Cybergate 2027 - A Baldur's Gate 3 / Cyberpunk 2077 Crossover

XVII

Professor Dekarios lived inside the BCU complex, a walking distance from his office. The five-story stone building hosted faculty and administration members, and the security guard at the entrance seemed lackadaisical. Voss once told her the university was mostly crime-free because Ultracorp and its rival, Omnitech, had undercover agents planted among its population. Criminals feared those more than official security because mega-corps could do horrible things to people who slighted them and nobody would ever find out.

In the past, Lae'zel was also instructed to drop investigations that could've been 'unhelpful' to Ultracorp. Frustrating, but she always told herself that her efforts still improved the world a little. And now, sitting on a couch in the professor's lavish apartment, with its stacked bookshelves and antique wooden furniture, she struggled with the same old question—what extreme was too much when pursuing justice?

"You seem perturbed," Gale said as he walked from the kitchen, dressed in sleek purple robes and carrying a tray with two teacups. He'd insisted she tried the drink for his sake.

"That's because I am." Along with Jaheira's nagging, Karlach left two irritated messages on her device. What would Gortash do, though—have them replaced? That would require more effort than harassing them, and politicos preferred taking the easy route. She took a cup and sniffed suspiciously. The scent was citrusy and mild—not at all like coffee.

"It won't hurt you," the professor said with a smile. He sank into his armchair and gazed at the setting sun. "Did your partner object to this visit?"

"He doesn't know."

Gale raised a curious eyebrow, then sipped from his tea. "Delicious. Either way, what's on your mind, Enforcer?"

"Another suggestion came up. We know the more brutal killer is after a certain woman, and..." Even uttering the thought made her uneasy.

"And you can use her as bait."

She tried the drink... It tasted good! "Yes, and we're pressured to follow this route."

"A conundrum indeed," Gale said, tapping on his neatly trimmed beard. "I'm guessing you want to avoid risking this woman."

"If possible."

"Then why not use a decoy in disguise?"

"I thought so too, but my superiors objected," she said, revolted by the idea of Councilman Gortash bragging at his fundraiser about saving Alfira after putting her at risk himself.

"So you need to sell them another plan—something that sounds brilliant."

Lae'zel huffed and nodded. "Exactly, Professor—"

"Please, call me Gale." He flashed a charming smile. "You know, I always found Githyanki fascinating."

"In what way?"

"In many ways. For one, despite vastly different origins, we both have notions of justice and honour." He put his mostly empty cup away. "These aren't merely philosophical concepts, you know. They stem from certain brain parts, which means our primordial evolution shares some similarities."

Lae'zel shrugged. "Gith are hunters and so are humans, albeit less capable ones."

He burst into laughter. "Not all Githyanki are so blunt, though." His gaze turned softer. "What's the source of your passion, this roaring desire to be upfront and direct?"

Again, she shrugged. "I received a warrior's upbringing. We don't get coddled like istik children." She met his eyes in the end, challenging him.

Gale held her gaze. "Although I was born to an upper-class family, Enforcer, I was raised with rigid discipline, both physical and mental. It has taught me that an intelligent mind requires constant stimulation to develop, much like a muscle."