17:11, February 10, 2295

  Near Ananda's Respite, Pasar Kuno District, Nusantara, Borneo, New Indo-Pacific Union territory

  The stone steps descended into the earth, their surfaces worn glass-smooth by countless footfalls across centuries. Jabari kept one hand near his Combat Knife as they followed Amir deeper underground, the air growing thick with the mingled scents of galangal, turmeric, and aromatic wood smoke. Fusion-powered sconces cast a warm glow across walls that seemed to pulse with their own inner light – some sort of bioluminescent fungi traced delicate patterns through the ancient stonework, creating shifting shadows that danced across their path.

  "Watch your step," Amir called back, his voice echoing slightly. "The people who built this place had their own... particular ideas about architecture."

  "What ideas?" Jabari paused his descent.

  "See the motifs on the floor?" Amir turned, gesturing to where various repeating icons decorated the stone beneath their feet. Each square contained a single creature – a massive cat, a fearsome lizard, and some kind of alien-looking fish. The craftsmanship was exquisite, but to Jabari's eyes, these creatures seemed to belong to another world entirely.

  The cat prowled with muscled shoulders and distinctive stripes, but its face was flatter than any lion he'd seen, its body more compact and low to the ground. The lizard was like no monitor he'd encountered in Africa – its powerful legs suggested it could run down prey, while its heavily armored scales and massive claws hinted at predatory lineage. But it was the fish that truly caught his attention – bulky, armored like something from prehistory, with thick fins arranged more like legs.

  "I see them," was all Jabari could manage as he nodded awkwardly, unable to tear his gaze from the bizarre fish carving.

  "Step on the Komodo Dragon, and a poisoned arrow pierces your heart." Amir pointed at the lizard square, then gestured to the adjacent fish motif. "Step on the Coelacanth, and we'll make you into dinner."

  "What!?" Jabari gasped, taking a quick step backward.

  "Lovely, it's a fight, then!" Wilhelm called from behind him, but there was an odd lightness in his tone.

  "To the death!" Amir replied with a broad grin.

  "You brought us here to kill us!" Jabari's Combat Knife cleared its sheath in a fluid motion, its dark green Nanosteel blade catching the ambient light. But as he met Amir's amused gaze, realization dawned. "You were joking."

  "The markings are just decorative these days," Amir said, his smile softening. "At least they will be until I change my mind."

  "We should leave." Ume's voice cut through the moment, sharp and insistent. Her amber eyes fixed on a lotus symbol carved into a wall on their left. "The Sand Lotus cannot be trusted."

  Wilhelm turned to her, brow furrowed. "They just saved our arses from a squad of Bloodtroopers. Bit late for suspicion, eh?"

  "The Sand Lotus engages in human trafficking." Ume's voice took on an oddly mechanical cadence, her usual speech patterns replaced by something more rigid. "They manipulate governments through blackmail. They conduct illegal experiments on children. They promote promiscuity. They—"

  "Ume?" Jabari stepped closer to her, concerned by the unnaturally steady rhythm of her accusations.

  "—harvest organs from political dissidents. Poison water supplies with psychotropic compounds. Practice necromancy on unwilling subjects. They—" Ume continued, each charge flowed into the next without pause or inflection, as if she were reading from an invisible script.

  Her amber eyes remained fixed forward, not tracking any movement around her until the moment came. Eyes fluttered shut, Ume stumbled forward as Jabari sheathed his knife, just in time to catch her collapsed form.

  "That's a impressively long list," Wilhelm muttered. "Been rehearsing it on our way here?"

  "I'm surprised 'polygamy' and 'ritualistic rape' aren't mentioned this time." Amir studied Ume with newfound interest. "Perhaps the ones who made you decided those were too enticing to be believable?"

  "Is it true? You do any of those?" Jabari demanded, his arms around Ume.

  "All of those, according to the media controlled by Imperium of Dragons," Amir's smirk did not waver. "They would go any length to see those who oppose them slandered and annihilated. The same empire that executes members of our organization and harvest their organs. The one that brands us criminals for believing in coexistence with the Radi-Mons."

  He turned, gesturing for them to follow as the narrow corridor opened into a vast chamber. The air was rich with the aroma of sambal, mixing with the sweeter scents of pandan and coconut. In one corner, a chef worked at an open kitchen, his movements precise as he tended to dishes arranged over a carefully controlled induction cooktop. The other diners – a mix of local merchants, and what appeared to be Sand Lotus members in simple robes – paid their group little attention.

  "Ananda's Respite," Amir said, leading them to a private booth nestled against one of the ornate pillars. "Before the Digital Era's end, before the waters rose to claim old Jakarta, this place served as both restaurant and sanctuary. It still does, for those who know where to look."

  "Bloody impressive spot this, but I reckon you didn't save our hides at the market just to show off the local cuisine, eh?" Wilhelm leaned forward, sliding into the booth while his eyes methodically scanned their surroundings. His fingers drummed a quiet rhythm on the ancient wooden table as he tracked the movements of other diners, their quiet conversations creating a gentle murmur that seemed to fade into the shadows.

  "Curiosity." Amir settled into his seat with practiced grace, his rings catching the lamplight as he gestured to a vacant chair beside him. The name 'Fuuka' was inscribed in flowing golden script on its back. "A group of foreigners come to this city, and already have the eyes of Imperium affiliates on them. You hold something of value."

  "You alright?" Jabari steadied Ume with a gentle hand on her elbow as she swayed slightly, helping her into the seat across from Amir. Her synthetic skin felt unusually warm beneath his palm.

  "My head hurts. My feet hurts. Everything hurts." Ume pressed a delicate hand to her forehead, her small frame slumping against the table's edge. Her eyes remained tightly shut, and Jabari noticed small puffs of white steam escaping her parted lips as she panted – a distinct response no human would have.

  "Do you have medical supplies? Anything?" Jabari turned to Amir, concern etching deep lines around his eyes.

  "I might." Amir's expression sharpened with interest as a waitress emerged beside their table, her batik clothing rustling softly as she bowed. The Djinno monk straightened, addressing her in fluid local language.

  "*Apakah Anda siap memesan, Tuan Amir?*" the waitress asked, her pen poised over a traditional paper notepad.

  "*Yang biasa untuk makan malam, tambah sushi hand roll untuk Saudari Fuuka kalau dia datang nanti,*" Amir replied with easy familiarity, then glanced at Ume's distressed form. "*Dan satu gelas coolant standar untuk robot.*"

  "*Satu gelas itu? Jadi, wanita itu—*" the waitress's eyes widened as she gestured uncertainly toward Ume.

  "*Sangat mungkin begitu,*" Amir finished, meeting her startled gaze.

  "I will be back shortly." The waitress gathered herself with a deep bow before gliding away between the tables.

  Amir turned back to the group, adjusting the sleeve of his emerald robe. "I've taken the liberty of ordering some local specialties. We need only wait for a few minutes."

  "The Imperium's reach grows longer each year," Amir remarked casually, breaking apart his wooden chopsticks. "Luckily, antidotes like the Directorate exist. Even in Mumbai, we hear tales of the Kimaris Warband's valor — and ruthlessness."

  "And just how do you know we're Kimaris?" Jabari countered, watching as servers approached with steaming dishes.

  The first dish arrived, with the foreign words 'rendang sapi' scribed on the plate – tender beef slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices until dark and rich. Following it came 'sayur lodeh', vegetables swimming in a creamy coconut broth dotted with red chilies.

  "Other warbands rarely operate independently from the Directorate Space Corps, let alone straying so far from Maridian territories." Amir's rings clinked softly against his plate as he selected a piece of richly spiced beef rendang, the meat nearly falling apart from hours of slow cooking.

  "Right then, what about you Sand Lotus lot? Proper globe-trotters across the Five Realms, or just stirring up a spot of bother here on Earth?" Wilhelm dipped his silver spoon into a bowl of sayur lodeh, the coconut-milk broth releasing an aromatic cloud as he sampled the tender cabbage.

  "I'd tell you, but Fuuka would have my hide if she catches me leaking sensitive information." Amir's smile remained enigmatic as he deftly passed some rice to his mouth with practiced chopstick movements.

  Another waiter approached with a steaming pot labeled 'soto ayam', the traditional Indonesian chicken soup's turmeric-spiced broth filling the air with its golden fragrance. Small bowls of pristine white rice were set before each person, each grain distinct and gleaming like pearls. There was also a delicate crystal glass filled with an iridescent yellow liquid.

  "So you what, spy on the other factions?" Jabari's spoon, laden with a morsel of tender beef, hung suspended between plate and mouth.

  "We merely maintain certain interests," Amir ladled the aromatic soup into his bowl with fluid grace. "Much like your Chairman Kofi does with his investments in solar-powered technologies across the Five Realms."

  Jabari's shoulders tensed visibly. "How do you know about—"

  "The same way we knew to find you today." Amir's eyes took on a gleam as he lifted the odd crystal glass. He extended it toward Ume, the yellow liquid inside swirling invitingly. "This is for her."

  "What's in it?" Jabari's eyes narrowed, his half-eaten spoonful forgotten.

  "It's just what she needs at this moment," Amir's response remained cryptic as the liquid caught the lamplight.

  "Then I'll taste it first. Make sure it's not poisoned." Jabari reached for the glass, his spoon put down, clanking against the porcelain plate.

  "That would not be wise." Amir raised one ring-adorned hand in warning, his expression suddenly grave. "It's not meant for human consumption."

  Hesitant, Jabari turned to Ume. Her breathing had grown more labored, each short pant releasing increasingly dense clouds of white vapor. Even through his gloved hand resting on her shoulder, he could feel alarming heat radiating from her synthetic skin, the fever she now suffered making her less like an android and more like a fusion battery approaching critical levels.

  "Steady now," Wilhelm murmured, setting his utensils aside. He shifted closer, one arm wrapping around Ume's shoulders to keep her upright in her chair. Her kimono-clad body trembled beneath his grip.

  Jabari's hand shook slightly as he brought the glass to Ume's lips. Her head lolled back, eyes flickering behind closed lids. "Come on, Ume," he whispered, tilting the glass. The yellow liquid initially spilled down her chin, but Wilhelm gently adjusted her head angle, and finally, she began to swallow.

  The change was immediate and dramatic. Ume's eyes snapped open, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. Her amber irises blazed with intricate patterns of yellow light, like circuit boards coming alive. Dense white steam erupted from her mouth in a pressurized burst, more streams venting from her ears with a high-pitched whistle.

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  The nearest diners jerked away from their meals, conversations dying mid-sentence. A merchant in traditional batik nearly upset his soup as he backed his chair away. A couple at a corner table exchanged knowing glances, their hands moving in subtle gestures to direct the scalding steam away from other patrons. The patrons next table hurriedly requested their bill, while an elderly woman simply continued eating her rendang, apparently unperturbed by the mechanical crisis unfolding nearby.

  "Ekwensu!" Jabari tightened his grip on her shoulders but had to turn away, the scalding steam making his eyes water. The acrid smell of heated metal and ozone filled the air around them.

  Wilhelm swiftly pulled a quantum scanner from his jacket, its holographic display flickering to life. "Her core temperature's stabilizing." He frowned at the stream of data. "What a way to calm a fever, eh?"

  "With all the schematic they've stolen from the Alliance, the Imperium is poised to make the most powerful androids of our generation," Amir leaned forward, his rings catching the light as he made a subtle gesture. The steam around Ume began to dissipate unnaturally quickly, drawn away by some unseen force. "Instead, they hardcode political garbage into her consciousness, pushing her processing units into infinite loops. Petty and uninspired."

  Gradually, Ume's trembling subsided, her synthetic muscles relaxing one by one. Her eyes faded to their normal amber hue as she straightened in her chair, the last wisps of steam curling around her face like a fading halo. "Thank you," she whispered, reaching up with an unsteady hand to wipe beads of coolant-tinged sweat from her forehead.

  "Alright." Jabari grabbed his spoon, shoveling generous portions of rendang and rice into his mouth. The rich coconut curry and tender beef helped ground him after the intensity of the moment, though he couldn't fully appreciate the complex spices through his lingering anxiety. "Will you explain why the Sand Lotus is interested in us?"

  "All in time." Amir's fingers traced elaborate patterns on the ancient wooden table. "Some explanations must wait for Fuuka's arrival."

  "On that note," Wilhelm tilted his head, his hand hadn't strayed far from his utensil. He picked up his spoon with exaggerated care. "I hope she hasn't suddenly decided that marrying the Bloodtrooper is the brightest idea on this planet."

  "Fuuka has her own way of doing things." Amir's expression grew distant. "But there are forces at work here, yes? Radi-Mons conquering planets, Alliance and Imperium at each other's throats, or certain ancient artifacts' influence reaching far—"

  "Ancient artifacts." Ume's voice cut through like a broken recording. "Artifact..."

  "What?" Jabari broke off as Ume suddenly jerked in her seat, her amber eyes flickering rapidly.

  "Interference patterns exceeding normal parameters," She announced in a monotone that made Jabari's skin crawl. "World, History, Omniscience — other shards scattered. Dargoth sleeps beneath Io's crust. The Hivemind speaks! Nirbohs know Harald's betrayal. Eclipse magic flows through jade corridors —"

  The rest of her sentence dissolved into static as her head snapped back, body going rigid. Before Jabari could react, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

  "My apologies for keeping you waiting," the voice carried the gentle warmth of spring rain, all traces of her earlier theatrical accent gone. "Seems I've arrived at a rather crucial moment."

  Fuuka stood at the edge of their booth, still wearing her elegant kimono but now carrying herself with a completely different energy. Her refined Imperial accent had vanished, replaced by broader tones that hinted she was just as fluent in English as anyone born in Directorate or Alliance lands.

  "If I may," she gestured gracefully toward the space beside Ume, her kimono sleeve falling back to reveal a delicate wrist adorned with jade bangles, nudging Jabari's shoulder with her hip. "Your android needs immediate attention."

  Blushing, Jabari stood up and made room for Fuuka. "You can save her?"

  "I will do what I can," Fuuka's melodic voice carried genuine concern as she studied Ume's condition. Her refined demeanor remained unshaken despite the situation.

  "Manasi pravi?āmi. Mā bhai?ī?. J?ānāya āgato'smi, na cauryāya." Fuuka's palm came to rest on Ume's forehead, her incantation taking on the resonant quality of flowing water.

  As the last syllable left her lips, Fuuka closed her eyes with serene focus. A wave of deep green light, reminiscent of jade caught in morning sunlight, emanated from her palms and enveloped Ume's form. The energy pulsed with gentle rhythm, more felt than seen, like the echo of a distant heartbeat.

  The jade-colored light continued to pulse around Ume's form, each wave washing away layers of tension from her synthetic frame as her eyes opened. "Where...who...?"

  "It's okay. You're safe now," Fuuka soothed. "Your name?"

  "My designation...U6-M9," Ume managed. Her irregular breathing gradually steadied, the previous labored pants softening into a gentle rhythm. "But I prefer Ume...if that's alright."

  "It is. You deserve identity," Fuuka replied, her hands still steady against Ume's temples. The green energy flickered once more before fading entirely.

  "Thank you." The circuit-like patterns in Ume's amber eyes dimmed, then stabilized into their usual warm glow.

  "The immediate danger has passed," Fuuka murmured, her fingers tracing an intricate pattern on Ume's head. "Though I sense something within her. Something that shouldn't be there."

  "There's pulsing in my head. What is that?" Ume's face was contorted with confusion.

  "Your positronic brain..." Fuuka breathed, more to herself than the others. Her eyes widened slightly, the only break in her composed demeanor. "It contains quantum-compressed data. Someone injected it, efficient but barely compatible."

  Jabari tensed, his hand instinctively moving toward his Combat Knife. Across the table, he noticed Wilhelm's subtle shift in posture.

  "The Moondust Crystal's location, compressed and housed within a Da-Ji android. Brilliant but cruel." Fuuka's voice was barely above a whisper as she turned to Amir. "No wonder the Imperium wants her back so desperately."

  The air in the underground restaurant seemed to thicken. Several robed figures at nearby tables had ceased their conversations, their attention now fixed on Ume with intensity.

  More figures emerged from the shadows between pillars. Their white and copper-toned armor gleamed in the restaurant's dim light, curved blades held at ready angles. Long hair, both dark and fair, framed faces set with predatory focus, entering the booth and assuming positions around Jabari's table in a steadily tightening circle.

  "You should not be entrusted with such data," Fuuka's serene demeanor remained unchanged even as her warriors closed in.

  "Why not?" Jabari's combat training kicked in as he assessed their situation. At least eight hostiles, all equipped with identical curved blades and lightweight armor that favored mobility over heavy protection. Their coordinated movement spoke of extensive training – these were no common mercenaries.

  Wilhelm's hand had already found his holstered Plasma Handgun. "Bit crowded in here suddenly, wouldn't you say?"

  "Many of our Krypts are trained in the deserts on Venus." Fuuka's gestured towards a blade-wielding warrior next to her. "You two are handsome enough. I'd hate to have you slain."

  "Bad form to draw weapons at dinner," Wilhelm's tone remained light even as he sized up their opponents. "Especially when we haven't finished the tasty beef."

  "People at the Reserve Officer School call the Sand Lotus 'religious terrorist scum'. Now I see why." Jabari stood up defiantly, eyeing Fuuka as his muscles tensed. "Do your worst."

  The first Krypt struck without warning, curved blade whistling through the air where Jabari's head had been a moment before. He rolled away from the table, Combat Knife clearing its sheath in a fluid motion that caught the restaurant's dim light. About six inches long, the blade's dark green Nanosteel seemed to drink in the shadows.

  "Wilhelm, protect Ume!" Jabari called out, parrying another strike. The curved blade scraped against his knife with an unsettling screech. These warriors moved with inhuman grace, their white robe armor barely making a sound as they pressed their attack.

  Two more opponents closed in. Jabari ducked under a sweeping blade, using his lower center of gravity to drive his knife up toward an attacker's exposed armpit. The warrior twisted away impossibly fast, but Jabari's strike still drew first blood, leaving a thin red line across pristine white armor.

  "Not bad for a Directorate dog!" one of the warriors muttered, voice muffled behind their mask.

  Wilhelm had pushed Ume behind him, his Plasma Handgun tracking two targets at once. "Right then, why we're having this dance at all?"

  "The Moondust Crystal would enable the subjugation of Radi-Mons — at a cost." Fuuka's voice cut through the tension, still eerily calm, her palms now glowing with aureate energies. "You Earth-bound warmongers don't deserve that power."

  Jabari spun away from another attack, his knife describing deadly arcs that kept three opponents at bay. But for each warrior he forced back, two more seemed to materialize from the shadows. Their curved blades formed an ever-tightening web of steel.

  "We saved Ume from a memory wipe," Jabari grunted, blocking a strike that would have opened his throat. His arms trembled with the effort. "She's one of us, and we'll protect her!"

  "You forcefully injected forbidden data into her consciousness." Fuuka's eyes narrowed. "Your protection is no excuse for such pain inflicted."

  "What? We didn't—" Jabari's protest was cut short by a blade that nearly took his ear off. He was being pushed back, step by step, away from Wilhelm and Ume.

  The restaurant's other patrons had vanished, leaving only empty tables and the lingering aroma of abandoned meals. Somewhere in the shadows, Amir watched with calculating eyes.

  "Your bravery is admirable — albeit misplaced." Amir's rings flashed as he rose from his seat, the air around him shimmering with distortions. "The Crystal has driven empires mad with power. What makes you think your Directorate is different?"

  "Like I care about your opinion!" Jabari shot back as his strike forced a Krypt backward, stumbling against a desk.

  "K?ati Vardhana!" Amir chanted, his rings glinting as he made gestures Jabari couldn't interpret.

  A wave of verdant energy slammed into Jabari, sending him staggering backward into a pillar. His Combat Knife sparked against stone as he caught himself, lungs burning from the impact, the weapon suddenly feeling heavier. The Krypts moved, their curved blades herding him further from his companions, cornering him.

  "That all you've got?" Jabari spat, blood trickling from a shallow cut above his eye. He feinted left, then rolled right, his knife finding a gap in one warrior's defense. The blade bit deep into armor but met something unnaturally hard beneath.

  Wilhelm's Plasma Handgun discharged with a sharp crack, the energy bolt dissipating harmlessly against one of Amir's shimmering barriers. "Lovely fight and all, but perhaps we could—"

  The rest of his sentence was drowned out by an explosion that rocked the chamber. Dust and debris rained down as the restaurant's entrance erupted inward. Through the settling chaos strode a woman in a black-gold uniform, flanked by crimson-armored Bloodtroopers with Thermal Battleaxes at ready.

  "Your old makeup was better, Fuuka." Marisol's cultured voice carried easily across the destruction, "I should've guessed you Sand Lotus fanatics would be involved."

  "Marisol." Fuuka turned to face the new threat, her smile dripping with sarcasm. "I see you brought your favorite pet. Did Dilinur need much convincing to let him off his leash?"

  "Cheng arrived by a teleporter. The local authorities were wise enough to stay out of our way." Marisol's smile did not waver as she strode forward.

  Behind them, Ume let out a small gasp as a new figure emerged from the dust cloud. The man who stepped through the ruined doorway commanded attention through sheer presence alone. His crimson armor, more ornate than the Bloodtroopers', bore intricate dragon motifs that seemed to writhe in the dim light. But it was his face that struck Jabari — carved from pure arrogance, with sharp cheekbones and eyes that held determination equal to his.

  "U6-M9. Prefect Altai has demanded your retrieval." The officer's gaze fixed on Ume with predatory focus, and Jabari felt his grip tighten instinctively on his knife.

  The restaurant erupted into violence. Krypts and Bloodtroopers clashed in a symphony of curved blades against Thermal Axes.

  Marisol drew a weapon that seemed out of place in the Atomic Era - an ornate Lever-Action Rifle with intricate silver and brass fittings. Its polished wooden stock bore delicate floral engravings, while the barrel gleamed with damascus-steel patterns that spoke of master craftsmanship.

  As she took aim at Fuuka, Jabari muttered in disbelief. "That medieval gun? In this century?"

  "Sólskj?ldr V?rn!" Fuuka chanted, deflecting the first shot with a barrier of golden light. But she had to dive aside as the next round punched through the stone pillar behind her, the high-caliber bullet leaving a hole large enough to fit a fist.

  "Wilhelm, get Ume out of here!" Jabari shouted, fighting his way back through the chaos. A Bloodtrooper's axe came down in a burning arc, forcing him to roll away. The superheated blade left a glowing trail in the air where his head had been.

  "Bit occupied at the moment!" Wilhelm fired his Plasma Handgun in controlled bursts, keeping two Krypts at bay. But Cheng Wei advanced steadily through the firefight, shrugging off energy bolts like rain.

  Ume backed away, her amber eyes wide with terror. "Please, I don't want to go back—"

  "Return to your rightful place, U6-M9!" Cheng's commanding voice thundered over the din of battle. A Krypt rushed him with a curved blade, only for Cheng to catch it with his gauntleted hand.

  "Your defiance ends, terrorist!" The steel shattered in his grip as he cast the broken weapon aside.

  Jabari lunged forward, Combat Knife aimed at what seemed like an opening. But the Seneschal's martial prowess was beyond anything he'd faced. Cheng caught his wrist mid-strike, and pain exploded through Jabari's arm as titanium-reinforced fingers clamped down.

  "Your spirit burns bright, Directorate warrior!" Cheng's face lit with fierce appreciation even as his grip tightened, forcing Jabari to drop the knife. "But the Imperium's justice cannot be denied!"

  His other hand shot out, seizing Jabari's chest. The throw sent him flying across the restaurant. He crashed through a table, wood splintering beneath him. His vision blurred as he tried to stand, only to see a Bloodtrooper's Thermal Battleaxe descending.

  "No!" Ume's scream pierced the chaos.

  Jabari rolled desperately, but not fast enough. White-hot agony lanced through his side as the axe caught him, burning through fabric and flesh. The world spun, darkness creeping at the edges of his vision.

  Through the haze of pain, he saw Marisol grab Ume's arm, pulling her toward the exit. Wilhelm tried to intervene but took a brutal strike from Cheng that sent him sprawling.

  "Form ranks!" Cheng bellowed. The Bloodtroopers fell in around their leaders, axes raised high as they retreated with their prize.

  "Ume..." Jabari reached out weakly, his body refusing to move.

  In that moment, Fuuka knelt beside him, her hands glowing with healing energy as she chanted, her voice seeming to come from far away. "Surak?ita? Asi."

  “You…” Jabari’s eyes widened in surprise as his wounds closed, his vigor returning. “...but why?”

  "Plans change." she whispered, placing a hand on his chest plate. "Don't give up."