Raven Tide

4: Necronomicon (Raven Tide)

I stuck to the rooftops while Chyani entered the streets through the public gateway.

She disliked my decision to steal equipment but being that we possessed no Iddril currency as it was the policy of my people to seize resources and tech from lesser and unworthy species. She had no choice but to yield.

It was forbidden for me to reveal myself to outsiders unless I was dueling an opponent to the death during my annual Dread Rite.

I agreed with her assessment that it would be safer for me to simply enter unnoticed and gather the items solo but I had to decline. I couldn't leave the human alone unprotected. Even if it resulted that there was nothing unique contributing to her survival, my transgression was worthless if she died.

No. Until we arrived at the medical outpost, Chyani was under my protection. I had to insist that she remain nearby and under my surveillance at all times.

Fortunately, humans resemble the Iddril at a distance. It was easy to mask her lack of yellow eyes and the addition of fingernails with a basic medical UV visor and a pair of gloves.

The Iddirl tech sustaining the small metropolis was dripping in radiation and smog. I wanted to outfit her with a half-face ventilator, but wearing Zhaguai tech would have drawn attention.

She's already conspicuous.

Ninety percent of the inhabitants in this podunk town were grisly mercenaries and undoubtedly the network of street urchins were already buzzing reconnaissance of her movements back to their underworld overlords.

We need to move quickly.

I provided her with a radiation filter wristband and a translator but instructed her to avoid communicating with anyone in the streets if possible.

"Turn right at the next juncture," I whispered through our comm-link.

She dipped her head nonchalantly in agreement.

At least she's following orders.

Our destination was a mechanic depot connected to a junkyard in a sleazy-er part of town. I hated every aspect of this plan, even with her revisions.

Like before, she would be the object of misdirection, but she was free to improvise and ask questions in case I had difficulty procuring any specific item.

I armed her with a small vibro-blade so that she wouldn't be completely vulnerable, but from this distance, she still looked like chum in the water.

The depot was obviously a front for secondary criminal enterprise.

Such pathetic vocations were pointless in the Nexus. Our clans operated without the clutter of monetary currency, as the only thing of value in our society was honor.

Hopefully, they don't attack her on sight.

As a precaution, I leaped down to street level to observe the cluster of goons loitering in the front lobby. According to my helmet scans, there were a dozen more gangsters lounging in the back warehouse.

I preferred not to expose my presence, but I was poised to execute the front wave swiftly if necessary.

Chyani entered the building, and her heart rate skyrocketed.

She's surprisingly disciplined for a human.

Based on her pulse and breathing, she was furious when I disclosed my age and genesis for my arrival on her colony, but none of that was visible on the surface.

The radiation filter wristband gave my helmet access to her vitals as she entered the garage. Abura Below... She wasn't kidding when she said she experienced social anxiety. Her posture was rigid and her internal temperature was fluctuating wildly, but without the internal read-out transmitted from the wristband, it was impossible to perceive visually.