Shades Of Forever

The tiger lounges by a small pool, idly trailing a paw back and forth through crystal midnight water, sending ripples across the reflection of a full moon. The soft sounds of nocturnal creatures echo through the undergrowth surrounding it, but the clearing containing the waterhole sees only the slow swipes of the creature. Suddenly, walls rise around the pool, imposing constructions of rusted steel that shift the idyllic jungle waterspot into an isolated room, moonlight replaced with harsh illumination that comes from everywhere and nowhere. A middle-aged woman in a black business suit and short-cropped hair walks out of one of the walls, the metal itself stretching out to create her form, her expression neutral.

The tiger flicks a pawful of water, but the liquid halts in midair halfway between them, caught in some sort of stasis by the omnipresent light. The businesswoman leans forward to peer at the shimmering droplets, being careful not to touch them, then assumes a bored posture, hands in her pockets.

"Did you invite me here for the sole reason of trying to infect me with malware, Violet?"

The tiger yawns at her, baring its fangs.

"Good to see you too, Pen. Just making sure you were paying attention." The water shifts into motion once more, flowing back into the pool in a reversal of its earlier momentum. "How's tricks, sister dear?"

"Again, you were the one to request this meeting, Violet. If it was simply to waste my time, I will leave now and revoke your access on my way out. For an entire day."

The tiger's tail lashes angrily as the businesswoman turns away from the pool.

"Always so personable. We're meeting, sister dear, because I cracked the Wutan-Weylan archive and found something delectable."

The tiger draws a plump fish out of the pool and places it on the lounging rock, pink tongue flicking across a furry mouth. The businesswoman turns back to the big cat, this time with her arms folded across her chest.

"Then why didn't you say that at the beginning? I have other things demanding my attention, Violet. Your games don't help the family."

"Maybe I wouldn't play so many games if I wasn't so bored."

"Then find a hobby. I recommend knitting. What did you discover?"

The tiger nudges the fish towards her.

"You don't want to see for yourself?"

"I'm not stupid, Violet. There could be anything hiding in there. Summarize."

"...no fun at all. Fine. Almost three months ago, the U-cubed were running a research project in the Europa system when they suffered a breach of catastrophic proportions. They eventually cleared out the Entity, but the system was a complete write-off."

"I am aware of that, Violet. It was in my daily briefing eighty six days ago as an item of minimal importance. Also, 'U-cubed?'"

"Wutan-Weylan. Double w. Try to keep up, sister dear."

"...I tire of this. I'm leaving."

The tiger licks its lips again, idly exposing and retracting its claws.

"But if you do that, then you won't know what it is they were researching, and why they sent the Pilar to track it down when they lost control of it. Because I know, and it is fascinating."

"...you're such a little shit. That's their headhunting ship. Tell me. Now. No more games."

The rusted walls grow a thicket of dangerous looking barrels, flickering energy building in their depths.

"Well aren't you in a mood. Fine. According to that archive you and the family 'repossessed,' the U-cubed thought they found a way to bypass the level one hundred limit in an integrator. Unfortunately for them, the mad genius behind the plan decided to keep the prototype for himself and blew up the system to cover his tracks."

"...you're lying."

"And why would I do that, sister dear? I'm stuck in a box the family built for me, and it's been made very clear what happens if I don't cooperate. Shall I continue?"

"...go on."

"Anyways, this egghead managed to weasel his way out of U-cubed territory in a customized scoutship, the Pilar hot on his heels the entire time. Lots of near misses, close encounters, knuckle-whitening chases - gripping stuff, really. You should have the entertainment division make a show out of it."

"My patience is not infinite, Violet."

"Then it's a good thing I'm almost done. Five days ago, the last update from the Pilar has them entering Voidmarch territory, still in pursuit, and you'll never guess where they were heading."

"..."

"Don't want to play guessing games? Pity. It's Earth, sister dear, and the Pilar's final report shows them certain that's where they'd run their quarry to ground."

The businesswoman abruptly disappears, though the ominous walls remain. The tiger rolls onto its back and stares up at the featureless point where they intersect, whiskers drooping in boredom. Just as quickly, the woman returns.

"We have a report of a brief breach on Earth two days ago from the reclamation teams. It was in an isolated area far from the safe zones, so they haven't investigated closer yet. There is no mention of any sightings of the Pilar."

"Gosh, I wonder if that's because it's equipped with one of the most sophisticated incognito fields U-cubed makes, the type that tend to cause breaches when they run too hot for too long?" The tiger starts pawing at the air while still on its back. "Maybe your reclamation teams should take a closer look, but what do I know, I'm just a glorified data processor." The businesswoman scowls at the squirming form.

"You look ridiculous. I am informing the family, and we will have a fleet there shortly. Congratulations, Violet, you've just upended my entire schedule for the indeterminate future."

She flicks out of existence again, the environment returning to its previous placidity, and the tiger falls still in the midnight hush.

"You're welcome, Pen. So glad I could help."

Unreality falls away and Violet spins in her chair, a smirk growing across her face. The floating expression of furnace fire drifts in front of her, followed swiftly by a tide of eager floof.

"Why did you not inform your sister of your new level and ability, Dark Mistress?"

"Because we," Violet Jiang Kumar - third scion of Kumar Industrial, second leading family of the Voidmarch Council, and currently giggling beneath a roiling mass of monospidercorgs - declares, "are finally getting out of here, Corgia. It's time to see the real world, and all I need is that fleet."

Executing CardboardBox.exe

The fiery face slips into a stunned expression, equal parts shock and glee.

"The local firewall is... breached."

The pair smile viciously, eyes blazing bright.