Waking up back in my coffin, the lights blinking in their predictable sets. The exit to the outside open, the connections all returned into the walls. Flexing my hands and arms, back in my ordinary body, disoriented and groggy. Six days was a long time. Starting the calisthenics routine. Seems normal. No lasting effects, muscle memory seems fine. Opening up one of the side walls, attaching a connection. 5:45 already, need to make this quick. Workstation access. Need to send something out. Oh, she beat me to it.

　　From: Carolyn HunterTo: William MacarthyCC: Director Harold Shaker

　　Re: Unauthorized Revocation of Access

　　Mr. Macarthy,After your shift we need to speak. 00:30 tomorrow morning. Thank you. Carol

　　Very terse. Likely doesn`t want to commit more to writing. Sending a response in the affirmative. Crawling out and then down the ladder. Yeah, things seem to be working normal, like it was all some crazy dream.

　　Work was work. Crumbling, waxy food in bar form. Reconstituted, repurposed and recycled water in the thermos. For the first part of the day the usual maintenance on the mining equipment. Then, in midafternoon, an emergency order coming in on my electronic itinerary for one of the transports over on the far end of the base, near the reactor. Quite a hike out there with the transport stuck, but once out there turning out to be a simple fix. A quick diag and a reset. And then some testing to make sure everything was squared up. No definitive cause found for the issue, but given the proximity to the main junction possibly some electromagnetic interference from the nearby power lines. Submitting my report and recommending additional shielding to be added to the lines. Back in the hangar by the end of the day, returning the cart, tossing the clothing in the chute and back to the pod. Waiting, then in Carol`s office.

　　It was still a highrise penthouse, but the view much different this time. More otherworldly. Looking out over the blackness of space, a planet below. Looking at my clothing. Not playing games this time. Normal coveralls. The penitent`s stool in front of her desk a normal office chair. Walking up and taking a seat. Looking at each other. More me looking at her, her glancing at me, looking over at her screen and then back.

　　"So what`s the deal?"

　　Squinting at me, trying to compose something.

　　"There`s been a complication," she started.

　　"Yeah? No shit. Was that before or after you put me in that girl. For laughs, right? Amusing yourself."

　　"That girl was everything you requested. Good affinity, first and foremost. Casts magic."

　　"And missing some important bits, I`d say."

　　"You seem like you made it here in one piece, I can`t imagine you had that bad a time." Smarmy. That smirk making it seem like she already knows the answer.

　　"Well it was going fine until that last day. What the fuck was that all about?"

　　"That would be the complication." Waiting for me to respond. Waiting her out. "The system saw your Thief as being unassigned and then decided to take it and assign it to itself."

　　"So? Get it back. Reassign it."

　　"Its gone. Its no longer available. Its not there anymore."

　　Predictable worst case scenario. Maybe not worst, no kidnapping or hit squads early on. Managed to get mostly out of the danger zone, could somewhat hold my own. Had thought this was a possibility the first day in. The only question is if what she`s saying is true. Mean old computer glitched, hooboy these things have a mind of their own. In which case, whoopsy, no one to blame and no one held at fault. Unlikely. That scenario sounds a little too convenient for them.

　　The more likely scenario? They deliberately assigned the Thief to the computer and then whatever ended up happening, ended up happening. Shaker wouldn`t choose to have what happened at the gala happen. But if he took a snip to a butterfly`s wings, and the flap that should have happened never did, and that ongoing tragedy cascaded, the eventual fallout that resulted couldn`t be directly blamed on him. Pure coincidence. Plausible deniability. Or maybe it was only her, acting at his direction. His winks and his nods. Then again, he did look very surprised and very upset at what happened. Perhaps upset at himself for choosing such a reckless course of action. Too paranoid now or not paranoid enough?

　　"Mr Macarthy? Mr. Macarthy?" She`d been saying my name.

　　"Sorry, lost in thought. You were saying?"

　　"Mr. Macarthy, I was saying that Director Shaker wants to permanently revoke your access to the grid." Holding her hand up at my furious start. "I`ve explained to the Director that your employment contract clearly makes that an impossibility and, as such, his wishes to do so are completely unjustified. The mission comes first. Therefore, under my authority, I want you to know that your access will remain unimpeded."

　　"Your authority. Who are you, exactly? I`ve been here a long time and I`ve never met or even heard of you before all this."

　　"I`ve been here since the start, with the first expedition. If you don`t recall ever meeting me, that might be more attributable to me than to you. I`m primarily responsible for personnel decisions. The Director has the authority to supersede me, except where a clear conflict with mission objectives is present. As such, his personal animus against you has made it obvious he`s not being objective. And, on your side, you have an essentially spotless record and high evaluations for the work that you do. Valuable work, I might add. I also think that revoking your access would be extraordinarily unwise."

　　Her last statement filling the space between us.

　　"All of those factors are contributing to my decision," she said.

　　First expedition she had said. Hunter. Was there a name like that in the first expedition? Yeah, maybe. A lot of names, a lot of faces. Didn`t realize that Paula woman was actually Shaker`s wife until seeing them right next to each other. We probably just travel in different circles. Only knew about Matheson because of those fliers back in my second year, selling some service. Oh, and then Melder had his little success, and then a few months later no more fliers. Guess it all makes sense now, seeing her apartment. That`s a real shame.

　　"Mr. Macarthy?"

　　My eyes focusing. "So your claim is that you`re helping me?"

　　"This isn`t about you. Its about the efficacy of the mission. But yes, without me you`d be locked in a pod right now, or who only knows what."

　　"I suppose I have thank you then. You know, I`ve managed to make a number of enemies over the years. Big and small. Most petty, but some extremely vicious. That`s one thing I was worried about when I was in there, but they never came. Not one. So, if we`re being straight with each other, I want to know something. Who else knows about this?"

　　"This situation is extremely irregular. The only people who know are the Director and myself. And we`re going to keep it confidential." And Shaker`s wife. And Avery. And who knows who else they`ll end up telling.

　　Breaking eye contact and looking off to the side.

　　If this was their plan all along, at least they`re offering some measure of kindness. They`re sidelining me, not exterminating me. Well, taking her at face value, its not kindness, she`s merely following the rules to the letter. Maybe they`re expecting gratitude for that? No, doubt it. More like they think they`ve got me nice and secure under their thumb. No harm in letting them think that for now. Teach you not to underestimate me.

　　"If that`s how it is, that`s how it is. If we`re done here, I`d like to get back in there, get a midnight snack and sleep in a real bed."

　　"Wait, what?" Blinking rapidly, trying to collect herself. "I, that is, I`m very surprised. You didn`t ask about getting something different."

　　And give you the satisfaction of refusing? You`d have offered up front if that was even a choice. Or, even if it is a choice, making me start over again at zero. Again. And taking who knows how many days to make the transfer in the first place, making me wait out here in the meantime. And here you are thinking you`re going to make me beg for the opportunity to get robbed again? No. Not happening. You may have stolen the last six plus years of work in the guild away from me, and now you`ve taken my Thief entirely, but don`t imagine you`re going to steal the last remnants of my pride. Have people in there waiting for me and, most importantly, above everything else, can use magic now. That`s something you`re all going to regret.

　　Her expression only growing more annoyed at my grin.

　　"You`re very resilient, aren`t you?" Trying to pass it off as a compliment, her face making it clear it was anything but. Studying me for a moment more. "Initiating disconnection."

　　Back in the pod and then connecting to the grid.

　　The first time coming in had been a horribly disjointed experience, trying to fit into something too small, not right. This time, effortless. Back to being this other me. Wait, no, that`s not right. Flexing my fingers. Back to being me. This is weird, this feeling in reverse, like all that out there was a dream.

　　Seven long years. Me out there was not as well fed and definitely more haggard than me in here, but the transition is much more noticeable now. More jarring. But the difference being so different is sort of better in a way. Reality on that sterilized, metallic husk seeming like a bad dream makes everything a bit less hopeless.

　　Jumping out of bed and turning on the light. Easy set of calisthenics. Everything`s fine. Light and agile and lithe. Tracing. Runic Shield. Using it to lift my pack off the ground and then throwing it around. Knocking over a chair and throwing around the pillows. Taste my wrath. Giggle coming out.

　　Calming down, reveling in the aftermath, the room looking like it had been hit by a small tornado. Wait, forgetting the most important thing.

　　Name: Lucilia Macarthy

　　Profession: Runemage Level: 8

　　Sex: Female

　　Experience: 26,575 (3,964)

　　Age: 20

　　Until Next: 1,925

　　Health

　　65

　　Mana

　　56

　　Stamina

　　30

　　Spirit

　　8

　　Strength (STR)

　　55 (2)

　　Constitution (CON)

　　62 (6)

　　Dexterity (DEX)

　　67 (13)

　　Agility (AGI)

　　86 (18)

　　Discipline (DIS)

　　75 (12)

　　Aura (AUR)

　　80 (15)

　　Logic (LOG)

　　71 (15)

　　Intuition (INT)

　　74 (17)

　　Wisdom (WIS)

　　44 (-3)

　　Influence (INF)

　　75 (12)

　　This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

　　Name

　　Trainings

　　Bonus

　　Armor Use

　　6

　　29

　　Physical Fitness

　　9

　　41

　　Simple Weapons

　　9

　　41

　　Arcane Symbols

　　14

　　54

　　Magic Item Use

　　9

　　41

　　Harness Power

　　9

　　41

　　Mana Control

　　9

　　41

　　Runemancy

　　9

　　41

　　Arcane Lore, Shaping

　　9

　　41

　　Arcane Lore, Transference

　　2

　　10

　　Survival

　　9

　　41

　　Perception

　　9

　　41

　　Climbing

　　9

　　41

　　Swimming

　　9

　　41

　　First Aid

　　9

　　41

　　Trading

　　9

　　41

　　Stalking and Hiding

　　9

　　41

　　Increased skills and a new spell. Copy. No associated rune, either. Maybe the answer to all of my financial difficulties, maybe not. Has a cooldown based on whatever gets copied, and a chance of failure. What happens to the thing you`re trying to duplicate if it fails? Maybe nothing, maybe something.

　　Three pound weight limit. Something small, something cheap. Digging through my pack and getting a single match. Shouldn`t incur that much of a cooldown. If it fails in the worst case it bursts into flame. Looking around the room, filled with linen and other flammables. Maybe the match isn`t the best candidate. What else. Ah here, a needle. But its made of metal, probably a longer cooldown than the match. But maybe the matchhead material would do the same thing. Too many unknowns, don`t want to waste it on something worthless. Okay, got it. Sink or swim with this one. Returning both to the pack. Heading to the bathroom and combing out my hair. Braid? Nah. Putting on socks, underwear, tanktop. Pants and then boots. Grabbing some silver and then out of the room and down to the bar.

　　Pretty late getting in, missed the rush. Not too busy tonight, and the people that are here look sloshed. May as well give `em a show. Taking a seat at the mostly empty bar, ordering the midnight special and a pint. If this goes well, two for the price of one. If not, maybe an explosion of glass and no drink for me. Proper high stakes.

　　"Here you are, miss," said Nightfall, bringing the pint. Putting my hands around the mug, the liquid a nice dark amber, concentrating intently. "Are you alright?"

　　"Trying to do some magic. You might want to stand back, I`m not sure what exactly this is going to be like."

　　Smirking at me, and then taking a deliberate step back.

　　Concentrating on the mug, both hands cupped around it. Casting Copy and then feeding the energy into it, filling the glass, filling the liquid. Sitting there. Nudging it with a finger, a slight double, wobble, and back to one. Using three fingers from one hand to grab the handle, and three fingers from the other. Slowly pulling it apart. Two distinct handles appearing, turning. Getting slick. Pulling apart, slowly, deliberately. Really slick now. Using the full hand on each handle. Pulling them both apart, separating completely. Two distinct mugs filled with amber liquid, one held by each hand. Exhaling a deep breath, had been holding it the whole time.

　　"That was great," he said, giving me a small clap. "You looked really nervous though, why?"

　　"Think it might have exploded if I failed. Something bad, anyway"

　　"Wait, what?" he said. "Why`d you do it here?"

　　"How else am I supposed to get free drinks?"

　　Looking at me funny after saying that.

　　"Anyway, the most important is the taste test. Which one do you think is the copy?"

　　Both of us considering the two identical mugs. Trying some from the left. Tastes fine. Some from the right. Also tastes fine.

　　"So which one`s the real one?" he said.

　　"Damned if I know." Picking up the one on the left and chugging the whole thing, slamming it down. Looking at Nightfall. "Hey, sorry `bout how I`m going to phrase this question, but what are you doing wasting your time working here?"

　　"I enjoy talking with all the extra polite guests," he said, dryly.

　　"Uh huh. This work seems kind of beneath you."

　　Considering me for a moment. "You seem real young, you just get here?"

　　"Something like that."

　　"If that`s the case, you`re still in the honeymoon phase. All this seems real pretty and new. You should enjoy it while you can, it really is something."

　　"Is that why you`re working here, you lost your edge?"

　　"My edge?" Starting to laugh. "That`s great, you seem full of fire, you`re going to do good here. But no, nothing like that. My previous circumstances changed, and I didn`t like the available options, so after looking around I decided to buy this place. Well, me and my wife did."

　　He`d been dating Widow. Dang, so him and Widow got hitched. Lost his edge? The guy`s got a set of brass ones.

　　"Congratulations."

　　"Well thank you very much. Actually, here she is now."

　　Sure enough, out from the kitchen coming Widow, holding a plate of food and setting it down in front of me.

　　"Here you are, young lady," she said. Nodding to her in thanks. Then Widow addressing Nightfall. "Kitchen`s closed, lets start getting these drunks out of here, too."

　　"Yes, dear." The two sharing a quick kiss on the lips.

　　About to start eating. Wait, Widow cooked this? And I`ve been eating all these meals from here without a detox on hand. Taking a bite. All that experience did not go to waste, she can cook.

　　Eating the food and drinking my bonus pint while Nightfall and Widow went through the common room, sweeping, pushing in chairs, shooing out guests, carrying one, and getting ready for the night.

　　"W- uh, I mean, excuse me, do you want me to put these dishes in the kitchen for you?"

　　"No, you can leave them right there," she said.

　　Getting up to get to bed. Whoa, drunk, that second one did it. Getting stopped by Nightfall halfway across the room.

　　"You know," he said, "I was thinking that if you just got here and you wanted some adventure, there`s a merchant caravan heading out into the desert next cycle. Apparently their last trip they came back with some stuff that`s been really popular, so its a big group heading out this time. House Ishtar`s been looking for more people to help with it."

　　Ishtar. Those weirdos? You`re sending a young girl over to Ishtar, of all places? Maybe my comments ended up pissing him off more than he let on. Then again, isn`t Ishtar run by a woman? Definitely a better environment than some boy`s club like Stormhawk. If the men at Stormhawk are only interested in hunting and fighting, the women they keep around are only interested in pretending to be a pig at a roast. With both groups being about as smart as one.

　　Have to start thinking long term now. Haven is right out. No way, no how. Stormhawk, likewise. Mink. Avery is at Mink, that`s out as well. Which leaves the other three. No reason not to make some inquiries at Ishtar, feel them out. Helping with a merchant caravan is good middle ground, see if there``s any truth to the rumors, and getting out of town right now is the most sensible option.

　　"Okay, I`ll head over there sometime tomorrow, see what they`re about. Thank you."

　　"Not a problem, have a good night." he said.

　　Heading back to the room, disrobing and getting into bed. Quick check on Copy to see the remaining cooldown. Less than an hour. Not awful. Going to try with a gold coin tomorrow morning, see what that cooldown is like. Have a feeling its not going to be short at all. Stretching out spreadeagle. Another benefit of this body, these beds all seem huge, its really nice.

　　Gently being lulled to sleep by the drunkenness and then a more sobering thought. Have to prepare for that eventuality, my cover being blown. But no outstanding warrant on my head anymore, can go wherever. Make myself useful somewhere, get more people in my corner, and if it all comes down, who cuts a more sympathetic figure: the one from the Thieves Guild, or the cute little five foot Runemage? Got to play this one real smart.