Mask of Humanity

Nicolai led Wu—and the drone following her—to the Trade Link, and there they both made several cheap purchases. He'd discussed what they needed, both for losing her tail, and for the plan to come. After that, he checked the drone hadn't followed them inside, then they both entered their portals.

When they emerged and met back up, both wore baggy robes, several sizes too large, padded by additional clothing underneath. Nicolai gave her a quick spray of coolant, and the same for himself to change their temperatures. Then he bent down slightly as he walked, and she did the same.

'Are you sure this will work?' she hissed at him. He'd told her to turn her Link off, as she didn't yet possess the skills to alter it and avoid someone tracking her Local transmissions. 'It's so obvious we're trying to hide, we couldn't be more suspicious.'

'Depends how focused the guy tracking you is. If he's monitoring the drone's visual feed, he'll catch us. But if he's just leaving it all to the drone, this'll work. Remember, software doesn't see the world as you or I do, and tracking software like this is fairly simple. It just compares those who leave to the identifiable features list. It doesn't also look for "suspicious people." You'd need an AI for that.'

They left the Trade Link as part of the crowd streaming in and out. The drone far above was one among hundreds, in this busy area, but Threat Analysis spotted it easily. They moved out of the area. The drone didn't follow.

After travelling for a time, they found a secluded patch of street where they once more opened portals and swapped to yet another set of disguises.

Before getting started, they needed to discuss some things. She led him to an area he hadn't frequented. It was some kind of food, art, and amusements district, which also contained the Gambling House. Based on the flags and the undead on display, it was under the control of House Thrynn.

Thrynn's main oddity was the use of these skinny ghoul-things covered in rune-like scars, as well as ominous floating patches of darkness. He only saw these beings distributed among the more typical armoured undead guards around Bell Towers, however. The House kept them out of the streets, perhaps aware the humans wouldn't appreciate having ghouls around while eating and engaged in leisure.

Wu spent a while considering what was available, eyeing the seating areas and menus. She ultimately led him to a restaurant with an open front, the seating sprawling somewhat onto the street and surrounded by large potted plants. She led him to a table on the side, which he approved of. He preferred to avoid being in the middle of a group of people, if possible, especially if sitting. Being surrounded by others came with numerous limitations on rapid movement.

He grabbed a seat and turned it until its back was against the wall. He settled into it with his back straight and weight forward, ready to rise quickly. He unobtrusively sent his Soul Sense into the wall behind him, and after it had pushed some distance he determined it was thick enough to provide decent protection, only minimal danger of someone attacking through it. She watched him, then settled into her own chair, manner more casual.

She activated her Local Link and immediately Cyberwarfare was on the case. The Module worked to screen and block her signature from travelling far, so that she could communicate with him but would not give off any tell-tale signs to her trackers. Such blocking was easier when someone was remaining still.

'The Quest requires us to start with some trash item, then trade that up to a value of 100,000,' began Nicolai without prelude. 'I intend to practise a few scams that work best with a partner, in order to do so quickly. But the problem is that people will grow wise to these scams. There will come a point where we will simply have to stop, and wait for the people in the Market to rotate—bringing in unaware new victims. If we have to take these pauses, then I believe it will be unlikely we can successfully complete this task. However… if I am able to successfully act as a Cultivator, and you are able to successfully act as someone from Earth—my planet—then we will be able to rotate through the different crowds rather than taking breaks.'

She gazed at him, silent for a moment. 'You know, my people are from a planet called Shenra. You would probably call us Shenrans. I find it quite confusing you always refer to us as Cultivators. A Cultivator is… a Cultivator. Not a person from Shenra. You are a Cultivator, after all. But I would call you someone from Earth.'

She was actually frowning at him. He couldn't read her Soul, it was much better guarded than most, but all indicators told him she was upset. He wondered whether it was truly about the name thing, or if she was in fact less than thrilled at him requesting her aid at running a scam in the Market. 'My apologies,' he attempted. 'I will refer to your people as Shenrans from now on.' He'd actually already learned their proper name, but had simply found it easier to call them Cultivators.

She settled back, relaxing. 'The plan is good in principle. But there's a problem you seem to be missing. I cannot speak your peoples' language, nor can you speak mine. It is obvious when someone's words are being translated, thus—'

She was interrupted by the arrival of a server. It was a small skeleton wearing a bright yellow dress and small, matching yellow hat. Its bones were a clear, clean white, seeming to have some kind of lacquer on them.

'Hi!' spoke the skeleton, eyes flashing with a pleasant blue glow as it turned its head from side to side, displaying its permanent grin. 'Welcome to Leppo's!' It looked down and noted the untouched menus. 'Can I get you guys something to drink, while you decide what you'll be ordering?'

'Do you have Goolong tea?' asked Wu.

'We do! Three blends, in fact!' The skeleton leaned in conspiratorially. 'First up is Misty Wulong. It's smooth and smoky, and aids with focus and memory! Great if you're studying, brooding, or trying to remember the names of your children!' The skeleton chuckled ingratiatingly.

'Second is Goddess of Mercy! Floral and relaxing, it gently untangles your nerves and may even help with curses! Our customers say it's like getting hugged by a cloud.' The skeleton spread its arms happily, as though experiencing that itself.

'And for the discerning tongue—Laughing Leaf Supreme! Infused with spirit pollen, it's a little fizzy, a little sweet, and may cause mild euphoria! Great for a meeting with your prospective husband's parents!' One of those blue-glowing eyes flickered out in what could only be an attempt at a wink.

'Uh… huh,' Wu managed after a slightly stunned pause. 'I'll take the Misty Wulong.'

'Great choice! And how about you, sir?'

Nicolai had no intention of drinking anything served here. But people who are rude, people who don't order, are more memorable. People who do as expected, less so.

'I'll have the same as her,' he said.

'Great!' chirped the skeleton. 'I'll be back soon!'

'Good choice,' Wu told him, smiling. She seemed amused by something. He had no idea what. He wondered whether she'd actually drink it.

'Returning to our issue, I have already solved my side,' said Nicolai, and the moment he did so Wu's eyes widened. Because he spoke in her language. 'As to your ability to speak the language,' he continued, 'that won't be a problem.'

Wu stared at him. It was the first time he'd seen her look at all shocked. 'How did you already learn Shenran?' She immediately answered herself. 'You must've bought a Disc.' She shook her head, frowning. 'But how could you learn and integrate the knowledge so quickly?'

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He smiled. 'I have my ways.'

'You almost sound fluent,' she added. 'Just needs a little work here and there.'

'Thank you,' he replied, after a moment to make sure the sudden irritation bleeding into him from Simulations didn't reach his words. Almost? He and the Modules were pretty sure he was fluent. Simulations and Psychology had gone through it very thoroughly, with analysis of all Shenran speech heard since he'd started interacting with these people. They were semi-merged with him, guiding him, as he spoke the language.

'With your BIS you can quite easily attain the ability to speak Common,' he added. 'You would just need a full-integration language pack. I suspect they'll sell them at the Information Guild. Alternatively, I can simply buy you one from the Trade Link.'

'Wouldn't it take me time to integrate that information?' she asked doubtfully.

'This tech works differently from a Disc or Memory Tome. You wouldn't need to understand it from the get-go. It could just work with your BIS, acting as an almost flawless translator that would convert whatever it is you want to say into spoken word. You wouldn't have perfect control over what was spoken, but just by utilising it you would naturally come to understand the language. It's a very effective way of learning.'

'The next issue,' he continued, 'is that you'll need to be able to spoof your Local ID and data, otherwise people will just track you through it. I'll talk you through it.'

What he taught her was quite technical, but not overly difficult. The tea arrived while he was explaining. She drank hers with every sign of enjoyment. He waited until the skeleton wasn't looking then dumped his into the plant pot beside him. The server might be upset and remember him if he didn't touch it.

'Why did you do that?' asked Wu, staring at him with her mouth hanging slightly open. She looked a combination of shocked and disgusted, an expression which the Mask likened to being similar to as if she'd just seen him take a shit on the floor. She was apparently so surprised she'd become separate from her Link's Local thought-to-speech program.

While he tried to work out how to answer, the Mask, fairly tightly fixed to his face, caused him to shift uncomfortably.

'Wait, do you think I poisoned it?' she continued, snorting. 'That I brought you here to—'

'No,' he said, raising a hand. Normally, he would refuse to explain, but the Mask and Psychology seemed worried this misunderstanding might cause some kind of rift between them, which would be inefficient. So, grudgingly, he continued.

'There is a very low chance that an enemy of mine might use this as an opportunity to poison me.'

Her eyebrow was raised as high as possible. 'I chose this place at random.'

He was pretty sure she'd chosen it due to the combination of an attractive seating area, and the description of some of the items on the menu. Therefore, not random, but manipulable biases which a highly capable enemy could have made use of to lure them here. Even without the Mask, he knew not to mention that. 'Even so. There is a chance. And I do not need to drink at this moment, so there is no reason for me to accept the risk.'

'So you… never drink anything prepared at a… cafe or shop or restaurant?'

'Not unless absolutely necessary.' Centuries ago, when he'd operated on Earth in a human body, his ideal had been either bottled drinks from supermarkets and vending machines, or tap-water.

She snorted. 'Then what do you drink?'

'Do you have one of those coloured water bottles?' he asked, and she nodded. 'They are the perfect solution.' He couldn't help but smile, and his Mask, figuring that would make him more personable, translated that smile into the H-gram. 'A self-cleaning, self-filling water bottle that provides extra hydration. I think they even generate electrolytes, somehow. And they all have an additional effect. They are an amazing invention. I… like them.' Nicolai was very fond of his growing collection of these bottles, and, merged closer with the Mask, he realised he was… gushing, a little. He reined himself in.

She snorted. 'So, what, will you drink from them for the rest of your life?' She was smiling, and raised a hand palm up. The body language suggested she was making a joke, but if so it was beyond his understanding.

'Yes.'

A pause that the Mask found increasingly awkward began to stretch as she stared at him, wearing an expression he couldn't make sense of but which the Mask was sure was incredulity.

'Then why did you buy the tea in the first place?' she asked next.

'I have my reasons.' There was a limit on how much information he was willing to share.

She sat back, shaking her head. 'I have no idea what is going on in your head,' she muttered.

Good, thought Nicolai, while the Mask wondered if she'd realised he was insane. Psychology said she definitely hadn't, or she wouldn't be talking with him. He reminded them both that he was completely sane. At least, he was pretty sure he was. Threat Analysis backed him up, referring to its ongoing sanity calculations which suggested he was currently slightly more sane than the average human. This developed into an argument with Psychology. Nicolai let it fade into the background chitter of his mind.

'Shall we continue?'

She nodded, and they continued with the exchange of knowledge. She would've learned the spoofing method fairly quickly, except that she was interacting with her Link in a purely thought-based manner.

She told him, 'When I first got all this, I kept seeing text I couldn't understand over my eyes. But eventually it seemed to work out I didn't speak any of the languages, and it has been communicating directly with my thoughts ever since. It's a little unreliable, sometimes it gets it wrong, but mostly seems to work.'

What she referred to wasn't the pure hardware-to-neuron connection he utilised, which her BIS would never have suggested, but a fairly inaccurate thought-based method all BIS units were capable of. Once she learned the language, she would be able to interact with it more easily. He still managed to teach her how to spoof her ID, in spite of the difficulty; it just slowed things down.

'My Link is telling me I shouldn't change that setting,' she said, frowning. Her eyes were closed as she focused. 'From what I can gather from the images and sensations it's giving me, it's saying that doing so may be illegal, and will invalidate my… something, guarantee?'

'Warranty. It's telling you that because the corp who made your augments doesn't want to be liable for you manually changing your ID, which is typically done by individuals skirting the law. Fortunately, both the people who would service your Link so long as it remains in warranty, and the people who would consider altering your Link ID to be illegal, are on another planet. I suspect when they arrive here, they will no longer care about either of those things.'

She nodded, and after doing as he'd said he confirmed she'd successfully altered her ID and data.

'Then there's only one other obstacle,' she said. 'Your Soul. You need to be able to alter it, to hide from those who've memorised your signature. Last I saw, you weren't good enough—and this is much harder to learn than what you've shown me with the BIS. It's not just changing a setting somewhere, it's a skill.' She made a face. 'Unless you've improved a huge amount, this won't be possible.'

He couldn't help but note she didn't tell him this until after he'd already taught her how to spoof her ID. But Nicolai had anticipated this issue; it was something he was hoping to get help with. He and Simulations had done quite a bit of work, using the Infiltrator to test, and managed to improve greatly at altering the external appearance of his Soul. But they'd hit upon a skill-ceiling upon realising there were some tricks they were missing. Something they hadn't worked out. Given time and practice—real practice, in the field—they would, but he hoped to learn more quickly by speaking with someone he suspected might be a master.

He shifted his Soul, and watched her. 'What am I doing wrong?' he asked.

At first, her eyebrows rose. 'You have improved, this is much better than I observed previously. However, it's still not perfect, and any mistake will get you caught by someone who knows what to look for.'

Nicolai smiled, pleased to find he'd been right about her. He asked what, exactly, he was doing wrong, and she immediately pointed out several things neither he nor Simulations had realised were tells. Over the next twenty minutes she gave detailed instructions, and his ability to alter his Soul signature advanced in leaps and bounds as Simulations integrated the new learnings.

Initially, she'd given tips in a somewhat bored manner, and when she'd seen him putting those tips into immediate practice, she'd looked as though thinking of leaving. He guessed she'd anticipated he would need to spend significant time performing dedicated practice to fix the problems she pointed out. But with Simulations and the others aiding him, Nicolai was able to implement each improvement rapidly. They used a spiritual framework to program the Soul.

She'd watched his improving efforts with a growing frown, and after he'd put the first few suggestions into practise, all signs of her considering leaving had vanished. She'd continued to give suggestions with an air of disbelief. Afterwards, she subjected him to a stunned, almost disgusted look. 'It took me months of dedicated practise to get to the stage you've reached in minutes… how is that possible?'

'As I said, I have my methods.'

She shook her head. 'That isn't right. It shouldn't be possible. What are you? Who are you?'

'Someone who wants to work with you.' She was looking a little spooked. Best to move things on quickly. 'Speaking of which…' He smiled. 'I believe we're ready.'