Hard Vacuum: Short Episodes In The Future

Clairsentient

The clairsentient certainly did not have the minimalist tendencies of modesty.

Crypt floated through the most intricately designed astral space she had ever been to. Great, gilded pillars of intricate patterns spanned between "floor" and "ceiling", though there wasn't really an up or a down. At each end, both top and bottom of the rows of pillars were cathedral-like vaults, so that there wouldn't be a flat place to settle down, even if the great hall had simulated gravity. Each of the vaults were painted like a fresco, with scenes of unknowable mythologies. Each seemed to carry the weight of significant historical events, though none were recognized by Crypt.

She was able to keep her toon's form, though her dress was altered to an oversized, flowing toga-like garb that billowed behind her as she advanced. She propelled herself forward using will, as if born to this disorienting world, towards the dais at the far end.

Upon this dais sat her host. It's toon took the form of a giant cat. It didn't have the proportions of a tiger or lion or any truly large cat, but that of a housecat, scaled to twice her size. Instead of fur, it appeared to be made of stained glass, like a low-poly model where each facet was a different colored, light emitting pane, edged in black lead. Folded upon its back were two great wings, with the blunt, rounded feathers of a colorful owl. It was crowned with an animated halo of gold and light.

"Xanix, I presume?" As Crypt approached the large cat, she gave a half-mocking curtsy that she could pretend was sincere if the clairsentient proved to lack a sense of humor.

"Crypt, welcome. I hope your material body is watched over during your astral projection here."

"I have a friend who handles that. Am I in any particular danger at the moment?"

"No more than you are accustomed to, I suppose. It's likely that you know that your cover has been blown, since the coronation."

"Yes, my friend had to remove the arms from the cyborg guard of my mark. Let's cut to it, I don't want to be traced here."

"Nor do I. This connection is more secure than any you've encountered. The clairsentients that run Odessa have promised me privacy."

"You trust them?"

"Let's say some owe me, and the others are aligned with me."

"You're a busy bot."

"Indeed. I find it useful to be owed favors. You're here to obtain a way to access Sociocorp's internal files."

"Their CEO has been communicating with my mark. The transmissions were encrypted and I need to know what they say. They can be decrypted, but it would take a few hundred years. I figure it would be easier to get in and steal the actual file."

"If they haven't been deleted."

"You're putting too much faith in anyone's ability to be thorough about data destruction."

"I can convince the clairsentients to turn a blind eye. That will keep the authorities out of it. I'm also transferring to you the astral coordinates of a data port that they have been slack in maintaining. I trust you have a cloak script?"

"Hey, I'm a professional. What's this going to cost?"

"You'll owe me a favor."

"I'd better open a tab."