Chapter 297
Kyle nodded as he processed Jarberry’s warning. When C Grades were involved, things rarely seemed to be simple. “I appreciate that, Jarberry. What’s going on?”
“For starters, Corthian’s whole dang expedition got grounded. I heard there were some long-range sensors that didn’t get impacted, but when they made planetfall, they all got stuck. And that’s including one of their C Grades who’s acting as the expedition leader.” Jarberry pulled a handful of small, dried fruit out of thin air, tossing it into his mouth and beginning to chew.
“Suierrillax shared as much, and that they’re hiring people from the Mercenary’s Guild as well. How does that add to the complexity?” Kyle pressed.
“Because a C Grade vessel, with a C Grade captain got stalled. For that to have happened, it’s likely that Corthian is dealing with intelligent opposition here. That’s why they need some real muscle and planning to handle it,” Jarberry said, giving Kyle a serious look again. “Unfortunately, Malcolm Corthus is a lot more muscle than planning.”
“What do you mean?” Kyle asked.
Jarberry made a sharp motion with his left hand, and a screen pulled up in between them, facing Kyle. He gave the imp a questioning look.
“I keep dossiers on most of the C Grades I learn about,” Jarberry explained. “Generally, it’s a good business practice. In any event, our friend Malcolm here has two mage classes, similar to Angela. One is focused on ground manipulation, the other focused on fire. A pretty common combination, as they go. And a powerful one at that. Unfortunately for him, it’s also a combination that’s prone to certain weaknesses.”
“How is that relevant?” Kyle asked. “They’re hiring other mercenaries to come and help, after all.”
“It’s relevant, because when your powers are always a hammer, everything looks like a nail,” Jarberry replied, taking another bite of food. “He’s straightforward, powerful, and used to removing obstacles with brute force. From where I’m floating, I suspect whoever masterminded this incident prefers a less direct approach.”
“You think he’s out of his league,” Kyle replied, the pieces clicking.
“It’s reasonable to think that he could be,” Jarberry agreed. “Malcolm brings a hell of a lot more destructive power to the table than I do, but he’d have a better chance swimming through space than trying to deal with me if we crossed paths.
“Corthian can shore things up with more mercenaries all they want, but at the end of the day, they’re going to follow the expedition leader’s orders. After all, they’re the ones paying the credits. So, if that expedition leader’s approach isn’t flexible, the weaknesses remain.”
[DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE UNWISE FOR US TO JOIN, MR. BANDERSNATCH?]
“My, my, getting awfully formal here, aren’t you?” Jarberry teased. “To answer your question, I’m sure it’ll be a dangerous trip. If you didn’t have a personal investment, I wouldn’t recommend going. I also recognize that finding closure is important, so I’m going to try and give you as much unsolicited advice as I can.”
Kyle felt a sense of unease from C.H.A.D.D. as Jarberry spoke, and he stifled a sigh. You worry too much, buddy, Kyle thought. Turning his attention back to the imp, Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Any other unsolicited advice? I’ll take whatever you’re willing to offer.”
“Hey now, doesn’t that make it solicited?” Jarberry complained. “In any event, I’d just say stick to your strengths. You know your path, you know your abilities. If things get bad, lie low and wait out the storm. And don’t follow dumb orders. I feel like that should go without saying.”
“Solicited or not, it’s appreciated,” Kyle said with a smile. “Hey, if you’re bored, you’re welcome to tag along.”
Jarberry snorted. “Believe me, when you’ve got as much going on as I do, you don’t have time to get bored. Maybe if you hit C Grade, you’ll understand that some day.”
Kyle felt a surge of consternation from both C.H.A.D.D. and the Core of the Parasitic Devourer, surprising him.
[DR. MAYHEW WILL CERTAINLY REACH C GRADE, JARBERRY.]
“I’m sure he will,” Jarberry replied, grinning. “Now, that’s everything I’ve got for you, for now. Keep up the good work, kid. I doubt I’ll have much time to drop by before you go, so take care and good luck.”
With that, the imp vanished, leaving no trace behind. Kyle stretched, considering the warnings Jarberry shared. He trusted his mentor’s gut when it came to the job, and though Jarberry hadn’t been expressly worried about Kyle, he’d be a fool to ignore the caution. The problem was figuring out what, exactly, he could do to prepare.
Just as he was pondering his options, another message rang through his nav bracelet; this one from Tillienne.
Kyle,
How are you? It’s been a while since we talked. I was just offered an interesting job, and some mutual friends told me you may be joining it as well. If you’re free, let’s grab a meal tomorrow and catch up. I’m interested to hear what you’ve been up to!
Chat soon,
Tillienne
Reading the message over once again, Kyle felt a broad smile cross his face. He didn’t have a lot of connections at the Mercenaries’ Guild, but he’d hoped that one of his few connections would get chosen. For it to be Tillienne, one of the only people he’d truly call a friend, was a stroke of good fortune. It would be good to have somebody he could trust along, particularly somebody as powerful as her. Sending a quick reply, Kyle got settled in to rest. Something told him he’d need as much as he could get before starting his next job.
The next morning, Kyle found himself at the entrance to a trendy café, the latest in Tillienne’s culinary conquests. The fae woman was always looking for new places to eat, and her recommendations had yet to disappoint. Apparently, some of the tea leaves sourced by the café came from D Grade environments, and the drinks they served were supposed to have medicinal qualities.
A quick use of Identify made Kyle doubt those claims, but he was far more interested in how delicious the drinks and pastries were. And of course, it helped to have great company.
“Wait, so you really went out hunting? With Arhades? Now this, I have to hear.”
Tillienne’s eyes sparkled as she chuckled, sipping a drink cupped in two hands, while her other two were at work slicing a loaf of freshly-baked bread. As usual, she’d reserved a private booth where they could speak more openly, which in this case meant that they were sitting on the café’s roof. The view looked out into a large floral garden, offering plenty of privacy.
“What can I say, he wanted to have somebody tag along. And we even made it through without accumulating too many injuries, so it was a success all around.”
Tillienne’s eyes glittered as she listened to Kyle share about the experience of planning the hunt and traveling with the velgian. “And it was successful? You really managed to hunt down some C Grades?”
Whether due to a stroke of good fortune, or by intent, this café was located in the Gray Conglomerate territory at the Hub, not the Verdant Republic. Still, Kyle paused for a moment as he focused on Auric Perception and Synaptic Barbs for any onlookers. Picking up on Kyle’s intent through Pack Leader’s Instinct, C.H.A.D.D. did the same, giving him the all-clear a moment later.
With a breath, Kyle stopped suppressing his aura. As he’d continued his practice, it had gotten easier, though it felt much more natural to let it flow around him. Tillienne’s eyes widened as she felt it, and he drew it in to suppress it once again.
“That’s… incredible, Kyle,” she breathed. “What’s it like, really fighting a C Grade? Not that I have any plans to fight one, mind you. I’m just curious what the experience must be like.”
“It’s terrifying,” Kyle said flatly. “I wouldn’t say that I’ve squared off against particularly deadly variants, and even against them, they’re overwhelming. The margin for error is almost nothing, and they can turn the tides with a single big attack.”
“With some luck, that’ll be us someday,” Tillienne replied, a mischievous smile on her face. “I kind of like the idea of having a reputation for being overwhelming and dangerous. Especially if it comes from somebody as powerful as you.”
She leaned in conspiratorially before whispering, “You know, even before you showed your aura, I checked you out with my upgraded identification skill. I thought I was leveling pretty quickly, but dang. You were always a bit of an anomaly, but now you’re a real powerhouse.”
Kyle felt himself blushing at the combination of praise and proximity, turning his attention back to the flower garden nearby. “It’s been a crazy couple of years, that’s for sure,” Kyle agreed.
“Then and again,” Tillienne said softly, “you’re not the only one who’s improved. Your drone and pack have both gotten upgraded, too, haven’t they?”
Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Your new skill is really something, isn’t it? Yeah, C.H.A.D.D. is even more impressive than before. More impressive than me, if we’re being honest.”
Tillienne grinned broadly before leaning back, taking a sip of her drink. “Kyle, I’m really happy that I decided to become your friend. You’ve got top-notch gear, you’re frighteningly powerful, not to mention being good company. I’m looking forward to seeing how you work during this assignment.”
At first, Kyle was tempted to protest the idea that she was unilaterally responsible for their friendship, but upon reflection he realized just how true her words were. Instead, he turned his focus back to the upcoming work for Corthian. “I’m looking forward to it, too. Just a few days, and we’ll be heading out.”
Tillienne looked at Kyle quizzically for a moment, before smiling even broader than before. “You’re telling me that I know something you don’t? Oh, that’s delightful.”
“What do you mean?” Kyle asked. “The terms of the per diem were to be ready to report within three days of notice.”
“Yes,” Tillienne said. “But they won’t be ready for another month or so, at the earliest. They aren’t just hiring mercenaries to help on the ground, Kyle. They’re looking to set a perimeter around the whole damn planet. From the sounds of it, we won’t even be getting called until that’s been done.”
“Wait, there’s really that much time left?”
“Absolutely. Gives people time to recover from any recent jobs, make purchases, the usual.”
Kyle felt an overwhelming thrum of excitement from C.H.A.D.D., and he had to fight to suppress it, too. Because, with a couple of months left, they might have just enough time to sneak in one final upgrade to his Adaptive Anatomy.
Maybe we’re heading to Ordata after all.