protocol_01.06: collision domain

The worst part about their fight, in the end, was that Elsa seems entirely content to just let it go. She didn't mention it at all when Anna woke up only a few hours later. And Anna would have said something, she had wanted to say something, but Elsa sounds so much better in the morning that she can't bring herself to. She's not...she's not hiding from the truth. If Elsa doesn't trust her with this, well, she'll just have to make her trust her by not poking at it.

Plus, Elsa's all prickly and hissy about it right now. God knows her own mood just gets worse whenever someone prods her on an off-day. If she brings it up again right now, Elsa will just shut it down harder.

She'll just wait it out. Let Elsa lower her guard a little, and then Anna can beat her over the head with taking care of herself. Well, as much as she's able, wherever she is.

"Hey Anna. Could you scan in those documents?" Elsa says, interrupting Anna's breakfast and halfhearted watching of a 24-hour news program.

"Sure thing," she mumbles around her spoon, carrying the bowl with her when she gets up to feed the pile of papers into the scanner. She flops back onto the couch, miraculously not spilling anything.

There's no word of a break-in at Iwakura, thank god. Sure, she could just ask Elsa, but Anna is pointedly using this to show her that she can totally do some of this. Even though blacksider scuttlebutt is usually far better than news programs could ever hope to be. It's the economics portion, which is, at least, something sort of like useful.

The talking heads seem to be all over some major corporate announcement anyway. Well, the announcement of some corporate announcement, specifically, which is about the most pointless news story ever. And how all the megacorps are reacting or not reacting. Synergen seems more concerned about their new train lines, Ichiban-Bijou is scrambling, and Helodex's response is the one they're discussing. So, Helios is the one with the useless announcement. Go, go power of deduction.

"What was that about Helios?"

Anna blinks. Okay, not the topic she would have started on, because it isn't like Elsa can't just find out for herself. But maybe she's actually listening to her about spreading herself too thin.

Yeah, live in hope.

"Some sort of big closed press conference they're going to be having."

"That's it," Elsa says softly.

"Huh?"

"Anna, you need to get into that conference."

"Wait, what? That conference? The Helios one? Please to be explaining."

There's a thread of excitement in Elsa's voice, one that she can't remember the last time she heard. "Helios, Anna. It's all leading there. That's why Iwakura put the records off-net." She pulls up an electronic version of one of the papers Anna just scanned on-screen. Something is highlighted. "This mentions Haskell, who is most likely -"

"Alice Haskell, CEO of Helios," Anna breathes.

"Bingo."

"You cannot possibly be thinking about hacking Helios."

"I already have."

"What?! Are you crazy?"

"Crazy like a fox," Elsa purrs.

"Oh my god. Elsa. Helios? You hacked Helios?" She knows she's getting worked up. Of all the crazy things she could have done, her sister hacked a megacorp? After a goddamn glitch? A noise escapes her throat that is arguably not even human.

"Anna, breathe. I went in and looked. The infrastructure is practically alive. I can get in, but I can't monitor it." Her tone turns wry. "I did actually listen. That's why you need to go."

Oh. Okay. Still, though. "Okay, so you did that. Wait, why do I have to go?"

"Because monitoring Helios without getting caught is going to split my attention too much. So I need you to go in so I can get Olaf to do it for me."

Okay, this actually sounds like sanity talking. Although, she really can't let the mention of the little AI go past without commenting. "I still can't believe you wrote an AI and named it Olaf. You suck at names."

"It's an acronym! It stands for Original Life Artificial Form!"

"You made that up after."

"Anyway," Elsa says, apparently trying to maintain some dignity. Anna does a little victory dance. "Anyway, if Olaf can keep a backdoor open for me, I don't have to keep watch."

"And you need me to get him in there."

"It is easier that way. Less traceable."

"And I'm supposed to do it at that press conference? How exactly do you figure that?"

Anna can almost hear Elsa sighing. "The press conference isn't being held at Helios. Therefore, someone's going to connect to an outside network. Olaf will just catch a ride back."

She nods absently, forgetting herself for a moment. "Okay, that much makes sense. Wait, if it's not at Helios, then where is it?"

"Didn't the news mention it? It's at the art museum."

At that moment, the news holo helpfully switches to someone outside said museum. Anna's works her jaw a few times. Thank god Elsa can't actually really see her, she looks like a fish right now. "The museum? Are you serious?"

"Yes. Apparently, they think this is important." Elsa's tone is drier than the goddamn Sahara. "Think of it like old home week."

Anna licks her lips. "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of," she murmurs.

The art museum means going to the Upper City. It means going back to streets and skybridges she hasn't walked in three years, walking among the thoughtless wealth and privilege she'd once taken for granted. It means climbing back into that skin and not recoiling from it all.

Anna knows she can't live like that anymore.

"I thought I left there for a reason."

"You did." There's a pause, like she's weighing something. "And I don't like it either. It's been three years, but it just takes a little bad luck, and someone could recognize you."

"I've changed!"

"You still wear your hair in pigtails."

"Rude, Elsa. So very rude." She sighs. "Still, though. Going back Up there..."

"I admit I'd feel better about it too if you had backup. Physical backup."

Anna tries to hold back a wince. It's bad that Elsa said what she was thinking, but it's worse now, with the spectre of her limitations hovering over everything anyway. It isn't fair. It's why Anna will do it anyway, bad feelings be damned. "But who? T and Doc don't exactly pull ops."

"You could ask Adze. He's been helpful before." And Elsa sounds too damnably reasonable with that.

Because he has, it's true. But he's been getting in close. It's been the two of them for so long that Anna doesn't know how she feels about bringing in another person. Because sooner or later, Adze would start asking questions. He should be asking questions. And Anna doesn't know how to answer all of them yet.

So she has to ask. "Are you sure? I mean, he's nice, really nice, almost too nice. Seriously, he helped us out twice and one of those was for free. Who does that?" No one, really. Too many people playing the game, working the marks. People like Prince are the norm, people more likely to kill you with kindness, the kind that sinks its claws into you and drags you down. Because it's been three years, and Anna has met no one like Adze.

"Apparently him. It's not ideal, but I don't know of anyone else. But it's your call."

Anna blinks. "My call? Why mine?"

"Because he's watching your back, not mine."

She can't help the scowl that crosses her face. "It's both of our necks. You're in a worse position than I am."

"I'll be fine."

"You don't know that! They could kill you!" She really, really hates the flippant attitude her sister seems to have to her own well-being. This is getting to absurd levels.

"Unlikely." There's a pause, and Anna can almost imagine hearing the sigh. "But your concern for me is noted. Now will you please let me be more concerned about you who is going to be going back into that nest of vipers?"

And this is almost like victory, so she'll take it. "All right. I'll head down to Sanctuary and see if he's available. He's not bad."

"I am sure he will be thrilled to hear it."

"So," she says, ignoring Elsa's commentary, "how are we doing this?"

"Well, in theory, you and Adze will be getting in through the front door. I've already managed to access their guest list. If Adze agrees, Sophia and Elliot Donovan will be attending Helios' extra-special event."

"Well, that'll be different." A thought strikes her. "Wait. Is this a fancy thing?"

"Likely, yes."

"So...you're saying Adze and I would be attending a fancy event, at the art museum, together. Like, together together."

"It's an option."

"An option, she says." Anna throws her hands up. "Just what game are you playing, Elsa?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Anna narrows her eyes. Yeah, she doesn't believe that for a second. "Yeah, sure, right." Ugh, whatever. She'd rather deal with Elsa being playful than Elsa being broody. "And why would I choose this option?"

"Well, there's always the ventilation system."

"I hate you so much sometimes."

"I love you too." She sounds disgustingly cheerful. "Now go to Sanctuary and see if Adze is available if you want him."

"Ugh, fine." To be entirely fair, they've never worked with someone else more than once. Most blacksiders didn't. If you ran a job with a person more than once, you start thinking about them as crew. And "crew" for them has meant "Arc and Rime" only for the last three years. Adding more crew is always dangerous down here in the net of shifting loyalties and desires and ambitions of the Undercity. Adding crew means more trust.

But Anna also knows that Elsa wouldn't even have suggested Adze if she hadn't run a thorough background check. And her background checks were crazier than the Feds'. At this point, Elsa probably knew more about Adze than Adze knew about himself. It was a bit of a breach of unspoken blacksider code, where handles are used instead of names to prevent exactly that from happening. But Elsa - and Rime and Frost - has always been an entity onto herself, and Anna won't ask anyway. That her sister suggested Adze's help with this speaks louder than anything else anyway.

She has this in mind when she opens the doors to Sanctuary and strolls in. It's early morning, so the place is mostly empty except for the few sleepy blacksiders trying to drown in their coffee and eggs. T looks up at her from behind the bar; if she didn't know the woman got by on four hours of sleep a day, Anna would be wondering if she had an insomnia problem.

"Going off shift soon. You want anything, you know well enough where it is," T says pointedly. "Keys is in the kitchen if you want something more complicated than a banana." Sanctuary itself doesn't shut down when T officially closes the bar for a few hours. Some of the regulars, like Keys, slide into cover the kitchen and nobody's dumb enough to try anything when T's not there.

Anna pouts. "T, don't you trust me with the stove?"

T gives her a flat look. "No." She wipes down the bar one more time before flipping the towel over her shoulder. "But that's not why you're here, is it?"

"No. Have you seen Adze?"

T is really good at these assessing looks, god. "Thought you were with him last night."

"Um, yeah, well..."

She is thankfully saved from her mumbling - goddammit Elsa, now would be nice to speak up instead of just listening like Anna knows she is - by T taking pity. "This time of day, Adze usually spends his time at the clinic. Least that's what Doc tells me."

Anna nods. "Thanks. I'll check."

T hums a moment. "How's Rime?" she asks, almost neutral if you didn't know her.

Still, she can't help but pulling a face. "Fine. Same as ever."

"Right." She sighs. "I don't know whatever it is you and Rime are chasing, Arc, and I won't ask 'cause everyone down here's chasing something. But...just watch yourselves, okay?"

Anna swallows hard, suddenly a little choked up, and nods. She doesn't even want to try to speak, because between T's concern and the prospect of going back Up, well, she isn't going to last long. Because this is moving fast, really fast, and it's like she's on a runaway train, and there's no breaks. But she couldn't stop herself, not now, even if she wanted to. Which she doesn't.

Her feet carry her down the street a few doors while her thoughts race ahead. Doc's clinic isn't much too much to look at from the front, just another dingy small storefront. The real clinic is downstairs, with all the best meds and equipment the black market could provide. Or not provide. Anna seriously has no idea how Doc got her hands on most of this stuff, and she'll never ask. Doc's one of the only sources of actual medical care in the undercity, and she won't charge a cred for people who really need it. Still, Anna's seen Doc pull miracles on a less-than-shoestring budget that the Upper City hospitals would have declared hopeless.

There's a kid in ragged clothes sitting in the waiting room when she walks in. Even though he doesn't raise his head, Anna can still see the tear tracks on his face. But he's more focused on Adze, who's kneeling in front of him applying a bandage to his knee with surprising gentleness, and Sven, who's apparently fine with the kid's grip on his fur. From the looks of it, Adze has patched up a few scrapes on the boy.

Sven thumps his tail, and Adze looks up to see her in the doorway. "Doc's busy downstairs with a patient."

"Actually, I was looking for you."

"Oh. Give me a sec." He turns back to the boy. "Well, Ben. Good news is I don't think we're gonna have to cut it off." The boy giggles and Adze smiles. Anna feels something fluttering in her chest. "How're ya feeling?"

The boy, Ben apparently, smiles shyly as he swings his legs experimentally. "Better," he whispers. "Thank you."

Adze ruffles the boy's hair. "If you give one of the treats on the desk to Sven, we'll call it even, okay?"

The grin he gets in return is wide and toothy as Ben races over to the desk, duct-taped shoes slapping against the old tile, the dog following at his heels. "Just one!" Adze calls before turning to face her fully. "Um, hi. You know, when I said 'don't be a stranger', I didn't think you'd show up today."

"Hah hah. Well..." she shrugs. "Funny that."

"So what brings you around here?"

"Like I said, looking for you." Anna sighs and twists her fingers together. Stupid nervous habit, why is she doing it now? "I, uh, might need your help. Again. Tonight. I think it's tonight."

"Yes, it's tonight." Dammit Elsa, you couldn't have reminded her earlier, like before she started babbling?

"Oookay. With what?"

Wow, are her fingers interesting. "There's the Helios press conference. I need to go there. Well, we need to go there, Rime needs a thing done, but I have to physically go there and...right. Press conference."

"Not seeing what you need me for."

She sighs. Oh, screw it. "It's at the art museum. And someone wants me to have backup. As in backup there. So...yeah. You're about the only person either of us worked with recently that didn't make me want to stab their eyeballs out, so."

"Uh thanks. I think...wait, the art museum? Together?"

"He's going!" Doc yells up the stairs, making Adze jump.

"Isn't that, uh, really fancy Upper City crowds?" He looked down at his current, worn clothes. "I'd...have to dress up."

"Uh, yeah. Little bit."

"In that case, he's definitely going," Doc says from the doorway to the basement, smirk on her face. Sven woofs and thumps his tail on the ground. "See, even Sven agrees."

Adze turns around to glare at the dog. "Traitor." Sven just barks, and Anna swears he sounds pleased with himself.

barks, tail wagging furiously. "Seriously though, Doc, like I can fit up there?"

Doc hums as she throws herself into a chair, eyeing both of them. "I going to assume someone has a plan about how you're getting in there."

Damn, how much did Doc hear anyway? The woman must have the ears of a bat. "Um, yeah. Rime can, or did, get us on the guest list. As, um," she swallows hard and prays her ears aren't burning, "a couple. Or siblings?"

"There's no way you two look like siblings, Arc," Doc drawls. She looks way too amused. Damn her. "Let me make a couple of calls. And then you," she points at Adze, "and I are going shopping," she says, pulling herself out of the chair.

"What?! Doc, you, wait, what?"

The look she levels at him is unimpressed. "Pretty sure I can trust you to dress yourself properly about as far as I can throw you." There's muffled childish giggling in the background. Oh man, the kid is still here. Adze winces. "Rime, I know you can hear me. When and where do you want this one?"

"Seventeen hundred here is fine. They'll need his car anyways." Elsa's voice comes over an intercom. "And Doc, I really need to upgrade your security. That was sad."

Doc waves her hand, despite Elsa not being able to see it. "Do it while I'm helping the man who owns five of the same shirt look presentable, and we'll call it even." She turns to Anna, lips quirking up. "I don't think I can help you, so you're on your own."

Adze's completely resigned expression is so goddamn hilarious, Anna has no idea how she manages to stop herself from falling over laughing. "Don't worry," she chokes out. "I'll be fine."

She's not really lying. When she gets back to her place, she immediately goes to her closet to see what she can throw together. It's an odd mix of things. Anna didn't take any of her fancy clothes with her when she left that night three years ago, having correctly decided they were far too impractical to take down here with her. But since then, even though she hasn't gone back, she's managed to collect a couple of things that could pass muster at an event like this with a little bit of polish.

Mama had been good at this sort of thing. These kind of press events, they were half advertisement for prospective investors, half party. They're kind of the thing those in the Upper City decide to care deeply about, rather than the concerns of mere mortals down below; in short, completely asinine bullshit. Those were actually Mama's words, not hers. Mama, unlike a lot of her peers, worked for a living, as she was fond of dryly noting. The cases she worked usually kept her too busy to even have time for the petty one-upmanship these events forced her through. She'd been kind enough to pass her secret onto Anna.

The clothes didn't really matter. It was all in how you carried yourself.

Wearing something three years out-of-date? Carry yourself right and it's a statement. Or retro. Or avant-garde, somehow. That sort of thing. And a healthy backing of the classics never hurt.

It's with this in mind that Anna surveys what she has to work with. It's a distraction, she knows, but it's necessary because she's actually going to have to do this, and she'd rather remember lessons from her dead mother than think about what she's going to have to do this evening. Her fingers clench the fabric of the dress in her hands, and she shakes her head to clear it. Later. She'll angst later. Right now, she has work to do.

"What's the plan, Elsa?"

"I told you earlier, I've accessed the list and now they're also expecting Sophia and Elliot Donovan. Sophia's the one from money; she married Elliot who's from the mid-levels at best. Figured it was the best way to deal in case Adze isn't comfortable."

"And what if I'm not comfortable?" Anna couldn't help but muttering under her breath. Unfortunately, the subvocal mic is working just fine.

"Anna. I'm sorry. I honestly don't like you going up there any more than you do. But..." There's a pause. "If you absolutely don't want to do this, we won't. I'll try to find another way."

Anna licks her lips. It's tempting. Really tempting. But last night echoes in her mind. What would this cost Elsa? "How hard would that be?" Elsa doesn't answer. "Elsa, tell me straight. How long would it take you to get in, without getting caught?"

"...awhile. And without the backdoor, I'll have to focus on it, to keep it open."

"Would they catch you?"

"No."

Anna frowns. "Elsa..."

"They wouldn't catch me. But they're more likely to notice a breach if I try to split my attention. And that'll make it harder to stay hidden and find what we want."

She thinks about what her sister isn't saying. The glitches, her exhaustion, all the things that cost her that she just brushes off. Like she's inconsequential. Which is weird, because the entire point of all this is to get her out of...wherever she is. Anna sometimes thinks Elsa could be bleeding to death, and she'd still try to make sure Anna was fine. So, no. She can't let it happen again. Because Elsa sure as hell wouldn't stop herself unless Anna made her.

"No."

"Huh?"

She shakes her head. "No. That option's unacceptable. We'll do it this way."

"Anna, if you're uncomfortable..."

"I said we'll do it this way." Her jaw hurts from gritting her teeth so hard. Come on, Elsa. Bend for once in your life. "It's the best option. And it'll be just like you said. Old home week."

A long pause. "Okay then." Anna lets out the breath she was holding. "The hardest part will be getting to the museum, really. You'll take Adze's car up to the Middle City and then one of the interlevel trains Up. I'll have a car waiting for you at the station."

Okay, that's not ideal, but Anna remembers enough that taking the interlevel trains between Upper and Mid was not too much of a social faux pas. "I take it the Donovans live in the Middle City, because of Eliot?"

"Yeah. You know how it is."

Anna does. At least all these memories and social conventions that still take up space in her brain might end up useful. That's a cheery thought. And it'll explain away if she isn't all caught up on the latest fashions and stupid gossip. And no one will think they should recognize her, which is a disguise all in itself. "So once we're in, then what?"

"If we're lucky, I'll be able to network hop from you to the museum and then let Olaf loose. If we're unlucky, you'll need to drop an temp network drop for me."

"That's...remarkably simple."

"Well, it'd be good if you could stick around to actually hear the press conference."

"Details. Will there be food?"

"I assume so. It's one of the stupidly-fancy parties. You remember the type."

"Okay, so at worse, I have to drop a chip in a potted plant and eat free food. This...this is not actually terrible, Elsa." God, she had been making it sound like the worst thing ever.

"Yes, ignoring all the people who could possibly recognize you and that you've been hiding from for the last three years." Anna can almost hear Elsa rolling her eyes. "Yes, beyond all that, I am clearly overreacting."

"Yeah, okay, fine. Point made." She wants to stick out her tongue, despite being alone in the apartment. She does it anyway. "Now I have to go find an outfit."

"Please. Don't let me keep you, your highness."

"The worst."

With the amount of time she has before she needs to go back to meet Adze, she has more than enough time to find an outfit and get ready. She stares in the mirror for awhile, trying to see if she can't recognize herself. The red hair is distinctive, it's true, she thinks, looking at it critically as it falls in waves around her shoulders. Elsa's teasing earlier comes to mind, and she smiles as she does up her hair. Yeah, this will work.

She hops over to the webcam she has set up after grabbing one of the temporary network drops from the closet and sticking it in a purse. "Hey, Elsa. What do you think?"

"Anna, wha- your hair," her sister says softly.

She smiles as she pets the single thick braid. It's different enough from how Anna normally wears it. "See, not pigtails," she jokes. She'd watched Mama comb Elsa's hair back so many times when they were little, white strands skillfully woven between her fingers. Putting her own hair into her sister's style was easy.

"So...so I see." Elsa sounds quiet. "Once again, proving me wrong. You look..." She trails off.

"Elsa?"

"You're going to be late if you don't hurry."

That's not what she was going to say, Anna knows this. But she's right about the time, so Anna runs out the door anyway. She just wishes she knew what goes on in her sister's head sometimes. Times like this, she's bitterly aware that Elsa is a cipher. For all that they talk every day, for all that they depend on each other, there are things Anna doesn't know, basic things. And she's blocked from knowing them because Elsa won't talk, will just shut down over things that Anna thinks are harmless. She doesn't know what minefield she just stumbled into, but she's been in enough of them to know when it's just easier to back off and let it go.

It's somewhat easier to do when she arrives at Doc's. Adze is out front, next to his car. And...oh hello. Doc certainly outdid herself. Anna has no idea where she managed to find a suit, vest, and tie that fit and suited Adze so well in such a short period of time, but she did, and Anna is not complaining. Er. Not that it matters. No, because it means he'll be able to be Elliot Donovan, no problem, because he definitely looks the part now. Yes. Um, wait, what was she thinking again?

"So does he pass inspection?" Anna turns, and Doc is leaning against the doorjamb, looking far too amused. Sven is at her feet, tongue lolling in a smug doggie grin. She didn't even know smug doggie grins existed.

"He'll...do," Anna manages to get out.

"Thanks for that vote of confidence," Adze grumbles, tugging at his collar. Doc leans forward a bit to smack his hand away.

"Stop that."

"It feels like it's choking me!"

"I'll choke you if you screw with it. That tie's pure silk."

Adze pouts a little, and oh my god, he just went from imposing to adorable. "I thought doctors weren't supposed to cause harm."

Doc crosses her arms and slouches further into the door. "Wasn't always a doctor." She waves a hand. "Arc is here, so you'd better get down to business." Sven woofs. "Right. Have fun, you crazy kids."

They get in the car quickly to get out of Doc's line of sight. Then, it's really awkward, sitting there and trying to not look at each other. Or out the window. Didn't exactly leave many options. Gee, the upholstery in this car is fascinating.

"You, um, you look nice," Adze voice cuts through her thoughts.

"Really? Oh, um, thanks." Smooth, Anna. Very smooth. You'll do great at fitting right back into the slick polish of the Upper City. She glances over at him. "You're really do look good in that."

His ears go pink, and she can see his knuckles go whiter as he clutches the wheel tight. "Um. Thanks?" He clears his throat. "So, what's the plan?"

So Anna tells him. She's...only half-paying attention to it. It doesn't fully distract her, and as they get further up, her thoughts go further in. She's going on autopilot when they exit the car and get on the interlevel train. When the train breaks out into the free air, running through the skyscrapers and highrises that reach ever upward, glittering like jewels in the night, she has to close her eyes and breathe.

It's been three years since she's seen this. And every second, every breath she takes, makes her painfully, physically aware of this fact. The air is cleaner, up here. Anna's forgotten, forgotten what clean air tastes and smells like, she's so used to the oppressive misery that's tangible down below. It's a careless sort of decadence, thoughtless in its excesses. And going back to it feels like knives along her back, flaying the scabbed-over wounds open.

She sees the skybridge where her parents died.

"You can't go home again," she murmurs.

"Huh?" Adze looks at her.

She shakes her head. "Nothing. Just a thought. Oh, our stop is coming up."

Sophia and Elliot Donovan step off the train. Just like Elsa promised, there's a black car waiting for them. The ride to the art museum is quiet. Anna can see Adze is trying not to be a slack-jawed slumdweller, and honestly, is succeeding rather admirably. Anything left is just the uncomfortableness that can be chalked up to Elliot. Sophia, though...Sophia is harder and easier. It needs to feel like homecoming, but it's anything but. The art museum looms closer, and Anna feels her mouth go dry. She'd forgotten.

The art museum is Papa's creation, designed and built before she was born, but she still remembers going there. Clinging tightly to Elsa's hand, and later, running ahead of Mama and Papa to get to the portrait rooms. The edifice looms before her, glinting pale blue in the moonlight and cool streetlights. It really is a homecoming.

Adze bumps her shoulder. "You ready?"

She takes a deep breath. "Yeah." She turns to him, and he looks concerned and uncertain but it feels right and warm. "Yeah, let's go."

Not much has changed, not really. It still looks the same. The guard at the door doesn't even blink when she tells her their names, merely looking them up on the guest list and then waving them through. "That went...surprisingly easily," she mutters subvocally, pleasant smile plastered onto her face and aimed at everyone else.

"Did you actually doubt me?" Elsa sounds more amused than insulted. She's only on Anna's subdural, Adze relying on staying close, because they didn't have earpieces discreet enough on this short notice.

"Your cockiness is showing."

"Quiet you. And drop the net drop so I can get Olaf out."

"Pushy." But she's fighting a grin. A potted plant nearby — no really! — is good enough as anything, and all she has to do is brush past it to make the drop. The little thing is battery-operated, and by the time it's run dry, Elsa will be long gone and hopefully Olaf will be wandering around their systems. That job done, and now all Anna's got left is to basically mingle at a party with idiots with more money than sense.

Delightful.

Adze sticks close, half out of his cover story and half out of uncomfortableness. She's not complaining. That and a superior tilt of the chin keeps pretty much everyone away, which is great because it means they don't have to half-ass gossip. Like Mama said, it's amazing what just looking like everyone should already know you already actually works. That said, the crowd doesn't look all that terribly different from what she'd expect three years ago. Hell, she could swear that some of these people were the same sort who'd attended her parents' parties and events. No wonder Elsa was paranoid, no matter how unlikely it is that any of them actually remember the Arendelles' daughter. Well, the officially-alive one, at any rate.

She grabs a nearby flute of champagne and a chocolate from a passing tray, cheerfully ignoring Adze's rolled eyes. She's working here. If keeping cover means eating chocolate, well, then she'll totally eat chocolate.

"So how long are we here for?" he murmurs.

She swallows. "Until Rime gets what she needs," she whispers back. "That's gonna take at least until this speech thing actually starts."

He sighs and pulls at the cuffs of his jacket. "Great."

"Eh, whatever. Enjoy a sandwich."

"I'm pretty sure that sandwich costs more than some people make in a week," he grumbles, looking at the tiny pieces of bread and meat with not a small amount of disgust.

"Yeah, probably." She shoves it into his hand anyway. "Think of it as subverting the system. Whoever ordered them would probably have a heart attack at the thought of you eating them."

Adze shakes his head, but shoves the sandwich in his mouth anyway. "This is the most pathetic sandwich I have ever eaten in my life."

"I know, right?"

Before they can turn the catering line into a comedy, however, ushers start to move the mingling crowd towards one of the wings specially set aside for the main event. "Nice timing, Rime," she mutters.

"I do try."

"Ugh."

The wing's been done up to almost hide the fact that they're in the art museum, everything hidden by curtains and screens. Why they chose the museum in that case, Anna has no goddamn clue. She has to catch herself against grinding her teeth in annoyance. Papa's architecture was designed to work with this stuff, not against it.

There's a stage with a podium set up at the front of the room, two large screens on either side. The lights dim and polite applause breaks out as an older woman strides out, heels clacking against the apparently real wood of the temporary stage. She's austere in her fitted black pants-suit, salt-and-pepper hair is pulled back into a severe bun. Alice Haskell, CEO of Helios, smiles at the crowd as she looks out over them.

"Thank you all for coming, especially on such short notice," she says, to polite laughter. Anna rolls her eyes. "I'm here to tell you tonight why it's worth your while. As you all are no doubt aware, Helios prides itself on being a leader in a number of industries, from energy to shipping to manufacturing. The power that lights this city comes from Helios turbines, the prefabricated homes are developed in Helios factories. We strive for to be the best at what we do to better serve our customers' needs.

"But in these times, that's not enough. We have a duty to our customers and our neighbors to make all of our lives better. It's not enough that we turn a profit. The number of zeros on our income returns is not the end-all, be-all of our responsibilities. And tonight, I'm pleased to share with all of you how Helios intends to live up to those.

"This very building was designed by one of the finest architects in our generation. Many called it his crowning achievement, a glittering jewel among many, and designed for the benefit of humanity, not profit. But this building is not Agdar Arendelle's life's work." The screens on either side of Haskell come to life, and Anna feels her breath catch in her lungs. How did they get those designs? Papa hadn't touched them since...she swallows hard. Since Elsa's accident. How are they here?

"I worked with Agdar before he died. This," she says, gesturing at the screens, "is his finest work, a design that hasn't seen the light of day until now. A design that incorporates a perfect, livable, sustainable ecosystem for us to live in. An arcology." Haskell smiles broadly. "A perfect habitat, where one has no worry of hurting the rest of the environment, where we can live our lives in peace, self-governing."

Anna feels her hands clenching into fists. Papa stopped work on this. There was a mistake, he said. The cost was too great. How dare they...how dare they take his work? Is it because she left? Is this why she was forced to run, three years ago? For the thing Papa said he wished he could burn?

Haskell continues on, the audience around Anna bright and attentive. Of course they are. Of course... "Helios wants to make Adgar Arendelle's dream a reality. To that end, it is my great pleasure to introduce the man who has partnered with us to make it happen. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. Benjamin Scratch."

A man in a suit strides across the stage to shake Haskell's hand. He turns and smiles pleasantly out at the crowd, brown hair flopping rakishly over his forehead. "Hi everyone. It's a pleasure to be here tonight." His voice is smooth.

"Oh. Oh fuck. Anna, you have to get out of there."

Anna startles. "Rime, what-"

"You have to get out of there now!"

"Why? What's —"

"Because I know that man."

Anna stares at him.

"He's the one who took me."

.END{protocol_01}