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Jester sat in the cockpit far away from the combat, keeping an eye on the various computer systems overseeing the event. Despite the appearance of a medieval kingdom, there were layers and layers of advanced technology underneath the surface. The complexity of it looked random, but it all worked together so smoothly... it was making her anxious. Not that she wanted to show that to her teammates during a mission.
Knight's voice came in over the comms, in the muted, staticy way her subvocalizations came in when she was trying not to be overheard. "All right, I'm heading up for the victory ceremony. Is Empress in position?"
Jester keyed the comm stack. "Empress, what's your status?"
"Ready. Long gun is set and I'm out of any sightlines."
"And you've got your exit strategy?"
"Down off the roof and through the sewer lines, straight shot, no guards."
"Good girl." She keyed the comms again before she could hear Adelaide's annoyed response. "She's ready, Knight. All you have to do is guide the King to the mark. I've got your exit."
"Roger that."
From inside her mech, Jester watched Knight ascend the stairs, then had to resist the urge to hack her way into the cameras above. Too much risk of being detected, based on the software stack she'd seen. Still, she didn't like being blind. She waited.
"Jester, we have a problem."
"What? What's wrong?"
"Well, I'm pretty certain kings don't caper."
"The King's not there?"
"No. It's some kind of robotic subaltern. Humanoid, has a serial number on the front, HM-043. And a hat with bells on it. Hang on."
A voice cut in over the comms, relayed from Knight's link. "I say I say I say, what a fantastical show you put on for us today! And so surprising, too, when we were told that poor Heron's End wouldn't be able to compete this time! You may bear their crest, Ser Knight, but I doubt you belong to their court!" Jester began to furiously sweep through the local network trying to get some kind of information about it. How could she have missed this?
Knight's voice came in clearly, speaking aloud to the subaltern. "Ah, yes, I am, ah," she cleared her throat, adjusted her tone. "Naught but a humble mercenary from the neighboring fiefdom of Kree-Upon-Stone, trying to make a name for myself. When I heard that Heron's End lacked a champion, I offered to step in to showcase my talents. I'm grateful to hear that I made such an impression."
"Troth, they'll need a hammer to bang out the impression you made!" began the subaltern, and Jester took the opportunity to feed Knight some of the information she'd found. "Knight, that subaltern is linked to the King's NHP, HANGED_MAN. Our dear princess's briefing said it was linked into all the palace systems, and that it was getting pretty close to cascading. I dont know what it's doing here, but the King's nowhere in sight. I think its time to exeunt omnes."
HANGED_MAN's voice changed on Knight's comms. "I say, are you listening? Perhaps thine own bell was rung by the blows of your enemies ere the victory bell tolled? Or dost thou hold court with unseen spirits?"
Jester froze. She didn't hear Knight's response - she was frantically switching through cameras to see... there! A faint shimmer, a distortion in the feed. Then another, and another, all moving towards the victory chambers. Trying not to show her rising panic in her voice, she keyed the comms.
"Empress, scrub the mission and go to ground. Knight, get the hell out of there."