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

XIX

Lae'zel followed Jaheira off the stage and into a back corridor with unpainted walls. Detective Woodward and Enforcer Jameson walked behind them with sealed expressions, as appropriate for a public display of professionalism. Yes, a reporter could've been hiding somewhere, looking for a photo op, but she didn't care.

"I'm glad you've managed to arrange this event so fast," Lae'zel said, "but I have doubts."

"Cram them. I need to catch these gonks already; the councilman calls me twice a day."

At least that got the commissioner to move faster. "Still, Detective Ravengard objects to this plan."

"It's not his call to make." They stopped next to a side door. Jaheira put a keycard to it, and it led them to a much nicer hall filled with a crowd. Administrators, corpos, and other police officers paused their conversations when their group entered. "What's his problem, anyway?" the commissioner continued after people returned to mind their business.

"He wants to protect the musician girl."

"Why does he care about this specific girl so much?"

"It's his principles he cares about."

"And what do your principles say, Enforcer?"

A solid question. "Well... Tactically, the musician has a better chance of surviving if we actively try to eliminate the threat."

Jaheira gave her a crooked smile. "Smart girl. So, your argument is merely over the methods. Get him to see that and bring him on board." She turned toward her office and left Lae'zel without another gaze, escorted by the other policemen.

A rather wise observation from the commissioner. Despite their differences, she clearly had experience with handling people. Hopefully, it would prove beneficial with Wyll.

Talking to him would have to wait, though. First, she had to plan the trap with Karlach, who'd invited her to a mansion in the city's newer northwestern neighbourhoods. Those sat behind the curve of the river, protected by drawbridges and manned checkpoints. Potential criminals would have to come by air, and there were fast-response teams against that threat. All that extra security and surrounding wealth made her feel out of place, dressed in a leather outfit on her bike.

The mansion security guards were respectful, though. One even guided her from the front gate to the parking spot with a smile. The two-story structure was more modest than she'd expected, with grey slated roofs, a white exterior, and maybe a dozen rooms inside. A stone fountain sat between the external wall and the entrance, flanked by patches of greenery.

"Oi!" Karlach's loud voice cut her thoughts. Lae'zel greeted her with a reserved hand wave, and they entered the mansion. Gortash's muscular bodyguard, donning a brown leatherette jacket and tight red shirt, led her past a fancy foyer to a large guest hall, where they met a blue-haired woman in tiefling make-up and a man in a black suit.

"Faela here will play the part of the musician," Karlach said, gesturing toward the woman. Lae'zel shook her hand, using the chance to inspect her face. The orange eyes, the dumb horns... Everything resembled Alfira.

"And Matt will play the part of a neighbour who pays her a visit."

Lae'zel shook his hand as well. However, it was annoying to learn that Gortash's crew had made plans without her. "What about you and I?" she asked Karlach.

"We're more recognisable, so we'll wait in an adjacent apartment. The commissioner also placed a second team on patrol in the area, under a detective... Jameson, I think."

"Jameson is an enforcer."

Karlach gave her a dismissive stare. "What's a difference?"

"Enforcers receive combat training and are expected to join SWAT operations."