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

XXIII

It was dark, even when Lae'zel opened her eyes, and Githyanki darkvision was excellent. Where had that fiend dragged her to? The air was damp, without a hint of breeze, and the scents of dust and stones tickled her nostrils. She sneezed into the darkness, using the chance to measure the acoustics. A small room, at most five metres across. The silence was nearly total, so it could've been an isolation chamber. A prison? No, too busy to hide her, and such facilities were never abandoned in Baldur City because there were always criminals to incarcerate.

She exhaled a sigh—that place could've been anywhere. Her injuries from the electric shocks were light, but her head was woozy. That minge must've drugged her before the abduction. If so, did she kill Wyll? The idea sent a shiver down her spine. Orin banked on them rushing to help Alfira, and her tactic had paid off. If only the damned detective had held back his chivalry, the encounter could've ended in their favour.

An ear-grating creak returned her attention to the moment. An iron door opened, revealing a sliver of dim light that nonetheless hurt her eyes after hours in the dark. A feminine shadow slipped through the opening, a glinting knife clasped in her hand. The door closed by weight alone, clicking into place. Footsteps approached, soft, yet each rumbled in the utter silence.

"Lae'zel Creche'Kliir," said the venomous voice.

"Orin the Red."

"Well done," Orin clapped once. "Since you've figured out who I am, I assume you know who I set out to kill."

"Alfira, to disparage Councilman Gortash."

"No, you fool. That unremarkable air-waster was bait, exactly like how you used her." Orin chuckled, still approaching her. "You truly don't understand, do you?"

Lae'zel stifled her frustration. Who would Orin want to bait...? "Do you mean for the other killer?"

"Well done! Only, you've interfered in my plan." The air warmed up suddenly, and her hand wrapped under Lae'zel's chin, forcing her head up. "Now, however, I'm free to chase her again."

"How long have I been here?" she asked, hoping to change the subject, gain time to think.

"About half a day. Today's the sixteenth, and I assume your partner is taking the heat for your grand failure."

So, Wyll was alive; hope remained.

"Curb your smirk, Creche'Kliir. I didn't get a chance to finish him off, but he will never find this place. He's probably more interested in protecting that dumb girl, almost as if he's developed feelings for her."

Lae'zel snorted at Orin. "You want to know what's dumb? Being obsessed with flatlining some random target. A smart killer would've moved on."

"Ah, but I'm a competitive woman." The murderer's icy blade pinched under her jaw, pressing just enough to make her hold her breath. "Few things in life are as satisfying as being the best at your trade."

"Is that all?" she said, keeping her throat as flat as possible. "You're trying to outdo the other killer?"

Orin huffed, withdrawing her knife. "As if you're doing something more worthwhile."

"I protect people!"

"What a fanciful tale!" Orin paced away, the warmth of her presence fading. "You're protecting cattle. They lead meaningless, empty lives, and you find satisfaction in ensuring they can continue living that way. Some noble goal you've found."

"Hunting predators like you gives me all the meaning I need."

Orin leaped to stand beside her. "We're both predators, Creche'Kliir! The difference is I have embraced my nature, and you deny it by defending prey. Do you know what herd animals do with the weak in nature? They abandon them to their fate! So the superior species—predators like us—can enjoy an easy snack. In short, you're subverting the natural order."