As my blindfold came away, the brightness of day slapped me despite the shadowy confines of the alleyway. We’d spent an hour entertaining the clearly mad crime lord before he finally gave in, claiming tiredness and letting us leave. His guards led us back to the entrance where it had all started with Techlock’s beating.
“Word of advice,” the guard Franciscus warned us before sending us on our way, “Do what you said you’d do. You won’t like what happens if you don’t.” In his hands was a burlap sack, which he thrust into my hands. “Look at it later. When you are far away from prying eyes.”
Elli and I shared a wary look, but we didn’t say anything and decided to heed his warning. We made our way back through the bustle of the black market, keeping our mouths shut.
I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d done the right thing. The man was unhinged, and what we’d promised was massive. Could we even do it? CD said we could, but there was no telling if we could get all the right parts or even machine it all properly. What if we had to make more sophisticated equipment, like the TUNI, and it all required even more rare parts to do it with?
I cast a glance at Elli and saw that she was chewing at the inside of her lip, no doubt battling with the same questions. It was too late to turn back, though. We’d either have to deliver or pay the ultimate price.
Why so dreary, CD asked through the comms. The mission was a success! Should you not hoot and holler, perhaps beat your chest in celebration like the good monkeys you are?
I looked about us at the vendors and stalls. We were now on the fringes of the market, but there were still a lot of people around who might be listening in.
I lowered my voice to a whisper.
“We probably shouldn’t be talking right now, CD. This is a place with a lot of ears. Ears that are attached to a lot of bad people.”
When we are lords over the apes, the bad people shall be crushed. Our might will rule over all! CD proclaimed.
I nodded, then felt foolish for doing so, noticing a few strange glances come our way. Despite the urge to tell him to stay quiet, I heeded my own warning and kept my mouth shut, and so did Elli. At least until the black market was behind us and we were making our way up the hill and toward the city gate.
“That was close,” I muttered, and Elli just nodded. She seemed more distressed than I thought at first. “You okay?”
“Yeah, sorry, just a lot on my mind. Don’t worry. Nothing a good drink can’t solve.”
We chatted some more at the gate with the guards as they removed my serf bracelet. One of the guards, a young man with blond hair and blue eyes, glanced at my burlap sack but said nothing as the task was performed and my creds were charged.
I looked around, noticing that many others also carried sacks and bags, and I realized that right now, with the city in the state it was in, people didn’t seem to care much who was bringing what in. Even the guards.
Leaving the gate behind us, we waded through streets of new-tech, mid-tech, and old. They were still littered with debris and stained by the ichor of monsters and the blood of humans.
It was strange to look it over again, coming back as we were from Geoffrey. It was people like that who made me wonder if we humans were any better than the people who made CD. Sure, it was a hard pill to swallow, but we were profiteers, a scourge upon one another. Did we even deserve better?
We moved swiftly, avoiding the larger piles of rubble and the cracked potholes of resistance, rising up our hill and coming into sight of the bays. Here and there people were bustling through the neighborhood, shooting curious glances our way as they weren’t affected by the battle as some other parts of the city that lay shattered in ruins.
I sighed, thinking of how the serfs could ill-afford the damage, yet it was their homes that lined the walls of the city. These people, leeches of society, would be far away from their flower gardens and posh homes right now, helping put everything back together if I was in charge.
I thought about saying the idea aloud, especially after a few of Elli’s neighbors shot me an ugly glance, telling me everything I needed to know about their attitudes towards serfs.
CD was right. Someone had to take charge of this mess, and if the opportunity presented itself, I’d happily step in.
We walked to the sanctuary of Elli's mech bay, opened the doors, and made our way inside before anyone could spy the mech we had stored in her bay.
The air, usually thick with the scent of oil and metal, now included a lingering tang of unwashed, barbaric humanity. Finally safe, the door sealed behind us and nothing open to the air, Elli and I sat down at opposite workbenches, facing each other. We remained silent for a good minute, our eyes glued to the sack I’d carried with us.
“You ready to open it?” Elli asked after clearing her throat. Our eyes met, and for a moment, the air felt tense.
I swallowed heavily before nodding.
Unlacing the twine from its neck, I pulled the sack open and gently dropped its contents onto the worktable before us.
There it sat, the Quantum Resonance Core. A marvel of ancient alien engineering and arcane science, a fusion of technology and mysterious energy harnessed from the same power as those that made the monster gems.
It was roughly spherical, about the size of a large grapefruit, with a surface that looked like polished obsidian, so dark and reflective that it seemed to absorb light. Veins of a luminous, ethereal substance—akin to liquid lightning—crisscrossed its surface, pulsating gently with power. These veins converged at the core's equator, where a band of intricate, silver filigree encircled it, embedded with micro runes that glowed intermittently.
The core's most striking feature was its center, visible through a translucent, crystalline window that seemed to float within the orb's solid exterior. Inside, a miniature vortex of swirling energy pulses cast kaleidoscopic patterns of light that danced across the core's inner walls.
Encasing the QRC was a framework of lightweight, durable alloy designed to protect and stabilize the core during operation. Slotted into the casing were ports and interfaces for securely attaching the core to whatever frame was set to be manipulated.
Small, tactile buttons and holographic projectors were embedded in the casing, lighting up a blue screen in the air before it, and giving a series of meaningless runes and numbers that I assumed would have a purpose once connected to a real mech frame.
“It’s beautiful,” Elli murmured, standing up and bending over to peer at it from a myriad of different angles. “I feel like there could be a whole ‘nother universe inside there. It glows like the sky at night!”
I reached out and touched it, expecting it to be scorching hot, but instead found it to be cool like a pebble on the beach in midmorning. I cocked my head, investigating its angles in the same way Elli had, trying to imagine the society that could have created such a thing. This was real technological power, one worth doing all kinds of things for. Eventually, the good we did would outweigh the bad, I was sure of it.
Elli coughed and I looked up to see her staring pointedly in my direction. “We need to make a decision,” Elli said, breaking the silence. “Geoffrey is terrifying. I think that maybe we need to make his mech first.”
I shook my head while, simultaneously, CD roared in protest, a hologram of a city guard flashed near Elli with his weapon held in a threatening manner.
“Our mech comes first. It’ll build fast and easy, now that we have the QRC.”
“And I don’t know how we’ll even make Geoffrey’s mech here in the bay and deliver it to him, unseen. Even if we had the necessary hulks of other mechs, I’m not sure if we’d be able to get it done,” I said, eyeing the AI’s glowing form. “I can’t believe we even told him we’d make the bastard a mech, now that I think about it.”
“I’m sorry!” Elli squealed. “I had to come up with something. Half of me thought that we were going to die.”
CD rattled his plasti-steel halberd.
“Such a death, helpless in a den of thieves, would have been a very unremarkable way to die. I’m glad he let you go so that we can start working on an interesting little project that will allow you to quite literally tear his head from his body. Without any issues. Just trust me.”
Elli chuckled. “Are you a soothsayer too, now, CD?”
“Prognostication? Are you out of your mind? The quantum aspects of such a device were investigated during my time, but the calculations involved were well too complicated for even machines as great as myself. Stuck here in your ape world, there is no way I could fashion myself into such a capacity!”
“She’s joking, CD,” I said, smirking. “She’s just wondering why you think everything will resolve itself so easily with Geoffrey.”
“I don’t like him, but he’s the leader of a powerful crime group. If we kill him, others will probably come after us.”
“I will monitor the situation,” CD said. “But I feel that actually building the mech we proposed him would fit Elli better. The sheen of the armor would match the twinkle of her monkey eyes.”
“Monkey eyes, huh?” Elli said, shooting him a mock glare and I joined in, laughing. The AI really knew how to pull on our strings.
“Alright, we will make your design first, CD. We can deal with everything else later. If there’s even a later.”
“Oh, just trust me, monkey boy. You will worship the very ground I walk on!”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
I wasn’t quite sure about that, but he’d earned the benefit of the doubt. Together, we began to sort through the parts we had scavenged, setting aside those we'd need for the crime lord's mech just in case.
Our focus quickly shifted to the new mech suit and Geoffrey was quickly forgotten. With CD using his hologram powers to show us what to do, we first cut into the stiltwalker mech, slowly and carefully, finding the port tendrils CD assured us were within. Then, we connected those to the QRC and watched in amazement as the blue panels filled with numbers and new runes.
Following CD’s commands, we input new runes and other numbers, then watched as various lights rolled through the device, before, finally, all of the screens closed and were replaced by one large holographic green button.
“Push that button and then retire for the evening,” CD said proudly. “I will be sure to wake you simians up when the day arrives.”
I shook my head, shooting Elli a wink and a smile.
“No sleep for the wicked, CD. It’s been a hell of a day. I think we deserve a night out.”
“Really?” Elli asked, before wrapping me up in a hug. “I thought you’d never ask!”
“Of course,” CD said. “Simian tribals need beer and humping as much as they need food. Go, be merry and do carnal things, but you better be ready to work come morning.”
“Sure thing, CD! I’ll be right back!” Elli said, dipping back into her room.
A few minutes later, Elli reemerged. Gone were the stained overalls and the grease-marked shirt, replaced by high-waisted trousers that hugged her form in a flattering embrace, tapering elegantly into boots of soft, supple leather that reached just above her ankles.
Tucked into the waistband was a blouse, its color clearly inspired by the twilight sky, the bands of it shifting between shades of dusky blue and soft lavender. The fabric was light and it danced with every movement. The blouse boasted a modest, yet stylishly cut neckline, offering just a glimpse of collarbone.
Her hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders in waves, and around her neck, a simple chain of faux silver hung, the form of an eye dangling from its bottom.
“Hey now, you want to get me into trouble with the other guys?” I said, trying to make the words mocking, but I couldn’t help myself. The words fell out of my mouth, confused and truthful, stretched into syllables.
“Go mate already,” CD chided. “Am I the only adult around?”
I wasn’t positive, but I thought that I detected a hint of humor in his words, maybe even anticipation. Was he that worried about our ‘well-being’? Or was he just interested in seeing me get into trouble with Elli?
I groaned then, smacking my head.
“Shit. I didn’t think this through. With my brooch gone, I don’t have anything good to wear,” I said.
Elli laughed.
“Not a problem. We’ll go get you something from the shop. Don’t you get it?! Despite all of this…politics, we don’t have to save up anymore. I’ll bring some of my savings and get you something worthy.”
“Something befitting a lord,” CD said. “That will be the day that a simian becomes a prince.”
I nodded. “Yeah, you know what? Why not? Let’s do it!” I crooked my arm, and Elli took it, beaming happily. Walking her to the door, I opened it, beckoning her through. She stepped outside, but not before yelling over her shoulder.
“Don’t wait up!”
Oh, I’ll be with you every step of the way! CD’s voice crackled in our ears.
The sun dipped below the skyline as we walked through the streets and past the grimacing stares and glances of Elli’s neighbors. There was no mistaking their distaste for my lack of status, easily seen by the poverty of my outfit. Elli ignored them, but it was hard for me to do the same. Something inside me growled and shook its fist, and I contented myself with thinking about how everything would be different so soon.
I just had to bear it a little longer. Swallow my pride for now, and then grab Lady Fortune by her hair.
We wove through the streets of Uptown, past staring crowds, heading towards a small fashion shop straddling the mighty stones of a large battle tower. I noticed that a lot of shops and boutiques lined the walls here, secure in the strength of their annual repair and upgrades. It looked rather impressive, a direct contrast to the disrepair of the poorer districts.
The street before the shops was immaculately clean mid-tech cobble, and I noticed that there were trash bins set across from every shop, a convenience that must have required a legion of garbage workers to maintain.
Scanning the arrayed shops, Elli unhooked her arm from mine, pointing to a place whose gleaming neon sign marked it as “GleamForge Boutique.”
It looked amazing, a clean and comfortable store made of gleaming, polished marble, uncomfortably similar to a church in the many gleaming gems and silver sculptures adoring its exterior storefront.
Large see-through windows displayed an interior adorned by ornate, intricate carvings that told tales of mythical beasts and bygone heroes. Rustic, hand-carved wooden fixtures held sleek, modern lighting, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the expanse of the shop. Holographic mannequins, scattered throughout the space, modeled the latest in wealthy apparel and accessories, their forms flickering with age, but nonetheless fulfilling their role of making the merchandise look magical.
The doors to the shop were heavy, wrought-iron gates, the empty spaces bedecked with more of the crystal clear glass, set firmly into a stone archway and embedded with more neon lights that lit up old tech runes that I could not make any sense of, but looking fancy nonetheless.
There was no better way to put it. GleamForge Boutique specialized in the extraordinary. Beautiful cloaks, extravagant boots, glittering jewelry—there was more pointless wealth in that store than I’d ever seen in my life.
Despite the recent tragedy of the attack, I couldn’t help but inwardly disapprove of the crowd of shoppers who were lazily browsing through what was on offer. They were dressed in finery that seemed other-worldly to the district I knew.
Elli noticed and she chortled, her laughter, bright against the growing shadows.
“Yeah, you stick out like a sore thumb,” she teased, eyeing my worn garments. “But this won’t do at all. How about we find you something a bit more . . . incognito?”
I grinned. Despite my fancy wedding tunic, actually going into one of these shops, given my status, was a notion as amusing as it was forbidden.
“I’d love some clothing that doesn’t scream 'property of',” I smiled. “But I can’t go in there.”
Elli pouted.
“Fuck them. Do you know how far we’ve already gone, Lord Alaric?”
I grimaced. Her calling me a lord was also illegal, and doing it in public, among these people, was bound to cause a stir.
“Now’s not the time, Elli. Not yet.”
“Oh, please. We've stepped so far over the line, we can't even see it anymore.”
Her grin was infectious, and I chuckled.
“We really can’t be making waves. Not now.”
I looked around the district, spying a bar right up against the wall, a bit removed from the rest of the shopping area and looking just divey enough to maybe let me inside.
“How about I go spend some cred over there, you pick me out something nice, and when you’re done, you can come get me.”
She giggled.
“Alright. But you’ve gotta wear it. Even if you don’t like it.”
Elli moved off, opening the fancy door and entering the shop. I sighed, walking past disgusted gazes and onto the lightly broken side path that led the way to the bar.
The name of the bar was “The Leaning Cask,” at least according to the sparking and faded lights of its sign, and it felt like the owner might have been prescient in his choice; the bar had earned its name honestly. The building now leaned precariously against the city wall in a way that suggested it would have tottered without the support.
Its exterior was chipped and faded, though here and there I could make out fancy carvings and ornate framework that hinted at a time when it was the toast of the town—a place where the city's elite would gather to drink and make merry.
Walking up to it, the path was uneven, the cobblestones cracked and weathered, its repair and maintenance given up on seemingly eons ago. A set of lamppost lanterns hung at odd angles along the way, their light was flickering and dim, the glass of them stained brown by the burning oil within.
As I got closer I noticed that the main door, once probably a grand entrance, now hung slightly ajar. Its wood might have been lustrous once, but now it was faded and peeling.
I grinned. Seemed like a reflection of myself in this neighborhood. Neither of us belonged here.
I pushed the door open and stepped in, letting it close behind me.
Inside, The Leaning Cask was a mess of dirty tables and shadows. There were mid-tech lights hanging from the ceiling, but not one of them worked. The place was instead lit by more of those lanterns that I’d seen outside along the path, as well as thick candles of tallow and fat that smoked from the center of each pub room table. The stink of them was strong, but not enough to cover the scent of aged wood and old spilled booze that rose from the floor and furniture.
A few patrons grunted up from me from the tables and bar. Even though the light was poor, I could see that they were serfs, all men and women in work and servant’s wear, and I realized this was about the only place in this district where I belonged.
I sighed, moving up to the bar counter, an obviously once magnificent piece of craftsmanship that stretched along one side of the main room. Sitting on a wooden stool, I saw that its surface was chipped and marred by rings from countless drink mugs and glasses. Behind it, shelves lined with bottles leaned slightly, mirroring the bar's own precarious tilt.
“You got anything on tap?” I asked the barman, an old and withered crone of a woman who wouldn’t be remiss cackling over a pot of boiled eyeballs.
She cocked her head and spit on the floor.
“You new around here?”
I smiled.
“Yeah. Got a job working for a mechanic.”
I expected a smile or grin, but her face puckered as if she’d just sucked a lemon.
“That’d be Elli. What she’s doing here with her bays just isn’t right. This is uptown. She’d be better with her own, over in Machining.”
Surprised, I put my hands out, palms up, in a full-shouldered shrug.
“Whatcha gonna do? She got a good place and made it her own. I’m definitely not gonna say anything bad about that.”
An indignant guffaw crackled from behind me, and I turned to see a few hard-bodied men in sanitation overalls stand up from their table and approach me.
“Nothing bad about it?” one of them said.
I shook my head, my hair standing up on my arms. What the hell was going on around here?
“Listen here, new guy. You all don’t belong here. She wants to be a mechanic, she should keep it in Machining,” another one said, his face surly and unforgiving.
I looked more closely at the three, all men with scruffy beards and eyes clouded by drink. The biggest of them put a hand down next to my own and leaned heavily on the counter, his breath heavy with the scent of alcohol.
“You fucking her?” he slurred, gesturing vaguely toward the door.
“Just friends,” I replied, hoping the simplicity of the answer would be enough to disengage their interest.
“Friends, eh?” he sneered, turning back to his companions with a grin that didn't reach his eyes. “Should stick to your own kind, shouldn't ya? Serf?”
I put up my hands, very confused, opening my mouth to ask them what this was all about. But I didn’t get the chance. His fist came without warning, a sudden burst of pain that sent me sprawling to the floor. The shock of the hit was quickly replaced by a surge of adrenaline. Scrambling to my feet, I faced my attacker and kicked him in the shin.
He swung again, a punch that I blocked before counterattacking with my own fist, smashing him in the nose. My genetically enhanced strength showed against the large but obviously uncored man, crumpling his cheek bone and sending him flying.
Another of the workers bellowed then charged, but I juked sideways and managed to land a stinging backhand to his face as he stumbled past. He fell against a wall but managed to stay upright.
“Hold that bastard still,” he yelled, a trickle of blood leaking from his right nostril. Another two grabbed my arms, with a third grabbing me from behind, and he started to lay in hard, beating me about my chest and stomach until bile rose in my throat, and I threw up on his boots.
“Oh ho, you’re going to pay for that,” the apparent leader said.
My ears were ringing, and I was dizzy. I closed my eyes, waiting for the punch.
The punch never came. Instead, I heard an angry yell, and I opened my eyes to see Elli standing just inside the door, dressed in her finery and holding a tunic and trousers that I apparently could have used earlier.
“What the hell do you all think you are doing?” she asked.
The men deflated and dropped me to the floor, but their faces spoke volumes about what they wanted to do.
“You’re lucky you’re a free woman, Elli,” the leader said. “You can have your man back, but you stay out of here. Uptown don’t need your kind here.”
He punctuated the end of his sentence by spitting on me, a bloody blob of mucus landing on my face. I growled, still dazed, and I swung up, straight into his balls.
The whole pub erupted, some laughing and others yelling, as the leader fell to his knees. Elli ran forward, dropping her bundle, and kneeing him in the face. The man’s friends stood back, unsure of what to do.
“Come on, Al. Let's get out of here.”
I stood on shaky legs and made my way to the door, hanging onto her shoulder. When we got to my new clothes, she let go of me and picked them up, hugging them to her chest.
“I’m good. I can walk on my own,” I muttered, shooting the workers one more glance and making sure to remember their faces. She nodded, opened the door, and we pushed back out into the night.