58. New Magic: Serena Moretti
Her day begins at dawn. No alarm is needed to signal the start. It's a routine she's maintained for years now. When she falls asleep tense like that, she wakes no matter how early the hour.
2:40 AM. Serena snaps awake like a blade unsheathing and checks her holographic calendar. Every date slot is crammed full—no empty spaces. Everything's filled with red and black text. And at the top, the blinking schedule.
The branch manager who's been bickering nonstop with Zailek. Normally, this slot would be for a director meeting, but Viktor Kral's disappearance has left the director's seat vacant. So that... nameless manager's probably angling for it.
'As if that's possible.'
They moved a step behind Zailek, so Luthien's getting pummeled unilaterally. HQ's starting to turn its eyes toward the Southpeak branch. If they keep showing nothing but losses in this situation, the outcome's obvious without thinking.
So right now, sending support to the Southpeak branch would be a huge win for Serena. Even if not immediate gains, in the near future, when that dimwit manager claws his way to director... there'd be plenty to squeeze out of him.
'Still, no can do.'
She's swamped with Westtown business as is. Finding the missing Viktor is one thing, but intel's coming in about Neonic's suspicious movements in the Wasteland. On top of that, her work as connector Lena keeps her busy. Some shadowy force swinging megacorps like toys—she needs to dig up every scrap of info on them.
But between those two, the priority's clear: Luthien director duties. That's the name and weight keeping Serena breathing.
"If only the chance would come..."
Serena murmured without realizing it. That's how desperate she was for it. She wasn't asking for a knockout punch—just some opportunity worth a glimmer of hope. If that's too greedy, then at least plant a debt in the Southpeak branch for an escape hatch in a pinch...
Wishing that, Serena rose from her seat. She shrugged off her robe—worn as sleepwear—and headed to the bathroom.
"Lights on."
A curt command, and lights flicked on from the living room through all five rooms and the bathroom. Simultaneously, a notification pinged in her peripheral vision: credits deducted. She ignored it, entered the bathroom, and turned on the water. Another identical notification for the lights. For an average Eden resident, it'd be enough to kill the lights and shut off the tap immediately. A week's living expenses just to flip a switch and run water.
But Serena didn't care. Water rates climbing, power bills soaring, food prices through the roof—her balance wouldn't budge. Factor in the physical assets stacked inside her home, and she could live forever without working.
But she couldn't. Serena knew Luthien's taboos too well. Quit and walk away? Her head rolls, brain yanked out before she hits the door.
That's the megacorp executive life everyone dreams of. But you can't complain about the hardship anywhere. "Rich kid problems," they say. Spot on. Sounds spoiled to normals, ridiculous to non-normals.
"News."
Serena felt the weight of the warm water and listened to the announcer booming straight into her head. Premium news like this costs credits too. Free feeds are junk info and fake news galore.
"Hmmm..."
Southpeak's still a warzone, Northrica a true paradise. Drop one bomb on Northrica and she'd die happy. Nah, they'd block it easy. Tactical nuke maybe for a real hit.
Harboring such idle thoughts, Serena finished her shower. She let the bathrobe soak up the moisture roughly and sat in the makeup room chair. Instantly, a woody-scented breeze wafted from above, while a footbath rose from below for light care. Credits again, of course. But if this buys a moment's peace, it's worth it.
As Serena thought that—
—Ding! An alien chime pierced her peace.
"...What the hell's this guy's deal."
Pierced? More like shattered it. And it wasn't an internal alert. External—contact to connector Lena.
"Tired already..."
Today's off to a bad start for sure. Kinked from the morning. Hoping to end the call quick, Serena answered looking extra disheveled.
[Hey, Lena.]
Still that stunning face she couldn't get used to. If gods exist, this madwoman must be their one fuckup. But knowing her true nature? Just chilling and terrifying.
"...Soo. Do you know what time it is?"
[Nice early morning.]
Look at her. That greeting alone proves she's nuts. What could make her call at this hour? If it's not important, maybe tease her a bit as Luthien director.
A mischievous thought with a sigh. "Sigh... Yes, nice early morning. Calling with video at such a fine hour means important business, right? What is it?"
[Beat up a Marco Tech employee, turns out he's Neonic subsidiary. Help me out.]
Serena blinked, face going dumb like she'd taken headshots. "What the fuck?"
Couldn't parse that mismatched combo. Marco Tech's some rando corp—why beat them, and why's Neonic involved?
[Oh, and you know anyone at Luthien?]
Serena scrambled to piece words together in her head. Not Soo's problem, of course.
[Friend runs security and interiors firm—wants into Luthien subsidiary.]
"What's that...?"
Massive info dump before she could sort it. But Serena acted fast. Left a message to Southpeak branch manager via her line, canceled all schedules after.
"Let's meet first and talk. Where are you?"
[Come to our office. Cleaned it spotless.]
"Got it. Then..."
Serena's eyes flicked to the clock. 3:13 AM. Three hours just to get to Soo's office...
"See you at 7 AM."
[We can eat breakfast together.]
"No, I'll grab something on the way. Eat separately."
[Eating alone's lonely.]
"It's fine. Already cracked an energy bar. Big, high-cal one. Took nutrition supp capsule too."
Soo grinned on screen. Mischief brimming.
[Okay. Sending address—see ya.]
"Good morning."
"Nice morning."
Soo waved, releasing the old-school corded phone.
"...Yes, good morning."
Teasing again? Or sincere? Arriving at Soo's office, Serena was already tired reading her intentions from the jump.
"Good to see you too, Enoch, Angela."
"Yeah, been a while."
"Hi, nice to see you again."
Quick greetings done, Serena gazed out the window. Not the fully open panorama from her place or Luthien HQ. Crowded, drab buildings stretching out. But not bad. For a merc office, pretty decent view even.
"Impressive eye, elder."
"Right? Wanna move next door, Lena?"
"Contract's got ages left—tricky."
Soo crunched snacks on the table, deeming greetings enough, and cut to the chase.
"Can you help?"
"Definitely on Marco Tech. But Luthien integration? Can't promise. So... best not expect too much."
"Yeah, if not, oh well."
She said that, but Serena was scheming to fold Wolha into Luthien somehow, and Soo was dead sure she'd pull it off.
"Soo."
"Yeah."
"I have a question too."
"Yeah."
"Proof Marco Tech's Neonic subsidiary?"
"Guy was hauling a Neonic mobile vault—not on the market yet."
At Soo's words, Enoch hauled over a mangled Neonic vault from the corner. Serena's pupils quaked wide.
She knew what that was. Luthien tracked rival megacorps deep. That's why the shock—no repulsor could rip it like that brute force.
"...Who did this? What was inside?"
"Dunno."
No denial, no claim. Pointless. Leaving Serena with deep, gnawing doubt—that was Soo's play.
"...I see. Scant info, but enough to peg it Neonic subsidiary. Then why... why 'first punch and see'? Why the 'first'?"
Soo chewed a cookie thoughtfully, then spoke.
"They had magic."
Serena's jaw dropped slack.
"You know what magic is, right?"
Serena tried to rise... couldn't. Invisible force crushed her down hard.
"Serena."
Soo called her name in that state. Not to the connector—but Luthien Biotech director.
"Serena Moretti."
Soo grinned lazily.
"Oops, wrong name?"
Now it was Enoch and Angela's jaws dropping slack.