Persephone Rising: A Cyberpunk LitRPG (The Persephone Saga Book 2) Read online

  Well, perhaps some answers could come to me through a source she didn't control. I wanted to learn whatever I could.

  "Tell me," I said.

  "How much do you know about the founding of Olympus?"

  I knew what any child of Olympus would know. I suspected it was a sanitized version of history, histories usually were.

  "We were one of the earlier great corporations formed. In a world that was becoming increasingly technical, we were the formation of those who wanted a more holistic approach with a strong emphasis on the liberal arts. When corporations began fully adopting cultures our forebears chose Ancient Greece," I said.

  "And the focus on genetics?" Ismene asked.

  "A natural extension of the idealization of the human form. That same focus on physical excellence would later contribute to the strength of our military," I said.

  Inanna snorted.

  "You've a different opinion?" I asked.

  Inanna gave me a wry smile. "If pieces seem to fit well together now, you can usually be sure it's by design after the fact."

  Ismene said, "She's right. The military aspect actually came first with the acquisition of Titan Tactical, a multinational aimed at worldwide military solutions. Our early genetics arm was an outgrowth of its efforts to engineer better soldiers."

  I hadn't heard any of that, but the name meant something.

  "So, in this case the titan blood being referenced is what? One of their old samples?"

  "They did a lot of experiments that didn't carry over. They were out to fundamentally change the nature of what it was to be human. Under Olympus, that changed to refining and improving the human experience."

  "What does changing the nature of being human even mean?"

  "I'm not sure. Olympians, all Olympians yourself included, are ultimately the refined product of one of those original strains of Titan experimentation. Specifically, the strain used to make better soldiers, which was called Strain Seven. Aphrodite appears to be a variation on Strain Three," Ismene said.

  Inanna smiled thinly.

  "And what are you?" I asked.

  Inanna lifted a brow. "What makes you think I'm any of them?"

  "You're modified as could be, and yet you aren't Olympian."

  "I suppose I'm not," Inanna said.

  "She kind of is," Ismene said. "I haven't said anything before, but she has a lot of our improvements. It's really patchwork, though. I've found bits from the eight, seventeenth, and twenty-fourth generation."

  Inanna's didn't reach her eyes. "I steal power when and where I find it. I am your friend, but if you continue to pry into my business that could change. Be cautious."

  It was probably good advice, but I felt like pushing my luck.

  "You've sacrificed a lot to be here. Why do that, if you want to hide everything from us that might be useful?" I asked.

  Inanna settled back. I think she was pleased by the question. "What does it mean to be human?"

  I wasn't sure where she was going with this.

  I said, "I'd think you, as a biologist, would be better prepared to give a definition than I am."

  "A technically correct way to think of things. Is Ismene human? When Olympus Station was destroyed you were voting on whether or not you found her your equal. Did you vote?"

  "I did, and I know that she is," I said.

  "And yet since you escaped Olympus Station and crashed down to Earth, you've left a very large pile of bodies in your wake. People with families and loves, and friends who will mourn their passing. Are they also your equals?" Inanna asked.

  This was getting uncomfortably close to the sort of conversation I'd expect to have with Anton one day.

  Yes, I had killed a lot of people since coming to Earth. But they'd all either done some very bad things or were trying to kill me at the time.

  I asked, "Where are you going with this?"

  "You ceased making Persephone a role you played and decided to become her. For you to embody this figure of a Goddess that mankind would worship, some would say you stepped up to a line. Then you moved into a gray area and on the other side is something not very human at all," Inanna said.

  I hadn't thought of it quite that way. I couldn't disagree.

  "I'm still not seeing what this has to do with you keeping secrets."

  "You stepped onto a path and there are many roads ahead. Some lead into darkness, some into light, and some into a great unknown," Inanna said. "As I've said before, I am not your wise mentor. You'll need to find your own way."

  I wanted answers and she fed me metaphysical nonsense. Yeah, I'd find my own way. I wasn't going to let anything stop me.

  12

  Columbia called as I was getting washed up. I found a private place to settle in and enter the Network.

  I arrived on the deck of what looked to be a naval ship from centuries ago. Red, white and blue sails rippled majestically overhead, an absurd amount of eagle ornamentation painted on them.

  Columbia was there, smartly dressed with a pair of blunderbusses at her hips.

  "Well, this is a little surreal," I said.

  "Naval battle soon to be underway. Are you and your team deployable?" Columbia asked.

  I guess she wasn't watching the feeds and keeping up on current events. Well, she did seem to have her own problems.

  "Our base got invaded by a band of drug-crazed enforcers. Most of our support staff is down, but our Network team could deploy," I said.

  Columbia frowned "You okay?"

  "Yeah. The team will survive too. We're beaten up, but functional. What's going on?"

  "Attacks on multiple fronts," Columbia said. "Full team of Liberty is off to defend the harbor at colonial Boston. We've got a situation popping up in Prohibition New York. You know the terrain there. Double standard rate, if you can deploy now. Triple, if you win. We don't know exactly what you're walking into."

  Obviously not, if they were throwing around money like that. And they were also desperate.

  "You okay?" I asked.

  Columbia gave me a tired smile. "Yeah. They're pushing us on a lot of fronts, but we're pushing back. Will you do it?"

  "Yeah. I'll do it. Ismene, can you let the team know?" I asked.

  A spray of water from beside the ship swirled into Ismene. "I'll get them. Hi, Columbia."

  Columbia gave Ismene a hug. "Hey there. Like the body. Don't let this one work herself too much, all right?" She nodded at me.

  "Thanks! I worked hard on it. And I try to make her behave, but she doesn't listen," Ismene said, before she swirled out.

  "Good luck," I said.

  "You too," Columbia said.

  I triggered a transition to New York.

  Last time I'd arrived in the city I'd immediately come under fire. At least that wasn't happening this time. The streets were filled with snow and more was coming down.

  Traffic wasn't even trying to move and the few rare souls I saw walking about were bundled tightly against the severe chill. This wasn't any normal winter scene, something was amiss.

  Fortunately, despite being severely under-dressed, my divine flesh didn't get cold.

  I made my way to the one place I thought it likely that I could get some answers, City Hall. The Mayor and I had a rather contentious relationship, but in the end we'd gotten along well enough.

  The reception area was empty. At his office out the back a small cluster of aides gathered around his door. Pushing my way through I saw him at his desk, a roaring fire alight in the fireplace.

  "Alfonso, I see somebody in this city is keeping warm," I said.

  "I see even a surprise blizzard isn't enough to make you put on clothes. I do find it one of your more admirable qualities. I heard you'd be on your way. You have companions coming too?" Alfonso asked.

  "They should be here soon."

  "Then I'll save the briefing and content myself with flirting until they arrive," Alfonso said.

  Fortunately I was spared that when the air shimmered a
nd a weary-looking Inanna and Billy materialized.

  "Next time, perhaps," I said.

  "You can count on it."

  Inanna settled into a chair and rubbed at her eyes. Her tight blue dress fit the period and a pearl necklace adorned her throat. "I'd just gotten to sleep. I hope this is important."

  "Well-paying at least," I said.

  "Sounds like the same thing to me," Billy said, spinning a pistol on his finger.

  "We've effectively been shut down and all commerce through the city has ceased. Prohibition New York is one of Liberty's major commercial hubs and this is seriously curtailing our operations," Alfonso said.

  "It has to do with that blizzard outside?" I asked.

  "Happened yesterday. Which is just after Liberty committed its entire roster to Boston. We have some chilly winters here, but nothing like what is happening right now. Even a few minutes out there is proving fatal," Alfonso said.

  "Any ideas?" I asked the others.

  "Not any hero I know who could do something like this," Inanna said, with a shrug. "But more keep popping up every day."

  I didn't think it mattered who was doing this so much as how. If they were bringing this winter, then we had to find out how, and a way to put a stop to it.

  "You need to give us something to work with," I said.

  Alfonso let out a low breath and nodded. "Give me a bit of time then. Let me get my team calling around and see what I can find out."

  The Mayor rose from his desk and stepped out into the hall.

  Inanna said, "I'm worried. If they're affecting a whole city like this, then we're dealing with a force of nature. They're difficult to stop."

  "I'm a force of nature," I said.

  Inanna gave me an amused look. "And how simple are you to put down?"

  She had a point. I might not be driving any cities to the brink of destruction, but I was unstoppable in my own way. The cities and the destruction part might come with time. I'd noticed a lot of variety in what the different sponsored heroes could do. Some like Columbia were fearsome in a fight, but didn't seem to have much else that made them unique in terms of ability.

  "If you find whoever it is, could this winter ability be something you'd be able to steal?" I asked.

  "Maybe. I can usually steal something either being focused directly at me or that I have permission to steal," Inanna said. "When something like this weather is affecting everybody, my ability doesn't always work."

  That was interesting to learn. How that factor of her power operated.

  We sat for a few minutes before the fire and when the Mayor returned he looked unhappy. "I've got nothing. I called the police—those still on duty—and the major bosses in town. They haven't seen anything. But it's no surprise. As soon as the blizzard picked up everyone went inside and hid."

  Fantastic. They were going to be no use whatsoever.

  "I've got an idea. A few of them, actually," Inanna said.

  "Call down a rain of fire to heat up the city?" Billy asked.

  "What? No? Why would I—no, not that. This is not our fourth date and you're not screwing Surtur and stealing her sword again," Inanna said.

  I stared at Billy, who gave a roguish shrug.

  "Was our date actually a good one for you?" I asked.

  "Never had things go so smooth," Billy said.

  The man was a magnet for horrible dates. It was kind of impressive, and exciting, and I wasn't going there right now.

  "What other ideas did you have instead?" I asked Inanna.

  "Thermometers. Whatever is causing this is likely creating an area of intense cold around themselves. You get me some readings and I might be able to narrow it down," Inanna said.

  That was a good idea.

  "I can do that. The cold doesn't bother me and I'm fast on my feet," I said.

  Inanna said, "I'm going to climb up one of the bigger buildings and get an aerial view. Weather like this might be forming some kind of vortex where it's coldest. If the temperature readings don't work, it gives us a backup plan."

  More good thinking.

  "What about me?" Billy asked.

  Inanna shrugged, I guess she didn't have much in mind for any bank robber. I did.

  "I want you to check the local banks," I said.

  "We're paying you. We won't appreciate being robbed too," Alfonso said.

  "Whoever is behind this knew it was going down, and by your own admission your police force is trapped inside," I said.

  "Might as well print out an invitation to rob you blind," Billy said.

  I agreed.

  "Find out where they'd hit and see if you can find anyone doing just that. Take them alive, if you can. We might need them and I'm sure Columbia would appreciate some answers as to who is behind this," I said.

  Billy tipped his hat.

  We had a plan. I wished that there was more to it, but this would do for now. Once we had the source of this cold we could confront it and see about putting things right.

  13

  Fortunately, the city hall had an accurate thermometer we could borrow and Inanna marked off places on the map where she thought I should check.

  Even with my speed and the streets clear of traffic it took me a few hours. While I really wasn't bothered by the temperature I was in bare feet and when I encountered ice I had little in the way of traction. I fell on my ass more than once.

  By the time I made it back to City Hall, Inanna and Billy had already returned.

  "Any luck?" I asked, moving over to a map and marking down the temperatures.

  "Nothing visible from the sky," Inanna said.

  "It's a town full of criminals. I had robbers at every bank. Every, single, one," Billy said. "Didn't bring anyone back alive. They all started shooting. You draw on me once, you don't do it again," Billy said.

  That was fair, if unfortunate.

  "We're going through the bodies and seeing if we can find any that don't belong," Alfonso said.

  Well, at least we'd have protected some Liberty cash with this little excursion. It was something to justify our paycheck.

  "Central Park," Inanna said, tapping the map. "It has to be. That's the origin of the cold."

  The park was the center of natural power in the city. I'd helped to preserve it the last time I was here. It hadn't occurred to me that whatever was projecting this cold might use the park as well. Now, it made a certain amount of sense.

  "Let's go then," I said.

  Inanna and Billy didn't have my immunity to the cold. Perhaps my perpetual state of near-nudity was actually an advantage in scenarios like this. They were each bundled in such heavy coats it looked like they were making a polar expedition. It can't have been easy to move.

  Their breaths left thick clouds in the air as we finally approached the park. Trees were bent over with the weight of snow and a few had shattered.

  I passed my hand over the snow, trying to generate my usual field of flowers. They appeared, briefly, and then promptly froze crystalline and lifeless.

  "Guess you'd better not die," Inanna said, with her teeth chattering.

  If even she was affected by the cold, it had to be vicious.

  The snow nearby swirled to reveal a man with a wispy white beard and a craggy face, standing and watching us. "You shouldn't be here," he said.

  Billy drew a gun and fired, or he tried to. The cylinder simply clicked and nothing happened. Could it be too cold for gunpowder to ignite? Was that even a thing?

  "I don't think we've been introduced," I said.

  "Morozko," the man said. I shook his hand. Whatever this might be, it didn't have to be hostile unless he made it so.

  "We ask that you leave the city," I said.

  "No, I have just settled in. I will stay," Morozko said, folding his arms.

  Billy kept trying to shoot him. I had to give him credit for going with what usually worked. Shot after shot clicked though and nothing happened.

  "Yield or be driven off," Inanna said.r />
  Morozko shook his head. Inna surged towards him, drawing a dagger, and just as she was about to reach him he vanished into a puff of chill air and reformed a moment later.

  "Too much a coward to face me head on? Do it you sniveling, gutless worm," Inanna said. It was an attempt to goad him. If he used his powers directly on Inanna then she might be able to steal them.

  Morozko didn't look bothered, giving her a cheerful smile that only seemed to piss her off more. Inanna charged again and he disappeared before she got there, materializing a safe distance away.

  Inanna and Billy were looking more chilled. I still didn't feel it, but Billy fumbled with frozen fingers with his gun trying to change the rounds and dropped it into the snow.

  "Tree," I whispered under my breath. Beneath where Morozko was standing a massive oak erupted from the earth. Again he dissolved into a cloud of mist.

  We were doing our best, but nothing was having any effect. How did you fight a force that wouldn't fight back? The tree exploded from the cold. Protected by their heavy coats Inanna and Billy were driven back, but I was impaled, several frozen shards of wood piercing my body.

  It wasn't all that unusual for me to be the first to die, but it was strange not to have a way back afterward.

  I stumbled back into the snow, my muscles no longer working that well. I still didn't feel the cold, but I felt my wounds. I saw the crimson staining the pristine white around me.

  Billy exploded. Much like the tree, the cold finally became too much for him and he ruptured from the inside out. Whatever else he might be his avatar here was human, not divine, and far more sensitive to the cold.

  Inanna was faring better, but not good enough.

  "Fight me," Inanna roared and threw the dagger. It passed through a whiff of frost and buried itself into a nearby snowbank.

  I was taking a good long time dying and she was a good long time trying to incite something that she might exploit to her advantage. In the end she collapsed unmoving into the snow.

  Morozko appeared near me, looking down at my sprawled form. I gasped, "I give you this. You're effective."

  "Flailing at the winter rarely does one any good. Still, people try. They always try," Morozko said, sitting in the snow beside me.