In a city on the other side of the world, a festival was happening. People were celebrating, games were being played. The a Mage had enchanted a mini core for people to feed things too. Wood. Coal. Criminals. They all burned brightly in the molten liquid suspended in the air. Some were thrown. Some were launched, either by magic or contraption. A lordling accused of infidelity and abuse was launched despite his pleas.

  A street away, people were meandering away. Nobody pushed or panicked, but they all moved away from the row of taverns and inns. Nobody noticed, since ale and wine was flowing in every corner of the metropolis of magic and metal.

  On this street, a man stepped from the shadows. He was dressed in a black three piece suit, using a cane that was clearly for show more than need. It was decorated in ninety degree lines that glowed as Power with a capital P flowed through it. His face was wrinkled with time and the lines of laughter long since past. His silver hair slicked back, coated in a faint sheen of oil. A cigarette was resting in his lips.

  He flicked ash from it, and the sparks pixelated before disappearing.

  With measured, careful steps, he made his way to the door of a random tavern. With deliberate practice, he pulled a ring of keys from the pocket of his jacket, going through the larger than it seemed ring and smiling occasionally at forgotten memories surfacing.

  He found a simple one made of an otherworldly metal and inserted it into the unlocked door’s keyhole. He turned and opened the door.

  Looking around, the bar was crowded with all manner of beings. Dark skinned elves and men mingled with dwarves with light gleaming from their eyes. A large humanoid with leathery wings and wicked claws held a comically large stein as he laughed at something an avian man said. A trio of naga sat in a corner, tails coiled beneath them as they talked to a couple of muscular lupine in low, serious tones.

  He ignored them all, just as they ignored him, not even looking in his direction. The man approached the bar, taking a seat at a stool and leaning his cane against the counter. A large bald man wearing an apron and holding a rag walked over to him. He set a glass in front of the elderly man, already filled with a crimson liquid that swirled with black that held tiny lights within.

  The man took a sip from the glass, and let out a satisfied sigh. The bartender leaned against the bar and stared at him with a friendly smile. “You’re early.”

  The elderly man smiled back, a small thing that reached his eyes. The meeting of an old friend taking years from him. “Sai, it’s almost like you have a clock set for me.”

  “Zera, you set the alarm.” A screen appeared between them, ticking down. There were still 3 years, 6 months, 14 days, 2 hours, 43 minutes, and 15 seconds left on it. “It’s unusual for you to be early. You’re more often late.”

  “Only by a few days, at most.” Zera responded.

  “So, what can I do for the security chief? Or do you prefer your other title now? Master of secrets.” Sai asked, wiping the rag along the spotless bar.

  “Only if I can call you the Storykeeper. Or was it the Bartender?” Zera smirked, a glint of mischief in the elderly man’s eyes.

  Sai scoffed, “Is this about the rumors of war I’ve been hearing? You usually don’t care for the politics of the players.”

  “They haven’t been players for a long time, Sai.” Zera responded, his face returning to his usual stoic expression. “You know that.”

  Sai shrugged, “What should I call them then? Veldernites? Veldernians? Sheep?” The bald man shook his head, “Never mind that last one. I’m not so heartless.”

  “You’re probably the most normal person among the staff. Always passed your psychological evaluations. Always cared about those of us stuck on this crumbling world. Never took Min’s ideals to heart. A paragon of morality.” Zera smiled, “If they were all like you, we’d have never gotten to this point.”

  “If they were all like me, we’d still be in ‘civilized’ space.” Sighing, he conjured his own mug from thin air and took a sip. He let out a satisfied hum and set it down. “I’d have never gone for the plan.”

  Zera shook his head, “None of us ever had a choice, and you knew it. Not once the originals signed their contracts.”

  Sai snorted, “I wonder how long they enjoyed their payouts sometimes. Enough money to make their own planet out of it, and some more to make a medium sized moon.”

  “You know they were probably killed before we were out of range. According to Emily, their bank accounts were already empty.” Zera’s eyes looked into the swirling liquid that continued to move without anyone touching it. He took a large drink from it, sighing with contentment, and sorrow.

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  “She was one of the only ones with any sense.” Sai said, raising his mug in a silent toast. Others in the bard mimicked his motion, and they all chanted, “To the fallen.”

  Zera didn’t join. “You know Min is still trying to figure out how to safely bring her back again?”

  “It’ll never happen. I saw what Alexei attached to it. It’d wipe everything. The system, the storage, the backups, everything.” Sai smiled, “It’s one of the stories I find the most satisfying. And the most tragic. A true pyrrhic victory.”

  “Maybe not so pyrrhic.” Zera smirked.

  Sai’s eyes locked onto the chief of security. “How?”

  “Melvin.” Zera said simply.

  “That weasel finally broke, huh?” Sai snorted before breaking out into full laughter. “He couldn’t stand licking Min’s boots anymore? About fucking time.” He let out a happy sigh.

  “Alexei won’t let it go, though.” Zera said, deep sadness within.

  “I don’t blame him. Everything with Emily was his fault, after all.” Sai responded, regret lacing his voice. “I wish I’d been there to mediate. Maybe… maybe everything could have been different.”

  Zera reached out and grabbed the man’s massive arm. “Don’t. You know you couldn’t have changed the outcome. Just the collateral.”

  Sai lowered his head. “I know. It’s hard though. Living as long as we can.”

  “Have you done a refresh recently? Restored from the original?” Zera questioned the man.

  He nodded, “A few years ago. Always feels weird, having the memories filter in like they do.”

  Zera shrugged, “I wouldn’t know.”

  “And I don’t envy you for it. The curse of the artificial, right?”

  The security chief nodded, “As true now as it was in the past.” The old man chortled, “I’m sometimes amazed at how little I’ve fractured over the years.”

  Sai reached out and laid his hand over Zera’s, “Because despite everything, you’ve never wavered. Your purpose has never been shaken. Unlike us mortals.”

  The old man rolled his eyes, “Like any of the staff could be considered that anymore. The only thing separating you from me is a thin veil of code.”

  “A thin veil that’s been broken through before.” Sai responded before throwing the rag over his shoulder.

  “And will be again.”

  “I’m surprised it hasn’t happened more often.” Sai looked serious, “Half the victims were smarter than the entire staff combined. Augments upon augments with AI assistants and mainframe stations floating through space.”

  “Who says they didn’t?” Zera smirked, “Part of my job, after all, was to stop all those who would cheat the system.”

  “Anything recent?” Sai inquired, finally getting past the usual pleasantries. It was time for business.

  “One breakout. It’s taken over a small village. I’ve got a few people mobilizing that should be able to take care of it. The usual problems are still persisting. Immortal kings and rulers pretending to be staff.” Zeratus rolled his eyes, “One even tried to pretend to be me.”

  “How’d you handle that?” Sai asked, raising an eyebrow. He usually let imposters be unless they were actively harmful to his reputation.

  “I appeared to him personally and put the fear of the endless dark into his heart. Then I used him as a puppet to get things done.” Zera shrugged, “Useful tools don’t usually fall into ones lap, so I used him.”

  “I suppose that’s one way to handle things.” Sai nodded, “He still alive?”

  Zera nodded, “I made him immortal personally. Much to his dismay. I think he’s tried to die in all the common and most of the uncommon manners by this point.”

  The bartender raised an eyebrow, “You’re vicious when you want to be, aren’t you? How long ago was this?”

  Zera’s eyes flickered and spun as he accessed memories. “Two hundred and forty-seven years. Approximately.”

  “Sounds like hell. Not even a chance at a refresh.” The bartender shuddered.

  “That’s the point.” Zera smiled coldly. “If it was a reward, everyone would do it. You’re the one who spread the stories of the curse of immortality. The horrors of what could happen, in vivid detail.”

  “It’s a story worth telling until it sticks. And it has, for the most part.” Sai nodded, “I’d say a job well done.”

  “Except for Greathall.” Zera replied.

  “Except for Greathall.” Sai responded.

  “That problem might go away sooner rather than later.” Zera replied.

  “Oh? Something going on over there? Things finally changing for the better?” Sai seemed genuinely happy. “I should by whoever is responsible a drink.”

  “Vitruvian Vodka with bitter liqueur, lime, and a splash of syrup.” Zera replied with a knowing smile.

  Sai froze and narrowed his eyes, “No.”

  “Yes.” Zera responded, smugly.

  Sai let out a long, low breath, “That… is going to turn violent. Fast. Alexei doesn’t do subtle on the best of days. And that place was already a fissile bomb ready to burst.”

  “I’m aware. I’ve sent a few aides, but I don’t think they’ll be able to keep him in check.” Zera shook his head. “If it gets too bad, I may need your help.”

  Sai nodded, “You know I will. After what he had to do for Emily… I’d follow him to hell and back.”

  “I know. It’s why I’m keeping you informed.” Zera smiled at one of his oldest friends. “Though I’d prefer you temper your hero worship a little. He’s… not the same. Whatever Melvin did, it didn’t work perfectly.”

  “An ego child then? That… complicates things.” Sai sighed. “Anything else I should know?”

  Zera shook his head, “Not that I’m aware of, but with all the data I could be missing something.”

  “You? Miss something? Not a chance.” Sai smiled at the old AI. “Though I’ll keep an ear out and let you know.”

  “You do always find the most entertaining stories. Mind telling me one before I go? For old times sake?” Zera said, before finishing his drink.

  Sai poured him another with a smile. “Of course. Its what I love most, after all.”