by Skyler Grant
"Tell me you've got this," I said.
"They may not have an AI, but they've had twenty years to improve their computers and their software. I'm working on it," Ismene said.
Sparks was trying his utmost as well, fingers dancing across the tablet at blinding speed.
We took another shot and the interior lights of the truck flickered. That was bad, our own energy cells were starting to overload.
The screens showing the battle outside revealed a Pharosan guard stepping out of cover and holding a truly massive gun. I didn't recognize it.
"Gunner with an Anubis cannon at your three," Diva called over the Comms.
"Got him," Hammer said, and red rounds blasted into those shields. The gunner tried to outlast it while keeping his weapon focused on us. He didn't and went flying backward when his shield burst and a round took him in the shoulder.
"Anubis cannon?" I asked.
"Takes a fuckton to charge the coils and satellite authorization to fire. One can take out an armored bunker in a single shot," Diva said.
Right. That was too close then.
"I'm in," Sparks shouted in triumph.
In the warehouse alarms began to blare.
"That mean we can go?" Masque asked.
"A few more seconds. I need to make sure they can't undo it," Sparks said.
"We're good," Ismene said.
"Hit it, Masque. We'll just have to hope it holds," I said.
Guards were scrambling out of the building as the warning siren blared.
Shots blasted into the back of the truck as we sped away. After another minute a fireball filled the night sky, almost turning night into day for the decaying cityscape around us.
95
Back at base beers were passed around and we were settling back. Everyone had a bit of a buzz from the job. The second mission I'd done with the team—and the second time our vehicle had nearly been destroyed.
I didn't like close calls. Now that I was in charge I was going to make sure we had less of them. I figured the position gave me more authority to be selective about what contracts we accepted and to see that we had better equipment. Our armory had a little of everything, but almost all of it old. While I admired the flexibility, some more cutting-edge gear would go a long way.
"So that was it for this client?" I asked.
"That's right. The three jobs and we're out. I'll make contact with them and see about getting us paid," Masque said.
"How does that usually work?" I asked.
"Depends on the client. Corporations usually want you to come into their office and collect. We don't bite and some third party site gets agreed on. Private individuals often try to be more covert and play at the cloak-and-dagger bullshit," Diva said.
"I'm twenty years out of date. I only know how the corporations were arranged and their specialties in my day. What’s changed?" I asked.
"Roma is probably the biggest player out there, with real world security and the best army there is in Network. They've got a finger in every pie relating to war," Masque said.
"What about Liberty? I'm working for them, but I don't even know what they do anymore. They were the premier programmers and designers of AIs," I said.
"Old school. They had to change focus after the Sentience War. They still do the programming, but it's all geared towards entertainment. You want a great party, movie, book, or just to get laid, you find Liberty," Hammer said.
Great. It did at least help to explain my outfit as Persephone.
"The Amaterasu have increasingly moved their focus towards Earth and natural resources. Nine out of ten shuttles ferrying raw materials into orbit are coming from a Dynasty facility," Masque said.
"The Dynasty are still the experts in bureaucracy just as they would have been in your day. They are eternally useful and ever practical," Diva said.
"And you've seen firsthand what Pharosa is up to these days. If it goes in your head to connect you to the Network, they've probably got a hand in making it," Sparks said.
"Any other major players? SantaFe seemed poised for greatness," I said.
"Still do. Still aren't. They tried to get into mining and the Amaterasu beat them out. They field some good fighters, but Roma are better," Diva said.
"Do we see much corporate work?" I asked.
"Not as much as we used to. Here on Earth things used to be a bloodbath as they fought it out. These days, everyone is a bit more entrenched in their niche and if the smaller corporations are hungry, they're biding their time," Diva said.
That didn't sound right. Not when in the last few days I'd helped to take down a factory and a garage.
"Our jobs say otherwise," I said.
"Yeah. Weird innit?" Sparks said.
"Like I said, we got the job through an old contact Lance trusted. We don't even know the client, which means it is probably private," Diva said.
"Ismene? Can you find out what was going on involving Pharosa tonight? They had that beefed up security for a reason," I thought.
"Only thing I can find is they had a bigwig coming down from Aaru. That garage was going to provide the ships for air cover. Given what happened the mission got scrubbed," Ismene said.
Aaru was the Pharosan version of Olympus Station. For an executive to come down to the surface was a rare thing. It wasn't comfortable on Earth for anyone station-born even with a support suit.
"Who profits from hurting Pharosa?" I asked.
Looks were exchanged and Diva shrugged. Nobody had an answer.
"Get us paid, Masque, but be careful. The whole thing is too suspicious for my liking," I said.
"I'll be careful," Masque promised.
"We have to work out what we're going to do with those funds. It's a lot of money coming in. Our usual split is three quarters divided amongst us individuals and a quarter to the group fund for supplies and equipment," Diva said.
"Then I propose that we either need to build a bolt-hole here, or relocate to somewhere more secure," I said.
"Wasn't much fun to get cornered," Masque said.
"We're above one of the old transit tunnels, but it is buried pretty deep," Sparks said, tapping away on his tablet.
"We could make that work," Diva said.
"Do we have any good options for an alternative?" I asked.
"None that is much better than what we have. The markets here are centrally located and they keep an eye out for us, even as we provide security for them," Diva said.
That would have to do for the time being.
"While you're doing research, already mind doing a little more?" I thought to Ismene.
"Looking for a base? Why not. I'm sure Olympus had some secret facilities on Earth. It might be a few of those are still operational. I'll dig and let you know what I find. By the way, you've got an incoming call from Columbia," Ismene said.
"Do we have a secure line? I'm getting a call from Columbia and I'd rather give away as little as possible," I said.
"Should have thought of that before you opened a Network session to the Corporate Council. We're compromised already," Diva said.
Of course, she was right. We really needed that bolt-hole and a new home.
"In that case, pardon me a moment," I said.
I closed my eyes and triggered the call acceptance.
Reality flickered and faded around me, and I was in the Network. I was in a well-appointed office, the view out one of the windows showing a vibrant city with a sign that said "Hollywood" on a hill. Columbia was already present, dressed in her eye-bleeding colors. I was back in my Persephone guise.
"So Liberty could create just about any background they wanted. Why this one?" I asked.
"Tradition," Columbia said with a grin, as she moved to take a seat on the edge of the desk. "Speaks to power. Hadn't seen you in the leaves yet. Nice."
"Revealing at least. Persephone really isn't portrayed this way," I said.
"Sex sells—and trust me, every hard-on is another loyal viewer. You've g
ot a hell of a career in front of you," Columbia said.
I kind of wanted to punch her. I didn't think that would go over well with my new employers. I tried to smile politely instead.
"So nice to be valued. What do you want?" I asked.
Columbia grinned. "Don't be like that. I do it, too. The skirt is this short for a reason. Fighting for freedom is best done half-naked. We've got a job for you. Your first assignment. Simple stuff, just introducing you to the viewers."
"Nothing that requires a fight, I hope. You screwed me a little there," I said.
Columbia waved her hand dismissively. "The last thing the people want is to see an Olympian in a fight. Old news. You people were weak and you died, and nobody likes a loser, right? Compassion and democracy though, we can sell that all day long."
We were not weak. I'd play my role for now and show them just how wrong they were.
"Then let’s put on a show. What have you got for me?" I asked.
"Bertrand Russel. Age twelve, son of popular musician, Thomas Russel. He's gone missing in the Network. You're going to find him and get him back," Columbia said.
"How does someone go missing in the Network? You can just yank the plug," I said.
Columbia made a face. "And pay a penalty. No, something nefarious happened to him. That much we know, someone kidnapped him and it’s on our heads that it happened."
They were using their children as pawns. It might sound odd that it bothered me when I'd been raised to fight and die in virtual wars, but there was a purpose to all of that. I had a job, a duty to fulfill. I was nobody’s victim, and if I ever had been, there would have been no shortage of arms raised in my defense.
"Do you know who did it?" I asked.
"We have an idea or two, but this is your show, sugar. Prove that you're worth what we paid for you," Columbia said.
I wasn't much liking my new employer. Still, Liberty had been a friend in times past and for all their faults they'd been a good one.
96
I didn't have a lot of time to get ready for my first encounter. The Specters were told I'd be in the game for several days and we set things up as best possible. Restraints were quickly added to Sparks’ table and the equipment there would be suitable to monitor my condition. Ismene assured me that the nanotech suit was more than capable of handling my biological needs. I decided not to focus too much on the fact I'd be pissing in my armor and just tried to be grateful the process would be less invasive than I was used to.
Once I was settled in, I triggered my interface and slipped into the Network.
I was in a city. Prohibition-era New York, unless I was mistaken. It certainly fit the vintage style of the cars surrounding me and the distinctly antiquated look of the storefronts. For some reason I'd never understood, Liberty idolized the period.
A car pulled up, a door swung open and there was a gun pointed at me. My reflexes even in this body were fast and I dove to the side. The motion was incredibly quick given my divine agility. It was just in time as a machine gun opened up pouring fire where I had just been.
I took cover behind a car. A nearby window exploded into shards of glass. The gun ran out of ammunition, but just as it was doing so a second car pulled into place and began to fire as well.
This was ridiculous.
I didn't have anything to help me in a fight. Had I access to my own skills I could have rushed that first car and taken the gun as they reloaded. It wasn't an option. I was helpless and I wasn't used to being helpless.
No, I wasn't. I had my mind and that was the greatest weapon an Olympian owned. I just had to weight up what I had at my disposal.
I had divine Charisma. If I wasn’t under fire I might have tried to talk those gunners down, but right now they'd cut me to ribbons. I could let them kill me, I was immortal after all. I feared however that they might have already planned for that. They'd been waiting for me, they knew exactly where I'd appear when I logged in. This wasn't me being caught in some random crossfire, this was an effort to neutralize me before I started.
It went against my instincts, but I'd have to run.
The building behind me had a ladder on the second story leading up to the roof. A fire escape, most likely. It wasn't something I'd want to attempt in these conditions with my physical form, but I thought based on my stats I could manage it.
I inched around to the back of the vehicle. A spare tire was bolted there and with an effort I tore it free. I might not have weapon skills, but I could at least provide a distraction. I counted off the seconds and waited for another gun to run out of ammo. Then I acted, throwing the tire towards the car with the gunner about to resume fire. Driven by my strength the impact of the tire actually spun the car about ten degrees and sent those within sprawling. I didn't waste the opportunity and with a spring and a leap was already going for the ladder.
I made it, scurrying up. The gunner got his bearings and opened fire, a round just catching me in my thigh. It was dumb luck that they managed to hit me at all. It didn't make the shot hurt any less.
I made it to the roof and limping worked my way across it.
"You're going to need to get to another rooftop. They've got this block surrounded. Head north," Ismene said.
An indicator blinked in the corner of my vision. I hoped this was the private feed Ismene had set up. Now that I was logged into the Network in an official capacity as Persephone, people were probably watching my every move or living inside my skin at this very moment. I hoped they weren't enjoying getting shot any more than I was.
I limped north and leapt to the next roof. On the streets below men in suits and with submachine guns were surrounding the building.
I didn't waste any time. I was in no shape for a fight. I jumped between several more buildings, the ache in my leg growing more pronounced. I guess being a Goddess didn't come with any magical healing properties. A shame.
It was only after I put perhaps a mile between myself and my login location that I paused, and crouched behind a pigeon cook to catch my breath and look at my leg. The wound there was deeper than I'd thought. The bullet had dug a deep furrow into the meat of my leg.
I wasn’t a fan of this lack of armor thing no matter how much it might titillate the home viewers.
I had to be able to do something useful.
I was a vegetation Goddess. I focused on that aspect of myself, trying to pull up some sort of menu. Nothing. With the viewership, perhaps I couldn't invoke my powers from inside my mind?
"Invoke my vegetation powers," I said.
Vegetation: Which ability do you wish to invoke?
Grow
Wither
Fertility
I wasn't fighting plants and I certainly didn't have any desire to get pregnant. That left Grow. I focused.
What do you wish to grow?
What did I wish to grow? Barley was the first thing that came to mind, I could go for a beer about now. "Barley," I said.
The gravel on the roof shifted and a single sprout of barley emerged. That was less than impressive.
"Lots of barley," I said. Another sprout appeared. I was so not impressed.
"Lotus," I said, and gravel was again shifted as one grew. In the travels of Odysseus eating a Lotus would cause one to focus upon it and abandon all other concerns.
"Herbs of the Polypharmakos," I said. Another Odysseus myth, those herbs allowed the witch Circe to transform man into beasts.
A single strange-looking blossom appeared on the roof.
This was good stuff. This meant I had some options. They weren't quite as good an option as being able to stab people with a spear, but I could make do. Myth was filled with deadly poisons. I just had to remember my myths.
Did I remember anything about healing?
I couldn't think of anything, but I had an idea.
"Asphodel," I said and a grey-green plant sprouted.
It was a bloom common in the lands of the dead, and the dined upon it. However much I might be
playing at being the Goddess of Vegetation, that was an aspect of me. I pulled the plant from the soil and ate the roots.
The wound in my thigh shimmered with a purplish glow. It didn't instantly close, but the pain was less. It was something, perhaps it would take it some time to work.
I needed a plan and I needed one quick. I'd expected to have time to get to know my surroundings before deciding on a course of action, but things had heated up rather quickly.
Still, perhaps I knew enough. With the streets filled with gunmen I needed someplace to go that was safe. The massive city provided me with a real opportunity in the case of a missing person. It would have its own police department that had probably already been investigating the case.
I no more had the thought than a tiny indicator sent by Ismene appeared in one corner of my vision. I limped off, keeping to the rooftops.
It wasn't far to the police station, and I spent a few minutes observing the place. I wanted to make absolutely sure I didn't see any connection with those who had been shooting at me.
Uniformed officers passed in and out regularly, but I didn't recognize anyone from the assault. I'd approach them directly then and see if they had any leads for me.
97
I walked into the police station and the room fell into a hush. It might have been the naked-except-for-a-few-vines look. I didn't even slightly blend into New York of this era. The fashions were distinctly conservative, and I rather suspected if one wandered into a peep show they might see less flesh than I was flashing around. I couldn't do anything about that except curse Liberty for putting me in the predicament.
"Miss, I think you might be in the wrong place," said the officer at the desk, after taking a too-long look.
"I'm not. My name is Persephone, I’m under contract from Liberty to find Bertrand Russell," I said.
It got me an amused look and he called over his shoulder, "Cliff. The naked broad here says she was hired to investigate the Russell boy. Want me to send her back?"
