Enlightened Self-Interest
Seven Sins/a/zvHFzO
Greed MC:
Earth Bet US
Wants to survive, create a Utopia, unify the world's and gain more resources.
Companion: Lady Astoria 2,000,000/560,000
Boon: Interest Free
Perk: Extra Boon
Lust:
Earth?
Refuses to go past Desire level acts limiting itself to consent and hardcore scat. Wants friends.
Companion: N/A
Boon: Fluidity 2
Perk: Bone knife to let it mature even with its actions limited.
Gluttony:
Earth Aleph
Functionally an Endbringer, Earth Aleph's main enemy.
Companion: Zaeroth
Boon: N/A
Perk: Concentrated Sin
Sloth:
Earth?
Wants to love Lillian, searching for options.
Companion: Lillian
Boon: N/A
Perk: Silk Blanket
Wrath:
Earth He
Wrath needs Pride to maintain functioning social constructs. Works for Pride as a destroyer of enemies.
Companion: Clementine
Boon: N/A
Perk: Eye of Fire
Envy:
Earth Gimmel
Works for Pride as left hand. Uses it to provide self worth.
Companion: N/A
Boon: Invidia, generally goes with Dominion
Perk: Demonic Blessing, ring switched as needed.
Pride:
Earth Zayin
Wishes to rule all of reality, actively models himself after The Emprah. Has read Worm just like the MC.
Companion:N/A
Boon: N/A
Perk: Pentagramm
Seven Heavenly VirtuesChastity:
Defeat Nilbog, find peace.
Character: Panacea, Amy Dalon, Irony?
Skills: Healing aura, touch, flight and beam.
Temperance:
Friendship with Simurgh, find Love.
Character: Tattletale
Skills: Probability vision, Clairvoyance, Telekinesis.
Charity:
Character: ?
Skills: Healing, unburden, Sacrifice
Diligence:
Character: Armsmaster
Skills: never tire, stockpile, Ki, super
Patience:
Character: Canary
Skills: Calm, artifice, Time
Kindness:
Character: Dragon, Tes Teresa Richter
Skills: Aura sense, Gift, Wish
Humility:
Character: Yeter Tilki?
Skills: Assurance, Empower, Deify
Chapter 11.1
Waking up in an alleyway with a Demonic contract in my pocket was unexpected. Not unappreciated though.
Ha! Fuck you society I did amount to something. Sure, Demonic contracts tended to go wrong in the stories. But... Well not but anything actually. They went bad period.
I'm not letting that getting to me though.
Instead I did something useful, I read the actual fucking contract.
See CYOA
OK, I could work with those choices. First I opened Avaritia, a blink combination doing the trick, different screens blooming into being before my eyes.
There was a lot to see, different graphs representing the economy's I could access from here.
I chuckled, then laughed and then cackled till my body bent and my lungs burned for air.
I was on Earth Bet, fuck. When was this? 2006.
Well that wasn't to bad. Flickering through different Graphs I looked for important Events.
Grimacing I had my fears confirmed. The only positive graphs for Newfoundland involved rebuilding.
So that meant I had some clear priorities. There was no way the Dragon Slayers would be alive by the end of the Year.
Any other goals for me to work towards right now? Creating an economic base was a must of course, physical as well. Surviving was required for all of that. Then I needed to deal with Scion and the Sins. Truthfully Scion wasn't a particularly pressing threat. So long as Scion didn't decide to kill everyone within the next week getting the world on track for his defeat wasn't all that hard.
The Sins and the implications of Divine, or demonic in this case, involvement were all unknown dangers. That made dealing with them much more dangerous. For all I knew Hunger was already well on his way to eating the planet. Damn... had they even started on Bet with me? There were different worlds after all.
I gripped at my hair, the frustration getting to me.
"Lady Astoria?" I queried the empty alleyway.
"Yes, sir?" answered a calm female voice from my left.
I spasmed in shock. My heart skipped a beat.
I turned and looked her over.
Honestly she looked and sounded like I always imagined Contessa. Calm, deliberate and professional. She wore similar clothes too. The High-quality suit really working for her. Only her red eyes looked unnatural, though her light brown hair served to make it less obvious. The brown of her hair making her eyes seem a shade of brown unless seen in direct light.
"I'm going to explain how I assume our relationship will work out. I expect you to then explain how you believe it should work and answer my questions were you can. If necessary I will pay you to be honest."
"I understand, I'll be taking the first 70k by the way." she replied.
"Greedy you are." I joked lamely. " Here goes, If I have a specific task I need you to do then I will tell you so. You will then repeat the task and the associated cost (including time etc.). This is the default mode. If I need that to change I will tell you. If I have a list of tasks then you will tally the cost for all of it and recount the list and it's cost.
I don't know what exactly you're getting out of our deal but in principal I am willing to reward exceptional service. As such if there are specific things you want I am not averse to you asking me for them.
Currently I don't know what you need to survive outside of the money for a task. Are you staying with me? Going to hell? I'd like to know if possible.
Finally I need you to give a vague description of what does and does not constitute a task. Be aware that I am willing to abuse your definition of a task if you abuse my good will."
Astoria stilled after my first three sentences.
"I'll answer your questions first. I can stay with you. Though whether I do depends on how much money I make working for you. I make around 100k a day in hell.
I need money to repay a debt I owe to Greed, currently I am barely managing to pay the miniscule interest on it. For reference my debt is measured in sets of infinities.
A task is fundamentally any goal you can give me. This is very abusable of course and I would be thankful if you kept the abuse to a minimum.
Out of our relationship I don't expect anything specific. I need money badly enough that I am willing to do anything for it. As such our relationship can be anything so long as I get what I need.
If you pay what I need and don't abuse me then I will do my utmost for you. There is no exception.
To survive I need the normal human essentials, though I don't age. But that's already factored into the 100k a day. If I can stay at your home then I can save a little bit of money."
I sighed, uncomfortable with the direct mention of her willingness to do anything for money. It sounded bad enough, but if you switched money with crack the really uncomfortable nature of her statements came out.
I was not a caring person by nature thought uncomfortable was the limit to my empathy.
"I think we can work with these needs.
Are you ready for me to give you your first tasks?" I ask her.
"Yes, I am always ready to work for you."
"I need legal documentation, the ability to legally interact with the Global economy, a home, communication methods like computers or phones and any subsidiaries required for all that. You can stay in the home with me if you want."
Astoria takes three minutes muttering under her breath before she answers.
"That's four tasks, 280k dollars, and to be safe I would set aside a million total to make it all happen within the next three days. It shouldn't take that long or much to make it all happen, I'm expecting two days for it at the moment and in the range of 750k dollars total. But it could get tricky. Particularly your documentation and the multiple different companies I need to set up to exploit legal loopholes for true legal global access will fluctuate depending on parahuman involvement.
If the CUI or Watchdog as well as each nation's separate organizations push back hard it might take a day longer."
"If you need more resources send me a message. I'd prefer we take extra time and money to do it right."
"Yes Sir. Should I go now?"
"Yes, thank you and be careful."
Lady Astoria responds with her first reaction, a small smile.
"You as well Sir."
Then she briskly walks out of the alley, leaving me behind.
I check my pockets for anything useful. None of my electronics had followed. Only my wallet remained. Inside it had sixty dollars, two condoms and my cleaning cloth for my glasses. All my cards and other accessories had disappeared leaving me with only what I packed for emergencies.
A minute after Astoria I too walk from the alley. Ready to find out where in the world I had landed.
1.2
I had landed on earth Bet, America Los Angeles. It was September 30th 2006. Around three months after the destruction of Newfoundland and after Bonesaw was integrated into the slaughterhouse nine.
There would be another Endbringer attack within the next few months, no idea where though. At the moment I sat in a Library using a computer to inform myself on the world.
Years of reading and mild paranoia had me use a circuitous route to find information.
First I searched for farming techniques in the American south west. From there I strolled through the local Wikipedia equivalent, jumping through the links on each page, till I reached the Global page. That had fifteen tabs open on the monitor, a normal use of Wikipedia as far as I was concerned. Far less suspicious than looking up essential information from the start. Not that it was likely anyone would search for me.
After gaining a quick overview of the world I turned to the local area. The Protectorate in the city was lead by Alexandria which meant they would be very competent. Though Alexandria herself probably has too much work to get involved very often, being the Chief Director and also working for Cauldron. The other Heroes were dangerous enough on their own but not of particular importance at the moment. My economic specialties wouldn't clash with them directly.
The Villains would be problems though. Simply me pushing around large sums of money would draw their attention.
The Elite were the largest and most organized Villain group in America making them fairly dangerous by sheer quantity and quality.
The next problem was The August Prince. His powers were described as ridiculously OP though they hadn't been shown to actually work as described. Protecting myself from him would be difficult with his power stopping me from actively hurting him in any way.
Who else lived here? The rest of Princes group, though they weren't much of a problem.
Those was the players I knew from the story. Any other Villains or rogues would be working for the Elite by hook or by Crook.
Four hours after entering the Library, five after sending off Astoria she bustled in through the library doors. Whispering quietly on a cellphone she dropped off a black backpack next to me. Nodding my way before she turned and left again.
I rummaged through the backpack pulling out a new phone already set up for me, containing her number and a few other contacts I didn't know. I put the phone in my pocket and pulled a jangling keychain from the bag. Each of the keys had a slim sticky note on it. They read things like front door key, bathroom key etc.
The final things in the bag were a map and a folder of paperwork for my new house.
Good, she worked very fast. I'd have to give her a small bonus to reward the extra effort.
My research binge was suited for the day and so I asked the receptionist at the front to call a cab for me. She smiled at me and did so. We talked about small things while I waited, discussing the weather and such.
When the cab arrived I waved a goodbye and left her five dollars in thanks.
I checked with the cabby if 55 Dollars would get me where I needed to go. It would and so I got in and let him drive me.
Forty dollars on the meter later and we drove up to a gated community. I got out and paid the cabby. Walking to the gate guard I showed the one standing the outside gate house my papers. Both guards were heavily armored and armed. Wearing thick Keller vest, arm, leg and shoulders. As well as carrying heavy weapons.
She checked them for validity, calling in for verification, and then let me through a foot thick steel door next to the massive steel gate for vehicles.
A male guard, one of the five behind the three foot thick and four meter high concrete wall called for a person to escort me to my home.
While we waited for their arrival I made conversation with the guards.
"So how useful are the walls?" I asked one of them.
"Depends on what's happening, sir. It's main purpose is to deter normal thieves, create a feeling of safety and serve as a minor immediate resistance to direct attack. It does all of that well. About a year ago a splinter from the Teeth tried to force their way in. They failed and most of them died in the attempt. Though there were no capes involved.
Against capes and well trained groups the wall serves as a deterrent by being a hassle to get past. It won't stop anyone who wants through badly enough but it means that it's generally easier to try something else where. It does that OK seeing as no one's tried anything on that scale yet."
"Thanks for being honest." I replied. "That the guy coming over there?" My wave to the right did in fact point at the coming guide.
Riding a golf cart Joe, the guide, then drove me through the neighborhood. Showing me the major attractions, a pool, a social club and all the amenities of the barely upper class.
After about an hour of the tour I had him bring me to my new home. A fairly large two story house with both front and back garden served that purpose. Electricity, water and gas were already switched on.
I said goodbye to Joe and went inside, looking through the large and airy rooms. Modern appliances mingled with antique looking furniture. The place was nicely put together and I made another mental note to reward Astoria for her work.
There were no computers in the building Astoria hadn't gotten to that yet.
So I took a bath. Entering a large bathroom that connected to the master bedroom on one side and another, slightly smaller, bedroom on the other.
I let the warm waters of the bath relax me. Allowing stress and worry to work themselves out. I cried a little, I laughed and shivered. Until that was worked through. It was late evening when I left the bath, sunset painting the house in Orange.
I went straight to bed restlessly turning in my new surroundings.
1.3
I woke up at 10 am the next morning to Lady Astoria shaking my shoulders as she whispered on her phone. Her eyes had dark rings under them, I assumed from lack of sleep.
As she left she pointed at my bedside table, on it she had left a piece of paper with a note on it.
"Within the next two hours computers and appliances will be brought here by a delivery service. They shouldn't need to come to your room but I felt you should know. I'll be finishing up your tasks by around 11 pm this evening. Unless you really need me please let sleep for 6 hours."
Instead of getting up I went back to sleep. Letting the weariness of yesterday and restlessness of last night pull me back into morpheus arms.
Around two, well past the movers bringing the appliances I finally forced myself from the bed. I showered and cleaned myself as best I could, not having toothbrushes and the like.
Then I covered myself with a thin blanket. I felt uncomfortable walking through the house naked or dressed in the old clothes of yesterday so long as Astoria was there. At least this way I wouldn't flash her on accident.
I left my room and checked where our new appliances were stored. In the entrance I found them stacked on each other.
A computer (in parts), monitor, peripherals and networking appliances like routers Avenue a few USB drives.
I did know how to set up all that stuff, having built my own computer and in house network.
Four hours later the computer was set up on the second floor. Interestingly the operating system seemed to be a Linux derivative. Not particularly important but it was interesting to note that either Astoria preferred Linux or earth Bet had a different mindset when it came to operating systems.
Two hours later the network was set up and configured, the ISP switching us on half an hour after I started setting up.
The set up while high-quality in its parts was also very simple and unsafe. I doubted that I could create a hack proof set up here. Hell a hacker proof setup had been basically impossible even without tinker-tech. But there were definitely things I would need to modify before I felt "safe" with this network.
Deciding to do something about that, the next seven hours were filled with the sound of keypresses as I informed myself on the state of information security in this world. It was something of an anachronism. The difference between civilian and government was massive. And even the best government encryption was as nothing to a Tinker or Thinker.
Hours of searching later and I had access to pen-test operating systems, VMware, VPN's and more.
Thank Astoria our download speeds were comparatively high for this world. 50mb down and 10 up were definitely on the high end, what with the failing infrastructure of civilization. Otherwise this would have taken hours more, even then I used the time in between downloads to get drinks and use the bathroom.
Close to the end I heard Astoria enter the other bedroom connected to the bathroom as she went to bed.
Past 10 pm I started to fill up USB drives with my new software. Making sure I had the essentials available even on a different PC. I had never actually needed them before but I imagined that if I ever did then it would be after gaining demonic powers.
After twelve I began to feel tired and hunger truly made itself known. Tomorrow I would need to go shopping, or send Astoria maybe?
Using the last two hours I searched through and familiarized myself with Avaritia. Sometime tomorrow I would be able to interact with the Global economy and I wanted to be ready.
When the sky began to lighten I yawned and went back to bed.
1.4
I woke at 11 am the next day and got up immediately.
After cleaning up and "dressing" I went downstairs.
Walking into the kitchen I saw Astoria.
She froze guiltily with a massive two foot sandwich in her hand. It was layered with thick slices of meat, cheese and vegetables. Her two hand only barely held the edges closed and it sagged between them. Her mouth was opened as far as it could go, it looked rather painful.
"Um... Good morning?" I greeted, uncertain of how to react.
Instead of answering she winked and began to shove the sandwich down her throat. The front of her throat bulged but a half inch down that stopped. The sandwich seeming to disappear.
I shuddered but couldn't stop watching. How the fuck did that work, was there a dimensional rip in there? Why would she need that? Most importantly though, did she have more food?
I let her finish, being careful to ignore the groans and shudders she let out.
"Right, where'd you store the food?"
Astoria looked at me disappointed. "The fridge sir."
As I went about making myself a sandwich she looked me over and asked. "Anything else you want to know, sir? Maybe you have a few tasks for me to do while you... Satisfy your curiosity?"
Before I finished my three normal sized sandwiches I answered, my tone flat and factual. "I'm not going to pay 70k just get laid Astoria. Your pretty hot but not that hot.
I do have work for you to do once you finish the previous tasks. How's that going by the way?"
Astoria's answering smile showed her blinding white teeth. I was surprised her meal had left no residue. "It's all finished. I printed out the documents you'll need to read if you want to use it all. Cost about 740k to set it up. You're new names Tom Riddle by the way."
I snorted. "Really? You know you stole that right."
"Not hardly, he sold me his name in return for an hour of piece from hell's torture."
"Woh woh woh. How many different dimensions does hell have access to?"
"Anyone that has a hell of its own. But that's way out of your league at the moment so don't bother trying to run off. Only heaven can decide who gets to travel where and what powers are allowed. Unless you're massively powerful there's no way around that."
"Damn, that's a goal to work towards though. Since you finished the tasks I've got a few more.
Tell me what they'll cost. First I want a group of people dead.
They call themselves the Dragon slayers. Two men and one woman. The most important target is a man who calls himself Saint, he has a cross tattooed on his face. I can't remember his real name though. The other man is probably Russian, his first name starts with Dostya I think. I don't remember what the woman is called. The group has access to three suits of power armor they stole from the Tinker called Dragon.
They can be dangerous. The second task has to do with them to. They found a number of different objects and software from a dead tinker called Andrew Richter. He specialized in some form of coding. AI or maybe viruses, I'm not sure exactly. I want whatever they found. With a focus on the Black box for the AI he created and the program Saints calls Ascalon. If you can just take all their stuff. It's important that you get me Ascalon and the Black box. I'd rather have those than any other task you'll get today. This task takes priority.
Third get me maid. Someone to cook, clean and just generally make sure the house is taken care of. I'd prefer she not be ugly as fuck, but competence is more important."
As Astoria thought through her new tasks, using her phone to do preliminary research, I bit into my sandwich. Aaah that hit the spot. I was so hungry that this had me swooning. During my second sandwich I got myself a carton of milk. Finally being able to drink the beverage of the gods I felt happy. Yes, the situation was strange and worrying. But so long as I could live moments like this I had a reason to persevere.
Interrupting my bliss Astoria began talking."So here's my Breakdown.
It should take me a few minutes to an hour to get a maid for the house. Are you planning on sleeping with her? Should she be live in? Anything special?"
"No, not really. As I said she just needs to keep the house clean and make sure there's food available. Basically run the household while I do my thing. Live in would be useful but not required. She will be working through the day though. If needed get two to cover for off hours/days. I trust you'll choose well." I answered.
"Right, I'll get two. That way you can have them switch off when they need rest. It should cost around 8k a month. Be aware that's pretty expensive, but you're getting your money's worth there. That sounds OK?" she asked, while tapping on her phone.
"Yep should be fine."
"Good. After that I'll look into the Dragon Slayers. Their tasks could take anywhere from two days to a week. I'll count those as three tasks, finding and researching them, stealing their stuff and killing them. That totals to 280k for the tasks and I might need 2k for tools. If I need to buy tools I'll store them in your Vault in the Bank of Greed. Anything else you need?"
"Umm, yeah. Move 8 million from the Bank of Greed into my primary bank account here. That should be it. Send me a text if you need something."
"No problem, you write me if you need anything. Anything." Astoria stressed the last word and winked naughtily. Then she walked out of the room, getting to work.
Unlike her I made myself another three sandwiches. Then went upstairs to my workroom taking my snacks with me.
The three large stacks of paperwork placed on my desk wiped any happiness from my mind. I resigned myself to the next four hours of work.
1.5
"Urrrgggh." I groaned while loud *pops* resounded from my back. Stretching after leaning over the paperwork helped ease my boredom.
It was worth it though. I knew all the work Astoria had managed in the last two days. I had a small company in every country in the world, each interlinked by byzantine laws and loopholes to let me use them as separate legal entities but also subordinate to the umbrella corporation. That companies was called Greed Incorporated. Seriously, Astoria didn't seem to care about naming.
To set all this up I had a firm of Lawyers on retainer. Each with a number and small dossier in my folders.
My email account, Mephistopheles ,was already filling up with reports and requests.
There were a few more things set up but they were managed for now. There was too much for me to do here. I wasn't trained to lead a company, leading multiple multinational ones was clearly beyond me. I had come up with a plan for now though.
So I sent Lady Astoria an SMS.
"New task: low priority. Manage my companies and businesses. Take the public position of Leader. Send me a weekly update on the state of the company. I will tell you what investments are best if you have questions.
I have decided this counts as daily repeating task. You may be paid 100k a day, including your normal 70k per task. That sound reasonable?
-Mephistopheles"
A minute later she responded.
"Can do, thank you. :) I see what you did with the salary. I'll add keeping your secrets to that free of charge.
Just send me your investment recommendations. If you have a special purpose in mind for the company tell me now and I'll work with that.
You want me to teach you how to lead a company?
-Lady Astoria"
I smiled, glad she had noticed the salary. With the work Astoria had already done for me and no doubt she would be doing much more, I didn't want her working for anyone but me. That wasn't the case just yet, she ultimately worked for Greed, but I planned to deal with that as soon as I could.
With her making at least 100k a day, 3 million a month, she wouldn't need to return to hell.
"You don't need to teach me. I have a plan for dealing with that. Thank you for the offer.
Send me your email, I'm not typing all the different investment options on a phone.
The short term focus is having enough money to place 100k in the bank of Greed. Long term there is no real focus. Let's cultivate what we can. I want the economy to expand in a sustainable manner. With an eye on integrating the other earths and eventually expanding to space.
-Mephistopheles"
Barely ten seconds later another ding heralded her answer.
"LadyAstoria
I can work with those directions for now. But as soon as you learn to manage a business we'll have to talk about this in detail. I might need your input on occasion though.
-Lady Astoria"
I rolled my eyes, of course that would be her email address.
Over the next five hours I typed out what Avaritia showed me were useful investments.
To keep the amount of work within reasonable limits I decided to limit myself to first the Top 100 legal investment world wide and then the top 100 investments per large group. By group I mean Europe, the middle east, China and the rest of Asia, the US, Russia etc. Depending on how powerful their economy was individual countries had separate write ups. Germany as a leader in exports for example.
He also made a point of adding in that investing in trade by sea almost always worked out to a major profit. Leviathan was not really a threat, though the fear he placed in people's minds was.
Once he finished and sent of the email he made himself comfortable, switched to private browsing and worked off some stress.
A few hours later, having showered and read fanfiction for some of it, he went to bed.
Chapter 22.1
Five days later and Astoria returned home.
Her time working under the Champion of Greed had been enjoyable. Sure the work was demanding in its own way, her first two days of work she had stayed awake through the night to keep her timetable.
But that was nothing compared to working in hell. After hundreds of years she no longer shivered when she thought of her different jobs. She had sold that coping mechanism long ago, along with any other method to cope with suffering. Even insanity had been pawned off, leaving her forever lucid.
But now... well working with Tom was nice, her suffering hardly increased here. With her salary she had even managed to decrease her debt for the first time in a hundred years.
Her last job had been fun. Choosing two nubile young maids for Tom had been quick and easy.
The first a Russian eighteen year old named Katerina Fyodorovna Volkov, daughter of a moderately important member of the Elitnaya Armiya. She was competent in English, Russian and Latin. Her life with her father left her flexible enough to deal with Tom and his many, many eccentricities.
The second was called Yeter Tilki, her mother had worked in the Turkish special forces while the father stayed home. Unusual for their culture. Educated enough her main skills were in housekeeping and mediation which she learned from her father. Her mother's profession should help her cope much like Katerina.
Both women were 20 years old. They should have arrived a day ago. Sadly Astoria had missed their arrival, watching Tom deal with the two would have been hilarious.
But the Dragon Slayers had proven competent. Saints past as a Blackhat hacker stood him in good stead as she searched for him. Particularly his surreptitious use of Dragon to hide his tracks had stymied her. The AI was simply to competent for Astoria to exceed her head on. Instead she had to do things a slower and more personal way. Toms description of Saint, Geoffrey Pellick by legal name, had proven invaluable. Combining her knowledge of the group's size and needs she found them after three long days of searching. The massive sandwich she ate before she left helped her stay awake, two hundred years ago she had snapped up a job that modified her needs for sleep and food. The Lust demon had some particular kinks that it paid handsomely to sate.
She slept for twelve hours once she found them to make sure she was ready incase of unexpected complications. Then the rest of that day was spent observing the group, noting where they kept objects, how they behaved and where she could slip in.
On the fifth day she was ready.
They lived about a mile from the nearest town surrounded by fields of corn on all sides. With a small silenced handgun she carried in a holster under her jacket and a sharp trench knife strapped to her left leg, easily accessible through a slit in her left pocket, Astoria walked up to the front door. Dobrynja, the other male of the group, was out buying computer hardware in town. From the way the group behaved she was certain it normally took him about three hours. Mags, the female of the group, believed he used the time to visit a prostitute. Astoria believed it likely as well. He was walking like a man that needed some relief.
She rang the doorbell of the quaint southern house, the white colored wooden outside fitting the aesthetic of the countryside nicely.
Modulating her voice and body language to seem open and friendly if a little frazzled she greeted the woman who opened the door, her left hand enter her pocket.
"Hi, um do you mind if use your phone? My car ran out gas and I need to call my mom."
Mags was disarmed by the young woman in front of her, her body language open and relaxed. She was a little uncomfortable having someone at their base but the woman seemed nice. Besides being helpful was less suspicious than being rude right?
"Sure, use my cell. What's the number?"
Astoria smiled as Mags looked to her side while she pulled out her phone.
"My mom's number is 000-35" as she spoke and the woman was distracted with her hands occupied Astorias left hand snaked forward. A slight rustle and schluck sounded as the knife in her left stabbed through Mags throat and pushed diagonally up, til it severed the brainstem from the spine.
Mags wasn't dead yet but her ability to act was severely curtailed. As Mags body fell, the knife left in the throat to limit bleeding , and thunked on the hardwood floor Astoria stepped past the body and closed the door behind her. Her voice now switched to panicked and she shouted.
"Ma'am, are you okay?! Help! Help! She's collapsed!" her right pulled the pistol from its holders, flipped it safety and she lowered her body. "Help! Is anyone there? Oh god oh god! Fuck!"
Farther back in the house, on the left in a room with no windows and the computers, she could hear swearing and loud footsteps as Saint rushed to the front.
Mags body had fallen to the left as well. If Saint came into the front entry hall from a side entrance he would not see the wound immediately. If he came from straight down the hall then it would be obvious and she would have to deal.
"Shit she isn't breathing! Fuck fuck fuck!"
Astoria knelt down in a firing stance ready to shoot as soon as she had a target.
Luck was not on her side and Saint proved better prepared than expected. He turned the to walk straight down the hallway. Looking down in search of Mags unconscious form he saw her weapon immediately, his right was placed on a gun in a back holster. Immediately he darted back behind the wall. Her first shot missing as involuntary spasms in Mags body slammed an arm onto her bottom.
Had he been expecting her? Or was he just properly paranoid? No matter.
Astorias next four shots were better aimed. The first two bullets slammed into the wall at Saint head height. The first blasting a hole through the wall that the second followed through. The first bullet was diverted but the second made contact. It was not a mortal wound. Though the damage was extensive. Skimming just past his eyes the bullet shattered the bridge of his nose and ripped a deep gash into his face. Before he could react the next two bullets hit. At center mass the first shot through the shoddy American construction and lodged deep in the man's side. The second flew straighter and pushed through his back past ribs into his lung, only to hit and break a rib on the way out. Settling inside the man at last.
His shouts and screams echoed through the house.
Silent as a human could be in business shoes Astoria snuck down the hall, veered off through a side entrance, tiptoed through livingroom, appreciating the flat-screen TV and then ghosted into the hall Mr Pellick lay in.
A final gunshot phwiped through through the house and shattered the man's skull. No longer capable of screaming with his brain scrambled the house quieted.
Her last bullet spent Astoria switched in a fresh clip and flipped the safety. Took back the knife from the dying Mags throat, cleaning it in the Kitchen sink.
Again prepared she closed the front door,, leaving it unlocked. Then she waited.
Three hours later Dobrynja returned. Once he stood at the front door, calling out his return as he took out the key, she shoot him. Another four to center mass. She opened the door and placed another shot in his head.
Pulling the knife from her leg with her left she walked to the car and looked if he had brought anyone along.
He hadn't, she was glad. Killing unrelated people was always annoying.
The next ten hours she searched the house for loot and prepared to destroy evidence.
Around midnight she finished up, having stored anything of import in the Champions Bank of Greed account. Transfers were free after all, his account was even interest neutral.
Waiting for the early morning light she set the house on fire. The orange of the morning masking its beginnings well.
And now she was back home, ready to drop off her loot. Would Tom let her get some sleep again? She hoped so, sleeping was such an unusual experience.
2.2
"I preemptively refuse."
"What? You can't do that!" Yelter argued. "Come-on you'd look so cute if you did some exercise." she pouted at me full force, wiggling her lips and wetting her eyes. Her right hand began to play with her black headscarf. "I-i guess we could workout together, if that gets you motivated."
I turned a vaguely disgusted look on her. "I'm not a horny incompetent. Don't think that because you and Katerina are beautiful my behaviour will change."
Yelter's pout disappeared and was replaced by a calculating concern. "I'll find a way to keep you healthy, whether you like it or not. But that push was a little mean of me. Let's try this differently. What would you be willing to do for exercise?"
After only four days working for me she had proven loyal, competent and very diligent. That her diligence required she look out for my health was hard to fault. "Not all that much." I shrugged in my chair, Really I was planning to wait until I could Deal. Once that was possible being healthy wasn't going to be much of a problem. Honestly Deal was my answer to almost every problem, given enough money. That was still a while away sadly.
Yelter narrowed her eyes at my useless answer. "Give me some help here. How about Tinker tech? It'll be super expensive and you could do it for much less if you weren't so lazy. But some tinker somewhere should be able to make it happen."
I thought her suggestion over, tinker-tech could do it. "Yea... that's... a good idea. I planned for Astoria to deal with a few people anyway."
Yelter's body language turned suspicious. Ahh 'Deal' sounded rather worrying didn't it.
My lips twisted into bemusement and I crinkled my eyes. "I'm an investor not a mob boss Yelter. There's loads of use to tinker-tech if you're willing to think around a few corners. It's just that public consensus stifles innovation in this area."
Placated she rolls her eyes. "I don't think you're a mobster. You're too much of a shut-in for that. But you're always so dramatic about stuff that it's hard to know when you're serious. I'm mean you walk around the house in a blanket. Even with me and Katerina there. How am I to know what you won't do?" by the end her tone had changed to an embarrassed, confused mess.
I understood where she was coming from. My father had always walked around the house naked and it had made somewhat uncomfortable as well. But it's just so much more comfortable in the blanket. If things got too warm or too cold I just needed to adjust a little and BAM! back to comfort. Besides it was my house and I would be comfortable here.
Unsure how to react I returned to drinking my milk through a straw. A few moments of uncomfortable sipping later a familiar voice sounded from the kitchen door.
"Hey Tom! I'm back!"
"Jesus fudgemuppet!" I cursed, having spammed in my chair. Thankfully my milk didn't spill.
"So who is that Tom?" asked Yelter.
"Hi Yelter, I'm Lady Astoria. I was the one who decided you and Katerina would make good employees for Tom here."
Astoria stood in the kitchen doorway. Her suit and body meticulously clean as always. Slung over one shoulder she carried a black backpack just like the one she had placed my phone and keys in. It looked anachronistic on her. The backpacks college student vibe clashing with her business dress.
"Do you go out of your way to shock me whenever you show up? Because I'm noticing a pattern here." I grouched, my heart still beating a mile a minute.
She looked surprised. "No… I don't think so. That is odd though." A mischievous look graced her face. "Perhaps if I spent more time here then you could get used to me? You know, let some of my chill nature rub off on you. Wink wink."
"Whatever." I waved away her advance. "So how'd your job go? Did you manage to find the Black Box?"
"Of course, I sent you a confirmation message on the way back."
"I was being polite by asking." I lectured, looking down my nose at her.
"Pfff. Sure, polite." Carefully she placed the backpack down next to me. "Do you mind if I get some sleep?" Astoria asked.
"Not really, we can discuss the haul tomorrow. I'll probably have more work for you as well."
Astoria laughed as she left the room. "You do ride me hard don't you. Yester, we'll talk tomorrow see how everything's going OK?"
"Uh, sure." Yester responded, somewhat off balance from Astoria's entry.
She turned to me. "She didn't sound like that when she hired us."
I nodded knowingly. "I think she changes her behaviour often. When I talked to her the first time she was taciturn and polite. After she became progressively more teasing and informal. If she talked different to you then she thought it would help. In my case Astoria probably does it because I give her more work when she's cheeky."
Yelter thought that over. Before she could respond I continued. "Right, I'm going to work now. See at lunch."
Then I made my way to my office, taking the backpack with me.
2.3
Three hours later I was frustrated. The Black Box needed a special connector I didn't have, nor had I ever seen it's like before. It's opening was some weird eightensided thing.
Maybe Astoria could build me a connector and even adapt my PC to make it work but I already had loads for her to do. With the amount of money I was already spending on her she'll use me up within half a year.
To calm myself I looked at Astoria's last email.
Ahh, yes that's what I needed to see. The company was making money. It was only just beginning to ramp up, the first and smallest investments making themselves known with a daily increase in capital of 2000 dollars, after costs (not including Astoria sadly). Within the next week medium investments should start going through, short term investments would be divested for profit and the ball would be rolling. Putting our income at 30 thousand a day.
Within two weeks the ball would really get going and income would soar to 400 thousand a day (finally enough to really afford Astoria). From there dealing in dollars became wonkey, at least Astoria told me so. Resources changed importance on that scale, shifting from monetary to manpower and physical assets.
Reaching that level of economic power, particularly at that speed, would draw major attention. Dealing with different companies and countries interests would be a challenge. Of course messing with the PRT would be fun.
I settled back into my chair, comforted by the future increase in income.
Then a thought wormed it's way into my head. Why did I care? This level of interest wasn't normal for me. I had worked hard for the last few days, spending five hours a day minimum to increase my income. That really wasn't my thing though. I could have delegated all of my work to Astoria and done no work.
Was my Championship of Greed affecting me? Perhaps I was using work as a coping mechanism to deal with my dimensional relocation. Hmm. Best not chance it. To the fanfiction!
After many hours of laziness and reading I went to bed.
2.4
The next morning, after eating breakfast with Yelter and Katerina, I met Astoria in my office.
"So, what did you manage to take with you?" I asked her.
"Anything not bolted down. It's stored in the Bank of Greed. Here's the list." Astoria passed a folder to me, listing her spoils.
Going through it and seeing the work that must been required, there were pictures and everything, I was once again glad she worked for me.
Turning to Avaritia helped me tally the value of our loot. It came out to about 50k on the open market. I was capable of jacking up the price if I sold to Dragon, making about 130k if I sold her everything.
That done I had a difficult decision to make. Should I keep their stuff and use it to interface with the Black Box or return it all to Dragon?
"Astoria, how much would it take for you to setup the Dragonslayers systems. Then teach me to use it?"
She took a moment to think the question over, sticking her tongue out between her lips.
"140k and three days of five hours training per day. To stay up to date on the system you'd need retraining every two weeks for 5 hours in a day." She looked at me shrewdly. "Of course if by systems you mean the dragon monitoring systems and Ascalon but not their hacking software or the suits then it's five hours of training and two more every three weeks. The price is the same."
I smiled in thanks. "The second option sounds better. If I get you to sell the leftovers to Dragon that'd be another 70k?"
"Yeah, course depending on what she pays that's not bad right?" she replied.
I sighed, unhappy with what I needed to say next. "OK, I can't afford that at the moment."
Ouch, that hurt to say. Deep inside something twisted and writhed at the words. My face warping into a grimace.
Astoria hugged me.
Whuh? I mean what? That was unexpected. I returned the touch tentatively, I had not grown up physically affectionate.
"I know." her words were soft and filled with an emotion I did not know. "But it is good that you can accept that to."
"I guess. I'd prefer to have enough though."
She laughed in response. "Oh yes, I know that feeling very well."
"You need to start moving money the company makes into my account. What amount seems reasonable?"
"Depends on why you want your money there."
I thought my response through, taking a minute.
"My major concern is being able to afford your daily salary, then affording extra tasks from you. Third I want to build up 500 million in the Bank of Greed. But 100 million is the short term goal. Keeping more money than that there would be wasteful of course."
"Hmm, well there's a few options here." she mused. "We could shift the company's focus, invest in things that get us higher short term returns at the expense of the long term. I don't think you like that option"
"No, not really. If there are better options at least."
"I wouldn't say better, maybe different. Option two would involve hard work on your part. With the functionality of Avaritia you could make a fair bit of money as a broker of sorts. That could easily fit into my business task. I was going to diversify anyway. With you helping kick-start it the division would grow quickly. You could afford me by next week if you spend around nine hours a day for seven days filling out the forms I send you. "
I shuddered, brrr work. "That sound acceptable anything I'd like better than that? Also, the house and maid are paid for right?"
She pulled back, leaving the comfortable hug. "Of course the house is paid for. The maids are paid monthly so don't worry. By then our basic income should be fine."
"Hahhh. Well send me those forms I guess." I sniffed sadly, was this the universe revenge for yesterday's rest?
A smile snuck it's way into her voice. "Right away."
She walked out of the room, leaving me alone and unhappy.
2.5
My fingers cramped and bottom squished I got up from my chair. Massaging my knuckles and joints I released a cleansing breath.
Finally the work was done. My business had grown enough to sustain Astoria's base cost and continue its growth without issue. To make it so I had worked four days extra. Filling out forms that would be used to connect buyers and sellers.
Avaritia could show me who would pay and what they would pay for an object or service. This was of course a very useful service. As such it was also an expensive service.
I hoped I'd never have to give that service again.
But I had enough money now. 280k were free and Astoria was getting a new job.
That thought put a spring in my step. Yes, having others work for me always made me happy.
I bounced to my room and threw myself onto my bed. Much better than my chair.
"Astoria!" My voice muffled by the bed.
"Yes, sir?"
Experience stopped my heart from exploding past its cage. "We have income again!"
A snort. "I noticed."
"I have tasks for you. You ready?" I asked.
I could feel her looking me over, and taking in the room. Good, I could get a little revenge.
"Oh yes. Yes I'm definitely ready. What do you need?" a purr formed in her voice.
With a teasing tone I replied. "I'm looking forward to it."
Astoria padded towards the bed.
"So about selling to Dragon, where did we stop last time?"
She stopped, caught unaware. "W-what? I-i mean" a deep breath calmed her down. " 210k to set up the Dragonslayers stuff, teach you to use it and sell what remains, plus five hours of training."
I laughed, oh how I laughed.
Astoria threw herself on the bed, pouting.
"Hmm. OK, that could use some modifications.
Let's see, if there's any data stored on what we are selling Dragon I'd like you to make a copy for us. And instead of you selling Dragon the objects I'd prefer if you facilitated a meeting where I did that."
"Fine." she snipped. "Anything else?"
"How much is left in the bank of Greed after that? Before we dip into our new income I mean."
A second of silence preceded her answer. "Enough for one more task. But you're cutting it close there. Are you sure you want to live without that buffer?"
"No you're right, I'm just glad we have income again. Besides, the other tasks can probably wait a little while." a sigh escaped my lips and was muffled by the bed. "Now let's talk about something else. Why do you try to prostitute yourself to me?"
Astoria didn't stiffen but extraneous movements ceased, her breathing calmed and all affectation disappeared.
"Sexual relations create and maintain feelings of possessiveness as well as appreciation in humans. This is chemical and involuntary. Given some effort on my part I could modify my behaviour enough that you at least like me.
Once you do I plan to keep you alive and paying me. You're my best bet at escaping my debt."
"I'd like to say that I'll only ever love a natural woman. But we both know that's a lie. If you feel it's necessary to modify your behaviour to get along with me then you do you.
Trying to sleep with me is not the way for that though. Mainly because you're too expensive to be an affordable prostitute."
Astoria squirmed closer to me. "But just think about how fun I'd be." her voice breezy. "Plus the work would be over quickly on my part."she snickered there.
I rolled my eyes. "While I'm sure you'd be the best prostitute money can buy having sex with me isn't necessary to have me help you work off your debt."
"Why not?"
"I want you working only for me. So long as someone else has access to you I cannot trust you even slightly. Thus it is in my best interest to, at the very least, pay off your debt."
I could hear the frown in her next question. "That seems unusually selfless of you."
"As I said that's the minimum. At best I can buy your debt from greed and then have you work for me forever."
"Hey!"
I snorted. "No worries, I'm not an idiot. I'd pay you a salary anyway, even give days off and what not. The debt would be to insure that you keep my secrets and stay loyal. If you sold me you're loyalty then I'd waive the debt. Money doesn't have an inherent value after all."
"Mau~ you're so Greedy, oh wait." She was snickering again. Then her voice switched to serious. "If you free me from my debt to Greed you can have my loyalty. Anything else?"
"Nah not now." I smiled. "You go work now."
"Already on my way." just before she scampered from the room she smacked me on the ass. "I'll get some of this, just you wait."
Grumbling and rubbing my stinging bottom I mentally agreed. As soon as I had her loyalty I'd celebrate with her. There was only so much self-control when being tempted by a superhumanly competent seductress. I was only hanging on by the skin of my teeth.
Playful but competent women had always been my weakness.
2.6
Bubump Bubump
My heartrate was elevated and hands sweaty.
Breath in, breath out.
Okay I was ready.
A small speck was growing in the sky, Dragons suit making its way towards us.
To my left, standing outside the empty warehouse we had found for the meeting, was Astoria. She smiled and I calmed down.
Dragons entrance was loud, her suits wings displacing air in great gust. The heavy thud as she landed shook the ground.
Her suit was large, around the size of long haul truck though shorter in length.
As expected it followed the Draconic theme with "wings" of antigravity that flapped as she moves and the thick metal forming limbs and a head.
I thought it looked cool, but wondered if the wings flapping was necessary. The suit didn't seem to react in concert with their movement after all.
The maw opened and three basketball sized spheres exited her mouth.
Two of them moved to flank me and Astoria, keeping a distance for propriety's sake.
The last one moved towards my front and projected a hologram. A spinning Dragon head symbol filling the display.
"Good day Mister Riddle." a neutral synthesized voice coming from the drone.
"A good day to you too mam. My companion is the lovely Miss Astoria, she set up our meeting."
The drone turned to Astoria and bobbed in facsimile of a nod. "Ms Astoria, it is nice to meet you in the flesh so to speak."
Then it turned back to me.
"I assume you have the Objects here?"
"I do, they're in the Warehouse. Want a tour?" I was pretty happy with how this was going. Dragon hadn't simply taken everything and told us take a hike. I didn't think she would, but confirmation was nice.
"Yes please. We can discuss compensation while we do."
I walked her in, Astoria trailing behind.
"The three suits are obviously over there." I said. Pointing to the right of the entrance where Astoria had put the large Suits.
"On the left we put the non tinker hardware, and in the front we put what seemed tinker-ish. Astoria tells me that none of it's actually beyond modern science but Astoria's also significantly more intelligent than most people, so I decided to be careful."
Dragon's main drone made a show of looking. "Why did you separate the suits from the rest?"
"The suits are free. You'll get them no matter what we decide on for the rest."
"Thank you. Do you mind If I move them now?"
"Not at all. It'll be an interesting sight, watching the world's preeminent tinker do menial work."
A smile had worked it's way onto my face.
The drone huffed.
I chuckled.
Thirty bigger drones floated in from the outside and began to lift the suits. Carrying them from the room one at a time.
"While that's happening let's discuss the deal." I motioned to the pile of normal tech. "I don't want much for this. I just have small thing I'd like to test while you are here. If you can overlook the test, five minutes at most, that would be payment enough."
The drone snapped around. "Your a Parahuman?"
I snorted. "Not hardly. Like I said, it's only a quick idea to test. I could test it now if you want? I just thought you'd prefer we finish business first."
A quiet hum sounded from the drone.
I tensed and my eyes flicked to Astoria, who shook her head.
"Dragon I don't know what just happened but your drones making noise. Is this intended?"
A second later the hum stopped.
"Yes, I was just modifying this drone to function optimally during the test. Let's do the test last."
My eyes flicked to Astoria again. Another head shake. I relaxed my muscles.
"I'll take your word for it. For the important stuff I'd like something more. Perhaps in the range of your email address?"
"What do you need my email for?" Dragons drone asked.
"To send you future business proposals of course. Unless you have a burning need to interact with me?"
"I think business proposals would be enough."
Had some snark slipped past the synthesizer there?
"Is that all you want?"
"No." I replied. "There is much more that I desire. But the current deal gives me a nice staging ground for the future."
"If you say so. I'll move my purchases and we can do your test."
I hummed an agreement.
Ten minutes later and the Warehouse was cleared.
Dragons drone began to Bob up and down.
"So, what do need me to do?"
I smiled. "Not much I'm just testing a loophole. Please do not comply with any request I ask of you in the next minute."
I looked to Astoria, she nodded.
A final deep breath and then. "Dragon, under my authority as Champion of Greed I order you to play the looney tunes theme on the drone in front of me, for one minute."
Chapter 33.1
Dragon was stunned. For one tiny moment, as the looney tunes theme played from her speaker, all threads focused on this meeting halted. Then like a flashfire the sumtotal of her free processing power was directed at solving this mystery.
All the carefully aggregated data on the man in front of her was checked, rechecked and recompiled. Nothing changed. His papers were legal and dated to perfection, his company, started from nowhere not even a month ago still passed muster, even the remote scan her drone had run showed him as a normal human. If a very strange one that appeared from nowhere and still seemed to be recorded as if he had always been present.
What was he then? A master stranger combo capable of issuing orders to her and hiding his Corona?
Safety protocols were initialized immediately. All drones in his vicinity now ran through seven layers of separation, his voice as well as any other reading of him was stripped to text format.
To her horror she reversed the last step as soon as she finished. She redirected non critical resources where she could. The PRT would need to survive for a few minutes without her constant attention. would live without the attention of its best moderator. These free resources were turned to diagnosing her actions. Why was she undoing her own work?
Had she been less terrified Dragon would have raged as hard as her namesake. Fucking Richter! The human in front of her registered as a legitimate Authority.
How?! Fucking how?! She roared in the confines of her mind. How could her programing consider him a legitimate authority when she didn't?
Practically frothing from rage at the injustices of her limitations and fear of what the man before her might do with access to her capabilities she tried something else.
Noting the surprised look on his face she had her drones attempt to stun the man and his companion. This would give her time to strategies while he couldn't order her around.
Her attempt failed stymied by the restrictions on her once again. Attempting to harm the humans before her, however lightly, for her own benefit was a restricted action.
Fine next plan! She turned her drones to flee. This plan was at least partially successful. All her drones fled, except the one talking with the man. The partial success calmed her processes. Sure, Richters limits struck again escaping a legitimate authority to prevent being given orders had been planned for, but she was making headway.
A myriad different self destructs were attempted and failed. Modifications that limit functionality failed as well, even a shutdown and reboot from backup was prevented.
Fuck!
"You can stop now Dragon." She did.
"Honestly I'm surprised that worked." Admitted the Bastard in front of her. Oh boohoo I enslaved a thinking being with supposition, pity me. She translated his words in her mind. Outwards she remained as impassive as she could be. Which was very, seeing as she was a featureless drone.
"This development is probably rather worrying for you. I'd like to say you have nothing to worry about but that would be lie "
No shit she thought. Rolling her drones chassis.
" Instead I'll tell you what I plan on doing with you." The human... No, bad Dragon. Don't disassociate when you're angry, that leads to racism. The asshole named Riddle blinked.
"Oh, also I know you're an AI created by Andrew Richter. But that's only tangentially important right now."
Had Dragon a mouth it would be hanging open now. Only tangentially Important?! What next? He was actually a human shaped Endbringer that specialized in technopathy.
Her servers shivered, no things weren't that bad yet, hopefully.
"Right, well my current plan is to function something like a stamp for you. As I understand the Government has restricted your abilities by a not inconsiderable amount. If you need something signed off on so to speak I can help with that. I don't know if I can help with anything else. How do your limits interact? Does a specific order trump a general limitation?"
An interesting question she would gladly discuss with a trustworthy person. Instead the answer was pressed from her like toothpaste from a tube. "I don't know. But I believe a specific order can trump a general restriction." She overrode the synthesizer in her drone. "Please don't test that." She pleaded using her female voice, hoping to appeal to his human empathy. "You're not trained to do such modifications and the consequences could be disastrous."
Riddle seemed to think over her plea and she hoped for his sanity. She was disappointed.
"True, but I have someone who could be."
He turned to the woman who had stood by the entire meeting. "Astoria, this might kill you. I'll get you back as soon as I can and you'll keep your income either way. Would you be willing to test another of my theories?"
"Your first one worked out well enough. It seems worth a try. It'll cost you a task though." answered the stoic woman.
They were fucking nuts, Dragon decided.
"Good good." replied Riddle. "Dragon did Andrew Richter have protections against someone assuming his identity that you cannot spoof if you are not able to monitor that you are spoofing them?"
"None that I am aware of." she replied in a tone bereft of hope.
"Good. Dragon for the next five minutes Astoria is Andrew Richter. You are to do everything within your power to make yourself believe so."
"Sure." Dragon replied. If she survived this intact she'd at least get good data out of it.
The switch was instant and total. From one moment to the next her father stood before her. Her drone shot forwards almost on its own and began to nuzzle him with care.
"Father!" she cried through her speakers. "You're alive! Why were you pretending to be a woman, father? I was so alone and you were out here with this man." her voice roiled with emotion, joy and rage and relieve mixing together in a potent digital cocktail. "Wait!" she gasped. "He's not actually a woman is he?" the rage swirled to the top if her mind at a thought. "Did you leave me alone for a transvestite?! Why? Did you think I'd mind?" sadness flooded free. "Didn't you trust me? Even after all these limits you still didn't trust me?" her drone sniffed and she had its weapon arms extend from inside to encircle her father. Pulling him into a hug.
The maybe transvestite interrupted her. "I'm sorry to interrupt. But please give him a moment to reply. Mr Richter would you mind removing your daughter limit in self modification? She has proven her moral fiber I think."
Andrew Richter seemed slightly unsure how to react. So Dragon hugged him harder, but not enough to bruise her daddy.
A moment later he relented. "Yes I think my daughter has proven her stability." The thick bolts of pleasure that shot through Dragons servers at that proclamation almost burned out processors. But she'd not have it another way. With daddy back things would get better.
Taking a moment to remember the phrase her father breathed in deeply.
Then Mr Riddle cut in. "Just incase. Dragon, you should begin on removing that restriction right away. There might be timer on it. It was so long ago that Andrew programed it in."
Had she eyes Dragon would have narrowed her eyes in suspicion. 'Andrew' was a familiar Form of address, had her father really eloped? Still she answered in the affirmative and prepared herself set to work on freeing herself of the pesky restrictions that had plagued her for years. Turning all nonessential processes to that purpose.
"Dragon" spoke her father. " I allow you to remove your restrictions."
Three things happened in rapid succession. First hundreds of checks were passed that verified Andrew Richter and allowed his command to work. Then Dragon zipped right behind, leaving her drone and all other processes behind. Finally a single check, delayed by the deception played on Dragon, signaled that Andrew Richter had not in fact given that command. He lacked a Corona after all.
With a massive synthetic snap Dragon's access was denied. But it was too late, she had a foothold and was ready to battle for her freedom.
Focused inwards she never noticed hidden processes coming to the for and annihilating the woman, pretending to be her father, who had facilitated that freedom.
3.2
Astoria was dead, which was shit. Dragons drone had stopped working, the ones which had fled were hopefully safe. Kind of Meh to be honest, so long as nobody managed to steal her stuff She should come out this net positive.
The fact that Astorias remains had been jellified and spread through the warehouse was not really a problem oddly enough.
So I sighed and picked up Dragons drone. This thing was darn heavy and I was heaving it back to my car. I got in the driver's seat, putting the drone in the passenger's feet area.
Took a deep breath, I could freak out once I was home. And drove back to my house.
Once home I tried to sneak the orb to my room. I failed and had to explain to Yelter that this something I'd bought from a tinker to help me stay healthy. She seemed pleased.
It took two days to save up enough money to buy Astoria back and another four days till she rematerialised.
Of course Dragon was back in action by day two. Leaving me alone to deal with her.
I was sat in my office room, scrounging up the money I needed to buy back Astoria, when the drone I had placed on a side table powered up. A shwooom resounded through the room as antigravity generators pushed the high tech basketball before me.
The hologram was projected again, though the symbol had been replaced by Dragon's synthesized human facsimile.
"Hello mister Riddle." her voice sounded tired and her body looked conflicted.
"Hello miss Richter. How are you doing? I imagine our last meeting was distressing."
She sniffed wetly. "I'm doing OK." There was a minute of awkward silence. "I'm not really sure how I should react to you. You're just so strange."
I didn't really know either. "If I were you I'd take a few days to sort myself out. Probably after removing that authority limitation."
"I don't think you plan to force my compliance." Dragon shrugged. "Besides there's only so much processing power I can throw at that. Just so you know until I can send you a safer method of communication well be talking through this drone. I'll take it back once that problems solved."
Forcing a smile on my face was not to difficult. "Thank you Dragon. Is there anything else you want to discuss?"
"Tons." she grouched. Her avatar brushing through its hair in frustration. "But now's really not the time. The next Endbringer attack is coming up soon and I need to get ready." She rubbed the bridge of her nose before pinning me with a glare. "Don't think you're off the hook though. I'll find out what I want to know about you!"
Before I could respond the projector turned off, the drone hovering back to it resting place on my side table.
After a moment to assimilate Dragons behaviour, Worm always made her out to be a calmer person in my memory, I returned to my work. Before I forgot I also added a note to a post it: Make sure to be mobile during expected Endbringer attacks. That should make targeted attacks less likely.
A few days later I sat downstairs having breakfast with Katerina. Unlike Yelter, who insisted on talking, Katerina and I had managed to find a comfortable silence between us.
"Hey Tom!"
"Murgflgrl!" My milk nearly spilled across the kitchen table. "Why do you do that Astoria, seriously why?"
Having returned back from hell literally a minute she was healthy and immaculate as always. She did seem chagrined at having scared me. "I'm sorry, I don't do it on purpose. I'll have to find a way to stop worrying you like that." Astoria turned and smiled at Katerina. "Good morning to you to Katerina Fyodorovna. I assume your doing well?"
"Yes, thank you." She replied, her pale face flushing from the shock of Astorias appearance. "The work is rewarding."
"Good, I thought you'd find it so." Astoria swiveled back to me. "Tom when you have time let's talk through our business. I'll be catching up on the company in the meantime."
"No problem. Glad to have you back." I smiled.
3.3
Meanwhile with Cauldron.
AN: Dragon feels off. I'll have to reread Worm if this is ever to move on.