Chapter XXIX

Contact

Zanda had to find Qyrl, and she needed to do it quickly. Outside Mispholis, one thing became clear: she wouldn't be able to explore the underground town as much as she would have liked. Twelve different aspects from it allured her at the same time; the so-called Alchemist Road had a spirit that resonated throughout its black and white architecture, complemented by an entire ecosystem that was vibrant and alive.

The undercover Gevurah followed the route marked on her T.H.I.C. and traversed a pathway lined with venues, parallel to a river originating from the aqueduct that supplied water to the entire underlevel. The light, although artificial, was majestic, with several cascades falling, infusing life into Negativus and the deepest underlevels. She was on a path that led her to a netcore. The rudimentary yet beautiful maps displayed around were true pieces of art. Zanda climbed a ladder that placed her right next to the eleventh underlevel, in N-12: 'Artnea.'

This cavern was imbued with a grunge style, much more somber than the last one she had visited, with dark metal and maroon rock dominating the tunnel, and stores focused on art and culture where stolen music, films, photography and books could be acquired. With a sting of regret, she moved on to the next underlevel.

Shortly after arriving at the eleventh through a dark stone tunnel, Zanda encountered a stone wall with a crystal arch guarding a mirroring entrance, topped with a stylish diamond sign that read 'Lux de Noctis'. A couple of massive bouncers controlled the flow of people there.

She was studying them when a short man with orange hair and matching lips appeared before her, oblivious to who Yllen was.

"That's your contact," Gia warned.

"Qyrl!" she exclaimed, surprising him.

"Yeah, it's me. You must be Yllen. Haltan told me about you. How do you know my name? I've been using Lister for this gig," he said hastily.

"Haltan must've forgotten about the alias. Did he tell you what I'm after?" she prompted him to reveal information, minimizing her slip-up.

"Our bosses want the same thing. We'll do this together," Qyrl affirmed without doubting her identity.

"Good. Tell me what you know," Zanda pressed.

"I saw the picture of this guy, Corven, its at the Umbra quarters, it’s a screenshot from a video surveillance footage. Erlier, I recognized him on the streets of Oxen Plaza and have been tracking him since. What do you know?"

"He's drawn attention to himself, that's for sure, what a brutal way to immobilize Timor and Meida, It’ll take them a while to come back. That's about all on my side. Haltan sent me to assist as part of a deal," the Gevurah acknowledged, aware of her advantage.

"Don't worry, if things go well, I'll get you an audition. Corven is inside. We have to go in," he declared, then walked toward the bouncers guarding the club, with Zanda following closely in the skin of Yllen.

"Markus! Bostan! Good to see you guys, it’s been a minute!" he greeted them.

The tallest one roared, clearly less excited.

"Qyrl, furkano! I'm waiting for those shirts you sold me!" the one with dark hair and a scar shouted.

"That's why I'm here, Bostan. I wanted to update you. It will be at least three more days until you get them; they're on their way from Imperia as we speak," Qyrl explained, a phrase Zanda felt he must have repeated to different people, given how natural and careless it came out.

"I hope that's true, or I will get my five hundred gatvits back myself!" the man told Qyrl, menacing and out of patience, aware of his game.

"We won't get to that..." Qyrl turned to Zanda, winking at her. "This is my friend, Yllen. Do you think we can sneak in real quick? I'd love to show her the place."

"I think I've seen you before. You've been here," Markus, the tall one, observed her, recognizing the face Zanda wore.

She smiled, adding some flirtation.

"Yeah, more than a few times. I didn't think you'd remember me. We're on a date," she indicated herself and Qyrl. "I let this one take the wheel once in a while. He's doing well; tonight is a surprise! That's why I didn't want to spoil his plans by telling him I'd been to Lux before."

Markus stepped closer to them, killing Qyrl with his penetrating stare before smiling at her.

"Go ahead, you two. Three days, or we'll come looking for you, Qyrlangas. And it won't be pretty. Please let us know if this furkano annoys you in any way, Ms. Yllen."

“Will do, thank you so much, that’s so kind. You have pretty eyes, do you know that?”

The man’s face lighted up, Zanda found the entire situation fascinating.

"There’s no need to worry, my frens. Thank you, Markus."

"I like your boyfriend Yllen, but it's hard to trust umbra scum," Bostan was disgusted by Qyrl's business.

"I know. I didn't know he was one of them, would be better if he were with any of the families," she replied, looking at her faux date with feigned remorse, then proceeded inside, followed by him.

Bostan and Markus exchanged looks, sensing Qyrl was heading towards an awkward situation; they snickered at each other.

"Gia, you're recording everything, right?" Zanda inquired as she walked through a multicolored crystal tunnel taking her inside Lux de Noctis by melting around her.

"It's all on tape," the kabbalah responded, capturing her experiences ordigitally in a remote location on Zanda's birthcloud—a storage device where she documented her adventures through life. Every Malkuthian owned one, in general, it worked as a regulated tool mostly used for memory therapy. Yet, it was possible to become lost in one's own reminiscences of the past; some users preferred staying there rather than living with their current selves. It was a technology used as a monument to the Malkuthian individual experience, in hopes of sharing their contributions with society after their passing.

Once inside Lux, Zanda sensed the music enveloping the massive cave. The acoustics naturally enhanced and distributed the sound with remarkable clarity. The beat of 'Free Thoughts' by The Transcendental, one of her favorite songs, reverberated throughout the space. Her eyes were treated to the splendid design of the nightclub. Wood, rock, and metal were polished and arranged in a mesmerizing geometric composition leaned towards triangles. Waterfalls, greenery, and warm lights added style to the bar area.

“So, where is Corven?” The gevurah shifted her focus back to her task, her attention returning to Qyrl.

Upon her inquiry, his eyes turned cloudy as he scanned the room.

“He's using a tracker to find him,” Gia, anonymous to him, offered as an explanation.

“Do you see the guy at the bar, the one waiting in line, the one with curly hair? He's wearing a blue suit,” Qyrl provided enough information for Zanda to locate Corven within seconds.

“Should I approach him?” The undercover agent understood what needed to be done upon sighting him.

The umbra was impressed. “Just like that? This guy defeated two of our best umbras.” Fear was evident in his voice, evidencing his lack of recent updates.

“He is but a mortal man, remember that. Stand by. You’ll know when to assist,” she reassured him, her confidence erasing any trace of the false Yllen from his demeanor.

Zanda positioned herself in line parallel to Corven. After he ordered his drink, she took a new empty spot to his right. Seconds after receiving his liquor from a queer bartender with pink and green hair, he took a sip and then noticed her presence – his reaction was as expected.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Hey, can I buy you a Fire Tornado?” he offered, mesmerized by Yellen’s blue and scarlet look.

At that moment, she signaled Gia to release a toxin from her merkabah; the man inhaled the gas emanating from her suit and became numb.

Qyrl appeared a moment later, impressing her with his timing.

“To those stairs. I'm right behind you,” she instructed in a hush, pointing to the path leading to the upper floor. Qyrl lifted Corven from the seat and walked away, carrying him like any other inebriated patron.

Zanda didn't linger to see if the bartender noticed their departure; as soon as they turned, she moved towards the umbra and Corven, ready to assist. Qyrl sighed in relief as Zanda took the half unconscious dictadurian, draping his left arm around her neck. Together, they exited the bar through the crystal tunnel and left Lux de Noctis.

The bouncers were focused on a large group of people trying to come into the club.

“Don't forget my shirts, Qyrl!” Bostan yelled after noticing them leaving.

“I won’t,” The umbra responded without turning back, simply waving his right hand. “Three days.”

Shortly after, they descended a set of stone stairs to an upper underlevel called Ten-or, closer to the surface.

“Where are we headed?” Zanda inquired, eager to understand their next steps.

Qyrl paused for a moment to rest.

“Let’s keep moving,” she urged, unwilling to delay the operation.

“There’s an exit nearby. We're heading to our lair; they'll know what to do with him there.” Together, they navigated Corven through various passages and tunnels, emerging on the surface of Dictaduria minutes later. Qyrl led the way, and she allowed him to guide as they treaded concrete streets, evading sentinels. Gia did her part by scanning their surroundings which prompted the gevurah to suggest alternate routes in more than one occasion.

The silence overcame the camouflaged gevurah after a while, prompting her to speak.

“How long have you been with them, Qyrl?”

He momentarily betrayed a look of shame.

“Four months tomorrow,” he admitted in a subdued voice.

“Do you enjoy it?” She probed, trying to understand his position.

“That’s a strong word. I’m coping; it's how I get by, those gatvits are needed in order to survive exile with a certain degree of comfort.” he responded, his justification lacking conviction.

“What do you do for them?” Zanda's curiosity deepened.

“I distribute drugs,” Qyrl awaited judgment, which Zanda did not provide. “A dealer, if I have to label it. I’m not high up in the food chain, thank the sephirot. I avoid committing unforgivable acts, nor do I intend to.”

“Are illegal drugs not considered unforgivable?” She challenged him.

He pondered for a moment.

“Not compared to the myriad of crimes Gorbat forces other umbras to commit daily.”

“Like what?” she pressed, innocent, skeptical of his moral justifications.

He hesitated, then decided to confide.

“I can understand your curiosity but don’t share this, okay? They're involved in a lot business: extortion, smuggling, prostitution, slavery, black marketing, gatvits laundering, narcotics, fraud, contracts, torture, and even some philanthropy to cover tracks. Oh, and don't let me forget murder.”

“That's quite a list...,” Zanda felt a churn in her stomach at his words.

“Let’s hope you're prepared for it.”

“Were you?” She saw the guilt and flaws in his expression.

“I don’t think anyone ever truly is. That's why I'm content with my role. Gorbat devours others until they self-consume, turning into blind, loyal puppets, leaving indelible bloodstains.”

Zanda appreciated Qyrl's candor and waited for him to continue.

“Sentinels,” he suddenly whispered, changing the subject.

Zanda followed his gaze; five figures approached from a distance. Thanks to their concealed position, they passed by without detecting them moments later, though they made sure their presence was felt. As they came closer, she could see their faces illuminated by nearby streetlights, revealing that they had been indulging themselves. Their orange uniforms reflected the light, making it evident they had enjoyed their night, vocalizing their experiences loudly.

"I can't believe that furkano gave us all those gatvits," one woman said. "I had set my mind on less than fifteen hundred. Now, with these three thousand, I'm good for the entire week."

"Why would anyone carry ten thousand gatvits in cash on them? Dictadurians know it's illegal," another sentinel asked, euphoric. "We haven't been this lucky in months."

The group moved forward.

"Poor guy. I'm glad I'm not in his shoes. Maybe he deserved it, at least a portion of it. Did you notice how he stared at Lixen? I swear it was sexual. Do you think they knew each other? Rincor is going to need answers."

"I feels like that, yes..." the other sentinel replied as they disappeared into the distance.

Zanda was upset about the whole situation. The ones charged with protecting the safety of Dictadurians were corrupt, abusing the citizens they were supposed to protect.

Qyrl guided her through a concrete maze that made her question everything she valued about Malkuth as she witnessed poverty, fear, anger, coldness, loneliness, desperation and pain, all at once. It was raw and frightening. The system exploited humans to benefit only a few.

They found themselves at the base of a mountain in what was called Section H. The umbra pulled a sharp marble blade from his left boot and inserted it into a slit that appeared in the rock. The soil below moved.

False Yllen and Qyrl pulled from Corven before jumping back just as the ground disappeared, creating an opening that went deep into the earth. They entered and fell into a metallic slide; it was an old passage lit by yellow led strips. Symbols on the walls told several stories they were too distracted to decipher. Zanda and Qyrl pushed Corven through a tunnel until they reached the end of the slide, where a large spiral staircase lead up the mountain.

As they began climbing, Gia shared blueprints and schematics of the lair.

"How many more floors?" Zanda asked, pretending to be tried to keep Qyrl convinced, using Sacrorum to such a depth that sweat appeared on Yllen's pores.

"A few more sets of stairs," he clarified and continued upward.

After a few minutes, they arrived at a circular room illuminated by torches on the sixth floor. Nine separate arches branched out to different spaces throughout the mountain; a man wearing a fluorescent yellow coat waited impatiently in the center.

"It took you longer than expected, right, Qyrl?"

"I'm here, aren't I, Yistel?" the young umbra replied.

His superior laughed at such nerve and looked down at him with aversion.

"What do you have?"

"This is Corven. He's the one on the board downstairs, right?" Qyrl said, pulling back Corven's hair to show his unconscious face. Yistel approached and studied his features.

A victorious expression reflected his answer.

"And who is this?" He pointed at Zanda, acknowledging her presence for the first time.

"I'm Yllen," she responded before Qyrl could.

"What is a specimen like you doing here, Yllen?" Yistel asked with a creepy smile.

"I need gatvits," the undercover Gevurah replied bluntly.

"There are plenty of alternatives down there. Why do you want to get involved with us?" Yistel made Zanda uncomfortable, not convinced by her answer.

"I'm used to an expensive lifestyle, if you know what I mean," she said with arrogance. "I have time, and I don't want to waste it on mundane tasks. I'd rather have fun with it."

The eldest umbra stared for a moment before deciding.

"Can you handle egocentric and narcissistic personalities?" he asked.

"I've got a strong character myself. I can handle anyone," Zanda said, recalling the people she had met along her path.

"If you say so..." Yistel relented. "I'll take you to Gorbat himself."

That was her leverage.

"Who's that?" Zanda feigned ignorance, utilizing her acting skills, polished thanks to her 'Improv and Espionage' courses back at Asporto, mandatory credits to graduate if one aspires to become a Gevurah.

"My boss. He enjoys good company, and you might be what he's looking for."

She turned toward the umbra who had brought her there and nodded, thankful.

"Qyrl. Wait here with Corven. Wuzan or Olia will show up soon," Yistel ordered.

"You got it, boss," he replied, submissive.

The eldest umbra didn’t reply; with arrogance, he turned.

"Yllen, follow me."

"Be careful." She gave one last glance back at them.

"You too," Qyrl smirked before they departed.

As they approached the staircase again, the man next to Zanda gave her a number of instructions.

“Don’t speak unless directly addressed, I’d suggest you comply with any request the boss could ask, keep in mind you’re about to face the Dictadurian pulling the strings of this entire country. Don’t make questions, go with the flow and let him take the lead.”

Yistel ascended the spiral staircase higher onto the mountain, and Zanda followed. At the last floor, a green door with a crystal lock awaited. The umbra unlocked it with a graphene key.

Even though the gevurah couldn't see Gorbat right away, she felt his toxic presence in the air as they entered that space, the smell of drugs heavy on the atmosphere, accompanied by a questionable choice of music, dangerous and arrhythmic were enough to lower her expectations.

****

That's it for Chapter XXIX!

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