DreamWorld
Tobias steps forward on a flat plain overlooking the D.R.C controlled dream share as Esmeray whistles for him as she has Van ties up with his arms behind his back as his face was bloodied and bruised already as he spits out blood as Esmeray was wearing biomechanical shimmering armor, a collection of weapons adorned to her frame as she had two daggers on her hips as Tobias comes over to them.
Tobias: He looks like shit.
Esmeray: He tried to run away.
Van: Get this crazy bitch away from me!
Tobias back hands him hard as Van groans as Esmeray taps her temple and forms a visor that covers her eyes as she scans about.
Esmeray: We have virtually no cover. The D.R.C has completely locked everyone out. They're gonna find his code soon.
Tobias: Get him up, I know where we can go.
Tobias closes his eyes and materializes a Speeder as Esmeray slaps the back of Vans head and places him on the back of the speeder as Tobias gets it revved up as Esmeray gets on behind him and wraps her arms around his waist as Tobias nods and heads off towards the Inferno Bar.
Elsewhere
Artur fires his Perforator Pistol(from Fable 3) into an Agents face as he then flips the body over him and runs and guns, taking out three men quickly before he turns and fires backwards without looking as he takes out another Agent who arrived late, Artur putting his phone to the control hub as he downloads the contents before he gets the confirmation beep.
Artur:(dialing Xander) Second code secured.
Artur walks out of the hub and through a sea carnage as bodies, mechs and more destruction are left in his wake as the Two Figures from his first hub attack continue to watch and observe.
Elsewhere
Lucifer pours himself a drink as he sits in a booth with Valencia who perks up as she looks about.
Lucifer: Can you sense when he enters the dream share?
Valencia: Yes. A supposed connection we have because I am his Echo, yes?
Lucifer: A sound theory.
Valencia: May I ask you something?
Lucifer: By all means.
Valencia: How do you exist? Seperate from the A.N.N?
Lucifer: I am a construct beyond your mere understanding. Part Echo, Part Dreamer. I am an intrinsic fundamental part of human existence. Same as my father. And brothers.
Valencia: How come you're the only one we've ever seen?
Lucifer: My father works in his mysterious ways. As for my Brother's...I'm sure they can be found if one looks hard enough.
Valencia: He's close…
Lucifer: Do remember what I told you. When the time is right. He will understand. . Valencia: I am scared.
Lucifer: That my dear, makes you as human as he is. And that's nothing to be ashamed of.
Valencia smiles and takes her drink and finishes it as Lucifer sips at his drink as he hears the speeder coming up to the outside of the bar.
Lucifer: And now the fun begins.
The doors open and Van is shoved inside as he lands on his face hard, Esmeray strolling in as Tobias shuts the doors and locks them as Van is hoisted up by Esmeray and forced into a bar stool as Valencia comes over to Tobias and hugs him as he hugs her back as Esmeray raises an eyebrow.
Esmeray: Who the hell is…
Tobias: This Valencia. Val, this is Esmeray.
The two nod at each other.
Tobias: Valencia is...my Echo.
Esmeray: An Echo? Those exist?
Tobias: Yes. They do. Kami taught me. Told me to keep it a secret. Do whatever I could to protect it and maintain it.
Esmeray: (scoffing), Yeah, sounds like something Kami would advise.
Lucifer: Ray. Been a while.
Esmeray: Lucifer. Business seems dead.
Lucifer: Not for long I imagine.
Van: Why the fuck am I here? The second the D.R.C gets a lock on me you're dead. All of you. Well, except you Lucifer. We can't seem to scrub you no matter what we do.
Lucifer: As long as faith and sin exist I will be here.
Van sneers as Esmeray comes over and gets into his face.
Esmeray: We only want one thing. The source code to the Orion Industrial closed network data feeds.
Van: Are you insane. That much information would fry your brain into mesh.
Esmeray: I have specific dates in mind. Won't have need for others.
Van: You're insane if you think…
Esmeray stabs one of her blades on Van's left knee, causing him to howl in pain as Valencia looks away as Tobias watches the outside.
Esmeray: You know what sucks about your position. Is that your neural network is one of the top ends. Every sensation you feel in here is probably what, doubled? Tripled? Including pain. I won't kill ya either. I'm good at healing.
Esmeray takes the blade out and places her palm over the sound, administering first aid as the wound closes as Van groans as he looks to see only a scar.
Esmeray: The source code.
Van sneers and Lucifer looks at Tobias who comes over towards them.
Tobias: The sooner you give it up. The easier it will be to let you go.
Van: The source code is useless without my encryption.
Esmeray: Then we'll take that as well.
Van: It isn't a downloaded code or a chain. It's memory based. And had to be voice activated.
Tobias: Goddamnit.. Ray…
Esmeray: It's fine. Doesn't change a thing. We can manage this.
Van laughs.
Van: Sure. We'll see. I figure my help will be here sooner than when I want to give you any info. You may as well just…
Esmeray takes the blade and stabs it into his groin, to Tobias's horror.
Esmeray: You think I'm fucking around here!
Van screams in agony as she twists the blade.
Esmeray: Tell me what I want!
Van: Okay! Fuck!
Esmeray pulls the blade out and does the same healing technique she did before and Van pants and screams in pain still as Lucifer hands him a drink.
Lucifer: I think he's earned this.
Van turns his head as Lucifer helps him swallow the shit and Esmeray paces about as Tobias comes to her.
Tobias: Look. I know how much you want to clear your brother's name and find out what happened...but this is…
Esmeray: Don't start with me. We're too close for your moral consciousness to come into play. I need this and I won't let anything stop that from happening.
The doors suddenly open and Tobias and Esmeray turn quickly, weapons drawn as Tobias had a long rifle pointed about as Xander strolls in with Tegan and Leon close behind.
Xander: Looks like a full house.
Xander smirks as Tobias perks up.
Tobias: You're the guy from earlier...the senator…
Xander: A good ear. Your a scary one, Tobias.
Esmeray: Who the hell are they?
Tegan: Could ask the dame of you. What's going on you said this place would be empty?
Lucifer: Patrons of all types are welcome here. Leon, been a minute.
Leon: Sup, Luce.
Tobias: Why are you here?(To Xander)
Xander: Waiting on a friend of ours.
Xander looks to see Van who is looking at him horrified.
Xander: Board member Hirsch. Long time
Van looks at Esmeray
Van: I'll give you anything you want, anything just keep him!(pointing at Xander) away from me!
Esmeray: Who the hell is he?!
Van: That man...is Xander Halstead. The most talented...powerful Dreamer Orion Industrial ever had.
Xander: Touched.
Van: He was the best we ever had. Infiltrated from long range the easiest and quickest. Nobody was better. And then...something happened. He started to believe himself to be something higher. He then created an Echo…
Lucifer: Did he now?
Everyone looks at Xander as Tobias steps in front of Valencia.
Van: A just as compotent and deadly killer he named Artur. The two of them did everything Orion Industrial asked if them but eventually they became harder and harder to reach, and Ian was beginning to lose his touch and grasp on the other Dreamers…
Xander: Ian…(sneers) That old fool.
Van: He's the best there ever was!
Xander: Limited by his own imagination and his unwavering loyalty to your racist regime.
Van: Maybe...but whose the monster here who killed the entire Dreamer unit before disappearing without a trace?
Leon and Tegan look at Xander who shrugs.
Xander: I merely did what I needed to do to ensure my safety and to liberate myself from your bonds.
Van: You're a monster with a god complex. He designs to think he can merge the nexus of realities under his will. A foolish pipedream from a madman.
Xander: A reachable goal you'll not live to see I will presume.
Xander looks at Tobias.
Xander: I meant what I said earlier. You have a role play. But not yet. You mean more to me than you can possibly understand. When the time comes. You'll know what you must do. Till then, I await my Echo as Board Member Hirsch likes to describe him. You have your business to attend too, and I have mine. Lucifer, we'll take this back booth, and a bottle of your finest brandy.
Lucifer: Coming right up.
Xander heads towards the farthest booth as Tegan and Esmeray stare each other down as Leon oats at Van and winks at Valencia before he falls in behind Tegan.
Esmeray: He can't truly be that bay shit crazy?
Van: The battiest.
Esmeray: Give me what I want and I won't throw you to him.
Van: Deal.
Esmeray looks at Tobias and throws a thumbs up as she takes Van to seat as Valencia and Tobias look at one another as they stood between Xanders group and where Esmeray was taking Van.
End of chapter.