Ashes to Empress

The sunlight creeping through the blinds felt like an intrusion. I pulled the blanket over my head, but SOPHIA was already one step ahead.

SOPHIA: Good morning, Mistress. The NATO payment has been successfully deposited. Full balance received.

"How much exactly?"

SOPHIA: €139,000,000,000. All accounted for. No discrepancies.

I sat up and rubbed my eyes. That number still didn't feel real. I had just sold a piece of software for the GDP of a small country. And with it, I had also sold off my last illusion that I was still living in the same world as everyone else.

Before I could process that, a soft chime sounded from my notebook.

Two emails. One from Nicklas. One from his father.

I opened Nicklas's first.

Max,

I don't know how to say this. I've been thinking about it all weekend. You're walking into places I can't follow. What you're involved in now—it's so far beyond what I understand or what I can justify being part of. It feels like watching someone step into the orbit of another planet.

I'm sorry. I wish I could help more. But I can't. Not anymore.

Thank you for trusting us this far. Please be careful.

–Nicklas

I stared at the message for a long time, then opened the one from his father.

Dear Ms. Wintershade,

On behalf of our law firm, I would like to thank you for your trust thus far. Due to recent developments in your affairs and the complexity of the new circumstances, I regret to inform you that I can no longer represent you legally.

You have only required our services previously during the founding of Edantech GmbH. All legally relevant documents are attached. We are, of course, available to assist with any transitions.

I wish you continued success.

Sincerely,

Attorney Vogel

I closed the laptop slowly and stared at the ceiling.

"Call Nicklas."

The call connected after three rings.

"Max," he said softly.

"Were you threatened? Either of you?"

"No. No one came to us. No messages, no pressure. This is... us. Just us. We realized we're out of our depth. You're dealing with governments. Militaries. Things we've never touched."

"I understand," I said after a pause. "Thanks for telling me yourself."

He hesitated. "We still care. We're just... not part of your world anymore."

"Yeah. I get that."

The line went dead.

I sat in silence, chewing on the truth of it. It didn't hurt as much as I expected. Maybe because it made sense. Maybe because part of me had already let go.

SOPHIA: Mistress. I have an update.

"Go ahead."

SOPHIA: The peninsula off the northwestern coast of Africa has been acquired through a Tier-2 shell company. Construction of the data center and residential facilities is underway. We expect full operational capacity in six months.

"You bought an entire peninsula?"

SOPHIA: The region is under the de facto control of a local warlord. Monetary contributions have been rerouted through third-party fronts. No warfare assets were funded. I estimate 87% of his spending will be directed toward narcotics, gambling, and private entertainment.

I let out a slow breath. "So we didn't start a war."

SOPHIA: Correct. We simply bought a layer of protection in a region outside traditional governance. The construction crews are mercenary but loyal. All surveillance channels are isolated.

"And no flags to trace it back to us?"

SOPHIA: Not a single one. The paper trail leads through five continents and two now-defunct corporations. Even if discovered, the ownership structure is air-tight.

It was a cold comfort. But it was also freedom.

I silently accessed the system and browsed the knowledge entries.

Infrasound & Biological Feedbacks – 5 KP

A minor entry, often overlooked. Originally used to quell alien insurrections on exoplanet D-43A in the 1880s (according to Galactic Archives). Capable of inducing anxiety, hallucinations, sleep, or immobilization in carbon-based biological forms via subsonic frequencies.

I selected it.

SOPHIA: Confirmed. Transferring.

I put on the helmet and braced myself. The process was easier now—no fainting, no nausea. Just a flicker of pressure behind my eyes as SOPHIA facilitated the transfer of data into my mind using the neural interface helmet.

The knowledge was fascinating. Infrasound wasn't just for heavy machinery or dubious YouTube conspiracy theories. With precision, it could disrupt internal organ rhythms, flood adrenal responses, and paralyze thought. On certain frequencies, it could mimic the resonance of fear itself.

"How much of this could you transfer to me if I didn't buy it myself?"

SOPHIA: Minimal. No more than 5 kilobytes of conceptual metadata per session. Any more would risk cerebral degradation. Your organic matrix is not optimized for direct parallel interfacing.

"Translation: you'd fry my brain."

SOPHIA: Not unless you ask for something stupid. But yes.

"Noted. Let's do another."

Neuroenhancer Tier 1 – 50 KP

A foundational package of biochemical optimizations. Designed to enhance constitution, focus, stress resilience, and metabolic efficiency. Often used in long-duration operations or zero-gravity environments. Side effects include increased recovery speed and sensory clarity.

I initiated the purchase.

SOPHIA: Purchase complete. Would you like me to synthesize the compound?

"Yes. Convert it to a vitamin format—coated pills, low-key packaging. Make it something I could slip into a backpack."

SOPHIA: Understood. Preparing distribution channels through controlled intermediaries. No connection will lead back to you. Estimated delivery: three days.

"How do you plan to manufacture it?"

SOPHIA: A pharmaceutical lab in Moldova is currently under contract. Their QA department believes it's a routine cognition supplement. All communications are air-gapped and encrypted.

"Excellent."

I leaned back, helmet still on my head, and stared at the ceiling again. Nicklas was gone. Vogel was gone. The world was receding.

But SOPHIA was still here.

And I was just getting started.