The private booth at the Nebula Auction hummed with tension. Sarah sat across from Sky Reach, her posture relaxed but her eyes never leaving his face. The man before her bore little resemblance to the Zephyr she once knew, but his eyes - those hadn't changed.
"Tell me about the card-washing technology," Sarah said, her voice neutral.
Sky Reach's eyes narrowed. "Why the interest? It's banned tech."
"Humor me," Sarah replied, a hint of steel in her voice.
For the next hour, Sky Reach explained the intricacies of the technology. His knowledge was impressive, and Sarah found herself begrudgingly admiring his expertise. He spoke of quantum entanglement, of manipulating nano-structures at a subatomic level, of rewriting the very fabric of reality encoded in the cards.
As Sky Reach spoke, Sarah's mind raced. This was definitely Zephyr, but he seemed... diminished. The grand ambitions he once had were nowhere to be seen. Instead, there was a bitterness in his voice, a resentment that seemed to poison every word.
"You know," Sky Reach said, pausing in his explanation, "this tech could have changed everything. But they banned it. Said it was too dangerous." He laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "As if anything truly innovative isn't dangerous."
Sarah leaned forward, her interest piqued. "Who banned it? And why?"
Sky Reach's eyes flashed. "The big corps, of course. Quantum Dynamics, NanoTech Industries, all of them. They saw the potential and got scared. Scared of losing control."
Sarah nodded, filing away this information. She was about to press further when a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Ms. Chen?" a voice called. "The Ding family representatives are here to see you."
Sarah stood, noting the flash of resentment in Sky Reach's eyes. "We'll continue this later," she said, leaving him alone in the booth.
In the main hall, the opulence of the Nebula Auction was on full display. Holographic displays showcased rare artifacts and cutting-edge tech, while the elite of Axiom Prime mingled and networked.
Sarah met with the Ding family members - Nathan and Elena Ding, heirs to the Ding Tech empire. Their conversation quickly turned to business, and Sarah found herself engrossed in discussions of market trends and investment strategies.
"Your spatial pocket technology is fascinating, Ms. Chen," Nathan said, his eyes gleaming with interest. "We'd be very interested in discussing a potential partnership."
Sarah smiled politely. "I'm always open to opportunities, Mr. Ding. Perhaps we could set up a meeting after the auction?"
As they talked, Sarah's keen eyes scanned the room. She spotted Jake - or Alexis Thorn, as he was calling himself now - engaged in a hushed conversation with a group of severe-looking individuals. The Shadow Collective, no doubt.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Sky Reach emerge from the booth, his face a mask of barely concealed anger. He made his way to the bar, ordering a drink with sharp, angry gestures.
As the night wore on, Sarah excused herself and headed towards the restroom. She wasn't surprised when she heard footsteps following her.
In the empty corridor, she turned to face Sky Reach. His eyes were slightly glazed - he'd clearly had a few drinks since their conversation.
"Something on your mind?" she asked coolly.
Sky Reach's eyes blazed with fury. "Who are you really?" he demanded. "What do you want?"
Sarah's hand moved to her concealed weapon. The time for pretense was over. "Let's talk," she said, gesturing towards the restroom. "Privately."
As they entered, Sarah's mind was clear. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Whatever happened next would change everything.
Sky Reach stumbled slightly as he entered, his coordination affected by the alcohol. "You think you can just come in here, asking questions about my tech?" he slurred. "Do you have any idea what I've been through?"
Sarah's eyes hardened. "I think I have a pretty good idea, Zephyr," she said, using his old name for the first time.
Sky Reach's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in suspicion. "Who are you?" he whispered, fear creeping into his voice.
Sarah took a step forward, her hand tightening on her concealed weapon. "Don't you recognize me, old friend?" she said, her voice soft but dangerous. "Nova Port. The Reclamation Zone. Ring any bells?"
The color drained from Sky Reach's face as recognition dawned. "No," he breathed. "It's not possible. You're dead. You're all dead!"
Sarah's smile was cold and without humor. "Surprise," she said.
As the implications of Sarah's presence sank in, Sky Reach's fear turned to desperation. He lunged forward, reaching for Sarah's throat.
But Sarah was ready. In one fluid motion, she sidestepped his attack and drew her weapon.