08:55, February 10, 2295

  Amber Moon Spire (琥月塔), ZenFusion Taipei branch, No. 7, Section 5, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan, Imperium of Dragons territory

  As their freefalling continued, Xin watched as Lorna spread her arms out like golden wings. The wind rushed past them both, their bodies becoming one with the movement as gravity took hold, the cool breeze tickling his face.

  Lorna’s blonde hair flowed behind her like molten gold, her trench coat billowing out like a cape. He couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked at this moment - fearless and unbound despite their perilous situation.

  "If you’re scared, just know I’ve done this before," Lorna instinctively held onto Xin's arms tighter as she spoke. "Exhilarating, isn’t it?"

  Speechless, Xin’s eyes fixated on her sapphire blues, reflecting the sunlight like precious gems, their pupils dilating with adrenaline and pleasure from the high-speed descent. In the hour since they met, Lorna had shattered all expectations of the Imperial society on how a woman should behave. And yet, paradoxically, Xin found himself drawn to her more than any other woman he had ever met.

  "Hello? Anyone still there?" Lorna flashed a mischievous grin as she reached for Xin's zipped chest pocket, giving the flash drive inside a playful squeeze through the fabric. "At least the flash drive made it."

  "Yeah, it's there," Xin managed to say. "You..."

  "Hmm?" Lorna cocked her head, blinking innocently.

  "No, I mean —" Xin struggled to suppress all of the questions and ideas flooding his mind. "Thank you."

  Lorna smiled serenely, her lips resembling a gentle peach blossom as she closed her eyes and whispered a soft incantation. "Corpus meum leve ut pluma."

  A luminous quantum blue light surrounded them like a cocoon as they flipped upside down, their descent slowing until their boots gracefully met the cool, smooth stone floor. As they landed, the light dissipated, leaving behind a sense of wonder and awe in Xin’s mind.

  Just then, he realized they were now in a deserted alleyway between two buildings. They were hidden from public view, which gave him some relief.

  Then, as if a switch had been flipped, it dawned on him. They needed to move. The alley wouldn't shield them from Imperial forces for long.

  "We should get to the main street," Xin suggested, still trying to process everything that had just happened. "My car's in a garage two blocks from here. We can move faster that way."

  Lorna nodded, her sapphire eyes scanning their surroundings with efficiency. "Lead the way."

  As they emerged from the alley onto Xinyi Road, Xin became acutely aware of how they must appear. His gray prison uniform marked him instantly, and beside him walked the most un-Imperial woman imaginable — tall, blonde, and radiating confidence in a way the Imperium's social programming actively discouraged.

  The morning crowd parted around them like water around stones. A businessman in a tailored suit stared openly, his coffee forgotten in his hand.

  Two schoolgirls whispered furiously to each other, their eyes wide, whether with fascination or suspicion, Xin could not tell.

  An elderly woman selling fruit from a cart made a protective gesture with her fingers as they passed.

  "Everyone's staring," Xin muttered, hunching his shoulders instinctively.

  Lorna smiled, seemingly unbothered as they navigated through the throng of pedestrians. "They're staring at you, not me."

  Xin couldn't help but laugh, the sound surprising him. How long had it been since he'd genuinely laughed? "I seriously doubt that." His eyes scanned the faces around them. "Want to know why?"

  A hover-tram passed overhead, its shadow briefly cooling them from the morning sun. Lorna tilted her head, the gesture somehow both predatory and playful. "Enlighten me."

  "In this society—" Xin lowered his voice and scanned for surveillance drones, old habits deeply ingrained, "—foreign women are rare enough to be novelties. A blonde psion with weapons? You might as well be from the Realm of Divines."

  "Nah, I'd look too short for someone from Jupiter," she chuckled.

  A patrol drone buzzed nearby, its Imperial insignia glinting in the sunlight.

  "They'll be looking for us soon," Xin warned in a low voice. "The Imperial Legion never rests—"

  Without breaking stride, Lorna slipped her arm through Xin's, pulling him closer as they ducked under a shop awning.

  "Just smile," she whispered, her breath warm against his ear. "Look like we're just another couple."

  "Couple," Xin repeated softly, feeling heat rise to his face, his imaginations running wild. "Couple."

  The drone hovered momentarily before continuing on its programmed path. Xin released the breath he'd been holding, but Lorna kept her arm linked with his. For appearance's sake, he told himself, though the weight of her arm through his felt startlingly right. Her subtle scent of lavender lingered between them, impossible to ignore at this proximity.

  They passed a public viewing screen where an Atomic News Network broadcast showed footage of what they'd left behind—the Amber Moon Spire, smoke billowing from its upper floors. The reporter's voice was calm, detached and distant, but just enough for Xin's sharp hearing to make out the details: "Attack on ZenFusion headquarters…local government suspects Terra Alliance involvement! Citizens advised to report suspicious activity... could this mean the end of the Terra-Dragon Cold War and the beginning of something more volatile?"

  "That was fast," Lorna remarked, her tone light but her eyes sharp as she assessed the crowd's reaction to the news.

  A street vendor selling steamed buns called out to them in Taiwanese, offering a special discount. "*Gín-á, beh chiáh pàn-th? b?? Nn?g-ê gō khok la!*"

  Xin was about to decline when Lorna veered toward the stall, pulling him along.

  "We should blend in," she explained, raising the silver white watch on her left wrist as her right hand held up index and middle fingers. "Two, please."

  "You can speak my people's language?" he raised an eyebrow.

  "No." Lorna shrugged as she met his gaze, her lips curving into a relaxed smile. "But some things transcend languages."

  The vendor, an older man with deep dimples, nodded as he held up a scanner to scan the blue holographic bubble that formed above the dial of Lorna's watch with obvious appreciation.

  As Xin looked, the bubble shifted to a line of blue texts: 'Deducted: $5 Atomic Dollars.'

  The vendor handed over two steaming buns wrapped in paper.

  "Beautiful wife," he commented to Xin with accented English and a knowing wink. "You very lucky man. Luckiest in all the Five Realms."

  Xin felt heat rise to his face. "She's not—"

  "Thank you," Lorna interrupted smoothly, taking a bite of her bun. "My husband is too modest."

  As they continued walking, Xin struggled to find words. The bun was warm in his hand, its familiar scent a strange counterpoint to the surreal situation.

  "Sorry about that," Lorna said, noticing his discomfort. "Cover stories make things easier."

  "No, it's fine," Xin managed, finally taking a bite of his own bun. The taste brought back memories of his childhood, before ZenFusion, before his dreams had been crushed under the pragmatism of survival. Something in him wished her words weren't just for show. "I'm just not used to…being seen."

  "What do you mean?"

  He hesitated, searching for words that wouldn't sound pathetic. "In the Imperium, especially for someone like me, the goal is to be invisible. Do your job, keep your head down, don't attract attention."

  "Too late for that," Lorna remarked with a hint of sarcasm, her eyes scanning the crowd ahead of them. "You're walking through Taipei with an Alliance agent, after helping steal classified data and escaping from the most secure building in the city."

  Put like that, it sounded absurd. Xin found himself laughing again. "Exactly."

  "It's not that bad. You'll get used to it," she grinned.

  "Lorna," he suddenly turned to look at her. "We forgot your pistol."

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "Oh, right!" Lorna quickly swallowed a bite of her steam bun and released his arm. She thrust her half-eaten bun into his hand. "Hold this for me."

  "Okay, but—" Before Xin could finish, Lorna's posture changed. Her eyes narrowed, scanning something beyond his shoulder.

  With a swift, practiced motion, she gripped his shoulder and steered him around the corner into a different secluded alley. The sudden movement pressed them close together, her trench coat brushing against him as they slipped into shadow.

  "What's wrong?" Xin whispered, awkwardly balancing both steam buns while trying to peer back toward the street.

  "Shh." Lorna placed a finger to her lips, her sapphire eyes intense. She tilted her head, listening, then seemed satisfied they weren't followed.

  Raising her right hand, palm upward, she closed her eyes briefly in concentration. When they reopened, they held a gleam that wasn't there before. Her voice, soft yet commanding, echoed in the narrow space between buildings: "Váli, h?r meinen Ruf."

  The air before her hand shimmered, then tore open into a swirling blue vortex the size of a melon. Through this impossible window, Xin glimpsed fragments of the server room they'd left behind. Lorna's white 10mm pistol drifted through the portal, suspended in midair before settling gently into her waiting palm. The vortex collapsed, leaving nothing but a faint scent of ozone.

  "Amazing," Xin muttered, unable to hide his wonder. Even in an age of quantum computing and cold fusion, such mastery of psionics remained rare—and within the Imperium, tightly controlled.

  Lorna inspected her weapon before looking up with a small smile. "My 10mm, Váli, has an Echo Sapphire installed inside that allows me to summon it when needed." She tucked the pistol into her coat. "Same goes for my Psytum Sword, Baldr. Handy when I need to appear unarmed and pass security screenings."

  "How many missions have you been on before?" Xin asked, leaning against the cool brick wall, trying to appear casual despite his racing heart. The casual way she'd performed such powerful magic, the way she moved with such certainty—it all pointed to years of experience.

  Lorna reached into her pocket and drew a dark teal magazine, reloading her 10mm with practiced ease. She caught him watching and winked. "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

  "In that case," Xin replied with a growing grin, "I'll die happy."

  Her laughter—musical, genuine—echoed softly in the alley. She slipped the reloaded pistol back into her coat and fixed him with an appraising look. "Thanks for your help back there. If you hand me the flash drive now, I'll compensate you properly. Does five thousand Atomic Dollars sound fair?"

  "That, uh," Xin swallowed, his throat suddenly dry despite the steam bun's moisture. He straightened his posture, meeting her gaze directly. "I don't need it."

  Lorna furrowed her brow. "Okay, I admit five thousand for something this valuable is lowballing. How about ten thousand?"

  "No, really," he insisted, his voice finding strength. Something had awakened in him—perhaps it had always been there, dormant beneath layers of Imperial conditioning and corporate servitude. "It's not about the money."

  "Well, I have to give you something. The Alliance always pays its debts." She crossed her arms, the gesture somehow both businesslike and playful.

  "In that case..." Xin mustered his courage. The walls of the alley seemed to close in, making this moment feel intensely private. There would never be a better time. "I'd like to become one of you. That's the payment I want."

  "Excuse me?" Lorna's eyebrow arched sharply.

  "I want to join you—the Alliance," Xin repeated, then added more softly, "And you."

  Lorna's eyes darted around the alley, suddenly alert again. "What's your reason?"

  The question hung between them. Xin could have mentioned his hatred for the Imperium's control, his desire for freedom, his technical skills. All would have been true. But standing here with her, another truth demanded to be spoken.

  "You," he said simply.

  "Hmm." Lorna stroked her chin thoughtfully, studying him with new intensity. "What's so special about me?"

  Xin took a deep breath, memories of Imperial social protocols screaming at him to stop, to retreat, to be invisible again. He ignored them all.

  "I-I find you attractive," he stammered, the words tumbling out despite himself. "You're my type."

  A tense silence followed as Lorna blinked, clearly caught off guard. The alley seemed to hold its breath with them.

  "Hey, Xin," she finally said, her tone gentler than before. "Look. That whole 'couple' thing was really just for show." She ran a hand through her blonde hair, a nervous gesture at odds with her usual confidence. Her black military boots clicked against the ground as she shifted her weight. "Besides, we kinda just met."

  "I understand," Xin nodded, clearing his throat. He handed her back her half-eaten bun with a small smile. "Timing is terrible, isn't it? Running from Imperial forces, stolen data, possible interplanetary incident... And here I am, telling you I'm drawn to you. But that's the thing about crossing paths with someone like you in a place like this — it clarifies what matters."

  And there she stood, Lorna, looking at Xin. A blush crept over her cheeks, her lips parted slightly as if words were about to escape, yet none came out from them.

  "Look, I'm not asking for anything," Xin added, his voice softer but steady. "After years in ZenFusion, you learn to bury everything real. Today I chose not to. That's all."

  "It's not that I—" Lorna began, shifting her weight from one foot to the other and tapping her boots on the floor nervously. She paused, seemingly caught between professional detachment and something else. "In my line of work, connections are complicated. They become vulnerabilities. Weapons that others can use against you."

  "I spent fifteen years designing systems that predict human behavior," Xin scratched his head sheepishly. "But I couldn't predict how meeting you would make me feel like I've been asleep my whole life. Pathetic, right?"

  "Not pathetic," Lorna answered, her blush still present. "Just... inconvenient. And possibly terrible judgment on both our parts." The hint of a smile played at the corners of her mouth.

  "Wouldn't be the first time my judgment's been questioned," Xin replied with a slight pucker of his lips. "I once crashed an entire server farm because I refused to believe a colleague's code could possibly work. To hear Dilinur say it, ZenFusion almost lost a million on that day. That was terrible judgment. This?" He gestured between them. "This feels like the first clear thought I've had in years."

  Lorna's expression softened, vulnerability briefly replacing her professional mask. "Xin, I—"

  Suddenly, from somewhere above them, a deep and menacing voice suddenly pierced through the air. "*Fanginn eigi lengur! Rís, mínir tr?lar. Rís!*"

  "Him?" Lorna's whole body shook at the sound, her confident demeanor vanishing in an instant. "That can only be him."

  "That voice. I’ve heard it once while I was locked in there, I wonder what it could be," Xin looked up, his eyes tracing the towering silhouette of the Amber Moon Spire.

  Even from their hidden vantage point on the ground, the spire’s grandeur was undeniable. Shaped like a pagoda, it pierced the sky like a silvered blade, its many tiers glowing softly in the now-cloudy morning. The structure seemed to shimmer, its metallic surfaces emanating lights.

  Rising hundreds of levels into the air, the Amber Moon Spire was a beacon of power and ambition, visible from every corner of the city — a constant reminder of the forces that governed the Imperium.

  "Xin, have you ever heard of this place being used to imprison Radi-Mons?" Lorna leaned in closer to Xin.

  "Do you think that voice belongs to one of those monsters?" Xin met her gaze.

  "Not just any monster," Lorna replied with a shake of her head as she gazed up at the imposing Amber Moon Spire. "But it couldn't possibly be him...unless..."

  "*Min tid for hefnd er kominn! Tessi reikistjarna vereur mín aftur!*"The deep voice from above sounded again.

  "Diego, link Thomas's location with my Quantum Watch," Lorna instructed, pressing her right hand to her ear while raising her left hand, revealing a silver watch on her wrist that was now glowing blue from within her sleeve.

  "You have a Quantum Watch too?" Xin asked, glancing at Lorna's delicate ivory skin and the intricate details of the watch.

  "Yeah, it’s a gift from someone," Lorna replied. "I'll let my team decide if you're SIMU material after we make it out."

  "I understand," Xin nodded, noticing the rough texture of Lorna’s ivory-toned hands compared to her otherwise flawless appearance. "What do you need me to do?"

  Lorna replied as she put her hand back in her pocket. "My team said to rally at the Songnei Starport. Can you get us there?"

  "I can. Faster if we take my car —" Xin looked around the alleyway.

  Without warning, the serene view of the Amber Moon Spire was shattered by a deafening explosion. The ground beneath Lorna and Xin trembled as a massive fireball erupted from the side of the building, sending shards of glass and twisted metal spiraling through the air. The shockwave swept through the alleyway, forcing them to brace against the cold, rough walls for support.

  Through the thick smoke and debris, something immense and nightmarish emerged from the gaping wound in the spire's side. The creature was unlike anything Xin had ever seen, its grotesque form barely fitting through the jagged opening it had created. Its head was monstrous, a mass of sinewy flesh and armored plates, crowned with rows of razor-sharp teeth that gleamed with a sickly, wet sheen. Its eyes burned a menacing red, glowing with a feral intelligence.

  As it heaved its massive body through the wreckage, the creature's lower half came into view — an amalgamation of writhing tentacles and powerful, muscled limbs that supported its five-meter frame. The tentacles, thick and pulsating with a life of their own, clung to the building's exterior, tearing at the structure as they propelled the beast downward. Its legs, disproportionately large and ending in talon-like claws, gouged deep furrows into the spire's walls as it descended with terrifying speed.

  Lorna and Xin, still hidden in the shadowed alleyway, could only watch in horror as the creature plummeted towards the city below. They couldn't see where it would land, but the sound of its impact reached them like a thunderclap — metal screeched and buckled, glass shattered, and the ground quaked with the force of the collision. Distant screams filled the air, followed by the panicked wail of alarms blaring across the cityscape.

  "The Concordat. They never honored it." Lorna muttered to herself.

  "What is that thing?" Xin whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from the destruction.

  Lorna's face had gone pale, her usual confidence replaced by something Xin hadn't seen before—not fear exactly, but a grim recognition.

  "A Radi-Mon Primarch," she said, the word barely audible. "The worst among them. It's what we thought the Imperium had contained."

  "So that's what Dilinur has imprisoned in the Spire?" Xin asked, connecting pieces of information in his mind. "Is that related to the data we extracted?"

  Lorna turned to him, her eyes sharpening with renewed focus. "The Moondust Crystal data isn't just valuable intelligence. It's the key to controlling creatures like that — or stopping them." She pressed her hand against the flash drive in his pocket. "What you've got there might be the difference between the Five Realms' survival and extinction."

  The weight of her words settled over him. Whatever attraction or connection he'd felt before was now secondary to something vastly more important. He straightened his posture, a decision crystalizing within him.

  "Then we need to get it to your people." His voice was steadier than he expected. "My car's green, parked in the underground lot two blocks east. If we cut through the maintenance corridors, we can avoid the main streets and whatever chaos that Primarch is causing."

  Lorna studied him for a moment, something new in her expression.

  Let’s finish our steam buns first." she said, a hint of her earlier warmth returning as she extended her arm. "And try not to die."

  "I won't. Not when there's finally something worth living for." Xin gave Lorna’s steam bun back as he met her gaze.

  The air filled with the sounds of approaching Imperial sirens and the distant roar of the creature. He turned and led the way through the shadows.

  "This way." he said, each step taking them closer to whatever future awaited beyond Taipei's burning skyline.