The downtown area of Cronus was the center of the city's nightlife. Within its blocks was housed a dense population of restaurants, bars and nightclubs, each catering to as many types of people, as there were various cultures and classes dwelling within the city. From the posh elegance of fine dining, to the seedy pleasures of the red light district, all could be found along its heavily packed streets. Holographic signs yelled loudly into the night, calling potential patrons with their dazzling display of colors, spectacular artwork and imaginative names.

Andrea drove slowly through the congested traffic, the situation becoming augmented by the heavily falling rain. Ahead of her, she could see a sign marking the name of the club they were headed to. In glowing red letters, the words 'The Crypt' faded into existence two stories above the ground, becoming slightly refracted by the rain falling through them. Andrea slowed the car as she neared the sign and found a parking bay along the opposite side of the street. She signaled her turn and then carefully fitted her vehicle into the line of parked cars that hugged the curb. Shutting off the engine, she turned around and faced the passengers.

In the adjacent seat, Kesler was dressed in a simple outfit, consisting of a skin-tight black net shirt and a pair of loose black pants. Andrea could not help but pause slightly at the muscular torso, almost bursting through his top. He would make an excellent show of force to the Anubis.

She then looked to the back seat, where Suta and Sonia were gazing out the window towards the club.

Sonia was clad in a very sophisticated piece of dress wear, much like Andrea's own. She wore a pair of deep violet dress pants and a silky top to match. Her face was covered with light makeup and her ears accented with small diamond earrings that matched her loosely hanging necklace.

Beside her Suta was dressed quite differently. Her attire seemed hardly there at all. She was covered with a skin-tight bodysuit, made of translucent plastic. The material was lined with photocells that covered the surface of the suit, and concealed her private regions with a myriad of intricate patterns. The entire trip, they had been treated to a veritable light show of swirling colors and glowing highlights, complements of her outfit.

Andrea could tell Suta did not like the suit very much at all. She kept looking down on herself and frowning. Andrea tried to ease her self-consciousness. "You look all right, dear."

Barro pulled her lips to one side. "I have a feeling it might be a bit much." Kesler turned around in his seat grinning. "Hey, I like it."

Barro folded her arms over her overly protruding breasts. "Thanks."

"Next time you can borrow some of my clothes," Sonia rested a hand on her arm.

"Thanks," Barro said again. "But I think I might try to go shopping for some of my own soon. I mean, Cindy is very willing to give me her things, but I think you need a certain kind of personality to wear them."

Sonia chuckled next to her. "You can come with me tomorrow."

"Really?" Barro said delighted

"Of course," Sonia smiled. She then looked out her window at the rain. "Do you think it will stop?"

"Not a chance." Kesler opened his door and the sound of the falling rain filled the air. "Let's make a run for it."

"I have an umbrella," Andrea reached down beside her. She opened her own door just as Kesler slammed his and began a sprint towards the club. "Oh well. More room for us I suppose."

Putting the umbrella outside, she pushed it open, and climbed out of the car under its shelter. Closing her door, she moved to the back of the car and helped Sonia and Barro under its protection as well. The rain pounded on the material noisily, as they huddled together and began to trek slowly towards the club entrance.

Staring under the rim of the umbrella and through the water sheeting off it, Barro looked to see where they were headed. Across the street, not ten meters away was a structure straight out of the dark ages. Looming spires towered into the rain-drenched sky. Their sides illuminated by the soft glow of what seemed like candlelight, coming

from gothic windows fixed into the dark gray stone of the building. On either side of each window, two stone gargoyles stood their guard, with two gigantic gargoyle structures standing their visual over the main doors. The building was impressive to say the lease. Someone had spent a lot of money capturing the authenticity of a gothic cathedral.

Kesler was waiting for them as they reached the shelter of the overhanging entranceway. Not far from him were two men dressed in tight leather pants and vests. Their heads were shaved bald and their skin painted an opaque white. Barro assumed they were the bouncers. They seemed to match perfectly with the dark decor of the club.

Andrea shook out her umbrella. "Handle the cover for us please, Sonia."

Sonia nodded and stepped briskly past the two bouncers and to a small barred window just within the doors. She withdrew a plastic card from her purse and passed it to the pale faced woman inside the booth.

"Come." Andrea led Kesler and Barro to where Sonia was.

"Just place your hand through the slot," the woman instructed Sonia.

As she did so, a blue laser ran itself quickly over the back of her hand.

"Next," the woman called.

They each placed their hand through the slot and got marked with the small laser tagging. They then regrouped a bit away from the booth. Barro could detect the faint scent of cigarette smoke coming from the dimly lit corridor ahead of them. She could also feel the pounding bass of music, trembling through her feet. She enhanced her hearing and began listening to it. It was somewhat similar to what she had heard in the park. It was fast paced, with a woman singing a high pitched vocal chorus accompanied by synthesized harmonics. She began to tap her foot and then became aware of Andrea talking to her.

"Pardon?"

She could tell Andrea was a little annoyed. "I said, we're here for business only. Sonia and I will do most of the talking. Barro, I might need you to determine the value of the weapons we're trying to buy. Kesler, you're here as a show of force, in case things get out of hand. I'm sure they won't but just in case."

"Yeah whatever," Kesler shrugged. He seemed slightly insulted. "Just sic me on 'em when you're ready, alright?"

Andrea ignored his remark. "I guess we can go then."

Barro nodded. She suddenly became aware of how brightly her outfit was glowing in the surrounding darkness. She started to feel uncomfortable again. They stepped forward into the club, and she followed behind them a bit reluctantly.

She could hear the music growing stronger as they traveled down the corridor. A layer of smoke began to form on the ground, and Barro could feel the temperature dropping slightly. They reached the end of the corridor and saw it split into two directions.

Andrea turned right and they followed after her.

As the music grew louder, Barro began to bob her head to it involuntarily. The smoke thickened and finally the corridor entered into the heart of the nightclub.

Barro halted abruptly.

She stood on the edge of a pit that spanned some thirty meters. Below her, four terraces sloped downward another ten meters to a gaping dance floor. On each terrace was a bar, surrounded by lounge chairs, which were spread along the entire circumference of the terrace. Above, enormous chandeliers hung from ceiling chains, which extended upwards so high they blended into the darkness. Beside the chandeliers, hung cages housing women dressed in scraps of dangling leather. They danced in their cages seductively, sliding their bodies up and down on the bars, performing all sorts of sexuality suggestive acts. At the edges of the top terrace, four doorways led upwards to the balcony booths that were cut into the walls of the building. From the booths, eyes gawked upon the people on the terraces and the dance floor, staring intently like voyeurs.

Barro stared with them, totally in awe of the types of people and clothing she saw. Most were dressed in black leathers with chains hanging in all sorts of cracks and crevices. People painted their faces stark white and had all manners of piercings protruding from their ears, lips and noses. The colors and styles of hair she saw stunned her. From long and jet black, to multicolored and sculpted, to bald and tattooed. Men and women wore hairstyles so non-typical and strange, that she could hardly tell one sex from the other.

Now, Barro did not feel at all odd about the outfit she was wearing. In fact, compared to some of the women she saw in the club, she was almost conservative. A group of women below her weren't wearing anything at all. They were biosculpted, surgically altered with animal like characteristics. Two of them were sporting feline jobs, complete with tails and catlike ears protruding from the tops of their heads. The suede like fur on their bodies covered their backs and arms in a pattern of leopard spots, while leaving their private regions exposed for all to gawk at.

Barro cringed as she looked at them. She could not fathom what would possess a person to want to scar their body in such a manner. But there was also the possibility that they had no choice in the matter at all. Many bionids and A-type cyberoids were sold with such biosculpt packages. People nicknamed them sexdolls.

Barrow scowled intensely. "What kind of place is this?"

Andrea started to walk towards one of the doorways. "Like I said, we are here for business only. Pay no attention to our surroundings."

Kesler's eyes lashed hungrily over the sights around him. "Too bad. I might have to come back here later."

Barro followed after them. It certainly wasn't her kind of place. Not that she frequented nightclubs at all, but she could definitely tell she didn't like the crowd surrounding her. She felt eyes probing her as she walked. Strange men and even women gawked at her, their eyes filled with shameless desire. It made her stomach turn. She walked faster and fixed her eyes forward, avoiding their gazes.

She was happy to reach the stairs and climbed quickly, following after Kesler.

They ascended two flights and began walking down another corridor. Along the left wall were doors leading to the various booths. Andrea walked briskly ahead of them and then finally stopped at one. She waited till everyone was grouped together and knocked.

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The door opened and a tall, gaunt faced man with hollow eyes poked his head through. "Yes?"

"I am Andrea," she stepped forward. "We're here for the meeting."

The man's jaw dropped slightly. "Ah... come in."

Andrea walked past him with a slight smirk on her face. She could imagine the thoughts and images of recognition that must be now running through his head. She had kept all communication with the Anubis non-visual for just that reason. They would no doubt be taken off guard by her appearance. Perhaps she could even convince them to join Mother.

Within the booth was a fairly large table with eight chairs set around it. Already seated were a man and a woman.

The man looked to be in his early thirties. His face milky white and his eyes an unnerving yellow. His hair in contrast was pitch black and grown straight and long, hanging in large bangs down the side of his long face. His nose was sharply pointed, as were most of his features, giving him a beautiful almost feminine appearance. He wore a black designer suit, with a high collared white shirt and on his breast pocket he wore a simple pendant depicting a jackal's head.

Next to him, the woman appeared almost as his twin. Like him, her features were crisp and sharp with pale skin and jet black hair. Her eyes were violet and her lips painted in deep red scarlet. She wore a sheer black dress that hung low just above her bosom and on it was pinned another jackal head pendant.

"Hello," the man stood to greet them, outstretching his hand. "You are... Andrea?" Andrea nodded as the rest of her party filtered into the booth. "Raymond King?"

"Delighted," his thin lips smiled as they shook hands.

Andrea tried to see if her appearance had any effect on him, but King's face remained unreadable. Perhaps their memories of Mother were as dead as their complexions. Andrea then turned slightly. "Let me introduce my companions."

She pointed to each of them in turn. "This is Sonia, Barro and Kesler."

The woman suddenly stood and smiled widely. "I certainly remember you, Herr Kesler."

Kesler looked around dumbly as the woman lifted the back of her hand towards him. Not knowing what else to do he took hold of her hand and kissed it. "I ah... don't really know who you are... ma'am."

"Vivian," she told him. "It's a rare treat to meet someone so famous."

The boxer let out a laugh. "Yeah well. Used to be famous."

"This is Anthony." Raymond gestured to the tall man still standing by the door. "He will be serving us tonight. Please have a seat."

With the light scuffle of chairs, they found their places. Barro sat opposite Sonia and next to Kesler. The man Raymond and the woman Vivian were seated further down, next to Andrea. The waiter, Anthony, then began to go around the table asking people their various choices of drinks.

Barro was surprised. She expected some shady meeting in a smoke filled room around a corner table. Not the near diplomatic treatment they had been given so far. She suddenly felt out of place again, wearing the obscene body suit. The waiter left and closed the door behind him.

"Shall we begin?" Andrea asked.

Raymond reached into his pocket and produced a silver cigarette case. "Please."

'We are now known as the coalition of synthetics," Andrea said. "Our Mother has finally come to join us and it is now time for us to start action. We have come here to ask if you want to join us in our battle."

"Battle?" Raymond withdrew a cigarette from his case and placed it in his mouth. "What battle are you supposedly fighting?"

"The battle for synthetic equality."

Vivian leaned over and lit the cigarette with a silver plated lighter. "All synthetics are equal, dear."

'We mean compared to humans," Sonia retorted somewhat aggressively. "We want to take our rightful place as equals."

Raymond took a draw on his cigarette. "Oh. That's what you mean."

He chuckled, causing Sonia to grow even more annoyed. "Look if you are going to patronize us then-"

"That's enough, Sonia," Andrea silenced her. "Mr. King, perhaps we should start this meeting with you explaining what your organization represents. Perhaps we can formulate a merger."

The door opened behind them. Anthony stepped inside, holding a large tray of glasses. He then went around the table distributing the beverages.

"Thank you, Anthony." Raymond then gestured for him to exit the room. The gaunt faced man bowed wordlessly and then took his leave once more.

Barro sipped her drink lightly as she watched him leave. She had met many new

people since coming to the city, but so far the people tonight had to be the strangest.

"We want what everyone wants," Raymond took another draw from his cigarette. "Life through eternal death."

"You want what?" Kesler eyed him queerly.

"Life," he repeated. "You all might think you are living right now. But you're not. We are all abomination of life. Perversions brought about through mankind's constant struggle to attain godhood."

Vivian tilted her head back slightly as she took a taste of her wine. "We are all Undead. Corpses of twisted machinery and flesh animated through the will of man."

"What?" Kesler's face contorted with incomprehension. "That's a bunch of bullshit man.”

Andrea rested a hand on his large forearm. "Let them speak, Kesler."

"No, it's all right." Raymond tapped his cigarette in an ashtray. "Many were doubtful before they came to know Anubis. But once you accept your fate and future, you can finally embrace death. Only then can you truly start living."

"Yeah, whatever man." Kesler folded his arms across his massive chest.

"You doubt, Herr Kesler?" Vivian leaned towards him grinning. "How old do you think I am?"

"Huh?" Kesler jerked his head away from her. "Look, I don't know. Or even care really."

Barro's opinion differed from Kesler's greatly. Her interest was peaked to an extreme. "How old are you?"

Vivian laughed softly and then sipped her wine. "I am eighteen and a half years old."

"What? That's impossible," Barro denied her claim. Suta was known to be one of the oldest cyberoids in existence and she was only twelve. There was no way this woman could have lived so long. "It just isn't possible, is it?"

"Look," Sonia said. "We're not here to get brainwashed into your cult."

"It is only natural for you to not believe us." Raymond put out his cigarette. "The only way for you to be convinced would be for you to join us."

"No fuckin' chance of that," Kesler laughed.

"We are digressing from the purpose of this meeting," Andrea spoke up. "We wish to acquire weapons from your organization. We have clean currency with which to purchase it. Can you help us?"

Raymond leaned forward on the table. "Perhaps. It depends on what you want to acquire. And of course what you plan to do with them."

"What we plan to do?" Sonia said testily. "Are you going to sell us these weapons or not. If not we can go elsewhere."

Raymond shrugged. "We only wish to make sure that you don't take actions which might be detrimental to us."

Barro regretted how quickly the others dismissed the notion of the woman's age. She wanted to know if it was actually true. Of course, it wouldn't matter to them much, but to her a chance to live five or more years would be a miracle. Perhaps this was the method of true life Mother had promised her. Perhaps these people had somehow found a way to regenerate cells more efficiently.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Andrea suddenly cut her off.

"An action detrimental to you would no doubt be the same to us," Andrea told him. "Still I will assure you that we will converse on anything we wish to embark on."

"Very well then." Raymond lifted his glass of brandy from the table and sampled it. "Tell me what you wish to acquire."

Barro suddenly saw Andrea look towards her, prompting her to answer the man. "We need twenty suits of combat armor," she listed. "Along with twenty 7.62 caliber

assault rifles, preferably M-18's with enough ammunition for five magazines each."

"An easy order," he said. "Is that it?"

Barro nodded. "Yes, that is it."

"That's all our budget allows us for now." Sonia looked across to Andrea. "I don't think there is anything else is there?"

Andrea shook her head. "Can you supply us?"

Raymond slowly swirled the drink within his cup and then looked over to Vivian. He smiled at her and then turned back to Andrea. "Sure. We can get you what you want."

"What is your price?" Sonia asked him.

Vivian stared upward at the ceiling thoughtfully. "I think thirty thousand should be sufficient."

"Thirty thousand?" Sonia looked to Barro for confirmation.

Barro knew the cost of each item. She went over them in her head and come up with a value fairly close. "It's fine."

"Alright then," Sonia stood up. "Where and when can we make an exchange?"

"In two days time, pier twenty-two in the dockyard at eleven PM." Raymond stood as well, and held his hand aloft to close the deal. Sonia shook it firmly, as did Andrea. They then all rose from the table and began to head for the door. Barro wanted to mention something about life extension again. But the opportunity didn't reveal itself.

Perhaps the others were right anyway. Chances were that they were just a deranged cult. The last to leave, Barro closed the door after her.

Andrea led the way again, moving towards the stairs.

Sonia trotted up next to her. "Do you think it went well, Andrea?"

"It's not over yet." Andrea reached the head of the stairs and began descending down them. "We have made a deal, but it is hardly over."

"I don't like 'em." Kesler scratched the back of his neck. "Seem like a couple of freaks to me. All that shit about death."

"Do you think it could be true?" Barro asked from behind.

Sonia turned around to her. "Think what is?"

Barro didn't want to sound overly infatuated with the idea. She chose her words carefully. "About them being able to live forever."

Sonia shrugged. "The Undead are a cult. A religion almost. People have to have something to believe in. Even cyberoids I guess."

She still didn't answer Barro's question. "But do you think it's possible that they found some way to live forever?"

"Forget about it, Barro," Andrea told her.

"Forget about it?" Barro became acutely upset. "Look this is important to me. I might not have much longer to live."

Andrea suddenly stopped at the foot of the stairs. She turned around and looked up at her. "I'm sorry for being insensitive. But trust me, dear. You do not want to live like they do. ''

"What do you mean?" Barro stepped down the stairs a little closer to her.

"The followers of Anubis are mostly old cyberoids very close to retirement," Andrea said. "Many are drawn to them for hopes of a new life. Most have only months to live and nothing to lose. They inject themselves with cryothyzine-T7, a toxin that plunges their cells into stasis. Their brain cells are kept alive with fresh infusions of blood and

amino derms, but in time they will deteriorate as well. But their bodies are dead. The only thing moving them are the myomer strands laced in their muscles."

"So you mean they're really dead?" Kesler's eyes grew wide.

"Didn't you feel how cold her hand was?" Andrea turned and started walking down the steps again. "Enough of this. Let's go. We have to get back to the warehouse."

No one moved for a moment. Their minds still digesting the information they had just received.

"Real life fucking vampires." Kesler shook his head slowly in disbelief. He then shrugged and started down the stairs. "Maybe I won't be coming back here."

"Yeah, that's hard to believe," Sonia chuckled jokingly as she followed after him.

Barro remained fixed, staring blankly ahead of her. Was that her only option? Was that to be her fate? A husk of dead flesh animated by the cyberbrain lodged deep inside her skull. It seemed far worse than having her consciousness locked into an android body. Maybe she had made the wrong choice about everything. Maybe she should have just gone ahead with the project. Done her duty. Lived her life, as she should have.

"Barro?" Sonia was suddenly standing next to her. She rested a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"

Barro turned to her slowly. A tear was beginning to form in the corner of her eye. "Why do we even exist, Sonia? What are we supposed to get out of this short life?"

"I-" Sonia merely stared back at her. "We really need to go."

The accountant then turned and started walking down the stairs again. Barro shook her head slowly as she watched her leave.

"Life... A life of eternal death."