Deadlock Pt. 4

For a moment, I was left in awe. There isn't a single person in the city who wouldn't recognize that face. After all, her wanted poster is plastered all over the place, along with the rest of her squad.

"A-Astrid..." I gasped. "Calypso...?"

"Bingo! You figured it out. Good on ya. Anyway, now that I've told you my name, care to tell me yours? We can be hacking buddies!"

What's this now? She herself mentioned that it was taboo, which it is. The worst part... was that I was actually considering it. After all, this is Calypso, the High Order's greatest enemy. Maybe if I tell her, then I can meet Judan again.

"Strider," I replied.

"Strider, huh? So we're going with codenames. Don't worry. I'm not offended or anything. Astrid is just a codename for me as well."

"I figured. So... I guess this explains how you were able to penetrate my system."

"Oho~ yeah. Three virtual machines. Come on. You need at least five if you're gonna try to break into the High Order's server, love."

"Five? Wait, 'at least?' How many do you have?"

"Me? I have nine!"

"...N-nine...?"

"Yep. Things tend to get just a little~ bit harder when the entire city knows who I am and what I'm after."

"Ah... Fair point."

Astrid is arguably the most dangerous member of the Calypso Squad—not because of her physical prowess, but her unparalleled skills in the cyber world. The High Order's entire cyber security team could go up against her, and she'd still walk away with every piece of data in the city's network. It's not just a theory either, because it has happened before.

She stretched her arms up, casually tossing her legs onto the desk. With a relaxed grin, she shifted her gaze to the camera, her smile widening as her eyes met the lens.

"I appreciate the easy access, though," she said. "Dug up all the important stuff while leaving out the trash. Not bad at all. What were you even planning to do with this?"

"Confidential."

"Aw, come on. You can trust me. Who am I gonna rat you out to? The bastards that I'm praying for the downfall of?"

"You're still practically a stranger to me. Calypso or whatever, in this cursed city, trust no one, not even those who share the same goals."

"Hm... I guess I can't keep prying since you're being so persistent."

Astrid reached over for a glass mug and took a sip of what looked like coffee.

"So, love," she said. "What's got a kid like you digging around in the High Order's network?"

"I'm not a kid, and I just don't agree with the High Order's way."

"Whoa, so you're a certified defect, huh? You got a bounty yet?"

"No. I haven't been caught."

"Good. Keep it that way. Anyway, what is it about the High Order you don't like?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

"Hehe. Thought I'd ask."

When it comes to defecting against the High Order, there's only one reason that holds any weight—Project: Augmentation. The law, passed a decade ago, mandates that every citizen of New Olympos undergo augmentation by the age of twenty-five. It was this very decree that ignited Calypso's insurrection.

"You augmented yet?" Astrid asked.

"Not yet. I'm reaching the age, but I have no plans to augment."

"Dang. We got a real rebel out here."

"I haven't felt the need to just yet. My ultimate goal is Theo De Leux. If I have to augment myself to reach him, then I'll do it when that time comes."

"Whoa~ The First Arbiter himself? Not to be that guy, but that sounds a bit out of reach, don't ya think?"

"I don't care. I have to reach him no matter what."

"Sheesh, what'd he do to you anyway?"

For a while, I sat in silence. There are many reasons why I hate that man, but there is one that rises far above the rest.

"He's the source of my suspicions," I answered. "The cause of the disappearance of someone I loved."

"...You too, huh?"

"Ah. Did he also...?"

"Yep. There's nothing that man does better than crushing the one thing you hold dearest to your heart. For me... For us, Calypso, that was our former captain, Nemesis."

I vaguely remember her name popping up in a few files here and there, but every time I tried to dig deeper, nothing surfaced. That shouldn’t be possible. Calypso was a famous squad before their insurrection. Yet, it's as if everything about her was wiped clean from the entire city's database.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said.

"Save your sympathy for people who need it. We don't. We're just gonna keep moving forward until we drag that man and the High Order to the ground. And this is the part where I tell you to stay out of it."

"What?"

"I like you, love. It'd be a shame if the High Order caught you, cuz then I'd lose my hacking buddy. Don't stick your nose in places it doesn't belong. Otherwise, you'll get yourself killed."

"Thank you for your concern, but that won't be happening."

"Seriously? You're not even augmented yet."

"I'll stop when my job is done. That's all."

"Hah. Well, if you're that determined, I ain't gonna try and stop you."

"Do you mean that?"

"Heh. Who knows? Anyway, I'll let you go now. Enjoy the rest of your night. It was nice meeting ya, love."

"Wait."

"Hm?"

I opened the drawer next to me. Resting on a journal inside was a silver device shaped like a small orb with intricate carvings.

To this day, I still don't know what it really is, nor do I know where it came from. All I know... is that it is connected to Nelia.

A fancy accessory? Unlikely. Some kind of special key? Maybe. Ultimately, I have no idea, not even a clue. That's why I'm bringing it up now. Maybe Astrid might know.

"I have something that you might know of. It's a small, cylindrical device. Um... It's black with some gold linings. And on the side, let's see... I can't really make out the letters, but I think it says... 'Nyx,' or something like that."

"...What?" Astrid muttered.

"I guess that answers my question."

"You... Where did you get that?"

"Confidential."

"Hah. So, what? I'm guessing you're not gonna give it up for free."

"You're Astrid of Calypso. If you really wanted this thing, you would get your hands on it one way or another. But... I'd be lying if I said I didn't have just one small favor."

"Name it."

That was quick. I didn't expect her to actually hear me out, given her status. Since I have her attention, I won't let this chance get away. Finding out what happened to Nelia is important to me, but there are too many problems in this city for me to ignore.

"I caught something last week that has been on my mind," I said. "High Order soldiers were moving in and out of a blackout sector in the Undercity district. I need more time to pinpoint the exact location, but if I'm right, then this place might be a hidden augmentation lab."

"And what do you want us to do about that?"

"All I have right now are hypotheses. If there really are innocent people in there, then I want you to raid it."

"Give and take, huh? You yourself aren't enough to take that place down, but if it's Calypso, then it'd be a piece of cake."

"That's how this world works, isn't it?"

"Hah. I guess so. Works out for us anyway since we're trying to bust as many labs as we can. I'll give you access to my IP. Send me the intel as soon as you can. I'll let the girls know."

"Thank you. Then, goodbye."

I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, staring blankly at the screen. What in the world just happened? Did I really just meet one of the city's most wanted defects? Gosh... I wonder how she can be so casual, knowing every major force in the city is hunting her down.

This is my chance, though. I'm not strong enough to directly go against the High Order. I need people who can help me, people like Calypso. I can use them, and in exchange, I'll also give them what they want.

My ears lifted at the sound of a notification ring, breaking through my spiraling thoughts. A text bubble appeared near the bottom right of the screen.

Astrid: "Also, it's been fun, love! Expect to hear from ya soon!"