Piper wished she could have been surprised, but 'justice' in Hadrian was a fairytale concept she'd long since given up on, short of doling it out herself.

Of course Mazvinar Karga, architect of one of the worst incidents of illegal tech use in Hadrian's blotted history books, wasn't going to answer for his crimes. He stood there, well fed and glowing with the kind of arrogance that only a lifetime of living in another world could provide, backed up by some of the heaviest security in the city.

In the end, all she could muster up was a weary sigh, and a roll of her eyes.

"No need to be like that, Piper," Karga said. His voice was sharp and staccato, a hint of Novgorod sanded down by years of living in Hadrian. "I think, perhaps, the time for conflict has passed. Don't you?"

"I wouldn't go that far."

"You kidnapped my sister," Toran snarled, taking a step towards the man.

"And you tortured my daughter," Karga spat back with a sudden burst of venom, his eyes flashing to where Lenor stood, "so spare me the moral outrage."

"What about my sister? My mother?" Piper's apathy quickly vanished in a pyre of anger. "They're not part of any of this! They never were!"

He gave a scornful snort. "Don't be an idiot, Russell."

Her mouth dropped open. She didn't have an answer for that statement that wasn't violence. Cassie roiled inside her, reinforcing that visceral gut reaction and she started forward, only to find Odiye beside her, one hand gently closing around her wrist as she started to draw her amplifier.

She felt the crackle of his skin on hers, then the deep plunge of his implants, both of them plummeting into the depths of each other. Piper thought about pulling herself free. She didn't want this distraction, not now, but having been out of his orbit for even a little while, the effect seemed to have multiplied tenfold.

But it felt good. It felt calm, having that link to let some of her fury and frustration mingle with someone else's, diluted and filtered and swept back into her with some of the sharp edges dulled.

Breathing out, she let Odiye gently push her amplifier back down by her side. She gave him a nod and mouthed a silent thank you.

He gave her wrist a reassuring squeeze before releasing her. All eyes returned to Mazvinar Karga, who in turn surveyed the scene with the expression of a man trying to figure out how he might dispose of a corpse.

"Dad," Lenor piped up, walking through the debris from the fight to stand beside him, "we should finish this."

"If only it were that simple," he muttered.

"They broke into Oversight! That's enough reason right there."

"And what then? We need leverage, not more bodies piling up." He gave her an irritated glance. Lenor scowled and folded her arms, but she knew better than to argue.

"I think," Karga said, his words measured, "we can all agree the current situation is turning into one of diminishing returns."

"We can all agree?" Toran snapped off the words with barely suppressed fury.

"Things have gotten out of hand." He nodded, trying to look solemn. Karga continued, "you remember a time not so long ago, don't you Mr. Knox? Where everything was running smoothly. The board controlled AmpCore, we were free to pursue whatever interests we wished. All before... this." He made a gesture to Piper.

"Oh, so this is all my fault?" she laughed. "Didn't realise your system was so fucking dog-shit that it only took a little dock-rat like me to come knocking on the door to bring the whole thing crashing down." She caught Odiye's smirk out of the corner of her eye, and it only emboldened her. "You want to go back to the good old days, go right ahead, I don't give a fuck. But don't act like this is anyone's fault but yours."

Her voice rang into the night through the open air of the quad. Karga breathed out a sigh through his nose as he regarded her, before turning his attention back to Toran.

"My point, is that Hadrian survives through negotiation. Through mutual respect."

"If you wanted my respect, you shouldn't have tossed my sister into a god-damn cell," Toran hissed.

Karga raised a hand. "An overzealous act." His eyes flashed to Vinder for a moment before he continued. "One which I will rectify."

"Oh, you will?"

"The charges will be dropped and Brogan will be released into the custody of your father's agents as a gesture of goodwill."

"Since she never should have been charged with anything in the first place, you're going to need to do a little better than that."

"And I shall. I will speak with Conan directly. It is time we put a stop to this fratricide."

"So you're going to let them walk out of here?" Vinder spoke up at last, shooting Karga a bile-filled glare.

"Yes, Mr. Tovas, I am. And so are you. I think you've been given more than enough leash to pursue your... personal vendettas. It is time for the adults to put an end to this."

"I'm not a child," Vinder growled, "and I don't work for you, Skiltron."

"Vinder," Lenor interjected pleadingly, "don't. Don't push this. There'll be time."

"Uh-huh." He clicked his tongue, and spared Toran a disdainful glance. "Guess we'll have to wait for round three, eh, Knox?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

Vinder chuckled, then turned away and stalked off, leaving a cold cloud of bitterness in his wake.

"Now," Karga continued, unperturbed. "Does this sound acceptable to you Mr. Knox?"

"I want to see Brogan walk out of here with my own two eyes," Toran replied. "You do that, then we'll talk."

"Agreed." He pivoted, his eyes locking onto Piper. "And you, Miss Russell? We really cannot afford to have a ... wildcard like you running amok in the city. This offer is conditional that you attend, and agree to return to the AmpCore system, at least in a limited capacity."

Piper's jaw tightened sharply, every bone reacting against the ultimatum. She'd only just gotten out of this damned mess, and now they were steering her back in, like getting guided right into a fresh prison cell. She was about to tell Karga exactly what she thought of his conditions, when suddenly Arrow was by her side.

They leaned close, their normally calm features contorted with anxiety. "Piper, please think about it," they whispered, "this isn't just about you."

"I know that."

"Then act like it, please." Arrow leaned closer. "If we can stop all this... this lunacy, maybe we can help you. Deal with the real problem." Their eyes were beseeching, and with a sinking feeling in her gut, Piper realised they had a point.

Her lips twisted angrily. She could stride out of this place, go make war on the whole world, but this mess would be waiting, chaos and carnage with her friends caught in the middle of it. Exhaling a deep breath, she sheathed her amplifier.

"I get it." She gently eased herself loose from Arrow's grip, then looked up to Karga. "Alright, I'll play," she said, and started walking towards him.

The guards started to move to block her path, but Karga raised a hand sharply to stop them. He waited patiently as she strode across the space between them, stopping a couple of feet away. She unfurled her fingers and clasped her hands together in front of her, looking him in the eye.

"Yes, Miss Russell?"

"I'll come to your little... conference," Piper told him, her tone almost sweet, but laced with an undertone of rage, "but only if I see my family first."

"I'm not sure that's necessary."

"I assure you, it is." Her implants glowed beneath her skin, energy surging through her body to heat the air around her. She kept her hands clasped innocently together, and never looked away from Karga's face.

To his credit, he stood his ground, even as the sweat beaded on his cheeks from the rising temperatures. His jaw clenched and he held her gaze.

"I want to see my family," she continued, "and then I want them taken out of this. All of it. I want them in a new apartment away from this fucking snake pit where none of you scheming bastards will dig them up again. It's me you want – it's always been me, so have the backbone to act like it."

She let the heat dissipate a little as she waited. Lenor Karga had her amplifier out, ready to strike, but even she wouldn't override her father. Mazvinar kept his eyes fixed on her for several seconds, before his broad shoulders heaved with a sigh.

"I suppose that's reasonable," he conceded. "I'll see to it."

"No." Piper shook her head. "I'm not going through this again a year from now when another corporate pissing match kicks off. I want someone I trust to deal with this." Looking back over her shoulder, she beckoned Odiye forward.

His face flickered with surprise for a moment, then he jerked into motion, walking quickly over until he stood beside her. He stood straight, hands behind his back as he gave Karga a wary look.

"Him?" Karga looked Odiye up and down.

"Yes, him. Odiye Tambo. He'll make the arrangements." She hesitated for a moment; glanced at him. "That is, if you're-,"

"I'll do it." He nodded emphatically.

Piper had to swallow down a rush of gratitude as she returned her attention to Karga. "Well?"

He didn't want to do it. She could see that. He'd hoped to keep some measure of leverage, but the reality was, Mazvinar Karga had as much to lose as anyone else. He wasn't even supposed to be breathing free air right now. The wrong move could have him tossed right back into that cell if those backing him didn't feel like he served their interests anymore.

Self-preservation beat his ego, and he nodded.

"As you wish. Mr. Tambo, I will have a secure data packet transferred to you. Then I will send the details of our meeting. I would suggest you all make the effort to attend."

*

It had been a while since Piper had seen her family without the filter of a viewing screen. Although not – as she had discovered – blood relatives, Annabelle and Arden Russell were the only real family she had in the city. Her real mother was nothing more than a shadow presence, her father a lost AmpCore operative, presumed dead. Just a name floating around with nothing to attach it to.

Guilt wrenched at her as she grappled with just how long it had been since she visited them.

"You okay?" Odiye asked quietly as they lingered outside the door.

"I... yeah. It's just, I think I've been away too long." Her fingers tangled and untangled in front of her. "I kept meaning to come see them, but, you know, there was just one thing after another. Over and over. They probably think I abandoned them."

"I doubt that." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Do you want me to go in with you?"

She managed a weak laugh. "No. No, I don't think that would help."

"Alright. Well, I'll be out here if you need me." He smiled. "And, Piper?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For trusting me with this. It can't have been easy."

"Shit, Odiye, I've been acting like such an arsehole to you," Piper told him with a snort. "I'm sorry. What I said when I left. I never should have said something like that. You didn't deserve it."

His smile faded and he gave her a solemn nod. "I appreciate that."

"Yeah." She bit her lip. "I do trust you. You know that right?"

His hand fell from her shoulder. "Honestly, Piper, you do not always make it easy to be nice to you. I understand why you hate the corporations, but I have been trying to show you that we are not all alike."

"I know."

"Me, Arrow, even Toran, we are all just doing the best we can. I think, sometimes, you could do with remembering that."

"I know, I know." Piper felt her cheeks reddening. Here, in the calm and quiet, there was nothing to lash out at. All she could do was listen to his calm words and let them sink down into her bones. She huffed out a breath through clenched teeth. "Alright, I'm ready."

Odiye smiled again, stepping back from the door out of sight. Then he triggered the release, and the smooth plated metal slid out of her path.

Piper stepped into the room, feeling more uncertain than she thought she would. The corporate apartment they'd afforded her family was a sprawling, decadent thing, unsuited to someone from the docks.

A fishtank lit by a turquoise light almost filled one wall of the main room, easily three meters long and half that high. Colourful fish flickered briefly, looked after by a habitat auto-program. Soft blue-purple bars lit up the apartment in a calming lilac, curated by some self-proclaimed guru of meridian lines and auras.

She stepped out into the front room, where she found her mother and sister waiting, anxiety thundering off them in tangible waves.

"Piper! Holy shit, where have you been?!" Arden Russel kicked out of the sleek apartment armchair and sprang forwards.

She was taller – at least, Piper thought she was – as her little sister slammed into her in a fervent hug. Her short, pixie-cut of brown hair swished violently as she wrapped her arms around Piper's neck and hauled her close, strength belied by her slight frame.

When they stepped apart though, she noticed a decidedly corporate tinge to her sibling now. Old Arden would have happily cut around in a tank top and shorts, but now her nimble, elfin frame was outlined in a sleek, tasteful business dress of grey and black. She did, however, also sport a new hoop of a nose ring; blue metal and gleaming in the light.

"Look who cleans up nicely," Piper joked.

Arden laughed, giving her a light thump on the shoulder. "Well, some of us had to start contributing to society again, didn't we? Thought you'd fallen into a bloody code-hole."

"Yeah." Her smile turned awkward. "Sorry. There's been... a lot going on. Where are you working right now?"

"Got a gig with Sable-Torque Fabrications, junior planning apprentice." Arden shrugged. "Couldn't just sit around living off other people's good will you know?"

"Yeah." Piper shuffled from one foot to the other as she groped for the right words. "And they've been treating you okay?"

"Well enough, for a 'dock rat'."

"Where have you been, Piper?" another voice cut them off.

Feeling a twang of trepidation, Piper stepped back from Arden, letting her gaze drift to the other figure in the room. Her mother had not jumped out of her seat. Annabelle Russell remained reclined, legs crossed in a grey armchair, a half-smoked cigarette glowing in her right hand, the fingers of her left tapping slowly against the armrest.

"Hi, mum."

"I asked you a question." She leaned forward, her face stony. "It's been weeks, Piper."

"I know. I'm sorry. There is a lot happening out here that you don't know about." Piper had to fight down her frustration, resisting the urge the scream that her mother had no idea what she was dealing with. No idea about the hell breaking loose in the city while the corps sat around punching each other in the face.

"I heard you talking with your friend – Tambo isn't it?" Annabelle said, slowly stubbing out the last of her cigarette. "So we're being moved? Again? That's why you're here?"

Piper sighed. "We don't have a choice."

"What happened? I thought this was done with. I thought your friends were going to leave us alone because you agreed to stay at AmpCore?"

"That was the plan, mum, but things have changed. Fucking corps are trying to rip each other to pieces," she explained. "They were threatening you, trying to keep me on the sidelines."

"Maybe you should stay out of it," Arden said, her voice small. "I mean, you could, couldn't you? You could just come back, live with us; get a normal shitty job like everybody else."

"It's not that simple," Piper replied, her heart twisting at the hurt expression that flashed over Arden's face. For a moment she considered telling them about all of it, about the rogue cyborgs, Holly, and the thunderous presence reaching out to her across the water. In the end, she decided it was too dangerous.

Instead she folded her arms tight, looking back to her mother. "Odiye's agreed to relocate you, and I've got guarantees that you're both off limits now."

"You really think that means anything?" Arden exclaimed. "I'm not shutting myself up in another one of these fucking safe houses while you go on doing whatever it is you've been doing all this time. I've got my own life to lead."

"Arden, I know-,"

"This is a good job, Piper. I might not have a magic wand and bloody implants, but I can make crypts, and I can look after us. I'm not giving that up. That means I'm going to be out on those streets, whether you like it or not. I can't stand around waiting for big sister to bail me out every time some spiv comes knocking."

"I'm not asking you to give anything up," Piper said quickly, her voice pleading. "Odiye will make sure no-one else knows where you are, and you'll have a security detail to make sure it stays that way. Code-Vector operatives. I just need you to be careful, okay? This is the last time. I promise."

"I don't see how that's a promise that you can keep," Annabelle told her, her face now tight with pent up anger. "I think maybe you should just go, Piper. Get your friend to make his 'arrangements', and maybe when you've dealt with ... whatever this is, you can find some real time for us again."

The words sank into Piper's chest like icicles. She felt her implants ripple with a blend of anger and disbelief. Even with everything that had happened, she hadn't braced herself for her mother's cold anger. As tears threatened to come, she twisted around and walked out of the room.

The door thumped shut behind her.

She just managed to wipe her eyes before Odiye could see.