Switching off the light in her room, Mai activated her STEALTH, LARCENY and SNEAK as she made her way out into the darkened rebel compound. It was what passed for night time, and most of the rebels were sleeping off the effects of the victory party they’d held after rescuing Mai earlier that day.

Even the guards were somewhat affected, which she had thought was incredibly sloppy, especially given that their enemies had got so close to the base without being discovered in the first place.

Can’t change everything all at once, she thought. Not that she could change much anyway since she wasn’t a member of the Rebel Council. Something she didn’t think was likely to change in the near future. Yen Ching prefers me as his stool pigeon, his cat’s paw, rather than someone with actual influence.

Still, she was working to change that as well. The work she and her Upper City people had done in getting the new stealth clothing had worked wonders for her reputation, as well as those of Dakota, Jock and Hind. More and more she noticed that the other rebels, the lower ranking ones at least, were listening to what they said and actually taking it onboard rather than ignoring it.

Hugging the base wall, she made her way around the compound to the southern wall where she quietly scaled a ladder leading to the rampart there. Pausing, she watched the guards for any sign that they’d spotted her.

I really need to get more sensors. She took the time to open her menu and see what she needed to do in order to improve the base. Most of the missions were along the same lines as getting the clothing. She also had to raise the rebel’s reputation, which was an organic growth based on completing any mission which helped the locals. Such as killing more of the factions.

Closing the menu, she crafted a rope, attached it to the wall, and dropped it over the other side. Activating her CLIMB skill, she quickly made her way down to the ground on the other side.

Running, she headed to the far end of the compound, hugging the shadows. Reaching the outer wall, she climbed up once again. This time however, she merely dropped a bottle of bio-mass boost over the wall. Then, she retraced her steps, retrieving and absorbing the rope, leaving no sign that she’d ever been there.

The next morning, she stretched in her bunk, revelling in the feeling as her bones popped and muscles stretched. It never ceased to surprise her how much she liked the process of waking up. She didn’t like getting up, that was a different matter, but the drowsiness, the warmth of her bedsheets, and the momentary silence which followed the silencing of her internal alarm was always the favourite part of her day.

Pushing herself up, she got ready and headed over to the canteen. Gathering a hearty breakfast, she plonked herself down on an empty table.

“Morning Mai,” Dakota sat down at her. “Hope you’re not going to be causing any more pitched battles?”

Dakota’s tone was sharp. She didn’t appreciate that she’d been unable to support Mai when she needed it the most and had spent most of last night apologising for not backing her up.

“No pitched battles. I’m actually hoping to just talk to one of them. Find out what the hell is going on.”

Dakota nodded, chewing a mouthful of spider eggs. It was a local delicacy, but Mai thought it looked too much like frog sperm and wasn’t keen on trying it. Swallowing, Dakota jabbed her fork at Mai.

“I’ve been trying to see what I can find out. There’s definitely a bounty out for you. It’s posted on all the social boards. They’re paying in Karma.”

Mai’s mouth dropped at that. Bounties never paid in anything but money.

“How much?” she pushed her plate away, appetite as dead as the people she’d killed last night.

“One hundred thousand.”

Mai’s eyes darted around the room. One hundred thousand karma would be enough to get her debt wiped out and see her settled in the eight-mile, maybe even the nine-mile. It was a huge amount to be offering.

“No wonder they were so bloody determined. Even the murders of the people living in those habs would be wiped out by that amount!” Mai clutched her head, it felt as though the room was spinning.

“What the hell? All we did was knock off some bloody faction bases,” whispered Dakota, leaning in towards Mai.

“I know. There’s someone who really doesn’t like me. The culling’s still oing on after all, so maybe this is a ploy to get me back into it. Wouldn’t surprise me if other cullers drop down here trying to find me now.”

“More importantly, do you think we can trust the rebels?” Dakota pitched her voice so low that Mai wasn’t sure she’d even heard her correctly.

She thought for a moment.

“Our people? Yes, definitely. Those we’ve made friends with? Probably. Those others though, not so sure. With that amount of karma they could get themselves a pardon.”

“Do you honestly think that’s the sort of thing they’re going to be looking for? Seems all of the rebels here are pretty damn settled.”

Mai shrugged, trying to look causal as she glanced around the room. No one seemed to be paying particular attention to her, but she activated her STREET SMARTS sand took a closer look. Nothing.

“Seems like this bunch aren’t interested anyway. I take it everyone’s heard that there’s a bounty?” She made note of the faces of the rebels in the canteen with them. Aside from looking slightly hung-over, they didn’t appear to be doing anything other than eating their food.

Using her retinal monitor, she blink-copied their faces into her pictograph gallery. It might prove to be useful later on if loyalties were tested.

“I’m going to run some errands. Need to get to Bob’s to see if those clothes are ready. See what else he’s got on that menu of his we can unlock. Doing that will let me get more sensors onto the walls.”

Dakota mopped up the remains of her spider eggs with a slab of lichen-bread. Taking a large bit she chewed thoughtfully, eyes narrowed as she looked at Mai. Finally, when the sound of her chewing felt like someone was dragging nails down a chalkboard, she swallowed.

“Not going to do anything stupid?”

“No, like I said, I just want to talk to someone. I’m going to wear one of the new suits. Get a ganger on their own and see what’s going on.”

“Good plan, I’ll come too.”

“No!” Mai didn’t mean it to come out so sharply. “No, I need you to find out who else is hunting me. This bounty is huge, it’s going to draw people like flies to shit. We need to get ahead of the game and identify them. Get Chan to help you, but keep it quiet.”

Dakota’s eyes narrowed, and she moved her arm from under the hand Mai had placed. Folding her arms, she just stared at Mai. Mai said nothing, letting the silence stretch and hoping that she hadn’t pushed Dakota too far.

“Fine,” her friend nodded. “I’ll do that. But if you do anything stupid. Anything which means we have to come and rescue you, I’ll beat the ever-living shit out of you. Agreed?”

Mai nodded, and made the sign of a crossed heart, an old and honoured tradition of truth-signalling.

“Right, well, better get to it,” see you later. Dakota pushed herself away from the table and walked away. Grimacing, Mai realised she’d seriously hurt her friend.

She’s right though. Better get on with it.

Leaving the compound had been easy. The guards had searched her for bio-mass boost as they searched anyone not on an official missions, then waved her through the gate. Nodding her thanks she made her way down the street, losing herself in the crowd of people. It was far busier than it had been the day before, and the place was filled with carts and people moving furniture into and out of the building.

She pursed her lips, disapproving of the way the people were so keen to move into buildings which had previously been filled with their fellow citizens. Still, it was clear that despite what happened last night, many thought that being close to the rebels was better than living in a different faction.

Pausing, she opened up her menu. The rebel’s reputation had climbed with the new arrivals, whereas other factions had suffered a loss as their people ran for the rebel faction area.

Great, another thing to worry about. Making her way through the crowd she cut up an alleyway and headed along the rear of the buildings until she reached the point where she had thrown the bio-mass boost bottle. Picking it up, she shoved it inside her jacket and then retraced her steps.

“Ah! Mai! Come in, come in! I presume you’re here about the clothing?” Bob opened his arms wide, beaming.

“I am indeed. How much do we owe you?” Mai followed him into the shop where they would be out of sight of prying eyes.

“Nothing for this first batch. I’m going to make a fortune once people hear that I’ve got it available. Especially since I don’t have to buy the cotton or squink ink from the other factions. They literally priced me out of the market.”

“Thank you, Bob. I have the feeling that their prices might come down slightly once they realise you’re making it. Not worried that they’ll think you were involved in the robbery”?

“Not at all,” Bob’s smile widened. “If anyone comes asking, I’ll just say some random urbexers did it. They’re the ones that move through Nether City the most. That, and there’s an unspoken rule that shops are neutral. Kill me. Hells, bruise me, and they’ll find the other shops blocking them.”

That was an interesting piece of knowledge. Mai tucked it away, her mind racing at the possibility that she could frame factions and have them barred from the shops. It would seriously weaken their ability to fight, as well as drop their reputation.

“Would you care to step into the fitting booth so that you can be my first stealth suit customer?” He gave her a deep bow, hands steepled before him as though she was a noble.

“I would, kind sir,” she returned the bow and then stepped into the booth. She hadn’t paid attention to name of the stealth suit before, and grinned ferally as she remembered that it was called Night Wolf.

Seems to be a common theme, my favourite clothes all having Wolf in the title

Selecting it, she smiled at the snug fit as the nanites formed it around her. Unlike before in the sewers, the nanites came from the shop for the first fitting. If she ever decided to change it later, she would absorb it, and then have to pay the nanite price, a steep twenty per cent, if she wanted to wear it again.

At that price, I’m going to bloody well sleep in the thing!

“It looks utterly fabulous. Suits you. The dark red really suit you,” Bob moved around her, making minute adjustments with his tailor’s wand. “There, it’s perfect.”

It was Mai admired herself in the mirror. It had a monk’s cowl which spread over her shoulders. Tightly fitted, it still moved as though it was her own skin. The colouring was a mix of a dark, blood red, and black. Both aesthetic and practical.

“I love it. I’ll send the others down to get theirs in a while. I have a few errands to run.”

“Before you do, I might have a gun you’ll like. It’s a tri-barrel laser, classed as an SMG.”

“How much?” Mai asked eagerly.

“Ah,” Bob rubbed the back of his head, grimacing as he replied. “It’s not actually available. Kind of need you to get some focussing crystals.”

“Let me guess, they’re guarded by another faction?”

“I see you understand all too well. This city could be great if it was just under the control of one faction. It was once. But then,” he spread his hands and shrugged silently.

GATHER THE CRYSTALS

DO YOU ACCEPT YES/NO?

Heaving a deep sigh, Mai pressed the YES, the closed the guideline down.

“I’ll get them, but not now, I have couple of errands to run down.”

“Run down?” he tilted his head. “Not an expression I’ve heard before. You don’t mean literally do you?”

She mimicked his previous spreading of hands.

“Well, enough prying. Enjoy the suit. I look forward to the rest of your people coming down. And good luck. I saw the bounty. Lots of strangers in town. Be careful.”

She nodded, rolled her shoulders, and stepped out into the street.