Silver Medal 2: Going for Gold (Patreon)

Well hey folks! Happy September all - god this year is shooting past. 

This week's story is a sequel to the Silver Medal story I did a while back, where a fantasy setting finds itself on the losing side of an advanced tech invasion... Well, it would if maybe the scientist in charge were perhaps a bit more confident...

It was fun to return to that world and develop things a bit more (and drone conversions are always fun). I hope folks enjoy this sequel!

-

R.A.5 – No, wait, her name was Rasha again, right, that was hard to get used too – gave the blonde woman in the white lab coat the flattest look she was capable of giving. “Mistress, I really must object to this entire plan. You can’t just send me away on a mission as long as this! I’m your bodyguard, I’m supposed to be around you twenty-five hours a day, nine days a week! I can’t protect you from across the city.”

This was, she felt, a reasonable complaint. Sure, Mistress was everything and her commands were to be obeyed without question, but sometimes she had stupid ideas and needed to be told as much. Sending one of her strongest units away for an extended period of time sounded exactly like that kind of occasion.

But Mistress Adelaide, of course, thought otherwise. She just rolled her eyes and adjusted her glasses. “That’s just your protection programming overreacting,” she said, fiddling with a tablet in her hands. “I have a full hub filled with drones to protect me if anyone discovers this base-“

“A hub which I successfully infiltrated without you being any the wiser, and I only got caught because I tried to rescue her.” Rasha jabbed a thumb over her shoulder at the other drone – EL1 – who was currently receiving an update to her programming in her alcove, a visor shining a wide array of hypnotic colours into the woman’s receptive mind. Once upon a time, that drone had been Lady Eliza Val, the heir to one of the biggest fortunes in the city, until she’d fallen into Mistress Adelaide’s clutches. And once her update was done, she would be again – sort of. Mistress had, at last, perfected the technique to restoring her drones personalities – just with their loyalty to her now hard coded to her.

Rasha had, in fact, been her test case for that very process – her personality awoken a bit at a time, steadily moving her from another empty, mindless drone, to a drone with the persona of a rogue adventurer, with all the skills and memories there of. Indeed, even her equipment had come back to her, her nanosuit reconfiguring itself into an approximation of her old armour and tools as her purpose had been updated – though with some adjustments, like a lower cut top and tighter pants, because Mistress liked to look at hot female bodies and Rasha definitely had one of those to show off.

It had actually taken a number of weeks for Mistress Adelaide to complete her work, and properly awaken her rogue servant, allowing her the capability of independent thought, even if it was subordinate to her own orders. But now she knew what she was doing, the process only took a few minutes, which was why EL1 – why Eliza would soon be ready for ‘the plan’. Now if only Rasha could convince her Mistress that the plan needed to be scrapped.

“Yes, well,” Mistress Adelaide muttered, her face flushing adorably red. “I’ve, ah, upgraded my security since then. With your help, even, so there shouldn’t be any further problems…”

That was… true, kind of. One of the first things that Rasha’s owner had done once she’d been converted – after trying out her bedroom programming, anyway – had been to address the weaknesses in her base that had allowed the rogue to sneak in. Now there were cameras and guards watching all of the potential entrances a thief might use, and potential assassins were going to find the whole place a lot more difficult than they might have expected.

But that still didn’t make Rasha feel comfortable at the idea of leaving her Mistress’s side. Sure, her loyalty to the woman was programmed into her, artificial through and through, but so what? It was still her first and foremost priority, and doing this would not only have her leaving her side, but it would also weaken her protection by depriving her of Rasha’s services. Obviously that made no sense at all!

“Even so, obviously as your strongest unit, I should-“

“-Be placed where you can best utilize your skills and experience for maximum efficiency!” Mistress interrupted smugly. “And for you, that’s out in the city, serving in the Adventurer’s guild. I need well placed drones to increase my influence and start gathering political power before the guilds start sending out real heavy hitters, which means I need you climbing the Adventurer ranks, and EL1 infiltrating the nobility.”

She seemed so proud when she talked about her plan. Obviously, Rasha couldn’t help but find that adorable – she was programmed to.

“But Mistress, your safety is still this drone’s first priority!” She couldn’t help but whine, all the same. “You should have the strongest protection by your side at all times. And that means me!”

“Oh Five…” Mistress Adelaide smiled and took her slave’s hand. “You will be protecting me. By doing this you’ll be in the perfect position to capture plenty of strong adventurers to become my new drones, and increase my security force. And you’ll be able to weaken so many of the big institutions which are going to get in my way. I know separation will be hard for you, but it’s for the best – at least for now.”

It was hard to argue with. Rasha still tried. “But-“

“And it’s an order, as well.” Mistress’s tone firmed, and she raised an eyebrow at her slave. “So no more arguing.”

Damnit. Well, that was that then. Her Mistress’s orders couldn’t be disobeyed. Rasha simply nodded, feeling her worry and irritation evaporate now that they were in conflict with her programming. It wasn’t long before she had forgotten why she was concerned in the first place. “Very well, Mistress.” The reprogrammed drone nodded, and then looked back at EL1 as the visor powered down – and the woman, still panting after her hypnotic training, was released from her alcove. Already, EL1 – Eliza’s nanosuit was shifting in the same way Rasha’s had, transforming from a simple silver bodysuit into a more seductive version of her former outfit, in this case a long purple dress and an embarrassingly high amount of gaudy jewellery. She’d be returned to her family in the city above as though she’d never left – as far as they would be concerned, anyway.

Rasha looked back to the blonde in the lab coat. “I guess I should ask then – is there anything else you’d like us to deal with once we’re up there?”

And that was when Mistress Adelaide’s face took on an expression Rasha wasn’t sure she’d ever seen her make before – a sinister, shadowy grin spreading over her lips while her eyes glinted. “Oh yes,” she said, a chuckle in her voice. “Yes, there’s someone I’m very keen to have a proper… reunion with. And I have just the tool that you can use to arrange that with~”

The enslaved thief paused for a moment. And then… “Have you been practicing that look in the mirror?”

Her Mistress immediately deflated. “I- ah, the orb has provided me with several studies that say it’s important to present the right presence while dealing with… um…”

Yep. She’d thought so. “Keep practicing, Mistress.”

- 

The city hadn’t changed much since she’d seen it last – even if Rasha herself had. It buzzed and thrived and shambled in complete organized chaos, a civilisation built on greed and adventure. After all the time she’d spent in the metal hive hidden beneath the streets, it felt uncomfortably messy. In the hive, each and every drone had a purpose or function assigned to them. If they weren’t doing something productive, they were resting or being reprogrammed in their alcove. All knew their place, following the will of their Mistress. But out here, people flittered and fluttered according to their own unknowable whims and follies, with no coherent guiding structure or meaning. It was almost unpleasant.

But she just had to deal with that – she had her orders, and she would see them through. That was her function, after all. It was just a bit of difficulty adjusting, that was all.

No one seemed to notice, at least. Her return to the Adventurer’s Guild had been a mildly warm, if amused affair – after all of the time she’d been missing, it had been assumed she was either dead, trapped, or hiding out in the tropical sun reaches after stealing something valuable enough to set her up for life. At least, that had been the assumption of anyone who’d cared, which wasn’t many. Rasha tried not to let that irritated her. She’d always been rather anti-social.

Of course, in the hive, any disappearances would be noticed immediately, and security wouldn’t rest until the missing drone was located… But this was the City, after all.

Fortunately they’d easily bought her cover story – that she’d been captured and held prisoner, and it had taken her a while to escape. It helped that she was able to provide evidence, in the form of Eliza Val, even, who was completely willing to back up her story. And Rasha was certainly willing to accept the incredible reward for recovering the good Lady after all of this time. Oh yes, very willing indeed!

It was a strange feeling, actually. Once upon a time, all of this gold would have been a dream come true for the thief. With this she could finally afford all of the things in life that she’d thought she wanted. A nice home. Fine meals. Expensive clothes and equipment. Rich finery with all of the trimmings. And yet now, none of that meant anything to her. All she wanted was for the good of the hive. Everything else felt pointless and empty.

How foolish she had once been. It was luck that Mistress Adelaide had seen fit to enlighten her.

Instead of baubles and frippery, the gold went towards enhancing Rasha’s own status. She made sensible investments, and bought the right friends. It was easy, once the money stopped mattering to her. Advancement in the guild had never been her priority before, but now it was something she needed to do to fulfil her mission, and she went about it with deadly efficiency. Missions she normally wouldn’t have bothered with were taken and completed in record time. Alliances she wouldn’t have thought of making were formed and exploited. And very quickly, the thief was ascending the ranks, and becoming a name to know within the guild.

That was step one.

And so far so good. In a matter of weeks, Rasha had become a rising star. Now it was time for that star to aim itself, and slam into its target. Or… Something. Honestly, how stars worked wasn’t exactly Rasha’s field, she wasn’t an Astromancer. Whatever. Yes, she had a target – and that target was now starting to slip into her reach.

Yes – Archmage Tolivra, the woman who had been the primary opponent of Mistress when she tried to bring her ‘science’ – which, honestly, Rasha still didn’t entirely get – to the people of the city. The woman who had organised the seizing of Mistress’s goods and her banishment from the city. Oh yes, Mistress had plans for this one. But first, of course, she had to be retrieved. Something easier said than done – the woman was rich and powerful. She had her share of enemies – Mistress wasn’t the only one that she’d screwed over. She had defences, wards, body guards, the works. In fact, trying to catch her while she was in her own domain – a tower on the wealthy side of the city, just by the river – was practically suicide. She was just too well prepared, it could never work.

No, if you wanted to catch Archmage Tolivra off-guard, you had to do it somewhere else. Somewhere she thought she’d be safe. Which was exactly the plan that Mistress Adelaide had come up with – and now, as Rasha examined her invitation to the City’s Summer Ball, as a representative of the Adventurer’s guild…

… That was exactly the plan she was about to carry out.

-

The Summer Ball was the event of the season, hosted by the Patrician’s house, and attended by the richest noble families. Securing one’s self a ticket was an impossible task – unless you were a resourceful hero with the right kind of contacts, and someone who was in good with a noble lineage like, say, the Val family.

The guild had practically begged Rasha to attend before she’d even suggested the idea herself. Well, that suited her just fine.

Preparing to attend had taken more effort. She’d needed a small fortune to secure the right clothes, to be trained in the right way to speak, to learn the rules of the social game ahead – she was a street rat, after all, and the nobility were another breed of vermin altogether. Fortunately she had a large fortune to spend, and her dedication was inexhaustible. But the time the Ball arrived, she was well prepared.

She arrived in a carriage drawn by magical steeds, strolling down the red carpet and greeting, mingling and flirting with the other attendees as she made her way into the building proper. The sheer amount of wealth on display made her blink, admittedly – sapphires and ruby chandeliers, golden ornaments and finely cut marble statues, the finest of foods and the most lavish of displays… - but she quickly recovered. Honestly, this was just like any other kind of mission – she blended in, slid beneath people’s attention, and got herself into position without anyone being the wiser. Sure, this place was a bit glitzier than the usual dungeons she infiltrated, and the people were a little cleaner, but ultimately, it was business as usual.

… And it wasn’t like she’d never robbed some rich guy’s house, either, so…

Her focus was uninterrupted. Wealth meant nothing to a drone, anyway. Mistress could manufacture as much gold as they needed, if they ever needed any. All of this glamour was… quaint, but meaningless. No, there was only one thing that mattered here – her target.

Archmage Gwendoline Tolivra was a busy woman, even here at an ostensible party. She was always moving around the room, flanked by a small, ever shifting crowd of people looking to discuss business deals or make arrangements with the Mage’s guild. Amongst their number, Rasha’s sharp eyes easily detected the pair of bodyguards who remained at her side, even here. Really now, how paranoid could you get?

But then again, was it really paranoia if they actually were out to get you?

The thief-drone hid a smirk. It wouldn’t help her. The trap had been set the instant that the two of them were in the same room. All she needed to do now was get in near enough to close it.

And getting close was so easy! The Mage’s Guild and the Adventurer’s Guild had long had good relations – many apprentice mages worked as part time adventurers to hone their craft in the field, and the Mage’s Guild’s main supplier of exotic and strange reagents was the Adventurer’s Guild. The two had a long and well entwined history – something that the Adventure’s Guild had used to its advantage when the other guilds had begun to wane, and the mages had become one of the bigger political forces in the city…

So it was only natural when Rasha slid into the crowd, giving her target a polite, well-practiced smile even as she slid between her and the latest half-dozen men striving to get her attention. “Archmagus! How wonderful to see you. Are you enjoying yourself?”

Her greeting was overly friendly and far too confident, considering the two had never met before – but that was exactly the point. The exuberance put her target on the back foot, and that was all she needed. “Oh, hello…” The woman paused, eyeing Rasha’s attire for some clue as to who she was, and finding little to nothing. “… Miss. Yes, the Patrician has really outdone herself this time. She must be having a good year. But forgive me, have we met…?”

“I’m afraid not,” Rasha admitted, looking somewhat sheepishly. “I am but a humble representative from the Adventurer’s Guild, wishing to thank you for all the work you’ve done with us over the years. Your insights have saved my skin on more than one occasion.”

“Ahh,” said Tolivar, with a knowing smile. “Of course. Were you involved in the Lighthouse incident, perhaps?” A mage was always delighted to hear that their accomplishments were getting out there in the world, and this one was no different.

“Among others, Archmagus. The Guild is grateful, and you certainly have my personal thanks.” Rasha bowed, and then took the mage’s hand and planted a gentle kiss upon its back.

There. It was done.

“But I shouldn’t waste your valuable time!” The thief said, straightening up and carefully schooling her face so as to stop herself from smirking as she let herself slip away through the crowd. “You have… many admirers tonight who wish to pay you thanks, and I’ll not keep you from them. Again, Archmagus, you have my thanks. I hope we meet again.”

“Ah… Yes, I’m sure we shall…” And like that, Rasha was gone, and the mage returned to her business, the odd encounter completely forgotten. Just as planned.

The thief didn’t even try to hide her smirk as she crossed the ballroom now. Her task was half completed, and the rest would be done by sun rise. Perhaps Mistress would even recall her back to the hive if all went well… But probably not. Ah, she could be so stubborn…

Oh well. With a shrug and a sigh, Rasha turned her attention to the rest of the ball. A familiar face caught her eye – Eliza Val having gathered a small circle of noble women to chat to over by one of the drinks tables – women who all fit Mistress Adelaide’s tastes, the thief couldn’t help but notice.

Heh.

Still satisfied by a job well done, Rasha snagged a glass of champagne from a passing tray, and strutted over to join the group. Her fellow drone might need a hand preparing this lot for conversion…

-

It was well past dusk when Rasha found herself hopping across the rooftops of the city, her fancy dress morphing back into her normal leather jacket as she went – nanosuits were so very useful. The bitter chill in the air didn’t bother her – the midnight skies of the city were practically her second home. Instead she merely enjoyed the view of the city, the one that would one day belong to her Mistress, as she navigated her way into one of quieter residential districts and located the building that she’d set up as one of the hive’s many safe houses.

All was quiet as she arrived, which suited her perfectly. She didn’t need anyone else to see what happened here tonight except her guest, who would be arriving shortly. The front door creaked as she entered, and she was pleased to see that everything was exactly as she’d left it. Really, there wasn’t much here for anyone besides a member of the hive – it was deliberately bare. A pair of chairs, a table, a few shipping crates, and thick curtains for the windows. This wasn’t a place where she kept resources – this was a place where she conducted business, away from distractions and prying eyes.

Not that there was any of that to be done here yet. She was early – which was better than being late, she could say that for certain. Still, hopefully she wouldn’t have to wait too long…

It was twenty minutes later when the door creaked again, and Rasha looked up from sharpening her knives to find a rather confused looking Archmagus cautiously stepping in, the door closing behind her. The woman paused there, just past the doorway, her sharp eyes scanning the room before coming to rest on the only other occupant.

Who was happy to greet her. “Ah, Gwendoline! I was wondering when you would get here.”

The mage’s eyes narrowed, though she made no move to leave. No, instead she stepped into the house fully, walking over to the table and resting her hands on the back of a chair. “No warning from any of my alarms. No reaction from any of my wardstones. Not even my colleagues realised something was wrong. Whatever curse you’ve worked upon me is very impressive – but be aware, I will discern its workings before long, and you will come to regret ever drawing breath in the same era as me.”

“Oh, I don’t use curses, Gwenny,” Rasha said with a smile. “Now sit, please. This won’t take long.”

“Archmagus.” Tolivar’s narrow eyes tightened into a fierce glare. “My title is Archmagus.” And yet despite herself, she found her body sitting down anyway.

Rasha smirked. “Such ranks have no meaning in the hive,” she said with a shake of her head, before examining the woman in front of her closely. Gwendoline Tolivar was on the cusp of middle age, having not quite crossed the threshold, and still looked remarkably young – something which the thief was happy to attribute to magic, given how many frowns the woman probably went through a day. Her hair was long and brown, straight with a hint of a curl as it ended just above her waist. Her dress was still the official robes of an Archmagus, deep blue with stars embroidered across the fabric, hiding everything from her ankles to her nape. Unflattering, Rasha decided, as to her trained eye it seemed that the mage had quite a nice body concealed beneath the dress… But that was mages for you.

“I don’t care what your strange little cult or whatever thinks of ranks,” Tolivar growled, waving a hand dismissively. “I have earned my title, and you will address me with respect.”

Ohhh yeah, this one was a total control freak. Even finding herself slipping away from her bodyguards and marching across the city against her will hadn’t shaken her out of the illusion that she was in control. Again, typical mage.

“Sure.” Rasha just shrugged. It really didn’t matter. She stood up and retrieved one of the few supplies that she’d brought with her from one of her bags – a metal box, long, flat, about as big as two palms – laying it on the table gently.

Her ‘companion’ licked her lips nervously. “What’s that?” She asked, still trying to sound as if she was on top of the situation, despite clearly having something of an inkling that things were going wrong.

Rasha didn’t answer her directly. “You know, Gwenny, I was telling the truth when I said I didn’t curse you.” Carefully, she ran her finger under the lip of the box, catching and releasing the clasp. It opened upwards, revealing its contents: A large metal ring, in shining silver. “Do you know why it is you came here? Why you snuck away from your own protectors, why you used your own magic to cover your tracks?”

The mage just rolled her eyes. “Impudent little… I suppose you have another name for the spell, do you?”

“No.” Rasha laughed and shook her head, gently lifting the ring from its container. “Really. No magic involved. This is all tech stuff. My lipstick…” She tapped a finger against her mouth for a moment. “It was treated with specially programmed nanites. As soon as I kissed your hand? You were done. Little machines, smaller than you can even imagine, seeped into your skin and entered your bloodstream, sailing all the way up to your head, where they started reprogramming you. Taking control of your body, making sure you made your way here alone. All that power…” She smacked her lips. “With just one kiss. Great, right?”

If she was hoping that her explanation would impress, she was sorely disappointed. Gwendoline’s flat look clearly stated that she thought her captor was quite mad.

“Yes, I see. A thousand small enchantments layered in your lipstick? I’m sure the idea sounds amusing, but that’s quite impossible. And if you’re playing around with powers like this without understanding them, I advise you stop and release me now before you get in truly over your head and rip your soul apart. I’ve seen it happen far too many times in my life.”

Rasha sighed. “So stubborn, Gwen. You know, you’d probably understand what I was talking about if you’d ever paid attention. Instead, you just kicked any ideas you didn’t like out of the city. Mistress Adelaide’s a nice girl, you know? If you’d just let her sell her stupid kettle, she probably would have been happy and wouldn’t have sent me to enslave you and turn you into one of her drones!” She clicked the ring open, two halves connected by an invisible hinge in her hands. “Ah well. That’s how the pocket’s picked, right?”

“…” The Archmagus was still for a moment, weighing up Rasha’s words carefully. Even if she was a mad woman, she was clearly leading up to something here. “I should mention,” she said, finally, as her captor began to circle the table, “that the Mage’s Guild offers very reasonable rates for hostage exchanges…”

“Hah!” The thief-drone couldn’t help but laugh at that idea. “Sorry, Gwenny – we have something else in mind for you.” And then she snapped the ring shut around Tolivar’s head, locking it tight around her brow.

The effect was immediate. Rasha had never really seen it from this side before – she’d never been directly hands on with recruitment – but she remembered the sensations from when it had happened to her all too well. The confusion as the glass visor slid out across her vision, and lit with a dazzling array of colours. The strange tingling feeling across her skin. The mild flinch as sounds began to play in her ears from nowhere, hypnotic and low, steadily lowering her guard.

The growing, sticky feeling of intense energy building within her mind, steadily drawing in all of her thoughts…

And then-

Click.

A sudden pressure, and the mind shut down, leaving an empty, obedient drone in her place. Yes, Rasha remembered it well. And as she watched the exact same expressions pass over Gwendoline Tolivar’s face in rapid succession – Confusion/irritation/discomfort/dazed/shocked/Blank – she felt them all echo within her once again, and enjoyed the blissful rush. Ah, the day she’d become her Mistress’s property… The happiest day of her life.

How wonderful that she could grant this blessing to another…

The ring powered down, the low pitched whine that had filled the air during its operation coming to aa cease. It wasn’t powerful enough to give the new drone its full programming – that would take a proper initiation back at the hive. For now, Rasha would have to give her the basics.

“Drone. Stand at attention.” She watched as the drone who had just a short time ago been Archmage Gwendoline Tolivar shoot up to her feet, ramrod straight, arms at her sides, eyes focused blankly ahead. Good.

“Drone, self designate: Unit G.W.3. Confirm.” Her words were clear and precise. She knew from first hand experience that drones didn’t really have the imagination to work out what their orders meant, after all.

And in return the new drone didn’t give her any trouble. “Confirmed. Unit now registered as Unit G.W.3.” The former mage’s voice was flat, and a lot more pleasant to listen to without all of the ego and scorn that had filled it before.

“Good. Drone G.W.3. is to enter stasis mode until awakened by another hive unit. Understood?”

“Understood.” Again, the drone’s expression didn’t change. “Drone will enter stasis mode until awakened by a hive unit.”

“Execute.”

Immediately, the light behind G.W.3’s eyes, already flat and empty, died completely. Her head bowed, and while she remained standing, it was quite clear she wasn’t home. It almost looked as though she was sleeping standing up…

“Well,” Rasha muttered with a sigh, “that’s definitely an improvement. Let’s get you shipped, newbie. I’m sure Mistress is going to love you.”

She wasn’t speaking hyperbolically. This was why she’d stocked the place with shipping crates. After all, who would be looking for a vanished high-class mage in a furniture box? … Well, maybe a few people, but they wouldn’t be looking hard if the box never crossed the city gates. The box would definitely attract less attention than the mage herself – and it wasn’t as if the drone would mind. She literally couldn’t!

And so Rasha gently carried her new sister over to such a box, and carefully placed her within it, nailing the lid shut – though leaving plenty of airholes, just in case – to keep her secure. In an hour, a pair of drones dressed as carters would arrive, pick up the crate, and convey it to the Hotel De Glitz, where it would soon make its way downstairs to the hive in the basement. And thus, within a matter of hours, Mistress Adelaide would have the prize she wanted so very much. Ah, a happy ending.

Rasha, of course, would be staying up on the surface for now – but hopefully her loyal service would earn her a reprieve and a recall back to the hive, where perhaps she could even serve alongside her new recruit, both mindlessly serving their Mistress’s needs like the good drones they were. That was another happy ending, of a sorts.

Until then, though… She had a city to conquer, in her Mistress’s name. And until she received further orders, she was going to do just that. She would bribe, charm, and recruit her way to victory, one step at a time. At the rate she was going, it wouldn’t be long before the Adventurer’s Guild was in the palm of her hand. And if she could get a few mages while Eliza corrupted the nobility… Well, it felt like the day this city finally became theirs was a lot closer than it seemed.

… But that was a story for another day. For now, Rasha was but a humble adventurer, her eyes ever on the prize…

… And Gwendoline Tolivar was but a mindless drone, her empty head sleeping, awaiting a Mistress to wake her up, and claim her property. It was a far cry life from the one she’d led as one of the most powerful archmages in the city… But she wasn’t going to complain.

She would just obey instead.