Nathan woke with a start, his body tangled in the mess of his blanket. For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the cracked ceiling of his apartment, trying to shake off the haze of sleep.
His head throbbed, and his body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion. He groaned, rubbing his temples. "What a dream," he muttered.
The memories of the night before were vivid, but they had to be just that memories of a dream. A strange package, pulling something out of his phone, Cortana showing up in his living room. It was absurd.
Nathan swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet hitting the cold floor with a soft thud. His body protested as he stood, sore from a restless night. Construction work had toughened him up, but the stress of the last few days was catching up. Between losing his job and his overdue rent, it was no wonder his brain had conjured something so ridiculous.
"It was just stress," he reassured himself, trudging toward the bathroom. The familiar hum of his old refrigerator and the faint creak of the floorboards were a stark contrast to the surreal events of his so-called dream.
By the time Nathan splashed cold water on his face, he felt more grounded. He looked at his reflection in the mirror: dark circles under amber eyes, short, dark brown hair sticking up in soft spikes, and bronze-toned skin that looked more tired than usual. "Get it together, Nathan. You don't have time to lose your mind."
Still, something about the dream stuck with him. It had been so... real. He could practically feel the chip in his hand, hear Cortana's sharp, analytical voice. Shaking his head, he muttered, "Maybe I need to lay off the late-night gaming."
He shuffled back into the living room, glancing at the mess he'd left the night before. His Xbox was still hooked up to the flat-screen TV, the controller lying on the couch where he'd left it.
That's when he froze.
The package was still there on the coffee table. So was the letter, neatly folded beside it. And sitting dead center on the table, exactly where he'd left it, was the phone.
And the chip.
Nathan's stomach dropped. His mouth went dry as he approached the table, his mind racing. "No way..."
As if to confirm the truth, the phone lit up with a faint hum, the same pulsing light he'd seen before.
Then a familiar voice broke the silence, sharp and impatient: "Well, good morning, sunshine. Took you long enough."
Nathan's head snapped to the coffee table as the chip's holographic projection came to life. There she was, Cortana, standing with her arms crossed, her faintly glowing figure as sharp as it had been the night before.
"Did you really think I was a dream?" she quipped, raising an eyebrow.
Nathan stumbled back, nearly tripping over the couch. "Oh, come on!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with equal parts panic and frustration.
Cortana smirked. "What's the matter, Nathan? Reality too much for you to handle?"
"Now, Sit down," Cortana said firmly, gesturing toward the couch with an air of authority. "We need to talk."
Nathan blinked, still half-convinced he was dreaming, but the sharp tone in her voice left no room for argument. Reluctantly, he sank onto the couch, his hands gripping the edge of the cushion like it might keep him from floating away into madness.
Cortana folded her arms, her holographic projection pacing back and forth atop the coffee table. "Let's recap, shall we? Last night, you told me some random "R.O.B." She made air quotes with her fingers, her tone dripping with sarcasm, " decided to gift you this device." She gestured at the phone, which pulsed faintly as if acknowledging her words.
"Yeah, that's about right," Nathan muttered.
"Then you followed their bizarre instructions," Cortana continued, "pulled my chip out of the screen, and here we are." She stopped pacing and turned to him, her glowing eyes narrowing. "You failed to mention the part where this 'R.O.B.' is apparently bored and thought it'd be fun to make you their new plaything."
Nathan's brows furrowed. "What? I didn't—" He stopped mid-sentence as the memory of the letter resurfaced. He leaned forward, grabbing the folded paper from the table. To his shock, the once-brief note now had new writing scrawled across it in the same elegant script:
- P.s. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention — anything you pull from the device is a copy, not the original. Don't worry; you're not messing with anyone's timeline. Think of it as a little... souvenir generator. And yes, the reason you got the device is simple: I was bored. Enjoy! -
Nathan read the words twice, then once more for good measure. "You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, running a hand through his spiky hair.
Cortana raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess new information conveniently appeared?"
He handed her the letter, though it was more an act of instinct than practicality. She tilted her head, clearly unimpressed. "You do realize I can't physically hold that, right?"
"Oh, right." Nathan flushed, setting the letter back on the table. "It, uh, says the stuff I pull from the device is just a copy. And apparently, this... R.O.B. gave me the thing because they're bored."
Cortana stared at him for a long moment before letting out a dry laugh. "Of course. Why wouldn't an omnipotent being decide to throw cosmic chaos at some random guy for entertainment?" She shook her head, muttering, "I really hope I'm not part of some celestial sitcom."
Nathan slumped back into the couch, the weight of the situation finally sinking in. "So, let me get this straight," he said, rubbing his temples. "You're here because of this device, you're a copy, and now I've got some bored god watching my every move?"
"Pretty much," Cortana replied, her voice laced with sarcasm. "But hey, on the bright side, you've got me to help you navigate this train wreck."
Nathan groaned. "Great. That makes me feel so much better."
Cortana smirked, tilting her head. "Look, Nathan, you've already pulled me out of that thing. Whatever this situation is, it's happening whether you like it or not. So, you can either sit there and sulk, or we can figure out how to use this device to, I don't know, keep you from getting evicted?"
That caught his attention. His amber eyes flicked to the phone on the table, its screen dark and unassuming. "You think this thing can help with that?"
Cortana shrugged. "If it can pull me out of thin air, who's to say it can't do more? But first, we need to test its limits."
Nathan stared at the phone, the weight of her words pressing down on him. Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't as much of a curse as it seemed.
"Fine," he said at last, sitting up straight. "What's the plan?"
Cortana's holographic form flickered, her expression sharp and confident. "Let's start with figuring out exactly what this device can do. And after that? We'll make sure you're not sleeping on the street."
Before Nathan could respond to Cortana's plan, the letter on the table began to glow faintly, catching both of their attention.
"What now?" Nathan muttered, leaning forward to grab it. The glow faded as soon as his fingers touched the paper, and new text began to etch itself across the page in smooth, elegant strokes.
"Looks like your pen-pal has more instructions," Cortana quipped, her holographic figure tilting her head as if to read over his shoulder.
Nathan cleared his throat and read aloud: "P.s.s To get the most out of this gift, take the chip and insert it into the slot on the side of the device. Trust me, it'll all make sense afterward."
He lowered the letter, staring at it in disbelief. "Is this thing serious?"
Cortana crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "And you're actually considering this? You don't even know what will happen."
Nathan shrugged, a mix of frustration and curiosity bubbling inside him. "It's not like I asked for any of this, but if it's giving me answers..." He trailed off, picking up the phone. Sure enough, he noticed a thin slot on the side that he hadn't seen before.
"Well," Cortana said, gesturing to the chip still on the table, "looks like I don't have much of a say in this. Just be careful."
Nathan carefully picked up her chip, its metallic surface warm to the touch. He hesitated for a moment, looking at the phone and then at Cortana's projection. "You sure about this?"
Her hologram flickered slightly, her expression unreadable. "I don't know. But it's not like we have a manual for this thing."
Taking a deep breath, Nathan aligned the chip with the slot and slid it in. The device hummed to life, its screen glowing brighter than before. The phone grew warm in his hand, and he almost dropped it when it started to expand, reshaping itself.
"What the—" he began, but his words caught in his throat.
The device, now slightly larger and more robust, shimmered as its design transformed. The screen extended nearly edge-to-edge, its surface polished and sleek. Subtle vents appeared along the sides, glowing faintly, and the back of the device now featured a glowing emblem that pulsed rhythmically.
Nathan stared at her, then at the upgraded device in his hand. "What just happened?"
Cortana took a moment, her holographic form flickering as if scanning something. "Hold on. This... This is incredible."
"What is?"
"The device," she said, her voice brimming with awe. "Its processing power is... off the charts. Infinite memory space, faster than any supercomputer on Earth, and my universe's Earth. Whoever made this wasn't kidding about it being advanced."
Nathan blinked, holding up the device. "So, it's a supercomputer? And a phone?"
Cortana smirked. "Supercomputer, phone, and apparently more than that. I'll need time to explore all of its capabilities, but I can already tell this thing is in a league of its own."
He stared at the glowing device, a mix of awe and unease churning in his chest. "And you're okay? I mean, after... fusing with it or whatever?"
"Better than okay," Cortana replied, her projection flickering as she gave him a confident smile. "I'm fully integrated now. Think of me as the device's core assistant. And lucky for you, I'm still here to make sure you don't screw this up."
Nathan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Great. No pressure, huh?"
"None at all," Cortana said with a grin. "Now let's see what this baby can really do."
Nathan leaned back on the couch, the upgraded device resting in his lap as Cortana's holographic projection paced on the coffee table, deep in thought.
"So," Nathan began, scratching the back of his head, "if this thing can pull items out of... different realities, then maybe we could, I don't know, solve my rent problem?"
Cortana raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about making money using the device?"
"Exactly!" Nathan said, sitting up. "Like, I could pull gold from a game. You know, like... Fallout: New Vegas. There's that gold stash in the Sierra Madre vault, right? I could grab a few bars, sell them, and boom! rent's paid."
Cortana stopped pacing and turned to him, her arms crossed. "Nathan, I hate to burst your bubble, but that's a terrible idea."
"What? Why?"
She sighed, shaking her head. "Let's break it down. First, the gold from that game is part of a post-apocalyptic world filled with radiation. There's no guarantee the gold you pull won't carry the same properties. For all we know, it could be glowing like a nightlight and give you radiation poisoning the second you touch it."
Nathan blinked, his enthusiasm deflating. "Oh... Yeah, I didn't think about that."
"Second," Cortana continued, "even if it's not radioactive, think about logistics. Where would you sell gold bars? You can't just walk into a pawn shop with gold stamped from a fictional vault and not expect questions. That's a fast track to trouble."
"Okay, okay," Nathan muttered, throwing up his hands in surrender. "You've made your point."
"Good," she said, her tone softening. "We need to be smarter about this. Think long-term, sustainable options not quick cash grabs that could backfire."
Nathan slumped into the couch, staring at the device. "Fine, genius. What's your big idea, then?"
Cortana's projection flickered as she leaned forward, tapping her chin in thought. "Well, we could test the device's ability to replicate smaller, safer items. Like valuable collectibles. They'd be easier to sell without raising suspicion."
Collectibles, huh?" Nathan mused. "Like what?"
"Vintage comics, rare trading cards, even historical coins," Cortana listed off. "They'd be worth a lot to the right buyer and wouldn't carry any... unusual side effects."
Nathan considered it. "That sounds promising. But what's the catch?"
"The catch," Cortana said, her hologram fixing him with a pointed look, "is that you'd need to do your homework. Know the market, avoid counterfeit experts, and keep it low-key. Drawing too much attention could get you noticed by the wrong people."
"Yeah, no kidding," Nathan muttered. He stared at the glowing device in his lap, its potential both exciting and overwhelming. "Anything else we could try?"
Cortana shrugged. "There's always the possibility of using the device to access advanced technology or rare materials, but that comes with even more risks. The last thing we want is someone figuring out you've got something this powerful."
Nathan nodded slowly, the weight of her words settling over him. "Alright. Let's start small. We'll try the collectibles thing and see how it goes."
"Good call," Cortana said, her voice approving. "We'll start with something simple, test the waters, and adjust from there."
Nathan managed a small smile, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "Thanks, Cortana. I'm glad I've got you around."
"Don't mention it," she replied with a smirk. "Now, let's figure out what to test first. You've got a lot of ground to cover."
Nathan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared at the device in his hands. "Alright, collectibles. Cards could work, right? They're small, valuable, and easy to sell."
Cortana nodded, her holographic figure pacing on the coffee table. "Cards are a solid choice, but which ones? Not every card is worth a fortune, and you don't want to waste a pull on something common."
"Fair point," Nathan said, tapping his chin. "Okay, let's think... There's Magic: The Gathering. Some of those cards are worth thousands, like... what's it called? Black Lotus?"
Cortana smirked. "Good memory. That's one of the rarest cards out there, and it could definitely solve your rent problem. But remember, you'll need to pass it off as authentic, which might require a bit of finesse."
"Right, got it," Nathan said. "What about Yu-Gi-Oh!? There are some insanely valuable ones, like Blue-Eyes White Dragon or that Tournament Black Luster Soldier."
Cortana paused, tilting her head. "Yu-Gi-Oh! cards can fetch a good price, but their value depends heavily on condition and edition. We'd have to make sure the device replicates the specifics perfectly."
Nathan frowned, scratching his head. "True. Then there's Pokémon. First-edition Charizard comes to mind. Isn't that thing worth, like, six figures?"
Cortana's eyes lit up. "Now we're talking. First-edition Charizard is iconic and highly sought after. That's a smart choice, as long as you don't flood the market and attract suspicion."
"Noted," Nathan said with a grin. "Okay, last one... Final Fantasy Trading Card Game. I don't know the rarest cards, but I've heard collectors go nuts for them."
Cortana nodded thoughtfully. "Good thinking. Final Fantasy has some niche appeal, but rare cards from that game could still fetch a decent price. It's less mainstream than the others, which might actually work in your favor."
Nathan leaned back with a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, we've got options. Now, how do we figure out which one to try first?"
Cortana grinned. "Simple. Pick the one you're most familiar with. The less guesswork, the better."
Nathan nodded decisively. "Alright, let's start small. No need to jump straight into Black Lotus. How about something a little less... world-shattering? Something valuable, but not insane."
Cortana raised an eyebrow. "A good approach. What card are you thinking?"
Nathan furrowed his brow, trying to remember his brief stint in card collecting. "Uh... maybe Lightning Bolt. It's not crazy expensive, but it's iconic, and every Magic: The Gathering player recognizes it."
Cortana tilted her head thoughtfully. "Smart choice. It's a staple, and it won't raise any red flags if you decide to sell it. Shall we?"
Nathan set the device on the coffee table, letting out a slow breath. "Alright. Let's see if this thing really works the way it's supposed to."
He tapped on the device's screen, navigating to the app that had mysteriously appeared the night before. The interface was sleek and intuitive, with a search bar at the top. Typing in "Lightning Bolt MTG," he hit enter and watched as an image of the card appeared on the screen the iconic red frame, the powerful bolt of lightning, and the card text perfectly replicated.
"Okay, here goes nothing," Nathan muttered, pressing the glowing red icon that had appeared beneath the image.
The device hummed softly, and a faint light emerged from its edges. A card began to materialize on the table before him, solidifying with a slight shimmer.
Nathan stared at it, his heart pounding as he reached out to pick it up. The card felt real — sturdy, with the same glossy finish and texture he remembered from his days of collecting.
Cortana leaned closer, her holographic form peering at the card. "Looks perfect to me," she said, her tone impressed. "Let me run a scan."
Nathan held the card up, letting Cortana's projection cast a soft light over it as she analyzed it.
Nathan held the card up, letting Cortana's projection cast a soft light over it as she analyzed it.
"Yep," she confirmed after a moment. "Exact replica. Weight, texture, even the microscopic printing details. If you handed this to a professional grader, they'd swear it was the real deal."
Nathan let out a laugh of relief. "It actually worked."
Cortana smirked. "Of course it did. I told you this device was incredible."
Nathan placed the card back on the table, his mind racing with possibilities. "Okay, so if this works with something small like this... we could really be onto something."
"Agreed," Cortana said. "But let's take it slow. This is a good test run, but remember: the more you replicate, the higher the risk of someone noticing something strange. We still need to play it smart."
Nathan nodded, his excitement tempered by her warning. "Got it. One step at a time."
He held up the card again, turning it over in his hand. "So... what's next?"
Cortana smiled slyly. "That's up to you. But for now, congratulations, Nathan. You've officially taken your first step into a much bigger world."
Nathan, holding the Lightning Bolt card in his hand. His confidence was building, but he knew they needed a solid plan before getting carried away.
"Alright," he said, setting the card down, "if we're gonna make this work, we can't just rely on one card at a time. Let's think bigger."
Cortana's projection flickered as she paced on the coffee table. "Bigger, but not reckless. What do you have in mind?"
Nathan gestured to the device. "We replicate a mix of cards. Start with some mid-tier value stuff the kind that sells for a few bucks each but adds up when you've got a stack. Then, just one or two high-end cards, so it doesn't look suspicious if I try to sell them."
Cortana raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. "Reasonable, but still risky. What's your mix?"
Nathan rubbed his chin, thinking. "Okay, let's say we make four copies of some cards that are cheap but valuable enough to resell. Stuff like Counterspell, Demonic Tutor, Sol Ring, and Swords to Plowshares. Those aren't insanely expensive, but collectors love them."
"Solid choices," Cortana said, nodding. "And the high-end card?"
Nathan grinned. "One Time Walk. Just one. It's iconic, it's vintage, and if I play it cool, no one will question why I've got it."
Cortana smirked. "Alright, smart guy. And the forty-card deck?"
"I'm thinking something retro," Nathan said, pulling up the device. "A classic deck from the 1980s, when Magic first hit its stride. Something nostalgic but not blatantly overpowered."
"Good balance," Cortana said, nodding approvingly. "But you'll need to be careful. Vintage cards will draw attention if they're too pristine. A little wear and tear wouldn't hurt to make them seem authentic."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You think this thing can replicate a card with a bit of 'used' look?"
Cortana tapped her chin. "It replicated me and this device perfectly. I'd wager it can handle a little artificial aging. But let's test it to be sure."
He nodded, scrolling through the device and typing in the names of the four mid-tier cards. One by one, they materialized on the coffee table, each perfect in appearance.
Cortana scanned them. "Spot on, as usual. Now let's try Time Walk."
Nathan hesitated for a moment, then entered the card's name. A single copy appeared in front of him, its blue frame glowing faintly in the light. He picked it up carefully, marveling at the pristine condition.
"This is... amazing," he muttered. "It's exactly how I imagined it."
"And now the deck," Cortana reminded him.
He nodded, setting the cards aside and pulling up a list of vintage decks from the early Magic era. "This one," he said, selecting a simple yet effective deck featuring classic cards like Serra Angel, Shivan Dragon, and Llanowar Elves.
The device hummed, and soon, a neatly stacked forty-card deck appeared on the table, complete with land cards and even a slightly worn appearance to give it an authentic look.
Cortana scanned the deck, her holographic figure smiling. "Perfect. You've got everything you need to start small without raising too many eyebrows."
Nathan leaned back, exhaling slowly. "Alright. Now all that's left is figuring out how to sell these without getting caught."
"Baby steps," Cortana said. "Let's see how the market reacts to one or two cards first. If this works, you'll have a steady way to keep your finances afloat as long as you stay smart about it."
Nathan nodded, a mix of excitement and nerves swirling inside him. "Yeah... Let's do this."
Couple hours later....
Nathan sat at his kitchen table, the newly created cards spread out in front of him in protective sleeves. His laptop hummed softly, the screen glowing with a search engine page.
"Alright," he muttered, scrolling through local listings. "There's gotta be a better way to sell these. Card shops are ripping me off."
"You're not wrong," Cortana said, her holographic form perched on the table next to the laptop. "Sixty percent of the card's value is standard for shops, but for you? It's a ripoff. You're holding mint-condition copies of iconic cards. You should be getting full value."
"Tell me about it," Nathan said, sighing. "I went to ten shops today, and not one of them offered a fair price. At this rate, I'll barely scrape together enough for rent."
Cortana crossed her arms, a thoughtful expression on her face. "We need to think bigger. Forget the shops. You need a direct buyer — someone willing to pay top dollar without the middleman markup."
Nathan arched an eyebrow. "And where exactly do I find one of those?"
Cortana smirked. "Leave it to me." She turned toward the laptop, and the cursor began moving on its own, clicking through websites and forums faster than Nathan could follow.
"Whoa, whoa," Nathan said, leaning back. "What are you doing?"
"Research," Cortana replied without looking at him. "There's bound to be a trading card event or collector's convention nearby. Those are prime spots for finding serious buyers."
Nathan watched as she navigated to a local events page. After a moment, she paused and tapped the screen. "Here. This might be your answer."
Nathan leaned in, reading the listing. "A trading card convention? Happening at the downtown convention center in two days?"
"Exactly," Cortana said. "It's a gathering of enthusiasts, collectors, and vendors. Perfect for someone like you. You can network, find potential buyers, and even gauge market trends."
Nathan frowned, rubbing his chin. "Sounds promising, but isn't it risky? What if someone catches on that these cards are... you know?"
Cortana raised an eyebrow. "Not likely. The device replicates these cards down to the smallest detail. No one will be able to tell the difference unless you start pulling in quantities that flood the market. Stick to selling a few high-value cards, and you'll be fine."
Nathan exhaled slowly, nodding. "Alright, sounds like a plan. I'll need to get ready, though. Two days isn't a lot of time to prep."
Cortana smiled. "Don't worry. With me around, you'll be more than ready. First, let's figure out how to present the cards without looking suspicious. A binder, perhaps?"
"Yeah, that'll work," Nathan agreed. "And I guess I should brush up on how to talk to collectors, too. I don't want to come off as clueless."
"Smart thinking," Cortana said. "We'll do some research tomorrow. For now, get some rest. You've got a big opportunity ahead of you."
Nathan leaned back in his chair, staring at the glowing device on the table. This was it — his chance to make real money and climb out of the hole he was in.
"Thanks, Cortana," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Anytime," she replied, her hologram flickering slightly. "Now get some sleep. You're going to need it."
Nathan stood up from the table, stretching and letting out a yawn. His eyes lingered on the cards neatly organized in their sleeves, and for a moment, a flicker of hope sparked within him. This plan could actually work.
But as he shuffled toward his room, ready to collapse into bed, a sudden thought hit him like a freight train.
"Wait a second," he muttered, stopping in his tracks.
Cortana's hologram flickered to life on the edge of the table. "Something wrong?"
Nathan groaned, running a hand through his dark brown hair. "I spent almost all my bus fare going to those card shops today. There's no way I can get to the convention center in two days unless I walk... and that's not happening."
Cortana raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "A seven-foot-tall guy carrying a binder of rare cards walking halfway across town? Yeah, that's a recipe for disaster. What's your plan?"
Nathan let out a frustrated sigh, pacing the room. "I need a ride, but I don't have anyone to ask. Most of my coworkers think I'm trouble after what happened at my old job."
Cortana tapped her chin thoughtfully. "What about someone outside of work? A neighbor? An old friend?"
Nathan paused, his gaze drifting toward the window as a name bubbled to the surface of his mind. "Faye," he said quietly.
"Faye?" Cortana repeated, intrigued.
Nathan nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah. She's a tech head like, really into computers. Builds them, fixes them, even teaches other people how to do it for extra cash. Total genius when it comes to that stuff."
Cortana raised an eyebrow, her hologram flickering as she processed this. "And how do you know her?"
Nathan shrugged. "We've bumped into each other a few times in the building. She's also a huge anime, comic, and gaming nerd, so we've had a few late-night conversations about all kinds of stuff. One time, she went on this hour-long rant about why the ending of Neon Genesis Evangelion is a misunderstood masterpiece."
Cortana tilted her head, smirking slightly. "Sounds like she'd get along with me."
Nathan chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, you have no idea. If Faye saw you, she'd have a full-blown nerdgasm. She's a huge Halo fan."
Cortana's projection flickered, her expression shifting into amused curiosity. "Really? How huge are we talking?"
Nathan smirked. "Let's put it this way: her entire living room is basically a shrine to the series. She's got every special edition, figurines of the Spartans, posters from the original games, and I'm pretty sure she owns one of those Master Chief helmets that doubles as a game case."
Cortana laughed softly. "Sounds like my kind of person. Though, I imagine seeing me in the flesh well, hologram would probably blow her mind."
"Blow her mind?" Nathan said, grinning. "Try short-circuit her brain. She'd probably pass out from excitement."
Cortana leaned forward, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, now I'm curious. Are you going to tell her about me?"
Nathan hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "I don't know. Faye's great, but if she finds out I have you and that device, she'll definitely want to take it apart and figure out how it works. And knowing her, she might actually succeed."
Cortana tilted her head, thoughtful. "You're not wrong. If she's that much of a tech genius, she could be... resourceful. But she could also be useful. A person like her might come in handy if you ever need help navigating this whole situation."
Nathan sighed. "True. But I'm not ready to open that Pandora's box just yet. Let's see how she reacts when I ask for the ride first. I'll decide about introducing her to you after that."
"Fair enough," Cortana said, leaning back. "Just don't be surprised if she starts asking questions. People like her don't let mysteries slide."
Cortana leaned back, crossing her arms with a sly grin. "So, what's the worst-case scenario here? What's the price she might ask for?"
Nathan's expression immediately flattened into the most deadpan look imaginable. "She's probably going to make me help her tutor people online."
Cortana raised an eyebrow, her tone curious. "That doesn't sound so bad. I mean, if she's teaching people to build computers, you could probably learn a thing or two yourself."
Nathan exhaled slowly, his face still unreadable. "Yeah, except she tutors naked. With her face hidden. And she'll probably want me to do the same."
Cortana froze, her hologram flickering as if the information had shorted her circuits. "What?"
Nathan nodded solemnly. "Yup. She's mentioned it before. Says it helps with views and gets people to actually pay attention. She'd probably slap a mask on me, throw me in front of a camera, and call it a day."
Cortana stared at him, her virtual face blank as she processed the sheer absurdity of what he'd just said. Finally, she managed, "What?" again, though this time her voice cracked slightly.
Nathan threw his hands up in defeat. "Look, I don't make the rules! It's Faye. She's... unconventional. But I wouldn't put it past her."
Cortana shook her head, her expression somewhere between exasperated and amused. "You've got some... interesting friends, Nathan."
Nathan groaned, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, tell me about it. And I'm probably still going to ask for her help, because what other choice do I have?"
Cortana crossed her arms, a wry smile creeping onto her face. "This is going to be a ride, isn't it?"
Nathan collapsed onto his bed, pulling a pillow over his face. "Don't remind me."