On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Aliyah opened her bleary eyes to the sight of the grey, drab winter sunlight streaming through the open window. “Fuck. My mouth’s so dry…” she grumbled, tasting what seemed like a small, dead animal in her mouth, but what was surely just the leftovers from her heavy drinking the last night. Still, it was a damn good time. Even if my head does ache like a bitch.

Glancing over at the bed beside her, which was empty, she let out an envious sigh. I ain’t jealous. No, that’s a lie. I am. Sure, my stats turned what would have been a hangover for the ages, or a trip to the fucking hospital, into just feeling like shit, but Luciana’s up and about already…

Yawning, Aliyah threw off the thin sheet that covered her, looking down at her bare, muscular physique, only covered by a thin tank t-shirt and shorts, which she’d managed to drag on before crashing out, sound asleep. Grabbing a glass of water that Luciana had surely left for her, Aliyah gulped it down, starting to feel a little better. Yeah, with these stats I recover fast. Even if they’ve come about in a troubling way. Lovers’ Link, huh? I’d kick his fucking ass, except if I tried, I’d be the one getting humiliated, and… “Shit, I know he doesn’t mean it that way. I ain’t such a bitch as to get pissy over his goodwill, even if it is annoying.”

“Oh, and who are you thinking about, Aliyah?” Luciana walked in, looking like she’d just stepped out of the shower. Her brown hair was hanging loose and slightly damp, and she had a fluffy towel wrapped around her lithe yet buxom body. On seeing Aliyah’s loaded stare, she snorted.

“Ser seria, Aliyah. You won’t get anything from looking at me. I don’t swing that way, I’m hetero.” With a cheeky smile, she removed her towel, revealing not her nakedness, but the functional yet oddly sexy black underwear she had put on. As she reached down, rummaging around for her clothes, Aliyah swallowed and looked away.

“Thanks for the water. But do you have to taunt me like that?”

“Taunting?” Luciana pulled on a comfortable pair of cargo trousers in a muted green, then paired that with a t-shirt, before beginning to braid her hair into its usual long ponytail. “I wouldn’t do that to you, Aliyah. After all, there are tan pocas, so few of us, in Fenrir, yes? It is not the life for women, some would say.”

“I don’t know about that. We ain’t any weaker than men. Especially now…” Aliyah shook her head, tearing her gaze away from Luciana, who she had to admit was gorgeous. “…I suppose that’s one good thing about this new world, women ain’t got to fight harder than men to prove themselves anymore.”

“Absolutamente.” Luciana agreed, wrinkling her nose a little. “Aliyah, please go shower. You reek of alcohol.”

“You know how to hurt my feelings, Luciana.” Aliyah snorted, in truth, not particularly offended, as she could pick out her own odour, stale alcohol and sweat. Yes, last night was rather fun. I’d heard rumours the Berlin club scene was awesome, turned out to be true. And the women… or die Frauen, I suppose I should call them… beautiful…

“Oh, we have been friends and colegas for far too long to let a little banter hurt our feelings.” Luciana shook her head. “Now go shower. And quietly. The little chica of the house is still sleeping.”

“Call her a little girl and she’ll be pissed. She ain’t the most even-tempered woman I’ve met…”

“You are hardly one to talk, Aliyah. Your ira is rather legendary. Just as in the situation you are lamenting, though you brought in on yourself, didn’t you? Nobody forced you into wagering foolishly with Shaeula, and póquer de striptease at that. La imprudencia.”

“You ain’t wrong, but fuck it, I don’t give a shit anymore. I get that he’s a good guy, even if I give him no end of curses and grumbling. But that’s just how we are…” Aliyah snatched at her clothes, and was going to leave, before she turned back to glower playfully at Luciana. “Seriously, though, why the fuck do you still keep peppering your speech with Spanish? I know you speak flawless English, and hell, you’ve even been cramming Japanese. I get swearing, there are some fine curse words in Spanish, but…”

Luciana giggled. “Porque te molesta, Aliyah.”

“Hah.” Aliyah snorted a laugh, beads jingling in her hair, “No me molesta, simplemente me resulta agotador, Luciana.”

“Your accent is very good.” Luciana graciously allowed. “And if I’m being honest, it’s not just to annoy you. Despite everything, I’m proud of my heritage. Life in Chile was rough, in the campamentos. But that had meaning. After all, just like you and your brother, I climbed up from nothing.” She paused for a moment, considering. “And keeping our separate cultures alive is going to be rather a challenge. It is a world made for the strong to dominate.”

“Ain’t that been the case forever?” Aliyah shrugged. “But it ain’t like I don’t get it. Akio and his clique, they’ve got power on a national level. Shit, international too. It’s why we’re learning Japanese, after all. Before, it was Russian and Chinese, but times have changed. Shit, even Trey’s putting in an effort. Even with his stat boosts, he still fucking sucks at foreign languages though.” As Aliyah headed to the shower, Luciana nodded.

“Perhaps he should borrow Adelheid’s el aperato, the language device…”

“Hardly.” Aliyah smirked. “While she’s learning rapidly, I’d not be the one to take anything away from her…”

Shutting the door behind her, she shed her tank and shorts which she’d put on for bed and then stepped into the shower. The blissful sensation of hot, almost scalding water poured down, Fuck me, I feel alive again. Though I sure was living last night… remembering some of the feisty, pretty women she’d had the pleasure of dancing with, impressed at their excellent English, Aliyah washed her body until she was free of the lingering stink of sweat and worse. Once done, she towelled herself down, grabbed her discarded makeshift nightwear, and stepped outside, only to nearly run into a yawning Adelheid. Or is it Tanya? Shit, now even I want in on the joke. He’s a bastard, is Akio, but an amusing one.

“Good morning…” Adelheid yawned, and Aliyah’s face twitched, as she tried to keep a composed expression, seeing the beautiful young woman, who, if Aliyah was honest, could pass for a junior high schooler, wearing a floaty, long-hemmed white nightgown like an elderly woman back home would wear and matching lengthy white sleeping cap with a fluffy bobble on the end, her blonde hair sticking out messily from beneath it.

“Morning. Headed for the shower?” Aliyah managed to ask, and Adelheid nodded, yawning again.

“Yes, I have quite the tomcat…” At Aliyah’s uncomprehending expression, she blearily corrected herself. “I have a hangover. As I imagined you would. Considering how hard you were partying with those women.”

“Hey, I’m a big, tough woman.” Aliyah shrugged. “And I’m used to it. Though Trey nags like a little bitch sometimes, says I’ll go crazy when drunk, get him thrown out of bars or arrested. That only happened once or twice. Well, maybe a few other times. Thrown out that is, not arrested.” she allowed.

“To be fair, you did go a little… hard.” Adelheid rubbed at her temples. “…who was it that shouted ‘let’s play strip poker, this time there’s nobody to cheat me’…?”

Aliyah groaned, the memory flooding back. “Fuck. Yeah, now you say it, I remember. Lucky for me, Trey and Luciana stopped me…”

“I don’t think the other women were interested in that, just in encouraging you to entertain. Many of the men there saw their furs float away when you quit that nonsense.”

“I hate that I don’t learn my lessons. Oh well, no harm done.” Aliyah shrugged. “I ain’t blaming myself, getting away from Akio and letting loose for the day was only natural. Speaking of…” Aliyah glanced around. “…this is a nice little house. He really does see you as a younger sister. I know you need a place to stay, but buying you one of the nicest houses in Luisenstadt…”

“It is only what I deserve.” Adelheid grumbled. “Besides, if we are talking sisters, does he not see you as an older one? He obviously cares for you, in his own way.”

“Fuck. Yeah.” Lovers’ Link. Though fuck me if he ain’t a soft touch. If seeing a woman naked and copping a bit of a feel sways his heart so, then Shaeula and the others are going to have one hell of a fucking time in the future, especially if they plan to live as long as Shaeula says. But… older sister, I can live with that. He needs someone to tell him to toughen the fuck up and stop making shit decisions based on misplaced pity. Though… he’s getting better. “Anyway, I’ll get out of your way. I’ll see if I can rustle up some breakfast. It chases away the hangover. Though some hair of the dog might go down a treat…”

“Counter-beers? I wouldn’t say no…” Adelheid replied as she looked back through the door of the bathroom. “But then I don’t have a flight to catch.” With that, she shut the door, and Aliyah, still clad in just a towel, grimaced. Shit, yeah, she’s right. Oh well… the hangover is mostly gone. A nice, greasy breakfast will mop up the rest…

***

“Hey, not bad, Aliyah.” Trey approved. He had arrived at Adelheid’s new home, dressed ready for their flight in comfortable combats and t-shirt, and was now sitting at the dining table, while Aliyah and Luciana placed down the breakfast they had cooked. Being in Germany, breakfast comprised of buttered bread, cheeses and cold cuts of meat, but Aliyah had also whipped up heaps of eggs, bacon and sausages, though the sausages were distinctly German, so it hadn’t worked out quite as she’d planned, as well as pancakes dripping with honey and syrup. “This is almost feminine…”

“Shut it, Trey.” Aliyah retorted flatly, as Luciana smiled gently, and Adelheid ignored the banter completely, merely starting on her food. “I ain’t the best at cooking, I know that, but even I can whip up some breakfast. Now eat up, we’ve got a long day ahead.”

“Fine.” He sat down and helped himself. For a while, everyone was too busy eating to talk much, but then Trey spoke up. “You were in fine form last night. It reminded me of the bad old days. I thought your top was coming off and you’d start a fight…”

“Oh, how your lack of faith wounds me.” Aliyah snorted sourly. “I ain’t getting naked unless it was with some of the German beauties in that club. Nah, I was just in high spirits. After all, we’re heading homeward, if only for a while. You can’t tell me you ain’t feeling the buzz. It finally feels like our disastrous luck since I met Akio in Las Vegas… no, since before, since we saw the missions on that little Russian girl and the dead dipshit weightlifter… anyway, it feels like we’ve finally broken free of our shitty luck.”

“Yes, but…” Luciana’s hair was bound with her Adamant rank insignia, and Aliyah had to admit that the fetching reddish gold colour was eye-catching. “…if anything, we are deeper in than ever before, Aliyah. Though I suppose you could still back out. For Treyvon and me, there is sin escapatoria. We took the Favours, so we must reciprocate.”

“You especially.” Treyvon added, nodding at Luciana. “You’re one of their Officers now.”

“Sí, but even so, I wouldn’t call it misfortune, Aliyah. I have become a believer in destiny. Not fatalism, but… the sense that our choices matter. I believe I would remain involved, even were Fenrir to disband.”

“Don’t think I can’t see the appeal. An organisation of women warriors, fighting together, bonding, growing closer…” Aliyah’s breathing was a little heavy. “…there are a number who are into girls there, ain’t there? Though how they square it with the rules…”

“Don’t be dishonest, Aliyah.” Trey sighed. “You know how.”

“Ah, fuck it.” She cursed, devouring a sausage, almost as if tearing apart a dick with her teeth. Not that I want such a filthy thing near me, especially not my mouth. Just like always, anyone tries to fuck with me that way, they’re backing off a fucking eunuch, or dead. Fuck, bad memories… “Yes, I know. I ain’t being a bitch about it.” Aliyah allowed after swallowing. “Though even so, they’d have to jump into bed with him if he asked, or quit, yeah? Ain’t you the same, Luciana? The fact that he won’t, and he ain’t, doesn’t change the fact he could.”

“I am at peace with it.” Luciana shrugged. “As are all within Adamant, even those initially reluctant. Besides, you are showing la inocencia, Aliyah. If Akio decided he wanted you, for example, do you really think you could resist.”

“That’s power harassment.” she scoffed. Although… if I genuinely consider it, Luciana’s right. He’s a charming bastard, and Shaeula, that crazy bitch, would be more than happy to keep wearing me, or anyone else, down. But… I have a trump card! “While you ain’t strictly wrong, Luciana, all I’d have to do is go running to Haru. He respects her far too much to pull any shady shit. Now how the fuck did we get on this depressing topic? Let’s change the subject, okay?”

Aliyah glanced at Adelheid, who was eating in silence. “So, what’s your plans? Enjoying being free again?”

“Free?” Adelheid chuckled. “No more than you are. But yes, I am still going to make the most of my leisure time. No more worries about having to find a place to sleep, or clothes to wear, food to eat, or beer to drink. But I won’t cry crocodile tears and claim to be upset. As choices go, it’s not a bad one. If Akio needs my aid, he can send over those who can move the Faerie Ring between the Astral and the Material, and I can be in Japan or London swiftly. As for here in Germany… I am not here to fight other Chosen who wisely left my abandoned land alone. Though I suppose I should train harder… I hate being looked down on.”

“You should get taller then.” Aliyah quipped, getting a flat, blue-eyed glare in return.

“How very droll.” Adelheid snorted sourly. “I can hardly help my height, can I? Lack of nutrition when I was in my adolescence…”

Shit, she looks barely older than little Marika, even if she’s got a half-dozen years on her in reality. There ain’t no escaping jokes and teasing. Best she just learns to own it. If we make the jokes and the insults our own, they can’t be used to annoy us… “Yeah, sorry, that wasn’t funny. Training, huh? Are there many monsters about here in Berlin? Shit, I can hardly believe I’m talking about this. The world’s gone fucking mad…”

As Trey and Luciana nodded their agreement, Adelheid frowned. “No, not so much. German efficiency, you know.” She seemed rather proud of that. “Most of Berlin is claimed Territory, it seems, so I have little room to breathe. And we have no coast, not like Tokyo, so the unlimited hosts of the seas, they are unavailable. But I have my Faerie Ring, so it is easy to find foes to fight. Why… perhaps I shall come visit you in America soon.”

“You’d be more than welcome.” Trey promised. Talk then turned to the planned construction work and the new pharmaceutical factory, but Adelheid wasn’t too concerned about how it all worked, content to leave it to Karl and his newly gathered team. Can’t say I blame her. Business ain’t for me either. We’re the same sort of women. We’re just good at solving problems with violence. Not that you’d be able to tell by her appearance. Lucky.

Once breakfast was done, they offered to help clean up, but Adelheid shook her head. “No need. While I hardly demanded an extra sausage, Akio insisted on arranging me some staff to take care of the house. Women, of course, not that any ordinary man could threaten me!” At her proud expression, Aliyah had to stifle a chuckle. Shit, she’s so fucking adorable. I can see why Akio loves to tease her. She looks great in uniform too.

“It is no bad thing, chica, to be seen as a sister to be cherished. Akio, he does have a big heart. For women, anyway.”

“All great men are lusty.” Trey nodded. “It’s a tale as old as time. So, looks like it’s goodbye for now.” He held out a hand, and after a moment, Adelheid took it, her small, pale hand enveloped in his large, black one, as they shook.

“Only for a while. Distance is… not what it used to be.” she replied, and Aliyah finally burst out laughing at that.

Shit. For some reason that amuses me. “That’s fucking true. That’s so totally fucking true…”

***

After saying their farewells and gathering the rest of Fenrir who were on this mission, some having stayed behind to train, protect certain VIPs, and also key areas of the Territory, from the hotels they were staying in, as there was neither the room, nor the sense, to stay in Adelheid’s modest but nice new home, they reached Schönefeld airport with plenty of time to spare. Passing through passport control was trivial, but the challenge would be arriving at their destination. Dulles International. Fortunately, Schönefeld had direct flights there which made things easy.

After dumping their bags, which of course only carried clothes and other purchased camouflage, as everything vital was stashed in Spatial Storage devices, especially the weapons, armour and most precious of all, the Ring Gate mushrooms and the elemental energies stored in bluesteel batteries to activate them, they took their seats. They then spent a rather pleasant flight relaxing, though as the pilot announced that they’d be landing within the hour, Aliyah felt the stress start to gnaw at her.

“Relax, Aliyah.” Trey soothed. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

“Oh, I don’t know, a whole heap of the army surrounds us and tries to cart us off to Guantanamo Bay or some shit? I tried prison in Japan, and while it wasn’t anywhere near as shit as I feared, I ain’t doing it again. We’re American, but even so I ain’t going to claim we treat prisoners, especially political ones, as good as the Japanese did.” I know it ain’t likely to come to that, but still…

“We have our diplomatic Ministry passports. I don’t think they’d dare.” Trey reassured her. “And worst case, Luciana can shield us with her winds, and we make a break for it. We’ve lived below the surface before, Aliyah, we can do it again if we have to. Nobody’s catching us if we go off-grid, and it’s like little Adelheid says, get a Gate set up, and rescue comes our way.”

“But that’s a mission fail. We’ve got shit to do here…” Aliyah bit at her lip. On the flight she’d only had a couple of beers, just to take the edge off, counter-beers, as Adelheid so charmingly called them, and so was feeling the tension. But that’s what I need. A sharp edge. This first stage seems easy, but it ain’t. Too much can go wrong. “What? You got something to say, best say it!” Aliyah grumbled at Trey’s amused stare.

“No, just thinking, you’ve changed, Aliyah. You’re very eager to get the missions done. And I doubt it’s for the payday.”

“Fuck. We’ve all changed.” She glanced at Luciana in the row in front, who seemed calm and relaxed. “I may be a collared bitch, just one of Akio’s barking wolves. But this bitch gets things done and knows gratitude.”

“Could have fooled me…” Trey muttered, and she punched him in the shoulder hard enough to make him wince.

“Shut it. You’re the same way. Even when we were desperate slum kids, we took pride in having our own code. And we ain’t changing now. Just… adapting.”

“You’ve become quite the philosopher, my dear sister.” Trey chuckled, and Aliyah frowned, shaking her head, beads jingling.

“I said shut it. And don’t refer to me that way. You ain’t Akio. Try and flirt with me and I’ll crush your balls like a fucking tin can.”

“Who’d flirt with you, Aliyah?” Trey gave in. “Though to be fair, the women yesterday in the club did find you amusing. That’s it though…”

“There needs to be more lesbians in the world! Hell, or at least bisexuals, I ain’t a fucking prude!” Aliyah rolled her eyes at the heavens. “What is it Shiro calls it? Ah yes, yuri. Please God… or rather, Gods, I ain’t asking much, just… give me my bouquet of lilies. I deserve it!”

Of course, nobody knows better than us that deserving ain’t getting. Still… Glancing out of the window, far below, she could make out the familiar lands of home. …no time for fun and games now. No, it’s time this bitch and all of us bastards get to barking, and getting shit done!

***

Standing at the checkpoint, a Border Control Officer scrutinising her and her offered passport, Aliyah controlled her expression, knowing not to sweat or show any signs of nervousness, which would signal to the man something was up. The silence dragged on, and Aliyah’s hand twitched a little, as if contemplating retrieving her other passport, but moments later the man spoke.

“Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve seen that, had to think about it. It’s all right.” He tapped his nose. “I’ll say no more. Welcome home, Ms James.”

What the fuck? I ain’t sure what’s going on, but so long as it ain’t a trap, I’m fine with it.

“Yeah, good to be back. Going abroad for work and all was fine, but nothing beats America, yeah?”

“You got that right. Work, huh?” the man nodded, as if understanding something, though just what that was, Aliyah had no idea. “Stay safe, and we all thank you.”

“Uh, sure.” Aliyah took back her documents from the man who was now smiling at her and, feeling as if she was lying on a bed of nails, Aliyah strode confidently forward, and as she met up with Trey, Luciana, Manx and the others, she started to relax, but even so, her watchfulness was high until they’d retrieved their bags, left the airport, and walked quite some distance away. Only then did she let out a long, relieved breath.

“Fuck me…” Aliyah grumbled, eyeing everyone sourly. “Anyone else have a weird time at border control? I know how it works, any pause that long means we’re flagged for something more than our usual complicated status as mercs… sorry, Private Contractors…”

“Indeed.” Luciana nodded. “I was half expecting to have to fugarse at pace…”

Aliyah rolled her eyes at the Spanish. “Yeah, I was sweating. But… suddenly the guy got all respectful of me. Now there’s no way that Akio can pull those sorts of strings, not here in America… that’s why we have the diplomatic passports.”

“The main thing is it doesn’t seem like anyone’s bugged our gear.” Trey added. “I pulled out the device from Ixitt and ran it over everything, so if there are any transmitters, they’re fried, but I didn’t hear any pops. Let’s just get to the hotel and get it done.”

“Yeah. Then we can relax for a few days, link in with a few old comrades, before we fly across the country to Vegas.” Aliyah agreed. “Vegas…”

“Memories, Aliyah?” Luciana smiled, and Aliyah rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, it was fucking eventful. Shit, we’ve still got a little cash left over from my glorious poker win, ain’t we?”

“Yes, but didn’t Akio help you…” Trey trailed off at her glower.

“Yeah, but don’t be a dick and bring it up, dear brother of mine…” Aliyah turned around his earlier words, smirking as she saw how uncomfortable it made him. “Fucking hell, let’s go. We’ve got work to fucking do. Come on, bitches and bastards, bark for me!”

As the warriors of Fenrir played along, making dog noises, drawing the eyes of the nearby pedestrians, they quickly secured a number of taxis, heading to the hotel that was going to be their base for the next few days. At least if any fucker is spying on us, they won’t have a clue what’s going on. Of course, if they are…it’s very different getting out of a tough situation out in the open, rather than in an airport, ain’t it?

***

“You ready then?” Aliyah asked Luciana. After checking into the Marriot hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, they’d freshened up after their flight, done a thorough check of their luggage, since it seemed a shame to ditch it, found no problems, then relaxed for a short while.

“I certainly am.” Luciana agreed. They were both wearing their combat undersuit, which was very tight-fitting and hugged their bodies, but the protection it gave against blades, bullets, and even elemental energies like fire, was unparalleled. Better still, it could be worn under ordinary clothes, so while Aliyah was in weather-appropriate hoodie and jeans, and Luciana in a jumper dress over thick leggings, a cardigan around her shoulders, they were protected as if wearing their old tactical body armour, no, the defence was far greater.

“Great. Then let’s get this done. So…” Aliyah was interrupted by a knock at the door to their room. “Guess that’s Trey. It’s about time. Fuck me, he’s worse than a woman when it comes to getting ready…” Opening the door, Aliyah paused, as who was there was not who she expected. Fortunately, they were alone, not with a fully armed Hostage Response Team, or the army.

“I’m sorry to bother you. Can… can I come in?” Christopher Wright, Director of the FBI, asked, looking extremely exhausted, dark shadows under his eyes, hair showing streaks of grey, his face rather gaunt, as if he’d recently lost weight.

“I… guess so?” Aliyah agreed cautiously. “Luciana, best go get Trey. Don’t worry, if he tries anything, I ain’t no pushover. Besides…” Aliyah narrowed her eyes. “…I guess I’m friends with your kids. Beth’s a real cutie.”

Christopher nodded as Lucians slipped past him. “Excuse me.” He then stepped inside. “It’s a nice room.”

“Don’t be looking where you shouldn’t.” Aliyah was hardly shy, no woman who served with a bunch of rowdy, almost entirely male mercs could be, but even so, she wished she’d been a little neater. Luciana had put her underwear away, but Aliyah, not being able to wear it along with the tight under-armour, had tossed hers carelessly on the bed. Using a little aether, she swept it under the covers, before offering their guest a chair.

“Thank you.” He sat down, and Aliyah, perhaps feeling sorry for his clearly on-edge state, offered him a drink from the mini-bar. I can bill it to Akio anyway. Mission expenses…

“I shouldn’t…” he grimaced, as Trey also entered, having finally arrived, shutting the door behind him.

“I will.” Aliyah pulled out a small, double-shot bottle of whiskey and poured it into a glass. “Not every day the Director of the FBI comes calling. It’s not going to be good news, is it?”

Trey sat down on the bed, staring at Christopher, who finally gave in. “Give me one. I’m clocking off early today. It’s not like I can get any work done.” As Aliyah handed him the glass, he took a sip, sighing. “No, it’s not. But first… you could at least thank me.”

“Oh, I get it. You flagged our travel documents.” Trey nodded.

“That’s right. Obviously the government was tracking you, and you were persons to be detained if you ever returned. But I’m one of the few Agency heads who has access to the system. So I changed the marker to one that indicates you’re a US intelligence operative. I can’t remove flags without tripping the notifications of the other parties, but I can replace them. Typical bureaucratical oversight…”

“And what, pray tell, would happen if we arrived on our ordinary passports? We have diplomatic passports from Japan and would use them.” Luciana asked in perfect English, only her faint, sultry accent remaining, and Aliyah rolled her eyes, as it reinforced her earlier suspicions Luciana only peppered her words with Spanish now to mess with her.

“It depends…” Christoper admitted. “…there’s an undercurrent of chaos building at the heart of Washington. I’d like to believe that we’re not so compromised as to arrest a diplomatic party, no matter how suspicious, but… I can’t rule it out. I sent warnings to Bethany and Zachary, but… they don’t get the seriousness of the situation. I’m just glad they aren’t with you.”

“Speaking of…” Luciana pulled out her phone. “…if you will excuse me, Director…” She activated her Spiritual Eyes, and while Luciana was no field medic or doctor, by comparing the images on her phone, she was able to come to a reasonable conclusion. “…your brain is ordinary. Unaltered.”

“That’s a relief.” Christopher sagged, gulping down the last of the whiskey, and generously, Aliyah tossed him another of the small bottles from the fridge. “It’s a nightmare, not even knowing myself if my decisions are my own. Do you… does Akio have a countermeasure yet?”

“No, but he’s working on it.” Trey assured him. “We can find out more details if you want?”

“No, just so long as he’s wary of the President. And keeps my kids out of trouble. So…” He paused. “…how’s Bethany? Is she… getting on well with Akio?”

At his expression, which was a mixture of hope and worry, Aliyah snorted. “Oh come on, don’t be pushing your daughter into that maelstrom. But she’s hanging around with everyone, including the resident mad scientist, helping that crazy bitch glam herself up to attract his eye. Fuck it, I have to admit, it takes more than just willingness and looks to attract him.” Else he could be at a hundred by now. Though shit, some of his fiancées are scary bitches, he probably doesn’t want to upset them…

“Don’t worry.” Trey promised. “Akio and the others have taken them in and are providing support and training. They’re homesick, or at least your daughter is, but she gets it now.”

“I miss them. But it’s too dangerous to come home.” he repeated. “No, that’s not why I’m here. I want to know why you are. America’s dangerous right now. On the surface we seem the country least affected by all this mess, but under the surface… well, it’s like quicksand. It seems firm, but once sinking, it’s too late.”

Trey and Aliyah exchanged glances, before she shrugged. “Toss the decision to the bosses. I know it’s getting late over there, but they ain’t going to mind being interrupted for this.”

Trey nodded, firing off a text, and soon his phone pinged. “Hinata says we can talk, as Christopher here is trustworthy, due to our shared circumstances.”

“I still find it hard to believe that a woman younger than my Bethany is making such world-altering decisions…” Christopher sighed, finishing his second glass of whiskey.

“Well, she ain’t exactly a normal girl. None of them are, even the ones that started that way…” Aliyah snorted. “Anyway, I know things are rough, but bawling and stressing ain’t going to do shit. Besides, if you’re lucky, you might get to see your kids sooner than you think…”

As he narrowed his eyes, she raised a hand. “Don’t worry, they ain’t coming back. Not that way, anyway. As to why we’re here…”

“Heading off problems before they start. The world’s too large, and Akio’s got to deal with troubles everywhere.” Trey added, and Chrisopher’s eyes widened.

“You mean like how you all travelled from Japan to London in an instant? That’s… extremely dangerous a proposition. Nobody here would stand for it…”

“Ain’t much they can do.” Aliyah snorted. “Besides, last I fucking checked, we were American citizens still. We’ve got Constitutional rights. It’s just like those Texas oil barons. What we choose to do with our Territory is our damn business. Hinata’s lawyers checked carefully. A man’s, or a woman’s, home is their fucking castle. The Boundary ain’t no different under the law. And we get to defend our castle here in the good old US of A, don’t we?”

“Even so…” he was troubled, only to give up. “…the last thing we want is strife. If the DOD orders their Chosen to fight you and tear down what you build…”

“We have no wish for conflict either.” Luciana agreed with a smile. “Which is why we shall be quiet as a mouse, small and…” She glanced at Aliyah and her smile broadened. “…discreta.”

Now I know you’re doing that on purpose. “Yeah, we can pack an awful lot of ‘back the fuck off’ into a small space. We’re not here to conquer, just… stand our ground.”

At her words, Christopher swallowed. “Fine. I understand. This… might clearly be seen as treason, but… doing nothing now is worse.”

“Smart thinking.” Trey agreed. “So, you just leave things to us, and all your problems will start to seem less impossible to solve…”

No kidding. Having the ability to rapidly move between here and Akio’s Territory makes most troubles laughable. Fuck, just when did I start getting so comfortable thinking that? Yeah, I may be a God-slaying wolf, as Luciana likes to say, but sometimes, I can’t help but think my fangs ain’t so sharp anymore…

***

“We’re back.” Trey returned to Aliyah’s hotel room. She and Luciana had kept Christopher company and talked about a lot of interesting things. Like how we should be very careful how we get across the country. His ruse with the database might not last forever. Sure, we can flash our new passports, but why borrow trouble?

“Great. Any luck?” Aliyah asked, and he nodded, yawning as he stretched, muscles flexing under his black turtleneck and the armour he wore below.

“Yeah. There are several Territories scattered around DC. Nothing too major. Rank Two’s. Have they even tried?” He snorted sourly.

“That’s… rather unfair.” Christopher grimaced. “Adam made sure that our own Chosen lived in fear or listened to his Agency. We’re very far behind in everything but research, and even then, you’ve taken Christina Bakker. Those left behind might have more ethics, but they certainly don’t have her talents or genius.”

“I prefer the ethics.” Luciana whispered, and Aliyah bit down on a laugh. You and me both. Girl. You and me both.

“Well yeah, that’s the whole point of this. We have to clean up your messes.” Trey was resolute, arms folded. “Anyway, we can assume that they’ll hit Rank Three and expand out to ten kilometres, no, best make it twelve. If they go for a Territory Expansion Anchor Spire like Haru, they aren’t getting it to Rank three any time soon… anyway, we’ve left a decent margin for error. Up in Olney to the north, over in Maryland, there’s a suitable spot. Earth element, on private farmland. Nice house too. Now we just need to see if they’re selling…”

As Christopher seemed confused, Trey explained, and when he had, Christopher nodded.

“I see. So they can’t just be placed anywhere. That’s a relief…”

“Don’t get too cocky.” Aliyah warned. “That mad maid has cooked up miracles before. Don’t be surprised if soon we have walking mushrooms which can go anywhere they want.”

“Of course, you know this information is in confidence…” Trey warned, and Christopher shrugged.

“I want to steer America through this mess, and I love my kids, so I owe you all for sheltering them, and even helping them grow. But… just keeping silent might not be enough. You know what’s going on.”

“We do indeed. But we also know that Akio’s taken a liking to Bethany… and Zachary, don’t worry…” Trey added. “…so you’ll surely be one of the first to get any solution or countermeasures. Anyway…” His phone pinged, and after glancing at it, he smirked. “…Hinata sure does work fast. Deal’s done, money talks. I’m now the proud owner of a rather nice horse farm, with a pretty mansion. Though I suppose we’ll just get rid of the horses.”

“Shit, I wouldn’t mind going for rides now and again.” Aliyah protested. “Besides, Akio’s fiancées probably love horses too.”

“We’ll see then. Maybe we’ll hire a manager or something like that. Anyway…” He smiled at Christopher. “…maybe you should come along and see what’s going on. And why no matter how much you kick and scream, how much America hates it, we’re not winning this race, so all we can do, if you’ll pardon the irony, is back the right horse, so we can at least win some prize money, rather than starve.”

At those words from her brother, Aliyah nodded. Truer words were never fucking spoken, Trey. That’s for damn sure…

***

Luciana had stayed back at the hotel just in case, as she was perfectly placed to protect their sleeping selves if any trouble came calling, as unlikely as that was, and some others had remained as her backup. Travis and Manx had accompanied Christopher in the Material, while in the Boundary Trey, Aliyah and the remaining members of Fenrir here had hotfooted it through the Boundary to Olney. There hadn’t been much trouble en route, as Trey and the others had cleared out any small groups of troublesome pests that engaged them, so the roughly forty-kilometre jog, as the crow flies, wasn’t particularly challenging, not with their training and stats.

“Not bad…” Aliyah observed as they arrived. The open fields were quite pretty, grasses of shades not found on the Material standing upright, motionless as there was no breeze here, and the cracks in the ground exuded a faint red mist. “…it ain’t a patch on Shirohebizumi, but it’ll do, yeah?”

Trey nodded. “I tested the density with the measuring device we were given. It’s just above the minimum, but we can keep battery backup for any outages. Treat it like it’s mechanical.”

“I guess Ixitt and the others would think of that.” Aliyah snorted. “Best get on with it, Trey, if we leave it much longer, we’ll be dragging Hyacinth out of bed, and I ain’t the one to be doing that.”

“Her temper’s not that bad.” Trey replied as he activated his special storage which contained the small, living mushrooms. Placing them as he’d been instructed, the rest of the crew extracted batteries laden with rich, brown wood elemental energies.

“Really?” Aliyah gave him a flat look of disbelief, her blue eyes hard, but then she snorted dismissively. “Shit, I’ll give you that she ain’t as constantly on edge as she used to be when grey. But she’s still a killer if you piss her off, I’d bet anything on it.”

“You’re a terrible gambler, Aliyah.” Trey reminded her, and while that stung, she had to admit it was true. “Now then… are we ready?”

At everyone’s nods, they watched, Aliyah’s anticipation spiking. As planned, the mushrooms drained the batteries of their energies, sprouting rapidly, and Trey and Aliyah only had to make corrections as their training and Spiritual Eyes indicated. Soon, a Ring of the mushrooms was standing taller than Trey, though it wasn’t connected to the Ring Gate Hub, not yet. Though itisconnected to…

After a while of waiting, the Ring Gate shuddered, throwing off a cascade of vivid purple sparks, and out stepped Hyacinth. She wasn’t dressed in her usual maid attire, but casual clothes, pink and purple t-shirt and shorts, and Aliyah was mesmerised by her for a moment, before she remembered who she was staring at. Fuck that. I ain’t looking to die, and I’m not sure who it’d be that would kill me…

Glancing around, Hyacinth smiled. “I see you have done it. The first ooone, at least. Not bad. I felt them call. The Connection, Akio calls it. I birthed them, so they are a part of me…”

“Not your children?” Aliyah couldn’t help but ask, and she was astounded when Hyacinth blushed and squirmed oddly. Fuck, even that’s captivating… what the fuck is her Charm at now? Has she been drinking all that power up north in Japan again?

“No, for they are not Hyacinth’s and Akio’s. Thus nooot children.” She blinked her violet eyes. “Now then, I shall link them to their… siblings…” she tittered, amused. “…and you can begin.”

“Yeah, but…” Trey asked if Ling could be sent over, and after a brief explanation, Hyacinth nodded.

“If it is brief. She has the day ooof, you see.”

“Yeah, it should be.” Trey agreed, and after Hyacinth had done her work, the Gates shone and out poured a tide of weaselkin and ratkin carrying Mobile Ether Silos. A handful of red Etherites were extracted from storage, and Trey crushed them, quickly forming a Territory Anchor. Ether was then dumped out, and he began sucking it in and upgrading.

“Don’t forget to accept being his Vassal.” Aliyah warned, and Trey snorted.

“I’m not a fool, I remember. Now I need to concentrate…” As more and more ether was brought over, the Territory reached Rank 2 and then began to upgrade towards Rank 3. Then Ling came through the portal, her expression exasperated, and after a quick explanation, she unleashed her Chosen power, and soon the Director of the FBI was here, blinking in stunned shock.

“I’m going back.” Ling yawned, her English much improved recently. “It’s late and I wanted to just relax.”

“I appreciate it.” Aliyah thanked her. “When I return, I’ll buy you a beer, okay?”

“If you insist.” Ling seemed less than enthused, before vanishing back through the Gate, and Aliyah had a momentary pang of jealousy. Shit. I wish I had a Favour. But I ain’t despondent. Motoko and Natsumi went the longest time without and still turned into bad little bitches. I might not have… quite… the advantages, but… I ain’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, even if thinking of Lovers’ Link gives me a godawful case of the cringe.

“What’s… going on?” Christopher asked, wide-eyed, and Aliyah took it upon herself to explain, while Trey was busy.

“Simple. My brother’s a Chosen now. Don’t ask. So he’s securing a Territory. But…” She smirked knowingly. “…we’re doing the exact opposite of what’s normal. We ain’t going to expand at all. In fact, this little farm is going to be all we own. Keep it compact, keep it hidden. Ain’t going to be no Chosen coming around here to find us. We’ve left a good margin of safety from DC, while being close enough that if shit goes south, we can get there in no time…”

As Christopher listened, connecting the bits and pieces with what little his kids and Director Adam White had told him, the Territory Reached Rank 3, and Trey started on the Anchor Spires.

“We only need the Barrier Enhancement and Ether Spire Enhancement ones. We’ll throw up the Ether Spires we can, sure, but our ether needs are being taken care of from the main Territory…” he muttered, as one after another, metallic needles appeared, thrust into the ground. Unlike Akio’s Territory though, the needles were of a dark grey metal which seemed to blend into the unlight of the Boundary, the crystal parts dull and carved so as to reflect little light.

“…so to that end…” Aliyah finished her explanation. “…we’ll keep it tight and heavily fortified. Emplacements, Barracks, and even some manufactured fortifications. All we need to do is hold up any attacks until the runners who’ll be here on rotation can get through the Gate and raise the alarm. Then… it ain’t like you need me to tell you what fucking well happens then, is it?” Her eyes gleamed as she watched the scene, and Christopher nodded slowly.

“Indeed I don’t. Reinforcements arrive, who… are not to be trifled with.”

“No wonder you’re an Agency head.” Aliyah teased. “You got it. And if any fucker does find this place, well then, if they try and use it to lure them out, more fool them. Always more room in the graveyard for ambitious dipshits, ain’t there?”

Christopher nodded again. “So, what’s next on your agenda then?”

“West coast, or close enough.” She shrugged, beads jingling. “America’s a big fucking country, ain’t it? So we need to have multiple points of access. Besides, our boss has a few things he wants us to look into over there. Then maybe one or two more in the centre, and we’re done. So long as it’s only hundreds of miles, it’s easily within Akio’s reach.” Her gaze sharpened. “You know, if I put in a good word with Akio, when he’s free, he could come give you Chirurgery. Then, if you ain’t causing trouble, you can see your kids whenever you want, through here, at least in the Boundary. Not a bad deal, huh?”

“Are you trying to bribe the head of the FBI?” Christopher cracked a weak smile, even as Buildings sprouted up, dark, metallic Barracks created out of the bounty of ether brought through the Ring Gate in rapid succession. Soon, they’d disgorge defenders, based on what Trey had defeated before.

“Why the fuck not? Ain’t our glorious President already taken that bribe?” Aliyah scoffed. “Even now, I bet he’s trying to wring more out of Akio. But if so, he ain’t that smart… our boss is a generous guy, but… if you take liberties, there are plenty around him who ain’t…”

As Christopher nodded slowly at that, Aliyah uncharitably thought he was like one of those nodding puppets kids sometimes played with. Shit, he’s just under a lot of fucking stress. Might as well cut him some slack. Anyway…

As the Territory took shape, she smacked her lips, suddenly hankering for some familiar American dive bars. Trey likes the cabarets and the fancy gay bars, me… I’m a rough woman, I like things down and dirty. And speaking of… She turned her gaze to where she assumed the East was, in the Boundary, it was hard to tell direction, due to the lack of sun or stars. …let’s just hope our President ain’t getting himself into a hole he can’t get out of…