hades had been awfully quiet since I woke up. I expected Cerberus to call me in immediately, but he hadn’t even reached out. Aside from Doctor Smith giving me an inhibitor, it’d been radio silent. 

‘Well, come try this.’ She backed away and leaned on the wall just next to the retinal scanner.

I hesitantly stepped up, and lowered my eye over the scanner. A bright light flashed up through my eye, and made me flinch back. A robotic voice spoke up as the wall slid backward. “Welcome, Lieutenant Barghest.”

”I guess I did get promoted.” Would’ve been nice if they told me that—wait, no. I enjoyed not having to worry about Hades while it lasted. 

‘This way.’ Lena led me into the secret workshop. The rough industrial look faded into sheer white walls.

An elevator dropped down into a massive subterranean workshop filled with all sorts of machinery and tools scattered around. Small armories held countless weapons, and worktables lay around all over the place with half finished projects still resting on them. A duo of robots flanked the door, and stood at attention with rifles ready to fire. Their chassis were covered in glowing runes and circuitry.

A man in a black coat glanced up from a worktable deeper inside of the workshop. Esoteric sigils and enchanted pylons were set up in a neat layout, with a hovering halo held tightly between them. Just seeing the halo sent a chill down my spine.

The man pulled away from a massive magnifying glass looking down onto the halo, and set aside a glowing quill. The quill erupted into fire, and disappeared. “Just a moment.”

He pulled out a high tech engraving tool, and slowly started to etch runes so fine I couldn’t even see them. Magic flickered around his hands and imbued the expensive looking tools. An Arcanist?

‘This is Charon, the man responsible for most of Hades’ tech.’ Lena waved her hand to the man, and signed to me.

Charon grunted, and the magic abruptly cut out. He pulled away from the engraving tool, and leaned back to check his work. Only once he was satisfied did he look up to us. “Ah, Lieutenant Lena… and you are?”

”Barghest.” I looked around the room, and tried not to focus on any of the blatantly enchanted pieces around the room. Magic was always unsettling.

”Ah, yes.” He rolled away from the desk and stood up. He was a pale, lanky man that looked like he’d just crawled out of a grave. “Barghest… I’ve been working on your armor. Come, come.”

I followed him to a worktable. “You know me?”

”I made your original armor.” He dug through the mounds of stuff scattered across the table and pulled out a set of black bands. This time around, there was just one. A choker. “I’ve made some improvements. It’s good to finally see who’s using my gear. Cerberus was so against this meeting—ah, guess he’s not a problem anymore, though.”

“What happened to him?” I asked, and bit my tongue. I sounded way too interested in the man. I couldn’t help it, though. He’d vanished, and I hadn’t heard any news about him other than mentions.

“He’s… busy. Overseer Haman was extremely dissatisfied with him. No matter.” He lifted the bands into the air, and clinical white lights glowed off of them. “Notably, it doesn't require linked gear anymore. It’s all in one.”

”… thank you.” I stared at the choker for a moment. Even just seeing a choker made my stomach roll. At least it didn’t have the manacle-like bands with it anymore.

”It can more easily be taken off as well. I have the full list of commands somewhere around here, though it is now neural linked. With a thought, you can activate it.” He turned the choker over, and it hung limply from his hand. “I also used that new material to vastly improve the resilience and durability, though the metal was harder to shape.”

Better armor was good. I stared at the black band. Was I really just going to put that back on just because they asked me to? To collar myself? ”That means?” 

“I couldn’t get the shape the same.” He handed me the enchanted collar. “Here, try it on.”

I hesitated for a moment and grabbed the collar from him. It unlatched at the back, allowing me to easily slip it onto my neck. The moment it clicked around me, familiar black plates flowed out and around my body. In mere moments, I was once more in the intimidating armor of Barghest.

There was a difference now, though. Instead of the pure black plate, there were red highlights traced throughout. They were artfully done to disguise an array of intricate runes, and looked like various wolf highlights. 

The next hour was spent with the arcanist running several tests to ensure everything worked. Only once he was happy were we let go. We got back in the SUV and headed to a tucked away research lab where my urgent job awaited.