The Arena - Tech Support Prequel

[Embri]

~ THE ARENA ~

My fellow Dojodians, I present for your reading pleasure my final project for my Science-Fiction Gen Ed. Course - The Arena.

I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.

[Embri]

Story written by Katrina Lacelle, © 2006
Characters and setting used with permission.

Rights for distribution in whole granted without restriction,
for non-commercial uses only.

The characters, events and places represented in this work are fictional, and any resemblance to persons, places or events present or past is purely coincidental.


Comments, questions and suggestions are welcome.








Dedication
For Rosie, Ross, Rodney, Tom, Jess and all my kindred spirits.

You’ve taught me the most important thing of all:
Friends are priceless.

[Embri]

I
PRELUDE

Ten years ago...
~Breee... I’m sorry...~ Angel cradled the head of her equine partner, her soulmate, in her lap. Her fingers traced patterns across the dull fur, rubbing away the traitorous tears that fell on the mare’s neck.

She sat, wings mantled protectively over her friend. Fingers twining into the strands of fiery mane, she fought against the torrent of emotions that threatened to unhinge her mind. Loneliness. Despair. Loss.

“I can’t.. I can’t go back there. I can’t let you go.” Angel took in the whole of their surroundings with barely a glance. There wasn’t much to see. Tucked far beneath the Core, she knew they were safe here as they could get, even if it was a little short on amenities. Her eyes were invariably drawn to the shiny equipment lurking in the back of the cavern. Unlike everything else, it was state of the art ... and also highly illegal outside the hands of the Corporations. She didn’t even want to think about what it had cost to acquire. It didn’t matter. Both their lives would depend on it, shortly.

“Embri? Embri...” Angel sighed, not getting any reply from her friend. She rested a hand against the mare’s neck. Her pulse was getting weaker. Knowing she couldn’t wait any longer and hating it all the same, Angel slipped a mag-lift under the equine’s body and moved her towards the waiting glass chamber. Carefully, she placed her friend inside the machinery, pausing for one last touch. Before she could lose her nerve, Angel slammed her finger against the lock activation, engaging the suspension cycle. Hands pressed against the clear glass, she watched as the machine did its work. Whirring and humming, flexible metal arms descended upon Embri as the chamber filled with a pale blue fluid, carrying syringes, tubes and electronics. The machine took control of her body functions one by one, stabilising her heartbeat, filtering in nutrients, and monitoring her brain activity.

All Angel could do was lean against the cold glass and mourn, feeling as if she had just consigned her soulmate to a fate worse than death.

~I know it’s not what you wanted...~ Angel thought, though she doubted her friend could hear her mind any longer. ~ But you saved me, so long ago. I have to try and do the same... for both of us.~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three months ago...
“Four hundred free credits.” Angel winced inwardly. This was going to be a hard loss to make up, let alone explain to her friends. Still it was the only lead she had had in weeks, and she needed it, soon. The rough cloth cloak that hid her bound wings itched as it rubbed against her neck, or maybe it was just the surroundings. The dimly lit holo-lounge flashed with dazzling parades of light and sound, matching the enthusiastic gyrations of the patrons on the dance floor. The peeling plas-fabric of the seats was obvious even in such poor visibility. Angel studied the rakish. gaudily dressed youth sitting across from her. Cocky and arrogant, he had his legs up on the unsteadily table that creaked each time he moved.

“Well, lady, it’s not exactly easy getting a’hold of what y’ar looking for. But I just so happen to have some very good friends in OganiCal, and as every Citz knows, they have the biggest bank of pure DNA stock going. Say, why you looking for this stuff, anyway? It’s odd merch, if you know what I mean.”

Angel glared at the youth. She hated having to deal with unprofessionals. “You don’t need to know that. Now, do we have a deal or not?”

“Maybe... for a little extra consideration?” The young man leaned over the table, a lecherous look on his grinning face.

“Four hundred free credits. One hundred now, the rest on delivery.” Angel murmured in a silky quiet voice, casually leaning one arm on the table. A soft snick was barely audible as one of her armblades extended, point stopping a few inches from the youth’s throat. “Deal? Oh, and as an added bonus, you get to keep your precious skin intact...”
The youth gulped, eyeing the razor sharp edge of the weapon. “Um... t-that sounds fine. Deal.”
“Good.” Angel dropped four small crystal chips on the table. “Oh, and don’t even think of messing this up... I guarantee you won’t like me when I’m angry.” With a scornful look, she got up, making sure to shove the table hard enough to hit him in the gut with the edge. A tiny smile played across Angel’s lips as she stood, watching the young man scramble to keep the precious credits from sliding off the tipping surface. “Meet me back here in forty revs. Don’t be late, and don’t disappoint me.” She left without another word, her blades a comforting weight on each side.

~I’m doing the best I can, Bree... somehow, I’ll make it right again... I will... I will... I’ll make it right...~ The singsong words chased themselves through Angel’s mind, seeking her other half that was no longer aware.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two months ago...
GRAZZIT! Angel swore, leaping over a pair of chairs and the patrons that had been sitting in them, her eyes wild.
A bloody set-up! What the hell went wrong! She clutched the precious sample vial to her chest, slipping it into a pocket. Stupid amateur, that’s what. A second part of her fractured mind replied, carrying on the conversation. Couldn’t even do a simple job like swiping some pure samples without getting flagged... Angel dodged frantically, glancing over her shoulder to size up the opposition. Good. They’re only Watch. Not DOG’s. She thought, ignoring the yells of protest as she knocked over tables and bullied her way across the dance floor. Fight fight fight! She half turned back towards the enforcement officers. NO! RUN, get away, hide Bree, hide Bree! Angel shook her head, staggering NOT NOW~! She shouted at the voices clamouring for supremacy. She yelled as one of the Watch grabbed her, pulling off her cloak. The crowd on the dance floor was scattering away, trying to flee from Angel and her pursuers. She skidded to a halt as a dozen more Guardsmen poured into the seedy holo-club from the back door. Angel crouched, throwing her arms out to either side. The flashing laser lights from the dancefloor scintillated off the mirror bright angles of her armblades as they slid out into her hands.

The crowd continued to scream and panic, partygoers somehow instinctively aware of their danger. “Augment!” someone shouted, “Freak, it’s a freak!” from the other side of the room more cries and fear.

Freak. Freak augment freak augment freakaugmentfreakfreakFREAK! The words swirled around Angel’s mind like a cloud of tormenting insects, biting and stinging. She added her own scream to the cacophony, blades whirling into action.

“I’M NOT A FREAKKK!” She lunged for the Guard, catching the first one in the throat with her fist and slamming the back of her blade into the next Guard’s neck. A shock stick hit her in the thigh, followed by another as the Guards swarmed her. Pushing them away with a twirl of her paired blades, she slashed and fought, giving into the red rage that boiled up from inside her. It made her strong, fast, alert. Everything seemed to slow, playing out between heartbeats, a deadly art of grace and death. Her focus narrowed down to the moment, Angel floated between the lumbering Guards... until she was slammed backwards by a concussive explosion, hitting the wall with a sickening crash.

Angel fell into darkness.

“What the hell happened, Simms?” A tall woman stood in the middle of the carnage, looking angry. The man standing beside her shook his head. “Near as I can figure, some idiot in this dump was siphoning power off the main gridline, unshielded. The fight damaged the relay box, and it exploded...” He waved his hands helplessly around at the mess. “And this is the result.”

“Did you at least get the thief?” The woman sighed.
“Dead. We got the client, though... the fr-uh... the winged girl. She’s off to lockdown.” The uniformed man shuddered slightly, as if he found the subject distasteful.
“No, send her to the labs.” The woman turned, leaving the ruined building.
“You got it, Councilwoman. I don’t want her hanging around, anyway. Boys! New orders!” The man hastened off to obey.

The city workers picked through the rubble of the club, the techno dance lights replaced by the red and white flash of law enforcement transports.

[Embri]

II
THE GIFT

Joutei sat in his customary spot, half hidden by rich velvet curtains as he contemplated the view from the curved, crystal clear panes that formed the walls. While half his mind was on the mindless prattle his aide was feeding the supplicants in the Grand Hall in his place, the Citylord enjoyed the vista of his empire, the corners of his mouth curling upwards into a ghost of a smile. A softly glowing sphere hovered in pausing a few inches from his hand. Joutei glanced down, examining the delicacies visible through the transparent dome. Flicking a finger across the sphere’s top, the stasis dome collapsed with a faint pop. Delectable aromas tantalised his nose, and the Citylord picked out a golden slice of fresh fruit, dripping with juice. Popping it in his mouth, Joutei poked the serving tray, sending it off on its soundless mag-lift back towards the kitchen.

A light stroke and tap against the tiny flexible panel that clung to his wrist brought up a camera feed from the main hall on one of the windows. Something had caught his attention.

“You may go.” Joutei’s aide said imperiously, waving his hand at the door. The current applicant for the “Citylord” bowed deeply, still prattling on. Forehead beaded with perspiration, he wrung his hands nervously, shifting about like a nervous gazelle. No manners. Joutei thought, considering if it was worth the effort to find out who he was and bankrupt his holdings. “Go!” the aide gestured again, looking annoyed. The guards snapped into action, grabbing the unfortunate business man and dragging him out of the Grand Hall.

“Joutei-sama, please! If you would just consider my proposal-” The aide cut the man off before he could finish. “Get out. Your low Corporation has nothing to offer me, Ariadeki.” The aide didn’t even bother with formal titles of respect. “And do not bother coming back until you have improved your position. I do not take kindly to those who waste my time.” The guards dragged the business man away, despite his feeble protests.

The next petitioner was a wholly different creature. If Ariadeki was a flighty herd beast, this one was a solitary predator of fine form. Joutei studied her approach from his monitor. Her appearance wasn’t particularly remarkable, but that was a blessing in the circles he danced in. A strong face, not particularly pretty, but well proportioned. Her eyes were particularly intriguing to him. Calculating, intelligent. She bowed deeply to Joutei’s aide, introducing herself.
“I thank you for your consideration, Joutei-sama. I am Loreli Nabbeth, of the City Council. I have a proposition to discuss with you.”

“Speak.” Joutei’s aide said, waving Loreli forward. “What does one of the Council want with the Corporations? You oppose us on many things, Loreli-sama of City Council.”

“In the past, yes, though not myself personally. You are not without sympathy on the Council, Joutei-sama... though I also have the feeling that you are not he. Why would a man of your importance bother to listen to the mewlings of mere bureaucrats?” Loreli tipped her head sideways a bit, a questioning smile on her lips.

“Well perceived.” Joutei said, emerging from behind his velvet curtains. The reassuring presence of his personal retinue falling in behind perfectly spaced as always, pleased him. “You are correct. This,” he waved to the aide sitting above them. “is one of my houkounin’s. You intrigue me, Loreli-sama. Where does a lady of the Council learn corporate manners?”

Loreli bowed again. “I am a person of many talents, Joutei-sama. I greet you, and come bearing a gift for your collection.”

The Citylord was surprised. Few outside of the Corporate circles knew of his hobbies, though they were not secret. Pleased, he nodded and motioned for Loreli to follow him.

“You are too kind. I am most curious to see what you have brought for my consideration.” Joutei paused, more interested to see how she would react to his statement.

“I would be delighted to show you, Joutei-sama. I have brought your gift with me. It is in the hold of my transport. Where would you like it delivered?”

Shrewd, but obvious. I shall not be showing you my personal loading docks, fair lady... nor letting your lackeys run loose in my halls. Joutei nodded once at Loreli. “I shall arrange for its transport, my lady.” His fingers tapped out a few discreet commands on his portacomp. “If you are agreeable, we shall enjoy a bit of entertainment before business.”

Loreli nodded, falling into step with the Citylord a pace behind. “Excellent, then. Should your gift prove to be of value to me... you will have my full attention.” His expression neutral, Joutei led his guest towards the elevator, dropping down many floors into the lower Tower. “Would you like a tour of my collection, first?” He inquired, hand paused over the touch panel.

“I would be honoured.” Loreli replied, hands folded neatly in front of her. Joutei rested his fingers against the panel, tapping the directions for his personal retreat.

“Excellent, then. This way please,” he motioned for the woman to preced him as the elevator opened on a new floor. The long curved walkway was elevated, bordered on either side by large enclosures. Each one was carefully manicured and designed into a miniature habitat, complete with live plants, streams and trees. “My collection.” Joutei said, with a hint of pride. “The rarest creatures of Arcadia, my living relics.”

“Beautiful.” Loreli commented, studying the prismatic feathers of a couatl. “You must have had a very difficult time finding them all... I’m afraid my gift is not nearly as grand as these.”

“Pretty, yes... but not very useful.” Not as pures, anyway. He thought, appreciating the delicate curve and shimmer of the sapphire dragon’s scales, the proud arch of the griffon’s head crest. His portacomp chimed faintly. “Yes?” Joutei answered. “Your gift has been made ready, my lord.” A small voice responded. “Good. We will be there shortly. If you will?” Joutei gestured for Loreli to follow him back to the elevator. A short walk later, they had arrived at the arena.

Joutei settled into one of the plush leather chairs overlooking the arena from the balcony, waving Loreli towards another. Similar balconies were arranged all around the area, a huge pit possibly ten meters deep and more than ten times that in diameter. The barrier generators hummed to life as the overhead illumination dimmed down, spotlights snapping into existence. The room fell silent as a gate opened in the side of the arena, and a single large creature emerged. The jet black canine was over two meters tall at the shoulder, and heavily augmented. Small flashes reflected off it’s body as a metal surface caught the light. The creature howled, pacing restlessly around the perimeter of the arena.

“Care to wager on the outcome, Loreli-sama?” Joutei asked, glancing over at his guest.
“She’ll kill it.” The woman responded, without any particular emotion.

Joutei called up a screen to get a better look at the second gate that was now opening. The being that emerged was human, or at least mostly, he finally realised. If he hadn’t been told by Loreli, he would have guessed it was male. Tattered dirty wings hung limply over muscled shoulders, and her wild expression bordered on insanity. “Most interesting...” He commented, watching the augment wolf leap at his gift with wide open jaws. The female dodged to the side, rolling and kicking upwards at the canine’s stomach. It yelped and lost its balance, stumbling.

A blood curdling scream reverberated from below, not from the canine, but from the humanoid. Fury incarnate, Angel leapt at the wolf augment, ripping cables and fur with her bare hands. The wolf tried to shake her off, then slammed its shoulder into the wall pinning her down. Jaws snapping in anger, the canine tried to bite its much smaller assailant. Claws raked across her legs, drawing blood. Angel showed little evidence of even acknowledging the injury. Instead, she sank her teeth into the wolf’s ear, biting and tearing like a feral thing. The fight continued, both combatants suffering an increasing number of small injuries.

“I am impressed, so far Loreli-sama. Your gift is talented, though I do not know if she is good enough to take down one of my augments.” Joutei watched from the balcony, listening to the other observers comment and cheer each major blow.

Angel danced across the battlefield, staying in the wolf’s blind spot on the left side. It’s face was a ragged mess, but the canine growled and snarled, unwilling to back off. She closed towards it, sensing that this fight had to end soon. Her back and sides were gouged with claw slashes, bleeding heavily. Diving at the wolf’s side, Angel secured a hold on a tangle of loose cables and hauled herself onto its back. Clinging grimly, she winced as her head smacked into the wolf’s shoulder as he fought to shake her off. She grabbed a loop from the loose cable and threw it forward, catching on a metal plate that was attached to the wolf’s muzzle. It growled and snapped, hurling its body against the area walls to try and crush her legs. Hanging on with all her strength, Angel wrapped the slick cable around her hands and yanked backwards, slamming her feet between the canine’s shoulder blades.

The crowd roared, screens flashing as credits changed hands and bets were settled. It was over. The wolf dropped to the ground, neck snapped at an odd angle. Angel almost fell forward as well, her adrenaline fuelled body losing its edge now that her opponent was no more.

“She is untagged, I hope?” Joutei asked, gauging the woman’s reaction to his barbed insult. She took the suggestion that her gift might be carrying a Citizen chip quite well, a mark in her favour. “Of course not, Joutei-sama.” The lady bows part way, one hand palm up, the other turned down. Respect to one who is superior from one who wishes to aspire. Joutei makes no outward sign of acknowledgement, but he was very pleased indeed.

“As far as we could tell, she has never been tagged.” Loreli fell silent, hoping she had not out stepped her bounds.

“Good... consider your gift acceptable, then.” Joutei said at last, a tiny flick of his fingers bringing four of his personal guard to his side. “Take her below.” He instructed, nodding towards the arena, then clasping his hands behind his back. Out of sight from his guest, the Citylord stroked his fingers across the portacomp attached to his forearm, sending a short message to his laboratory staff. This one was of particular interest to him. He would deal with her... personally.

“I will hear your proposition, now Loreli-san.”

[Embri]

III
THE CAGE

Pain. Angel ignored it, as she always had. Life was full of pain, ever since Embri had gone silent. Smells. Not the familiar cool damp smell of home, not of her friends...

Angel awoke all at once, lunging to her feet. Or she would have, if she hadn’t been strapped down. Instead, she got about a foot off the bed before collapsing back onto the mattress. Angel fought against the bindings, ignoring the lances of pain where they dug into her flesh.

“Well, I see you’re awake.” Standing in the shadows, a tall figure reclined comfortably in a padded chair. “You know, you’re only going to hurt yourself if you keep that up.”

Angel screamed wordlessly, finishing off with a growl. She twisted and pulled against the straps that held her down, glaring at her captor.

“Come now, I know you can talk. I took the liberty of having you cleaned up and doing a deep brain scan while you were... having your nap.” Joutei chuckled, stepping into the light. “Such pretty wings...” he murmured, curling a feather around his finger. Angel recoiled as if stuck, tucking her wings in against her sides and snarling.

“As you wish. You can stay there, then, until you change your mind...” Joutei shrugged. “Like it or not... you’re mine, now. Don’t worry, I take very good care of my pets.... so long as they make me happy.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel didn’t know how long it had been since the man had last come. There was no time in this place, only a constant twilight gloom and the automated machinery that tended to her needs. For a while she had held out hope that he would simply let her starve to death, but it was not to be. She strained against the strap that held down her arm, trying to reach the stimpad that fed into her bloodstream, to no avail. Her head snapped around as she heard the distinctive noise of the door opening. He was back.

“Surely you’re tired of staying in bed all day long, aren’t you, my little... hm... I just realised something. You don’t have a name. That won’t do.” Joutei ponders for a moment. “Onaga. Magpie... black and white striped wings, yes, that’s perfect. Well my little magpie, good news indeed. You’re not a hybrid, nor a GenEn, as I thought... no, you’re something much rarer than that... what exactly, I’m not sure, but I plan to find out.” Joutei activated several of the touchpads on the console, the machinery incorporated into Angel’s bed coming to life. An arm extended, swinging around past her shoulder with a syringe. She snarled at it, struggling as the needle jabbed her in the arm to draw a blood sample.

“Hmm... while we’re here, let’s get you registered, little one.” Joutei tapped out some more commands on the touchpads. Two more metal arms began to move, this time under the bed towards her neck. She beat her wings against them, to no effect.

“Listen, I really don’t care if you fight or not, but it is quite entertaining...” Joutei settled back down on his couch. “You’re a stubborn one, I’ll give you that, if not very bright.”

Angel opened her mouth, coughed, then tried again. “Let me go.” she managed to get out, voice rough from disuse. “Ow!” She yelped, more surprised than hurt as something stabbed her in the back, between her shoulder blades.

“There, see, it’s much nicer when you talk back to me. Relax, that was just your ident-chip going in. Can’t have you wandering off somewhere I can’t find you, now can we?” Joutei smiled coldly, getting up again. He walked over to Angel’s side, studying her. “Now, how about we try this again? If you’ll be good, I’ll let you go.”

Angel narrowed her eyes. “I’ll ... be good. Let me go.”
“All right then, Onaga.” Joutei tapped the release on the bed, straps loosening and falling away from Angel’s arms. She sat up slowly, rubbing her limbs. With a lunge, she struck out at the Citylord’s face. She never even reached him, her whole body jolted by something just before she connected.

“Tsk... do you really think I’d trust you? Stunfield, darling magpie. Come too close to me and you’ll get shocked.” Joutei shook his head. “I see I you aren’t willing to behave. We’ll just have to try more aggressive means, then.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Citylord reclined in his favourite chair, surrounded by monitors. The displays showed various statistics and reports, all about his latest acquisition. Joutei brooded, flicking between one screen and the next. He had to do something, but what? His little magpie was a real treasure... such possibilities. She was far to precious to waste on the arena - he wanted her for a new project, but first he had to get her under control. She was unstable, to say the least. It was almost as if she had multiple personalities, but none of his treatments had improved her state. How... how... wait.

He pulled up the last report from the canine project. He hadn’t paid it much regard, as the latest augments had been a complete failure. But the last line had stuck in his mind. “Probable reason for augment failure - inability to interface with the artificial network, due to inadequate levels of higher brain function.” A faint smile crossing his lips, the Citylord pulled up the rest of the project plans and began to work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Wake up, Onaga. I have so much to teach you...” Joutei murmured, studying the recumbent profile of Angel’s body. She stirred briefly, stretching.

“Wha... what?” Angel paused, sensing something had changed. Her back... felt stiff. Inflexible. Twisting around, she probed the strangely unresponsive area with her fingers, touching cool metal. Shock, then anger registered on her face. “What have you done to me?” She asked, glaring at Joutei.

“I’ve made you better, little Magpie. Now you will sing for me, and only the songs I decide you can sing. Those are neural interfaces, state of the art. With them, you’ll be able to join with any computer system, instantly.... Joutei walked over to a new furnishing in Angel’s room. It was a chair, the padded back pierced through with a a dozen thick cables. In front of it was a touch console with screens. “Come, Onaga. It’s time for you to begin your lessons.”

“I don’t think so.” Angel snorted disdainfully. “I’m not going over there, regardless of what you do to me.”

“Mmm. I thought you would say that.” Joutei looked disappointed. “You really are quite predictable. Ah well. I offered you the easy way, and you decided not to take it. So ka.” The Citylord touched his portacomp, and left. A click from the wall behind her made Angel turn. A thin cable retracted, disappearing back into the recesses of the wall before a plate slid down over the hole. Confused, she simply sat and stared at it for a while. She prowled through the room, searching for anything, something, she could use as a weapon or a way out. Nothing. With a soft growl, Angel threw herself back down on the bed.

From his control centre, Joutei watched Angel intently. He had faith in his skills, and his Onaga would soon be begging for the connections she had just spurned. Brilliant. Joutei permitted himself a brief moment of smugness, studying the diagrams on his screen yet again. He had improved upon his lackey’s research, of course. His little magpie’s connections weren’t just direct feeds from her neural net to a computer core, oh no... they were routed through the pleasure and pain centres of her brain. The perfect drug - invisible, free, and utterly dependent upon his will. He settled down to watch Angel with a smile.

Angel stirred, restless. She woke up, again, rising with a sigh. The winged lady stood, feeling uneasy. She paced around her small room like a caged beast. What’s wrong with me? Angel sat back down. Rose again. Paced. All the while, a growing sense of distress. Embri? No, it wasn’t the mare. She could feel the familiar presence of their link in her mind, same as always, dormant. It got worse as the hours passed. Her need soon solidified in Angel’s mind, the connection that her captor had severed. Reluctantly, she eyed the chair, pacing back and forth.

I won’t give in to him... Angel shook her head. It was so tempting. She couldn’t even begin to describe how much she wanted it. It’s not real... I can fight it! Angel forced herself to sit down on the bed. She stared at the shiny metal connections taunting her from across the room. She held her trembling hands in her lap, forcing them to be still. Shutting her eyes, Angel desperately tried to think of anything but the silver bright connectors awaiting her in the chair, digging her nails into her palms until they bled. The pain was a welcome distraction.

“You hear me?” Angel yelled, staring at all the walls in turn. “I’m not going to play your sick little games!” There was no answer but the faint echo of her own voice. It didn’t help that there was no time in this place. No dawn, no sunset, not even a clock. Just herself, the bed, and that damnable chair. Angel buried her head in her arms, feeling lost and alone.

Her dreams were full of shapeless horrors, fears and despair. Sleep did not last long, within hours, she was awake again, crying. It was too much. Almost falling off the bed in her haste, Angel staggered over to the chair. The cables glittered invitingly, neatly arranged in two parallel rows down the backrest. With trembling fingers Angel fumbled with the unfamiliar technology, trying to figure out how to regain the blissful calm and gratification she had known before.

Twisting around to bring the cable up against her back, Angel finally managed to insert it into one of her connections. She collapsed gratefully against the cushioned chair, a peaceful smile curving her lips upward. It felt almost as good as the moment she had first bonded with Embri, all those years ago. Eyes closed, Angel was oblivious to the entry of Joutei. The Citylord stood next to her, reaching out a hand to lightly stroke her feathers. “Now you are truly mine, Onaga.” He gently lifted each of the remaining cables and fitted them into the sockets on Angel’s back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Monitor the arena bets.” Joutei instructed, lounging on his couch. Angel’s life had settled into something of a pattern, though her room remained as unchanging as ever. The man would appear, give her a task, and then leave when it was complete. Angel hated him, but he was also the master of the computer. She had already been denied twice from her precious connections for disobeying him. Her mind skittered away from those times. Each had been worse than the last, and Angel didn’t know if she could stand to suffer through another.

Hungrily, she prowled through the computer core, sniffing through millions of files for the ones he wanted. She had learned not to delay in getting her captor what he wanted. Still, as she worked, a tiny corner of Angel’s mind flitted off, snooping through the core’s structure, looking for a way out. It was incredibly complex - Angel was just beginning to understand how it all worked together. A stack of reports caught her attention, and she reached for them. Pain, undeniable and very real, lashed across her synapses. Angel huddled in her chair, moaning.

“How many times have I told you not to stray from your task, my little Magpie? I’m beginning to think you enjoy the pain. You certainly seem to seek it out.” Joutei looked up from his portacomp, shaking his head slightly. Angel seethed, hating him more with every passing hour. Never the less, she returned to her task. Someday... I will find something in here I can use. She thought to herself, gathering packets of data. Someday I will make you pay for this.

Joutei watched Angel though half lidded eyes, glancing down occasionally at the scrolling text on his portacomp. Extending a manicured finger, he flicked it across the surface of the screen. Her continued disobedience concerned him. A few more endorphins, then. Deftly, the Citylord manipulated the circuitry that was intimately intwined with Angel’s body. Sing, my little bird. Joutei settled back against the plush cushions, a brief smile flashing across his hard chiselled features as he watched his captive slump back in the chair.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The pale skinned female with black and white wings waited impatiently in her room. She lusted for the comforting linkage with the computer core, but even more than that, she longed to revisit the space she had found in that core. A tiny space, compared to its total capacity, but a space none the less that she could access without being burned. It was some sort of overflow buffer as far as she could tell, part of the core’s security system. Thing was, it was designed defend against attacks from the outside, not from access within. And that’s exactly what Angel planned to do. Because there was no data in the buffer, whatever leash her captor had built into her didn’t object to her tampering. There is your fatal error... Angel thought. You prevented me from accessing anything on the core except for what I’m working on... but you never put a limit on what I could make on my own. She had learned a lot from her tasks, probably more than the arrogant, pale man would have ever guessed.

Finally, he arrived. Angel ignored him, curling up in her chair. “Today... I think it’s time for another round of buyouts, my little magpie. Be my hawk, and hunt for me. You will find a list of companies in the usual location.” Joutei smiled thinly at Angel, settling down on his couch. Angel carefully schooled her expression into an emotionless mask. Inside, she was delighted. Corporate purchases. Those had to go through the Citynet, which was laughably slow compared to her direct access to the core. There would be ample time to put her plans into motion today.

First, she had built her programs, layering them with outer disguises against prying eyes. One to override the locks, a second to bring down the security grid... It had taken weeks, or maybe months. There was no sense of time in this place. Finally, her plan was nearing completion. As she added one final emergency program, Angel settled down to wait for the Citynet to serve her packet requests. She only had access to her connection while Joutei was with her, so timing her escape would be critical. As she finished up, Angel set her program into motion. A hundred minutes.... an eternity, trapped in a silent room. She curled up, trying to rest.

Angel was ready for the faint sound of the door unlocking, fairly flying out into the corridor and away from her prison. Her footsteps seemed unnaturally loud in the vacant corridor. Light, dark, light dark. She loped between brightness and shadow, until rounding a corner, confronted with the most simple of security measures. A lock. An old fashioned, mechanical lock, on a door that should not have been in the middle of the corridor she had chosen as her escape route. Grabbing the bars with both hands, the winged female shook them in rage “No.. NO! This isn’t supposed to be here!” She yelled, pounding her fists against the metal. Within minutes, the guards had cornered Angel and escorted her back to her room, none to gently. The man showed up shortly thereafter. Angel had never seen him display any strong emotion before, but she could tell that he was angry. Very, very angry. He glared at her for several moments, while she glared right back, defiant. With a a flick of his wrist, he slapped her hard across the face. Angel snarled, seething.

“Did you really think I’d let you see everything, stupid Onaga? I am not that foolish. Take her to the arena. Maybe a few hard knocks will give her some manners.” Joutei left without another glance, storming out of the room. The guards dragged Angel off yet again, oblivious to the expletives and kicks she rained on them. One of them must have finally become fed up with her abuse, as Angel awoke some time later in a cell, with a nasty bruise across her skull.

Angel huddled on the floor, longing for warm embrace of the computer core. She curled up in a corner, arms wrapped around her legs. There was just one last card to play. Quietly, she began to hum. Nonsense tunes, ancient songs, anything that came to mind. She recalled the precious tidbits of information she had teased out of the computer. This was one of the Citylord’s towers. She had to get down and out. Down was the Core, her home and safety. Angel’s thoughts were interrupted by the door to her cell opening wide. A guard appeared, forcing her out into the Arena. The spectators stared down from above, a faceless mass of subdued anticipation. As the spotlights activated one by one, the winged lady whistled out a short series of notes, and the room plunged into darkened chaos. By the time the emergency generators had kicked in, Angel was gone.

Arms crossed over her chest, Angel winced as she bounced off the sides of the drainage chute that led from the arena floor to the disposal system below. In complete darkness, she did her best to avoid being thrashed black and blue by the barriers that whizzed by. Suddenly, she was in freefall. Spreading her wings, she glided outwards until she hit the wall. “Damn bad way to find a place to land.” She muttered, dropping heavily to a ledge. At least there was some light here. Dim glowstrips flickered along the walls, long since past their prime years. Next up was the painful part. Angel sighed, looking for something sharp. A discarded plas-strip fit the bill, and she jammed the pointy end between her shoulder blades, gritting her teeth. Her bloody fingers tore away the tracking chip, flinging it into the roaring cavern of rushing water below. Weak, she collapsed against the rough stone wall with a moan.


~Ashke... ashke, wake up, beloved...~ pale fingers reached out into the darkness, searching
~Where are you?~ Alone. Nothing but shadows.
~Come back!~
~I’ve never left...~
~I can’t see you....~
~Nor I, you....~

Angel woke up, lifting her head. It felt as if it weighed a ton. Shivering, she rose, dripping wet and shaking. Part of her wanted to run back to her captor, beg for the wonderful embrace of the computer core. Shaking her head, she moved on. She couldn’t go back. He would kill her, of that she had little doubt. The primal part of her mind recognised a fellow predator in the pale man. Angel staggered down corridors and tunnels, letting her instincts guide her downward and deeper into the depths of the Tower. She hadn’t realised her destination until she arrived outside a computer core vault. This is madness... she started to turn back towards the tunnels, but she craved her connection more than she cared for her own safety. She waited above the doorlock, hidden amongst the tangle of cables and pipes. Detachments of guards patrolled even down here, their boots stomping up and down the corridors in step with each other. Angel shivered. Finally, a technician appeared, fumbling at the keypad and palmscanner. As the door grudgingly slid open, Angel dropped on the hapless man, slamming him into the floorplates below with her weight. Graceless, but it worked. Satisfied that he wouldn’t be bothering her, Angel darted into the room. Beyond was heaven; the soporific, ever present hum of coursing electrons. She ran her hands lovingly around the small computer core that was enshrined on a pedestal in the middle of the room. Snatching her prize, Angel whirled and bolted, ignoring the klaxons that screamed shrilly behind her. Running for her life, she pelted down the corridor, rooms whizzing by. Left, left, right... straight then left again. Almost there. She could barely hear her ragged panting over the squealing alarms.

As she rounded the final corner, Angel came face to face with a surprised solider, faceless behind his mirrored helmet. Not slowing in the slightest, she ran straight at the detachment, knocking over the first trooper and then sliding through the middle of the group as sprays of bullets painted the walls. Clutching the core to her chest, Angel leaped towards a trapdoor set into the end of the hall, diving through head first. She fell down the garbage disposal chute, emerging high above the poisoned sludge that was once a river. Forcing her wings to work a little longer, she glided on the rank thermals that rose from the decomposing sludge below, disappearing into the seedy underbelly of the Core.

[Embri]

IV
THE FOUNDING

“You’re a mess, what the hell happened?” Szri stared at Angel, crouched by her side. “Whatever you did, you made a real big stink. I haven’t seen so many DOG’s out during the day since the last Tower rebellion.”

Same old Szri. No how are you, nice to see you, where have you been... Angel groaned, wiping grime from her eyes. She flinched as she moved her shoulders, red hot pain telling her that the gaping wound in her back was probably infected.

“Breee...” Angel muttered, trying to stand. Her arms trembled, body refusing to obey. She curled her body around the computer core in her lap, clinging to it as if her life depended on it.

“Horseface? She’s same as always. Now tell me what the hell... damn.” Szri swore as he turned Angel over on her side, examining her wounds and rather obvious hardware. “Never mind. Let’s go.” Picking Angel up as if she weighed nothing at all, the cyborg slung her over his shoulder and marched off into the gloomy perpetual dusk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Faster, oh please, work faster... Angel barely stopped herself from whimpering as Szri and the tech finished the installation of the stolen computer core. How long had it been? Days? Weeks? Angel couldn’t remember anymore. Too long without the irreplaceable comfort of the neural link.

“You sure this thing isn’t going to scream on us?” Kazumaru asked, not liking it one bit as he tightened one of the fibre optic leads.

“Yes, yes! I did it myself... I know, I know... it’s safe. I know.” Angel rocked back and forth, hungering for the sweet caress of the electron brain that was the core.

“It’s your funeral...” Szri shrugged, nodding to the technician Kazumaru. He made the final connections, bringing the core back on line. “There you go, good as new!” He wiped a hand across his forehead and patted the computer.

Angel let out a happy sob and snatched up one of the connectors, fingers fumbling as she found the mating socket against her spine. She sank down in sweet bliss as the core responded to her mind, ordered tasks falling into place.

“We’ll be fine.” Already, Angel sounded more like herself. Swiftly, she ran through the core looking to see what she had. A wide grin broke over her face. “Maybe better than fine....” with the speed capable only for one directly tied to a neural interface, she absorbed Joutei’s research findings and genetic engineering database. She walked over to Embri’s tank, resting a palm against the curved glass. “I know how to do it now, Bree... it’s all here, in my head. It’s going to take time, but I know how. We’re going to need some friends, though...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel sighed in relief as the computer core was installed safely at last in its new home. She looked around her at the small group of people she had come to trust so well. Szri, of course, and many GenEn’s and hybrids, some escapees like herself, others who just hated the Citylords for their own reasons. They didn’t have much, but it was free from the Noble’s control.

Finding this place had been a stroke of luck. One of their scouts had followed up an old Core rumour about the tunnels, far below the redzone controlled by the City. They had proved to be right, and this huge cavern complex was to be the newly founded TechSupport’s headquarters.

Angel settled into her chair, testing her connections to the computer one by one. All green across the board. She called up the video feed from the lab. It had been the first thing built, by her and Szri alone. No one else knew about it, and that’s just the way she liked it. The comforting readouts from Embri’s tank soothed her frayed nerves. It had been almost impossible to get down here, below the redzone. Still, they had made it. She flicked the camera controls, changing over to a second tank that now sat beside Embri’s. Inside, a new horse was maturing.

~Soon Bree... soon you’ll be awake again. Then, we’ll take down the Citylords. Together.~



~ END ~