On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Five Hundred And Thirty-Nine

“It’s good to meet you in person.” A woman, who was probably in her late fifties or so, a stern expression on her face, with dusky skin and dark eyes, coupled with her tight head of black hair, offered me a handshake. I took it, and her grip was still firm. She struck me as a woman who was all business, her pale blue skirt suit clearly expensive, yet also tastefully understated. Yes, I shouldn’t underestimate her.

“I’m Gina Haskell, the current Director of the CIA. A pleasure.”

As she stepped back, the other guest in the room, another man, of a similar age to Gina, yet still rather handsome, his black hair fading to silver a little at his temples, his greenish-blue eyes filled with intelligence yet also wariness, took her place, also going for a handshake. His black suit was more ostentatious, and he wore a large ‘stars and stripes’ pin badge on his lapel. “I’m Christopher Wright. FBI Director. You already know Adam, it seems.” He cast his gaze over my companions as he released my hand, seeming a little confused by Adelheid, a faint frown on his lips, before his gaze hardened with hostility as he beheld Christina.

Seeing that, she giggled. “You shouldn’t be staring at me like that Chris, what will your wife think?”

“I’m not… I…” he began, before realising he was being mocked. “Watch your mouth. I had hoped you’d killed yourself with your experiments.”

“So harsh, so cold, Chris! I don’t care for it from you, though!” Christina eyed me, as if to see if I was jealous, which made me sigh internally. Seeing that, and perhaps mistaking it for some more positive emotions, Christina flushed, sitting down in a chair that would be next to mine, dragging it closer, so that I’d be pressed close to her. “How’s the kids?”

At that, Christoper growled, taking a step forwards, fists clenched. Gina called for him to stop, while Adam watched on, impassive, taking his own seat.

“You stay away from them! If you ever go near them, so help me God, I swear I’ll…” Christopher rumbled, incensed.

“Oh, relax, Chris. You don’t want your hair to start receding, instead of just going grey.” Christina tittered. “I’m a changed woman, you know!”

“Yes, calm down, Christopher.” Gina agreed, gripping his arm. “You can’t let her rile you up. Your children are safe…”

Seeing my confusion, Christina explained. “Chris here, his son and daughter are both Chosen. I had thought that the odds of that were astronomical, but from statistical analysis, and your own experiences, I can see that Favour distribution is actually far from random. Family pairings are surprisingly common.”

That surprised me. “In that case, why were you fumbling in the dark so much? If children of important governmental figures are Chosen, just ask them.”

Before Christopher could answer, Christina helpfully exposited. “Chris is overprotective, and he’s tried to keep his kids out of all this, but Adam sniffed them out. I can’t help but think it foolish, Bethany and Zachary should be honing their powers, learning new strengths…”

“You bitch, you just want to torture them, like…”

At Adam’s loud, fake coughing, and Gina’s tight grasp, Christopher realised he had gone too far. Adelheid couldn’t understand, but wasn’t worried, knowing the people here couldn’t harm us, and Christina…

“Oh, you misunderstand me. I’d be hurt… except, well, I’ve certainly made some mistakes. But I’ve turned over a new leaf!” she declared, leaning into me. “Now it’s all about consent, and self-experimentation! I’ll make amends that way, and also show off my good side to Akio!”

“Yes, sit down, and we calm talk calmly.” Gina persuaded Christopher, and when everyone was seated, I introduced myself.

“I agree. Anyway, I’m Akio Moonstone Oshiro, in the Western order. You can call me Akio, I don’t stand on honorifics. It’s… good to meet you?”

“Why is that a question?” Gina asked, intense. “Oh, I imagine you have little fondness for us, or especially for Adam, considering your past, Akio. And since you’ve spent time with him, he’s likely annoyed you further. But we all need to set aside our discontent, as reasonable adults, and come to some sort of mutually beneficial accord. Although…” She nodded at Christopher, who took a deep breath, visibly calming himself, and he finished for her.

“…this is just an informal discussion and sharing of ideas, trying to… brush over… some past problems. We don’t have the authority or inclination to make decisions without oversight from Congress and… the President.”

Adam snorted at that, and while I wasn’t particularly interested in foreign politics, everyone had heard stories of the current President, but I wouldn’t judge from hearsay, since apparently I was meeting him tomorrow, alongside other important people. “Oh, but I’m certain you can make one concession.”

“And what would that be?” Gina asked, leaning forwards intently. Beside her, Adam was grinning sourly, knowing what I wanted.

“Christina Bakker is going to be seconded to work under me in Japan. I owe her that much.”

At my words, Christina flushed red, and it wasn’t just me who noticed a little drool leaking from the corner of her mouth. What is she, a damn dog? Adelheid was equally disgusted, sliding her small frame across her chair to get as much distance from the woman she viewed as crazy as possible. I suppose she’ll… express her feelings in a more normal way in time? Maybe?

“Oh?” Gina asked. “Much as her personality leaves a lot to be desired, and Christopher would be happy to be rid of her, Christina Bakker still is a ranking employee of DARPA, seconded under Adam, and not someone who can easily be released. After all… she knows rather a lot of classified information.”

Christina paled at that, and Adam sneered. I decided to make my point. “Yes, she does I’m sure. Though we all know that a lot of that information has been extracted through means that would turn the international community against you. But that’s irrelevant. I’m sure you’re aware how knowledgeable I am. I have access to sources of information you most certainly don’t, judging by your actions. Anything Christina could tell me…” I fixed Adam with a steely grey gaze, and he got my point, arching an eyebrow sardonically. “…isn’t going to be something I couldn’t discover for myself. And besides, while matters are clean between Japan and America…” My tone showed what I thought of that. “…I still think America should show some sincerity. And what do you lose? From Director Christopher’s reaction, it seems you understand that Christina is dangerous, hard to handle.”

“Nonsense, in your hands I’ll be as easy to handle as a kitten!” she retorted, but at a firm glare from Gina she shut her mouth.

“I certainly agree she’s reckless, but her work provides results.” Gina allowed. “Besides, why her? Though…” Gina narrowed her eyes. “…her attitude seems rather… unusual. You seem somewhat… animated.”

“I am, I am.” Christina agreed. “And I believe my breakthroughs will be greater than ever. Logic alone is insufficient!”

“But if you leave, then your greater breakthroughs, as you call them, will go to Japan.” Adam pointed out. “We’ve discussed this, Christina. You owe us. You owe me! How can we stand by and let this happen? I agree, I am rather unwilling to confront Akio over you, but unwilling doesn’t mean we won’t.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“That’s right.” Gina agreed. “No more than you’d simply allow us to poach one of your allies.”

“There’s a difference though.” I disagreed. “While Christina’s right, and logic isn’t everything, it’s clearly illogical to make an enemy of me, when you’ve barely managed to smooth things over. Instead, you should be giving me a little face, as the Chinese might say.”

“But we are the only losers here.” Gina pressed, and Christopher, who clearly hated Christina, looked troubled, though he kept his mouth shut.

“From how you played our little game, I understand you better.” Adam spoke up. “You tried to minimise your own casualties until I changed the way the game was played, showing there was no limit to my reinforcements. Then, you made sure to defeat the leader, even if it meant your own doom. It tallies with the message our agents brought back after their failure. Yes, everything has a price.” Adam surprised me with his words, turning to Gina and Christopher. “It is a price we’ve been paying, harsh though it is. While I have little sympathy for the criminals and undesirables who awakened these wretched powers like cuckoos in our midst, the brave US patriots who died… even our foreign guests… it was bloody but necessary work.”

“It wasn’t. Not at all.” I disagreed.

“Maybe not for you. But not everyone was bequeathed the power you were, the knowledge.” Adam replied, unmoved.

What a fool. Yes, Ortlinde gave me the means to gather information instead of actual power, and the Seeds are long-term a huge boon, but to start with I had almost nothing. I made my gains the opposite way, by cooperation rather than exploitation. Knowing he wouldn’t understand, and also reflecting on his personality from the wargame, which showed he was more than willing to toss away any number of lives to win, I kept my silence, seeing that Gina at least was curious as to my meaning.

“In any case, we were unprepared. The world was unprepared. Know your enemy, and know yourself. These are what we are achieving.” Adam insisted. “And I know Christina.” He snorted. “Believe it or not, Gina, Chris, this madwoman who I thought only had ice water rather than blood in her veins, and a heart of stone, not flesh and blood, claims she’s fallen in love. Laughable. There’s no happy ending for you, Christina. You really think he’ll be happy with you? You’ve met his other women, seen them on TV. Rumours are that high-profile talks between the Queen of Britain, the Japanese government and the Imperial Family are also taking place behind the scenes. You’re certainly pretty enough, woman, but… if all he wants is beauty, you’re at best on a par. And your personality, even now, is extremely off-putting.”

“Love? Her?” Gina was shocked. “With… with him?” She pointed at me, and I shrugged wryly.

“Sorry, the curse of being too Charming. Normally I’m delighted, as it’s led many women I care for into my embrace, but… well, you see her.”

Christina’s breath was coming hot, her legs rubbing together, and I noticed the legs poking out of her skirt were actually rather slender and delicate. Curse it. Any guy would look. “I know. I know better than anyone. He dislikes me a lot. I get that. Though… I always liked a challenge.” She licked her lips. “I’m beautiful, I know that. Though my carelessness did ruin my flesh a number of times. But even before I fell for him, he always fixed my scars. I knew it then, he was special. But… he’s a mirror to what I could have been.”

“How so?” Christopher asked, interested despite his hatred of her.

“You wouldn’t understand, but he made me able to experience the world of the Boundary. And it’s not through a so-called Divine Favour. It’s his own power, and therefore not one Adam should fear. You’ve read the reports on the training school from Scryer, and it’s not like Japan is keeping it secret, in fact, they are using it as a method to show power, that they have the situation under control. And yes… there have been mishaps, but compared to a lot of countries we’re investigating, they do have a firm grip on things. Mostly thanks to Akio here.”

I watched and listened, rather stunned. Christina pushed a finger against her glasses, not that she needed them now, my Chirurgery having corrected her eyesight, but like Yukiko-san, it seemed she was too used to them to not put on a pair, even if they were for fashion. But her sloppy tone and lewd expressions were gone, and she was all business. She stood, arms clasped behind her back, and with her suit, lab coat and glasses, she seemed the image of a beautiful, professional scientist. Nope, I won’t be fooled. I know the real her… although… everyone has more than just one side. Just like Eri is both shy and aggressive, kind and harsh, or Shiro is both aloof and tender…

“He is inquisitive, and seeks answers, the same answers we have been searching for. But… his methods are rooted in an unwillingness to do harm. Why, I have heard tell of your experiments in Ether Healing, which involved great pain. I am eager to try it myself, it seems a great avenue of research.” She winked at me, one blue eye disappearing for a moment, her other one smiling. “I imagine your heart hurt watching your Fae princess suffer that, you’re such a tender boy.” She giggled for a moment, before her serious mask returned. “I will put my body on the line to optimise the method and improve it. If I suffer, or even die… I do hope you’d feel sorry for me, but at least I’ll be achieving something, driving away the darkness of ignorance, and it won’t bring me scorn. If I perform selfless deeds, then I am effectively… ah. No, I see it now. While it is true a fake indistinguishable from the original is real, perhaps even more real, as it’s trying to be real, whereas the original simply is, there’s one area where that isn’t true. The heart. Oh… I see. No wonder you scorn me, even as you gave me a chance.”

“What is she talking about?” Gina asked, and I shook my head.

“It’s fifty percent nonsense, but… it’s also fifty percent earnest. You’re right. And that’s why the methods you employ here in America are wrong. At best you’ll get a cursory understanding of the shallower layers, of ether and aether. But beyond that?” Adherence is all about the intent, the worship, the emotion… going back to the Tower of London and what lies below it, that wouldn’t have aggregated if it simply worked on ordinary principles. “You’re going to hit a dead end.”

“And yet, you want to take away our researcher who you say has finally understood?” Gina glowered. “That’s simply unreasonable. Unless of course, are you planning to correct our misunderstandings?”

“Hardly.” I snorted bitterly. “I do want the world to come together, and that includes America, but… I’m not some Saint, I may be too forgiving, but… I can’t forgive everything you’ve done and will do.”

“Yet you’ll forgive her?” Christopher was disgusted. “I… can’t say I was entirely behind everything that Project Star Mirror has done… I… I know better than any the horrors. My kids… they are cursed. I fear for them constantly! And Christina was the worst of them all. She was tasked with getting results, but… she chose the methods! There should be no forgiveness.”

“Perhaps not. We all have weights to carry. I’ve blood on my hands too. And I’ll stain them with more. But… I’ll always try to leave the world a better place than I found it. I’m not a fool. Pacifism will only lead to enslavement or death.” Shaeula carries the weight of her past, Shiro, that she was prepared to betray us all to Tan, though fortunately Tan isn’t as tyrannical as I first feared. Asha and her sisters, Daiyu, failing her Sect and family, leading to their death… Hyacinth and her many years of madness… and that’s just them. Some of our other allies… yeah. Forgiveness isn’t the correct question, it’s… “It’ll be a hard, long road for Christina. And she might find that even at the end of it, she’s not done enough good to balance her wrongdoings. But… I find myself wanting to give her a chance walking it. Maybe I’m just a fool for a pretty face…” I laughed self-deprecatingly. “…but while you know her best, and perhaps see her as scheming or lying… I really think I know she’s genuine. A fool, annoying, and far, far too lewd, but honest.”

“I… no. I’m not saying anything!” Christina clearly wanted to say something like ‘I’m pretty, huh?’ or ‘I knew you liked me’ but she knew it wasn’t the right time. “Not about that. Look… Chris. I’ll apologise. I did want to get my hands on Bethany and Zachary. Honestly, I still do…” As he stood up, face enraged, she held up a hand to forestall him. “Relax, Chris, you’ll go bald. Not to experiment on them… but because they should be getting proper guidance! I’ve not been in Japan long, not at all, and they’re not stupid. Everyone’s wary of me, doesn’t trust me. It’s started to hurt a little… I’ve started wanting to be trusted, to be liked. Unscientific, but… a little more human, maybe? Anyway… even so, I’m Christina Bakker, the best scientist in America, no, the world! It doesn’t take much for me to gather and sort information. Your kids… if they aren’t ready, then the world won’t wait for them. Best think on that, Chris.”

He sat down again, troubled, and she finished her long speech. “So yes, however I got these stirrings of emotion, I don’t care. I can’t abandon them, go back to how I was. If I’m never forgiven… well, never doesn’t exist, does it? I’m a scientist. Logically… if I’m not forgiven tomorrow, then in a week. If not a week, work hard for a month. If that fails, I’ll experiment for a year. Then a decade of making amends. A century of toil. A millennia of struggle…” She glanced at me then, and her expression was… odd. It wasn’t her usual lewd one, but it was certainly more charming than ever, which was certainly rather disconcerting, wrong somehow. “…so long as I’ve a goal to chase, little Miss Christina here won’t be deterred. If I made the best unfeeling, logical monster, then… with greater motivation, I’m sure I can make myself the best test subject, and uncover all the secrets of this world!”

Adelheid rolled her eyes, but while she barely understood, she got the passion, and clapped a little. Christopher looked troubled, Adam resigned, while Gina… she had a rueful expression, peering intently at Christina. “I’m… more shocked by this development than anything else. It’s entirely plausible your head could be turned by greater research opportunities…”

“Oh it was, Gina. My head is spinning, it was turned so fast. But it’s more than that.”

“…so it seems.” She was drumming her fingers on the armrest of her chair now, pensive. “This puts us in a mess, Adam. But I do see one solution.”

“Oh, how so?” Adam asked mildly.

“Seems to me, we lose Christina either way. In that case… the pragmatic approach is to extract maximum value.”

“Am I so valuable? Akio, best take note of that.” Christina smirked, and I rolled my eyes.

“Honestly, you’ve good insights. And… I’m glad to see you’ve recovered a bit.”

“I have? I… don’t think so.” For a moment, so brief only I and possibly Adelheid noticed, her expression changed to one of blank, shuddering horror. “But… if I treat it as a mental version of the Ether Healing experiment… I can endure. And… I get the feeling I should. Though I can’t quite grasp why, it feels important.”

All I could do was nod at that. “All right then. I assume you want something in exchange? Bear in mind, while you’ve settled matters with Japan, I think you owe me already.”

“Come now. These are separate matters.” Gina’s smile was now predatory. “Adam, you’re prepared to part with Christina, yes? I know you understood she could possibly be detained when you sent her to Britain that first time.”

“There’s losing her for our benefit, and being stolen from. I’m sure you’re aware of the difference. I had a list of questions.” Adam pointed out, and I held my ground, unwilling to be cheated.

“And one of them, the crocodile, matches my interests, so is a freebee. The others… I’ll have to run them past the Ministry back home before I even consider them. Maybe some of the answers are harmless, but if you want to put America’s interests at the forefront, you can’t blame me for doing the same for Japan and our allies. And before you say America is Japan’s ally, I know… which makes your attempted abduction of me, and the other successful ones, all the more damaging and perplexing.”

“It’s undeniable that many of the strange powers you people possess are incredibly dangerous and upset the natural order of things.” Gina insisted, and Adam backed her up.

“Yes. After all, mind control, for example. If such is allowed to exist, how can we ever be sure our wills are our own, our reality is what we are experiencing?”

“You think we can know that now?” Christina smirked. “If we were simply brains in a jar, and all we see is simply false stimuli caused by electrical inputs, how would we ever know, or distinguish it? Hey, that’s even relevant to what I’ve talked about before. But in all practicality, Adam… here’s a question for you. If there’s a small teapot orbiting the sun between Earth and Mars, and our telescopes are too small to detect it, and its gravitational influence on the surrounding massive bodies is so small as to be utterly insignificant… its existence doesn’t matter either way, does it? I think we all have to assume that we are in control of our own minds and wills. I certainly feel in control. Oh, control maybe isn’t the right word, considering the struggle I’m having with emotions, but… my point is the same.”

“What she’s trying to say… I think…” I interpreted. “…is that if there’s no way to be sure, then there’s no point fearing it. But I agree, to an extent. There are certainly powers more inherently dangerous than others. I’ve come across what you fear in South Korea. A bad business.” I shook my head, remembering the Chae twins and their terrible mind controlling abilities. “But there’s always ways to resist. And even a dangerous ability in the right hands is a blessing, and an ability considered good, such as healing, can easily be used to harm.” I’ve certainly considered it. Ether Healing and Chirurgery could be deadly tools to wreck a body. While It’s likely easier to just run a sword through someone, Healing a body improperly is just as likely to be lethal…

“I understand. Just as a gun is a tool, the user determines the intent. Though… while America in many states lauds the rights to openly carry guns… wouldn’t it arouse some suspicions if people openly carried grenade launchers, anti-material rifles, or even small nuclear warheads. We had those, you know.” Gina conceded. “Back in the day. Though they were thankfully never used.”

“The M-28 and M-29 Davy Crockett systems.” Christopher agreed. “I don’t like the analogy, but… yes, much as Director White and I don’t see eye-to-eye…”

“Still bitter I found out about your kids?” Adam muttered, and Christopher shuddered, taking a deep breath before nodding.

“You’re Goddamn right I am, Adam! My kids aren’t dangerous. Even… even if they carried an M-29, we could trust them to be responsible! Bethany’s got a level head, and while Zachary can be a little impulsive, he knows right from wrong!”

“But not everyone does. And horrible as it is to say, I do understand Adam’s reasoning to an extent.” Gina broke in. “Everyone in America has the right to bear arms. Constitutionally, these abilities you possess would come under that. But… just as some are handguns or automatic weapons, and can cause great harm in the wrong hands, others are bombs or nuclear weapons. We make a mistake here, and not just dozens, or even hundreds, like in your Kyoto, could die, but tens or hundreds of thousands. Hell, if someone was to have a powerful-enough ability to spread a plague, for example, and it was released in a packed airport, we could be looking at tens, hundreds of millions! Yes, what Adam and the scientist you are defending here has done was too far perhaps, too cruel… but a few hundred lives for the safety of millions. The mathematics of survival are cruel.”

Gina’s expression was earnest, if with a tinge of self-loathing, and I knew they meant well, even if their methods appalled me, reeking of the sacrifices I hated.

“Better a hundred innocents perish than a potential disaster goes free.” Adam intoned piously. “We take no pleasure in it…. Well, you don’t, do you, Christina?” he asked, and she shook her head.

“Even… even before now, when there were ways to test the things we needed to know that didn’t involve harm, I took it. Unfortunately… so much required cruelty. Which is why from now on, Akio and me, we’ll test on each other! No limits, no sorrow. I don’t particularly enjoy pain, although…” She licked her lips, peering at me for a moment, before adjusting her glasses and coughing, cheeks pink. “…never mind. Different sort of pain. “…but, I’m willing, I have full consent and understanding of the meaning of such tests. As do you, don’t you? We’ll get all the answers we’ll need that way. It won’t wash the blood off my hands, but… if my work does prevent a disaster you fear, Adam… then atonement… it’s a good first step, yes?”

“You? You’d do this?” Christoper asked, astonished. “I find it hard to believe. All you ever understood is numbers, results, never the human cost, or the emotional weight!”

“Yes. You’re sadly right.” Christina pulled her lab coat around her suit like armour. “I don’t deny it. Unravelling the mystery was everything to me. I had to know. I still do have a deep craving to know. But… that’s not all I want to know.” Her face paled, and her eyes reflected faint horror, and I assumed she was remembering the shared experiences Haru poured into her. “I need… I need to work through everything. So I simulate, assume, and test how I feel. Emotions aren’t science, but… I’m Christina Bakker, and I will not stop until I understand everything about how I feel now. And I’ll do some good!”

“I’m… shocked.” Christopher said at last. “If I didn’t believe in Director White’s threats of dangerous mind-altering powers before, I would now… but… you’re still you, I can tell. Only your depthless insanity would talk so… strangely about what it means to be human.” He took a deep breath. “I vote you take her away. I think she’s like those M-29’s. She’s powerful, but if we use her, we’ll be caught up in the fallout.”

“But she knows far too much.” Adam pointed out, and Christopher shrugged.

“Which is why we’re having this talk, yes? Negotiations. Sure, without the President’s approval, and Congress ratifying matters, there’s a huge amount we can’t agree on, but we can lay some groundwork, and… Christina’s not a prisoner, not yet. If she chooses to leave freely and we don’t detain her… that’s not a matter we need oversight on.”

“True.” Adam fixed us with a stern glare, and seemed amused when Adelheid’s blue, frosty stare was the one that unnerved him the most. “Christina. You’ve already greatly disappointed me. But I expected some problems. As your boss… I can sign the release papers for an official transfer. Let me see… how about this?” Adam leaned forwards, rubbing his chin, thinking.

“This Ministry in Japan, how about Christina is seconded there as a foreign liaison? In exchange, we want regular reports. Now, I’m aware you don’t feel like sharing with us, and the Japanese government has its reservations, but… the truth is, America is still Japan’s biggest supporter, and with China making waves, and an undercurrent of religious unrest worldwide… these so-called Church of True Revelation fellows…” His lips curled into a grimace. “…friends need to stick together. Past transgressions are no bar to future cooperation. History tells us that. After all, we were on opposite sides during the Second World War.”

Gina frowned. “It’s true, this is well within our remit. But nothing in life is free…”

“True. And while I am here, not causing trouble, because Japan has deemed the abduction of our citizens didn’t happen, politically… I still remember. But…” I nodded at Christina, and they understood.

“Fine then.” Gina sighed. “Our research is moving in different directions now, anyway, so I’m told. The early fog of ignorance has been driven back somewhat.”

Christina stifled a giggle, eyes sparkling, having escaped death. She then whispered something so faintly only my ears, and maybe Adelheid’s, could pick it up. “I’m still staying in the hotel tonight! I won’t feel safe until I’m back in Japan!”

Great, and here I was thinking I could have a peaceful night… oh well, onto more negotiations…

***

“As I live and breathe, Akio! You’re looking mighty fine, and so are you, Aliyah. The poor guys here tonight will be having to swallow their tears, missing out on a beauty like you!” Buck Kelly hollered loudly, as he saw us arrive. The security had been a bit of an issue. Adelheid had changed into a more mature outfit, dark slacks and a turtleneck jumper in a soothing charcoal grey and had changed her hairstyle and makeup to seem older, but she still didn’t seem (and indeed wasn’t) twenty-one. But as invited VIP’s we were ushered in after a brief discussion.

Indeed, I was in one of my usual suits, but Aliyah was wearing a dress, similar to when I first met her. It was white with gold highlights, and offset her dark skin and hair brilliantly, as well as showed off her ample cleavage and toned, long legs through a deep slit in the side. Not to be outdone, her brother Treyvon was wearing a suit similar to mine, though whereas I was lean, his muscular frame made him rather eye-catching.

Christina, who after our preliminary negotiations had calmed down, was now also in a dress. We had sourced it from the hotel again, and she wasn’t wearing a lab coat, as I had insisted. The blue dress wasn’t anywhere near as daring as Aliyah’s, leaning more on the elegant side, but coupled with Christina’s ash-blonde hair pulled up into a proper hairstyle, and some light makeup, she looked mature and attractive.

“You’re always with the ladies when I see you, Akio!” Buck continued, eyeing Christina appreciatively. “And different ones each time too! My Mary will be shocked, and I can hardly wait to see David spit out his drink. Anyway, come in, come in!” Buck himself was wearing a smart pair of jeans, with a white shirt with the top few buttons open, a casual yet stylish look.

“Fuck me, don’t keep us waiting, Buck. I’ve worked up a hell of a thirst today!” Aliyah complained, and soon we were inside. As we passed the raucous interior of the bar, called Kelly’s Haven, I noticed something, and I wasn’t the only one who did, as Aliyah doubled over laughing, though that was a dangerous pose for her.

“What the shitting hell is that? Oh my fucking sides… if I rip this dress laughing it’ll be your fault, man!”

“Oh, you like it?” Buck grinned. Indeed, while we were heading for a private booth at the end of the room, the decoration was… ostentatious. Indeed, the bar down one side of the room had a Fae-like feel, with a mural of a nightscape, huge moon overhead, and small lights like fireflies bobbing, which on closer inspection were little Fae, possibly Sylphs or Pixies. That wasn’t what caught our attention of course. What did, was a larger-than-life metal cutout of Shaeula, holding a bottle of Fae spirits in one hand, her other beckoning invitingly. The barmaids are in yukata as well, though… honestly, some of them are struggling to move. Must have been a rush job…

“Let nothing bar-bar your way to the wines and spirits from the immortal lands of the Fae.” Trey read, noticing the banner above that bar. “Approved of and supplied by Shaeula Tu Shae Dannan, old friend of Buck Kelly, and fiancée to the Hero of Britain, Akio Moonstone Oshiro!”

“Oh God, that’s embarrassing…” I grimaced, though I knew Shaeula would revel in the attention. Glancing at the prices displayed on another signboard, I swallowed nervously. Yeah, that’s the sort of prices the drinks we had in Gangnam cost, sometimes more. Even so… I could see people were paying.

“It’s nothing shameful.” Buck slapped me gently on the back, grinning as we passed the crowds, and I could see two familiar faces sitting at our booth, the frosted glass which allowed viewing out but not in no bar to my eyesight. One was a glamourous blonde woman, around the same age as Buck, Mrs Mary Kelly, and she was wearing a modest yet expensive pale lemon dress. The second was David Jacobson, tall and lean, slightly dark-skinned, and in a short-sleeved silk shirt in a bright blue, showing off his poker tattoo.

“Long time no see. Who’d have thought it, huh? That guy I met at that backwater casino in Vegas was such a bigshot. Anyway…” David grinned, lifting up his glass, which held a faintly glowing orange liquid, which looked like Fae Wine. “…cheers, down the hatch!”

As he took a heartly swig, Mrs Kelly greeted us, paying special attention to Aliyah, Christina and Adelheid, and soon we were seated, a starstruck, yukata-clad waitress bringing us over several bottles of both ordinary, yet expensive, Irish whiskey, and spirits made from the honey from the Mirror Bees. Seeing my look, Buck shrugged.

“Yeah, I had to rush things when I knew you were going to be in town, but… the first orders have come through. Sure, the supply is nowhere enough to stock all my bars, but… here, we can make the first impression. And it seems to be working. I told you, Akio, you’re my lucky charm!” He slapped me on the back again, and as I took a sip of whiskey, which was warm, mellow and fiery, and then chased it with a swig of the smooth, creamy and punchy Fae alcohol, I nodded, while David was complaining that his bars and restaurants were missing out on such a glorious opportunity…

As Adelheid took a sip of whiskey, her face frowning at the taste, I slid her a glass of the Fae spirits, and she seemed to like that better, though she was muttering to herself that beer was the only real drink. Aliyah and Trey were digging in with reckless abandon, and Christina…

“I’m not normally much of a drinker. I find intoxication anathema to rigorous, logical thought, but… it would be terribly boring if I don’t indulge. This is a date, right? Right?”

“No, it’s just an excuse to unwind.” I shook my head. The negotiations had dragged on for a while. I had intended to ask for access to two Territories, one on each coast of America, but of course there was huge pushback on that, but at least the idea was broached. It won’t happen until we reach Rank four anyway. I intend to move the Ring Gate Hub to a newly secure, high-security site away from Asha’s Tree and the Anchor and route all travel through that. No more carelessness. But when that happens, I want a worldwide network. It’s going to be hard gathering enough Chosen Vassals and others like my sis and Eri to expand it, but… that’s a worry for later…

“But…” My expression softened. She’s fundamentally broken as a human being, but… I know she’s genuine when it comes to her desire to take on all the risks in terms of experimentation I can’t or won’t. And not the sort of genuine which is merely a perfect fake. “…relax anyway. We could all use a break after the stress of the last few days.”

Taking another gulp of whiskey, I sighed, letting the background noise of the bar and the TV showing some sort of American sport in our booth wash over me. Tomorrow, I have to meet the President. That’s… going to be a pain. Though… he’s supposedly impulsive, and doesn’t always listen to his advisors, so if I can win him over, maybe I can get some easy concessions? Of course, if I piss him off, that’d be terrible…

Setting that aside, I resolved to lower my resistance to alcohol for now, and let happy drunkenness wash my worries away…