Despite his annoyance at Nadia’s insistence on playing it safe, he still agreed that training was important. It was why he still went through the motions despite his annoyance with Nadia. He moved his body in a rhythm, imagining a second character in front of him so he could practice grabs.

His mind eventually wandered toward his current issue as his body acted on its own. The presence of the undertakers at the top of the skyscraper seemed to be the antennae’s only security. If he could make it past them then things would be smooth sailing.

The issue was making it past the beasts. He knew for a fact that he wasn’t skilled enough with refractions to mask himself like Nadia had. He’d also remembered her mentioning the skill didn’t work as well on living beings.

The water drill would work, the undertakers didn’t seem nearly as powerful as the Terra Tiger James had encountered in the wilds. Deadly, sure, but he couldn’t see them having the intelligence and power the tiger had. If James could perfect the drill he’d have an easy way to the top.

But that would take more time than James felt he could afford. Even now his worries threatened to overtake him, and it was only the constant meditative practice that kept it at bay.

James wondered if there was another way that didn’t involve fighting. He started to think, calling what he knew of the undertakers to the forefront of his mind. They chased wayward Immortals for one, and kept the outside of the skyscraper safe. Nadia had said most of them leave when an Immortal runs off. Perhaps there was a chance there?

If James could convince an Immortal to run it would open up the Antennae, giving James a chance. He could be in and out before the beasts noticed.

Of course, that would mean having to convince an Immortal, and from what Nadia had said, they seemed more machine than man. James wasn’t sure he could even get there attention, none of them had even noticed his presence when he’d rushed into the skyscraper.

But there had to be something that sparked their consciousness. Master had said as much. The question was, what could that be?

Trying to find the medicine to restore their mind was out of the question. James didn’t know the first thing about chemistry and doubted that he’d be skilled enough to make the drug if he did. He also doubted that a stash of medicine was laying around the skyscraper. The empire wouldn’t be that incautious.

He decided to spend some time studying the Immortals. He finished up the last motions of his training and looked below. The Immortals walked along the floors like ants in a tunnel, keeping in perfect lines and never colliding with another.

The stakeout quickly grew dull when none of the Immortals acted out of place. James found his eyes wandering to the various tunnels and handholds, his mind imagining the various running paths he could take. It became a struggle not to lose focus before long.

After an hour, James sighed and gave up. The Immortals obviously refused to act out of character for him. He’d need some other way.

For a moment, he thought about interrupting an Immortal and talking to them, but remembered Nadia’s words from earlier. There was a good chance the Immortal would react in a violent or unexpected manner, and while James knew he could defend himself there was no telling what else might happen. James didn’t want to be responsible for an Immortal falling over some railing, or tripping and knocking his head.

Giving up, James went back to Nadia.

“Here to train some more, disciple?” she asked.

“I got bored people watching,” James answered. “Figured my time would be better spent trying to learn from you.”

“A wise choice,” Nadia answered. She settled into a stance, prepared to instruct James.

“Before we start,” James said. “I want to make a deal.”

“I’m listening,” she said.

“I’ll practice the water drill if you promise to help me try other, possibly quicker options,” James said.

Nadia raised an eyebrow. “Such as?”

James ticked his ideas off his fingers. “Trying to bring an Immortal back to consciousness. Maybe try and guide one to escape? Figure out a way to bait the undertakers?”

Nadia sighed. “You can’t let this lie, can you?”

“Of course not, master!” James said. “How can you?”

“Because I am not in a position to do anything about it at the moment,” Nadia said. “And neither are you. Justice can come later, survival first. After all, a cultivator has all the time in the world.”

“The longer I wait the harder it will be to prove their corruption,” James argued. “If I don’t at least try to make it back quickly then its the same as giving up. And I’m not about to leave Tsukiko.”

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Nadia gave a sigh. “Since you feel so strongly about this disciple, I will humor you.”

“Really?” James asked.

“While I do not believe there is a way outside of luck or training, I will admit that I was wrong in the past. It will not begrudge us to try.”

She smiled. “And, I will admit a part of my refusal was from stubbornness.”

“A fault we both have,” James answered lightly.

“The marks of a good disciple are that they share your traits, whether they be weal or woe,” Nadia replied. “Now, ready yourself. Bring forth your water and imagine it moving across your body.”

James did so, calling forth the power from his core. Water surrounded him, covering his arms like long gloves. He willed it to move, and the waters responded. Slowly, as if his requests were squeezed through a hose.

Nadia helped him focus, reminding him what to look for as he kept the waters moving. It was tiring work, as all his focus had to go into the action. Eventually, he progressed past a small trickle moving around his arm and into something closer to a dripping sink.

He collapsed on the ground later in the day, his focus completely drained. Nadia helped him back to his feet. “Good work, disciple.”

“It doesn’t feel good, that’s for sure,” James said.

“Learning to interact with a core takes time. The fact that are progressing is itself cause for celebration. There are many time where I found myself unable to progress for days, years even,” Nadia said.

“That doesn’t instill confidence,” James said.

“And yet you shall persevere anyways,” Nadia said.

“Yeah,” James said. “So about alternatives.”

“I must admit I have no knowledge of how one would go about waking an Immortal,” Nadia said.

“You said they act like servitors, right? Machines that repeat set routines that defined them earlier in life,” James asked.

“Correct,” Nadia answered. She moved to sit next to James. “Many were heads of government, or inventors that pushed the boundries of our world further than any believed. That is why the Empire houses them, for their knowledge is too great to lose.”

“Could we use that knowledge to spark them back to life?” James asked.

Nadia raised a brow. “How do you mean?”

“Say we put some equation in front of a brilliant programmer,” James said.

“Ah,” Nadia answered. “There is no way to know. Perhaps the image would bring the Immortal back to consciousness, but if that were the case I would wonder why the Empire uses a drug and not simple images.”

“My money’s on control,” James said.

Nadia snorted a laugh. “James, a government, no matter which incarnation, is one that will attempt to use the simplest solution to any problem. They would not spend time and effort on longevity drugs if simple reminders of life had the same effect.”

“You’re always so positive, master,” James said with a shake of his head.

“I am amazed you take that as positivity, disciple,” Nadia said. “The simple answer is hardly ever the correct answer. I have no doubt it would be possible to make enough of the immortality drug for anyone to partake without issue.”

“Speaking of drugs, you’re sure there isn’t any here?” James asked. “Not even for like emergencies?”

Nadia shook her head. “The secret to the drug’s manufacture is well kept. They would not leave it lying around and risk it’s reveal.”

“Then our best bet is to try and spark some recollection in these husks,” James said. “Though I have no clue where to start.”

“Perhaps try writing incorrect answers to questions along the routes,” Nadia offered. “Make each question varied and the answer something so wrong that a toddler would point it out. After all, there is no better way to get someone’s attention than by being wrong.”

James snorted. “Speaking from experience?”

“I rarely don’t, disciple,” Nadia said. “But in this case it is not my experience. Plenty of examples are already lying around.”

“Well, this is as good an idea as any,” James said. He stood. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

“I’ll be waiting, disciple,” Nadia said. “And I do hope you succeed, even if it sounds as if I am not.”

“I know, master,” James said.

He left his inner world, stretching out a few stiff muscles as he removed himself from his hiding place. The various Immortals trapped in the tower walked in perfect lines, their gait immaculate and precise.

James knew the first order of business was finding something to write with. Easier said than done, however. Everything James had on his person was for digital writing. In fact, James didn’t remember a time where he saw writing that wasn’t digital.

“This might be harder than I thought,” James said to himself.

He spent the next hour of time following the various Immortals, hoping that one of them might have something he could use just lying around. He was debating about whether to use his blood, or some other bodily fluid, when he finally spotted something.

One of the Immortals, a doctor by the look of it, had a series of pouches on his person that when opened revealed a dark substance. James realized that if he mixed it with his water he might be able to create some kind of dye. However, the doctor was never alone. Other Immortals were always around him, either going through the motions of day to day life or walking next to him.

James continued to follow the doctor, growing more and more depressed when he couldn’t find an opening.

He could try running in and stealing the pouch, but James remembered what Nadia had said about the Immortals. They tended to react violently to anything that disturbed their routine. It was the reason James decided to write questions down instead of just asking them outright. Far better for an Immortal to attack a wall instead of James.

But it seemed he was about to have no other choice. Not unless he wanted to self-mutilate in order to get working ink. James really didn’t want to try that, he bet that the Undertakers had keen noses.

No, James felt more confident trying to rob an Immortal than using his blood and attracting Undertakers to him. He centered himself with a breath and waited for the right moment. The doctor was moving between the crowds of Immortals, heading back from what James assumed to be a clinic.

James moved overhead on rooftops and across wires, following the doctor until he reached his destination. Another clinic by the look of it. There, James made his move. He fell from the top of the roof, twisting his body and grabbing various hand holds to slow his fall.

He landed with a soft thud behind the Immortal, which prompted the man to turn toward the sound. James moved with the turning, keeping to the man’s back and reaching out for the pouch. He snatched it up with light hands, using his refraction to mask his movement just in case.

The pouch came free easily, and James smiled before running over to a nearby alley and up the wall. He opened the bag and dumped a small amount of the contents before dripping some water onto it. Bits of dried something swirled around the droplet of water, but otherwise did nothing. James waited a bit longer until he was absolutely certain the herb leaked no color into the water. With a sigh, he clipped the pouch to his belt and moved back toward the streets in search of another target.