After I had seen what had happened to Sophia, I knew what I had to do. Get her. Simple as that. As I was running out of the dorm, I started to plot the steps I needed to take to get there. Before I got out of the building, I tried to call Technica but I did not get through. On the way down, I sent her a message, using the highest priority-flag I had. Hopefully, her filters would wake her, even at this time of the night.

My next step was to go into my workshop, the old one, and get all the energy-crystals I could use in myself, so I would not run out of energy before I could achieve my goal. In addition, I mentally went over all the tools I had, thinking about which I should take with me, which could be of use to me.

While I was rooting through my workroom, Technica called back.

“Metis? What is going on?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep.

“You read my file, right? You know about my partner, Anath, also known as Sophia?” I asked, grabbing crystals, tossing them into a bag.

“Wha…? Yes, but what does that got to do with anything?” now, confusion joined the sleepiness.

“She was attacked, kidnapped. I cannot be certain that it was done by Clark, going after my known associates. But it sure looked like him on video, judging by the body-shape. I need to get there and go after them!” I answered, my tone frantic. If I used the transportation I had access to, I would not get there until the evening, and that was if I went to New Brunsburg first and used my flight frame while it was still light out.

“Are you…” she stopped herself, her voice getting more alert. “Of course you are certain. What do you plan?”

“I will get her back. Whatever it takes. I need your help, I need transportation.” I rapidly answered, trying to suppress my anxiety.

“Come to my workshop, we will talk there.” she told me, her voice now fully awake and alert. We both hung up and I looked over the things I had gathered, making sure that I did not forget to take something necessary, while I was on the phone.

For the first time, I felt the train far too slow, wanted to go faster. With my armour, I could have been faster, it was something I would have to either get or replicate. In addition, I wondered how much Technica would be able and willing to help me, the Guild was normally forbidden from interfering in law enforcement unless directly asked by local authorities or mandated by the United Nation-Council. Those mandates were almost exclusively given out on a case-by-case basis, with a single exception I knew of. That single exception was a general mandate to intervene in Scourge-attacks, whenever possible.

My mind was conjuring ways to get what I needed without her help, ranging from the insane, steal some of her gear, to the criminal, stealing transportation from the United Nations and similar ways to, at least, get transportation to New Brunsburg.

I was almost ready to get out of the train to push, when it finally rolled into the station next to the Guild Tower. I instantly flew out of the train, running towards the elevator that would get me into Technica’s underground realm. Again, it took far too long for me to ride it downwards, until I finally, reached my destination. I was not sure where Technica was, so I started towards my own workshop where my new railgun and Galatea’s capsule waited. When I thought about the capsule, Galatea informed me that it was not yet finished. There was a split-second in which I was about to suggest to her to at least upload a copy of herself into one of the local computers, so she could survive if I either failed and died or got hit by a strong EMP.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

That idea was quickly quashed by Galatea who resolutely refused to survive if I did not. We both knew that I was willing to do whatever it would take to get Sophia back.

Technica found me while I was checking my railgun, making sure that it was in perfect working order, something I had neglected after testing it, and taking inventory of the ammunition I had for it. When I looked up, I wondered where Technica was actually living, she was dressed in what seemed to be her pajamas, with a white lab-coat thrown over them, looking like I had just kicked her out of bed. But maybe she needed time to attach her various mechanical parts, taking extra time when kicked out of bed.

“Can you show me what information you already have?” she asked, her attitude very no-nonsense, something I appreciated. Most of the time, she was the congenial teacher and mentor, impressed by my achievements while trying to guide me into pursuits that were less likely to cause widespread devastation. Now, she was all Technica, Councillor of the Guild and looking at a potential operation.

“Of course.” I pointed to a computer at the wall, while making a connection with it and playing the video I had acquired previously.

She frowned at the video, clearly displeased with what she was seeing. Once it had played, I added the information taken from the Powered Association, making sure that it was not instantly obvious where I got them from. It was a bit of plausible deniability for Technica, even if she was not normally tasked with enforcing the law.

“That looks bad. Can you show me current footage of the scene?” her voice was slightly strained as she asked. I did not verbally answer, but simply displayed the footage from the cameras around the dorm. Most of them were not well protected anyway, even if they were new enough to have voice-recording. It was something I could not quite understand, why upgrade to descent surveillance cameras but not to cyber-protection that cannot be broken by a determined teenager?

What I saw and heard added insult to injury, especially as I dug through the stored footage.

The campus-police arrived first, quickly followed by the Association and the rescue efforts looked good at first. But, when it was discovered that a few residents were not there and the attendance-record gone, things changed. I listened to the police-officer at the scene to tell the Powered off for fear-mongering, telling them it was only a stupid college-prank, quite possibly by the girls not in their beds.

The officer was even audacious enough to threaten the Powered with a lawsuit if they attempted to push the angle that it was a deliberate attack, either by terrorists or targeting one of their own who lived in the building under her normal identity. The police seemed to be determined to play down what had happened, undoubtedly hoping that those who were not in their beds were just out, late or with their significant others.

They had not even looked at the surveillance-footage and I almost shouted in joy when the Powered asked about the footage on the recording. My almost shout of joy was quickly replaced with a shout of rage, when the officer told the Powered that the footage would only be viewed with a faculty representative present, to make sure the student's right to privacy was not violated.

I displayed the footage to Technica, who groaned in disgust.

“There are a couple of schools like that. They laud their own civil liberties but if anything ever happens, they are quick to go into damage control, trying to sweep it under the rug. Getting official invitation will be difficult.” she explained, her voice dripping with annoyance.

“Honestly, I do not care. I need to help Sophia and I do not care what I have to do in order to get her back.” I said, my voice cold and determined.

Technica looked me over for a second. But that single second felt like an eternity. I knew I was being judged and had to hope that I was not found wanting.

Finally, she nodded. “I’m afraid the Guild cannot help you.” she said, her voice controlled. “But I will.” she stated, her voice resolute. Gratitude was flooding through me, when she added with a slight grin, “We will discuss my price after we have your partner back.”

I could only nod, if I needed to pay a price for her help, so be it.