17:11, February 10, 2295

  Near Ananda's Respite, Pasar Kuno District, Nusantara, Borneo, New Indo-Pacific Union territory

  The stone steps descended into the earth, their surfaces worn glass-smooth by countless footfalls across centuries. Jabari kept one hand near his Combat Knife as they followed Amir deeper underground, the air growing thick with the mingled scents of galangal, turmeric, and aromatic wood smoke. Fusion-powered sconces cast a warm glow across walls that seemed to pulse with their own inner light – some sort of bioluminescent fungi traced delicate patterns through the ancient stonework, creating shifting shadows that danced across their path.

  "Watch your step," Amir called back, his voice echoing slightly. "The people who built this place had their own... particular ideas about architecture."

  Jabari noticed how Amir's eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, cataloging details with the practiced efficiency of someone accustomed to identifying threats and advantages. Despite his robes and spiritual appearance, the Sand Lotus operative moved with the calculated precision of a predator.

  "What ideas?" Jabari paused his descent.

  "See the motifs on the floor?" Amir turned, gesturing to where various repeating icons decorated the stone beneath their feet. Each square contained a single creature – a massive cat, a fearsome lizard, and some kind of alien-looking fish. The craftsmanship was exquisite, but to Jabari's eyes, these creatures seemed to belong to another world entirely.

  The cat prowled with muscled shoulders and distinctive stripes, but its face was flatter than any lion he'd seen, its body more compact and low to the ground. The lizard was like no monitor he'd encountered in Africa – its powerful legs suggested it could run down prey, while its heavily armored scales and massive claws hinted at predatory lineage. But it was the fish that truly caught his attention – bulky, armored like something from prehistory, with thick fins arranged more like legs.

  "I see them," was all Jabari could manage as he nodded awkwardly, unable to tear his gaze from the bizarre fish carving.

  "Step on the Komodo Dragon, and a poisoned arrow pierces your heart." Amir pointed at the lizard square, then gestured to the adjacent fish motif. "Step on the Coelacanth, and we'll make you into dinner."

  "What!?" Jabari gasped, taking a quick step backward.

  "Lovely, it's a fight, then!" Wilhelm called from behind him, but there was an odd lightness in his tone.

  "To the death!" Amir replied with a broad grin.

  "You brought us here to kill us!" Jabari's Combat Knife cleared its sheath in a fluid motion, its dark green Nanosteel blade catching the ambient light. But as he met Amir's amused gaze, realization dawned. "You were joking."

  "The markings are just decorative these days," Amir said, his smile softening. "At least they will be until I change my mind."

  His rings glinted in the low light as he flexed his fingers – an almost unconscious gesture, but one that drew Jabari's attention to the elaborate sigils etched into each band. These weren't mere ornaments; they were tools of some kind.

  "We should leave." Ume's voice cut through the moment, sharp and insistent. Her amber eyes fixed on a lotus symbol carved into a wall on their left. "The Sand Lotus cannot be trusted."

  Wilhelm turned to her, brow furrowed. "They just saved our arses from a squad of Bloodtroopers. Bit late for suspicion, eh?"

  "Did we?" Amir's question hung in the air, his earlier joviality replaced by something cooler. "Save you, I mean. I wonder if what we really did was... intercept you."

  Before Wilhelm could respond, Ume continued, her voice taking on an oddly mechanical cadence. "The Sand Lotus engages in human trafficking. They manipulate governments through blackmail. They conduct illegal experiments on children. They promote promiscuity. They—"

  "Ume?" Jabari stepped closer to her, concerned by the unnaturally steady rhythm of her accusations.

  "—harvest organs from political dissidents. Poison water supplies with psychotropic compounds. Practice necromancy on unwilling subjects. They—" Ume continued, each charge flowed into the next without pause or inflection, as if she were reading from an invisible script.

  Her amber eyes remained fixed forward, not tracking any movement around her. Amir watched with open fascination, his head tilted slightly as if witnessing a particularly interesting specimen.

  "ZenFusion's finest propaganda," he murmured, tracing a pattern in the air with one ringed finger. "Delivered with perfect recall."

  Ume's eyes fluttered shut, and she stumbled forward as Jabari sheathed his knife, just in time to catch her collapsed form.

  "That's an impressively long list," Wilhelm muttered. "Been rehearsing it on our way here?"

  "I'm surprised 'polygamy' and 'ritualistic rape' aren't mentioned this time." Amir studied Ume with newfound interest. "Perhaps the ones who made you decided those were too enticing to be believable?"

  "Is it true? You do any of those?" Jabari demanded, his arms around Ume.

  "All of those, according to the media controlled by Imperium of Dragons," Amir's smirk did not waver. "They would go any length to see those who oppose them slandered and annihilated. The same empire that executes members of our organization and harvests their organs. The one that brands us criminals for believing the divine should remain divine."

  His last words carried weight beyond their simple meaning, a cryptic reference that Jabari couldn't immediately place.

  Amir turned, gesturing for them to follow as the narrow corridor opened into a vast chamber. The air was rich with the aroma of sambal, mixing with the sweeter scents of pandan and coconut. In one corner, a chef worked at an open kitchen, his movements precise as he tended to dishes arranged over a carefully controlled induction cooktop. The other diners – a mix of local merchants and what appeared to be Sand Lotus members in simple robes – paid their group little attention.

  "Ananda's Respite," Amir said, leading them to a private booth nestled against one of the ornate pillars. "Before the Digital Era's end, before the waters rose to claim old Jakarta, this place served as both restaurant and sanctuary. It still does, for those who know where to look."

  "Bloody impressive spot this, but I reckon you didn't save our hides at the market just to show off the local cuisine, eh?" Wilhelm leaned forward, sliding into the booth while his eyes methodically scanned their surroundings. His fingers drummed a quiet rhythm on the ancient wooden table as he tracked the movements of other diners, their quiet conversations creating a gentle murmur that seemed to fade into the shadows.

  "Curiosity." Amir settled into his seat with practiced grace, his rings catching the lamplight as he gestured to a vacant chair beside him. The name 'Fuuka' was inscribed in flowing golden script on its back. "Some things belong to the ancients, not to emperors or federation presidents or oligarchs. Especially not things that can bend minds to one's will."

  He paused, his steady gaze falling on Ume's slumped form. "And it seems you may have crossed paths with just such a thing."

  "You alright?" Jabari steadied Ume with a gentle hand on her elbow as she swayed slightly, helping her into the seat across from Amir. Her synthetic skin felt unusually warm beneath his palm.

  "My head hurts. My feet hurt. Everything hurts." Ume pressed a delicate hand to her forehead, her small frame slumping against the table's edge. Her eyes remained tightly shut, and Jabari noticed small puffs of white steam escaping her parted lips as she panted – a distinct response no human would have.

  "Do you have medical supplies? Anything?" Jabari turned to Amir, concern etching deep lines around his eyes.

  "I might." Amir's expression sharpened with interest as a waitress emerged beside their table, her batik clothing rustling softly as she bowed. The Djinno monk straightened, addressing her in fluid local language.

  "*Apakah Anda siap memesan, Tuan Amir*?" the waitress asked, her pen poised over a traditional paper notepad.

  "*Yang biasa untuk makan malam, tambah sushi hand roll untuk Saudari Fuuka kalau dia datang nanti,*" Amir replied with easy familiarity, then glanced at Ume's distressed form. "*Dan satu gelas coolant standar untuk robot.*"

  "*Satu gelas itu? Jadi, wanita itu—*" the waitress's eyes widened as she gestured uncertainly toward Ume.

  "*Sangat mungkin begitu,*" Amir finished, meeting her startled gaze.

  "I will be back shortly." The waitress gathered herself with a deep bow before gliding away between the tables.

  Amir turned back to the group, adjusting the sleeve of his emerald robe. "I've taken the liberty of ordering some local specialties. We need only wait for a few minutes."

  "The Imperium's reach grows longer each year," Amir remarked casually, breaking apart his wooden chopsticks. "Luckily, antidotes like the Directorate exist. Even in Mumbai, we hear tales of the Kimaris Warband's valor — and ruthlessness."

  "And just how do you know we're Kimaris?" Jabari countered, watching as servers approached with steaming dishes.

  The first dish arrived, with the foreign words 'rendang sapi' scribed on the plate – tender beef slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices until dark and rich. Following it came 'sayur lodeh', vegetables swimming in a creamy coconut broth dotted with red chilies.

  "Other warbands rarely operate independently from the Directorate Space Corps, let alone straying so far from Maridian territories." Amir's rings clinked softly against his plate as he selected a piece of richly spiced beef rendang, the meat nearly falling apart from hours of slow cooking. "The question is: what brings Kimaris so far from home, pursuing something valuable enough that the Imperium would send a Bloodtrooper squad to intercept you?"

  "Right then, what about you Sand Lotus lot? Proper globe-trotters across the Five Realms, or just stirring up a spot of bother here on Earth?" Wilhelm dipped his silver spoon into a bowl of sayur lodeh, the coconut-milk broth releasing an aromatic cloud as he sampled the tender cabbage.

  "We are…preservationists, you might say." Amir's eyes glinted with something deeper than mere amusement. "Some artifacts were never meant to be weapons. They exist in balance, like the Five Aspects of psionics. When entities attempt to harness them as instruments of power, the consequences can be catastrophic."

  Another waiter approached with a steaming pot labeled 'soto ayam', the traditional Indonesian chicken soup's turmeric-spiced broth filling the air with its golden fragrance. Small bowls of pristine white rice were set before each person, each grain distinct and gleaming like pearls. There was also a delicate crystal glass filled with an iridescent yellow liquid.

  "So you what, spy on the other factions?" Jabari's spoon, laden with a morsel of tender beef, hung suspended between plate and mouth.

  "We merely maintain certain interests," Amir ladled the aromatic soup into his bowl with fluid grace. "Much like your Chairman Kofi does with his investments in solar-powered technologies across the Five Realms."

  Jabari's shoulders tensed visibly. "How do you know about—"

  "The same way we knew to find you today." Amir's eyes took on a gleam as he lifted the odd crystal glass. He extended it toward Ume, the yellow liquid inside swirling invitingly. "This is for her. Her system is overloading trying to process something it was never designed to contain."

  "What's in it?" Jabari's eyes narrowed, his half-eaten spoonful forgotten.

  "It's just what she needs at this moment," Amir's response remained cryptic as the liquid caught the lamplight. "Something is burning her from within, and it isn't merely a programming error."

  "Then I'll taste it first. Make sure it's not poisoned." Jabari reached for the glass, his spoon put down, clanking against the porcelain plate.

  "That would not be wise." Amir raised one ring-adorned hand in warning, his expression suddenly grave. "It's not meant for human consumption."

  Hesitant, Jabari turned to Ume. Her breathing had grown more labored, each short pant releasing increasingly dense clouds of white vapor. Even through his gloved hand resting on her shoulder, he could feel alarming heat radiating from her synthetic skin, the fever she now suffered making her less like an android and more like a fusion battery approaching critical levels.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "Steady now," Wilhelm murmured, setting his utensils aside. He shifted closer, one arm wrapping around Ume's shoulders to keep her upright in her chair. Her kimono-clad body trembled beneath his grip.

  Jabari's hand shook slightly as he brought the glass to Ume's lips. Her head lolled back, eyes flickering behind closed lids. "Come on, Ume," he whispered, tilting the glass. The yellow liquid initially spilled down her chin, but Wilhelm gently adjusted her head angle, and finally, she began to swallow.

  The change was immediate and dramatic. Ume's eyes snapped open, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. Her amber irises blazed with intricate patterns of yellow light, like circuit boards coming alive. Dense white steam erupted from her mouth in a pressurized burst, more streams venting from her ears with a high-pitched whistle.

  The nearest diners jerked away from their meals, conversations dying mid-sentence. A merchant in traditional batik nearly upset his soup as he backed his chair away. A couple at a corner table exchanged knowing glances, their hands moving in subtle gestures to direct the scalding steam away from other patrons. The patrons at the next table hurriedly requested their bill, while an elderly woman simply continued eating her rendang, apparently unperturbed by the mechanical crisis unfolding nearby.

  "Ekwensu!" Jabari tightened his grip on her shoulders but had to turn away, the scalding steam making his eyes water. The acrid smell of heated metal and ozone filled the air around them.

  Wilhelm swiftly pulled a quantum scanner from his jacket, its holographic display flickering to life. "Her core temperature's stabilizing." He frowned at the stream of data. "What a way to calm a fever, eh?"

  "With all the schematic they've stolen from the Alliance, the Imperium is poised to make the most powerful androids of our generation," Amir leaned forward, his rings catching the light as he made a subtle gesture. The steam around Ume began to dissipate unnaturally quickly, drawn away by some unseen force. "They use this power to create weapons, companions, and vessels."

  "And?" Jabari pushed, meeting Amir's gaze.

  The monk's eyes narrowed as he studied Ume. "And what you've brought us is a vessel of a different kind. One carrying something far more dangerous than propaganda."

  Gradually, Ume's trembling subsided, her synthetic muscles relaxing one by one. Her eyes faded to their normal amber hue as she straightened in her chair, the last wisps of steam curling around her face like a fading halo. "Thank you," she whispered, reaching up with an unsteady hand to wipe beads of coolant-tinged sweat from her forehead.

  "Alright." Jabari grabbed his spoon, shoveling generous portions of rendang and rice into his mouth. The rich coconut curry and tender beef helped ground him. Still, he couldn't fully appreciate the complex spices through his lingering anxiety. "Will you explain why the Sand Lotus is interested in us?"

  "We are interested in what your android carries," Amir replied, his demeanor shifting from genial host to something more focused. "Data about a particular artifact. One that should remain buried."

  "What artifact?" Wilhelm asked, though his tone suggested he already suspected the answer.

  "One capable of bending minds to its wielder's will." Amir's fingers traced elaborate patterns on the ancient wooden table. "An artifact whose very existence threatens the balance of power in the Five Realms. One that should be restored to its original form, but never, under any circumstances, used."

  "You speak of the Moondust Crystal." A melodic voice interrupted them.

  Fuuka stood at the edge of their booth, her refined appearance belying the calculating intelligence in her eyes. She slipped gracefully into her reserved seat beside Amir, the movement of her white robes fluid as water.

  "You." Jabari said simply, finding himself unable to tear his gaze from her form.

  "Our apologies for the deception earlier," she said, her theatrical accent completely gone. "But some matters require…verification."

  "You've been verifying us?" Jabari asked, his confusion evident.

  "We needed to ensure you weren't agents of the Imperium," Fuuka explained, her hands folding neatly on the table. "Or worse, unwitting pawns of the Alliance."

  "And which are we, then?" Wilhelm's hand had drifted closer to his concealed weapon.

  "Neither, we believe," Amir interjected. "Rather, you represent a third power bloc. One that might, under certain circumstances, be reasoned with."

  "The Directorate too desires the Crystal. It is known." Fuuka added, her voice carrying a note of resignation. "But perhaps your motivations might align more closely with ours than the others."

  Wilhelm's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly are your motivations?"

  "To restore what was broken, but ensure it never falls into the hands of those who would use it as a weapon," Fuuka replied, her gaze drifting to Ume. "The Crystal was created by beings far wiser than humanity. It was never meant to control or dominate – only to guide and balance."

  "Interference patterns exceeding normal parameters," Ume suddenly announced, her voice taking on that same mechanical quality from earlier. Her amber eyes began flickering with unusual patterns. "World, History, Omniscience — other shards scattered. Dargoth sleeps beneath Io's crust. The Hivemind speaks! Nirbohs know Harald's betrayal. Eclipse magic flows through jade corridors —"

  Fuuka's hand shot out with startling speed, her palm coming to rest against Ume's forehead.

  "?ānti?," she whispered, and a faint green glow emanated from her fingers.

  Ume's recitation cut off abruptly, her eyes returning to normal as she slumped back in her chair.

  "Just as I suspected," Fuuka said, exchanging a significant look with Amir. "The android carries more than mere coordinates. She has been imprinted with a fragment of the Crystal's consciousness."

  "The Moondust Crystal... has consciousness?" Jabari asked, incredulous.

  "All things of power do, in their way," Amir replied cryptically. "But what matters now is that your companion carries information that could lead to the Crystal's misuse by factions who see it only as a weapon."

  Fuuka's expression softened slightly as she regarded Ume. "The strain on her system is immense. Her positronic matrix was never designed to contain such power."

  "Is there anything you can do?" Jabari asked, concern for Ume overriding his wariness of these strangers.

  "Perhaps," Fuuka said, her brow furrowing in concentration. "But first, we must understand each other clearly. The Sand Lotus seeks to prevent any faction from weaponizing the Crystal. We believe it should be restored to its complete form and then hidden away, protected from those who would abuse its power."

  "And what would the Directorate do with it, I wonder?" Amir asked, his rings glinting as he tapped them thoughtfully against the table.

  Before Jabari could answer, several robed figures emerged from the shadows between pillars. Their white and copper-toned armor gleamed in the restaurant's dim light, curved blades held at ready angles. Long hair, both dark and fair, framed faces set with predatory focus, entering the booth and assuming positions around Jabari's table in a steadily tightening circle.

  "The Moondust Crystal's location, compressed and housed within a Da-Ji android." Fuuka's voice remained calm as her warriors closed in. "An ingenious solution, but ultimately a dangerous one. The question now is whether your Directorate can be trusted more than the Imperium or Alliance."

  "What is this?" Jabari demanded, his hand moving toward his Combat Knife.

  "Insurance," Amir replied simply. "The Krypts are merely ensuring our conversation remains productive."

  "You speak of trust while surrounding us with armed guards?" Wilhelm's tone was light, but his eyes had turned cold.

  "Trust must be earned," Fuuka countered. "And the Crystal's power is too great to risk on blind faith."

  "We saved Ume from a memory wipe," Jabari said, his voice tight with controlled anger. "She chose to come with us."

  "A noble gesture," Fuuka acknowledged. "But nobility and wisdom are not always the same. The data she carries could destroy worlds if misused."

  Jabari glanced at Ume, who was watching the proceedings with wide, frightened eyes. "What do you want from us?" he asked finally.

  "An alliance, of sorts," Amir proposed, leaning forward. "The Directorate is the least objectionable of the major powers, from our perspective. Work with us to restore the Crystal, but agree that once whole, it must be sealed away. No faction should wield its power."

  "And if we refuse?" Wilhelm asked, his hand now resting openly on his holstered weapon.

  "Then we would be forced to extract the information ourselves," Fuuka said, her gentle tone at odds with her words. "A process your friend might not survive."

  The air in the underground restaurant seemed to thicken as tension mounted. Several robed figures at nearby tables had ceased their conversations, their attention now fixed on the unfolding drama.

  "You should not be entrusted with such data," Fuuka continued, her serene demeanor unchanged. "But neither should the Imperium or Alliance. We offer a middle path."

  "Why not?" Jabari's combat training kicked in as he assessed their situation. At least eight hostiles, all equipped with identical curved blades and lightweight armor that favored mobility over heavy protection. Their coordinated movement spoke of extensive training – these were no common mercenaries.

  Wilhelm's hand had already found his holstered Plasma Handgun. "Bit crowded in here suddenly, wouldn't you say?"

  "Many of our Krypts are trained in the deserts on Venus." Fuuka gestured towards a blade-wielding warrior next to her. "You two are handsome enough. I'd hate to have you slain."

  "Bad form to draw weapons at dinner," Wilhelm's tone remained light even as he sized up their opponents. "Especially when we haven't finished the tasty beef."

  The tension was broken by an explosion that rocked the chamber. Dust and debris rained down as the restaurant's entrance erupted inward. Through the settling chaos strode a woman in a black-gold uniform, flanked by crimson-armored Bloodtroopers with Thermal Battleaxes at ready.

  "Your old makeup was better, Fuuka." Marisol's cultured voice carried easily across the destruction, "I should've guessed you Sand Lotus fanatics would be involved."

  "Marisol." Fuuka turned to face the new threat, her smile dripping with sarcasm. "I see you brought your favorite pet. Did Dilinur need much convincing to let him off his leash?"

  "Cheng arrived by a teleporter. The local authorities were wise enough to stay out of our way." Marisol's smile did not waver as she strode forward.

  Behind them, Ume let out a small gasp as a new figure emerged from the dust cloud. The man who stepped through the ruined doorway commanded attention through sheer presence alone. His crimson armor, more ornate than the Bloodtroopers', bore intricate dragon motifs that seemed to writhe in the dim light. But it was his face that struck Jabari — carved from pure arrogance, with sharp cheekbones and eyes that held determination equal to his.

  "U6-M9. Prefect Altai has demanded your retrieval." The officer's gaze fixed on Ume with predatory focus, and Jabari felt his grip tighten instinctively on his knife.

  The restaurant erupted into violence. Krypts and Bloodtroopers clashed in a symphony of curved blades against Thermal Axes.

  Marisol drew a weapon that seemed out of place in the Atomic Era - an ornate Lever-Action Rifle with intricate silver and brass fittings. Its polished wooden stock bore delicate floral engravings, while the barrel gleamed with damascus-steel patterns that spoke of master craftsmanship.

  As she took aim at Fuuka, Jabari muttered in disbelief. "That medieval gun? In this century?"

  "Sólskj?ldr V?rn!" Fuuka chanted, deflecting the first shot with a barrier of golden light. But she had to dive aside as the next round punched through the stone pillar behind her, the high-caliber bullet leaving a hole large enough to fit a fist.

  "Wilhelm, get Ume out of here!" Jabari shouted, fighting his way back through the chaos. A Bloodtrooper's axe came down in a burning arc, forcing him to roll away. The superheated blade left a glowing trail in the air where his head had been.

  "Bit occupied at the moment!" Wilhelm fired his Plasma Handgun in controlled bursts, keeping two Krypts at bay. But Cheng Wei advanced steadily through the firefight, shrugging off energy bolts like rain.

  Ume backed away, her amber eyes wide with terror. "Please, I don't want to go back—"

  "Return to your rightful place, U6-M9!" Cheng's commanding voice thundered over the din of battle. A Krypt rushed him with a curved blade, only for Cheng to catch it with his gauntleted hand.

  "Your defiance ends, terrorist!" The steel shattered in his grip as he cast the broken weapon aside.

  Jabari lunged forward, Combat Knife aimed at what seemed like an opening. But the Seneschal's martial prowess was beyond anything he'd faced. Cheng caught his wrist mid-strike, and pain exploded through Jabari's arm as titanium-reinforced fingers clamped down.

  "Your spirit burns bright, Directorate warrior!" Cheng's face lit with fierce appreciation even as his grip tightened, forcing Jabari to drop the knife. "But the Imperium's justice cannot be denied!"

  His other hand shot out, seizing Jabari's chest. The throw sent him flying across the restaurant. He crashed through a table, wood splintering beneath him. His vision blurred as he tried to stand, only to see a Bloodtrooper's Thermal Battleaxe descending.

  "No!" Ume's scream pierced the chaos.

  Jabari rolled desperately, but not fast enough. White-hot agony lanced through his side as the axe caught him, burning through fabric and flesh. The world spun, darkness creeping at the edges of his vision.

  Through the haze of pain, he saw Marisol grab Ume's arm, pulling her toward the exit. Wilhelm tried to intervene but took a brutal strike from Cheng that sent him sprawling.

  "Form ranks!" Cheng bellowed. The Bloodtroopers fell in around their leaders, axes raised high as they retreated with their prize.

  "Ume..." Jabari reached out weakly, his body refusing to move.

  Across the room, Fuuka dispatched a final Bloodtrooper with a swift gesture that sent him crumpling to the ground. Her eyes met Jabari's, and something passed between them – a recognition, perhaps. She glanced toward the retreating Imperials, then back to Jabari's wounded form.

  Decision made, she knelt beside him, her hands glowing with healing energy as she chanted. "Surak?ita? Asi."

  As the warmth of her spell flowed through him, closing his wounds and restoring his strength, Jabari looked up at her in confusion. "Why help me? I thought you wanted the data too."

  "The Imperium cannot be allowed to possess the Crystal," Fuuka replied quietly. "Of all evils, they are the greatest. And you..." she studied him, "have strong reasons."

  "I won't let them harm Ume," Jabari rose to his feet, testing his newly healed side. The flesh was tender but whole, Fuuka's magic having knitted the wound completely.

  "Then pursue them, we will," Fuuka assured him.

  Wilhelm limped over, a hand pressed to his bleeding forehead. "Changing sides already, are we? Just minutes ago your lot were ready to gut us like fish."

  "The equation has shifted." Amir replied, emerging from behind a collapsed pillar. Despite the destruction surrounding them, not a single fold of his emerald robe appeared disturbed. "With the Imperium holding both your android and the data she carries, we face a common threat."

  "A temporary pact? With handshakes?" Wilhelm quipped, holstering his Plasma Handgun with practiced ease.

  Amir nodded slowly. "We help you recover your friend, preventing the Imperium from accessing the data she carries. In return, you agree to work with us toward restoring the Crystal."

  "And after it's restored?" Jabari asked, eyes narrowed.

  "That discussion can wait," Fuuka answered as she placed a hand on his chest plate, her eyes meeting his with new resolve. "First, we prevent immediate catastrophe."

  Wilhelm ran a hand through his hair. "Seems we've gone from dinner guests to unlikely allies in record time."

  "Effective, though, isn't it?" Amir replied with the barest hint of a smile.

  Jabari looked around at the destroyed restaurant, the fallen warriors from both factions littering the floor. Blood and scorched stone mingled with spilled food, the earlier tranquility shattered beyond recovery.

  "Next time," Wilhelm remarked, wincing as his fingers encountered a tender spot. "Let's skip dinner and go straight to the alliance part, hey?"