The interior of Research Base Seventeen was a study in contrasts. Where the exterior showed battle damage and Rapture occupation, the inner corridors remained pristine, untouched by the conflict that had raged above. Emergency lighting cast everything in pale blue, creating shadows that danced across reinforced walls as the combined squads moved deeper into the facility.
"Data center should be three levels down," Ludmilla said, leading them through a maze of corridors with the confidence of someone who had mapped every meter. "The Queen never bothered with the technical systems. Just nested on top and used the structure as mobile armor."
Arthur's boots echoed on metal grating as they descended. Beside him, Rapi maintained tactical awareness, her rifle ready despite the apparent security. The rest of Team Bravo spread through the formation, with Alice practically bouncing with energy that seemed inexhaustible.
"How are you still this energetic?" V asked, eyeing the pink-clad sniper with something between admiration and disbelief. "We just fought a Tyrant."
"I'm always like this!" Alice chirped. "Ludmilla says I have two settings: sleeping and maximum!"
"It's unfortunately accurate," Ludmilla confirmed, her tone dry but fond.
The data center was exactly as Ludmilla had predicted, untouched and functional. Banks of servers hummed with power, their diagnostic lights creating a constellation of green and amber across the darkened space. A central terminal stood on a raised platform, its screen glowing with standby protocols.
"There," Ludmilla said, pointing to the terminal. "Pilgrim intelligence is stored in directory seven-seven-alpha. I'll walk you through accessing it."
V moved forward, her street instincts from Night City making her naturally suspicious. "Awful convenient that you know exactly where everything is. How about you access it yourself if you're so familiar with the layout?"
Ludmilla's expression shifted, something guarded entering her eyes. "I would if I could. Unfortunately, I have a complication."
"What kind of complication?" Arthur asked, his tactical mind already working through possibilities.
Instead of answering, Ludmilla stepped up to the terminal. She extended one hand, fingers hovering just above the interface panel. Then, deliberately, she made contact.
The terminal immediately fizzled, sparks erupting from connection points. The screen flickered wildly before going completely dark, the smell of burnt circuitry filling the air.
"That kind," Ludmilla said quietly, withdrawing her hand. "I break machines. Any machine I touch deactivates, corrupts, or outright destroys itself. I don't know why. I don't know how. But the only technology I can safely interact with is what's already destroyed."
Silence fell across the data center. Miranda was the first to speak, her analytical mind processing the implications. "That's an extraordinary ability. I've never encountered anything like it in any Nikke specifications."
"Neither have I," Ludmilla replied. "Which is why Alice handles all our technical needs. I'm the fighter. She's the specialist."
Alice waved cheerfully. "I'm really good with computers! Want me to fix what Ludmilla just broke?"
"Please," Arthur said, already moving to the terminal. His Omni-Tool might be able to bypass the damage, reroute power through secondary systems. "Can you guide me through the access protocols?"
Ludmilla nodded, positioning herself where she could see the screen without getting too close. "First, you'll need the primary password. It's WonderLand, capital W and L."
Arthur's fingers moved across the interface, his prosthetic limbs allowing for precise manipulation despite the damaged controls. The Omni-Tool integrated seamlessly, feeding power and bypassing corrupted pathways. The screen flickered back to life, displaying a login prompt.
He typed the password carefully. The system accepted it, transitioning to a new screen, but instead of a directory structure, colorful graphics suddenly filled the display. Bold text proclaimed: DIGITAL COP - CLASSIC ARCADE EDITION.
"Oh no," Ludmilla muttered.
"Oh yes!" Alice squealed. "I love this game!"
Pixelated characters began marching across the screen, accompanied by cheerful electronic music that seemed wildly out of place in the frozen military research base. Arthur stared at the display, then at Ludmilla.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No, the system's just... quirky," Ludmilla said, looking faintly embarrassed. "One of the researchers must have programmed it as a joke. There's a secondary password to get past the game screen. Try SuperUltraNikke, all one word, capital S, U, and N."
Flower giggled softly. Ocean's smile was knowing. Even Rapi's expression showed the faintest hint of amusement.
Arthur entered the second password. The game screen dissolved, replaced by a proper directory interface. Files and folders organized with military precision filled the display, each one labeled and dated.
"Directory seven-seven-alpha," Ludmilla directed. "Third subfolder, labeled northern contacts."
Arthur navigated through the structure, his tactical training making the organization intuitive despite the system's quirks. When he opened the designated folder, a detailed map materialized on the screen.
The northern region spread across the display, topographical data overlaid with markers and timestamps. Each marker represented a Pilgrim sighting, the dates creating a pattern that became clearer the longer Arthur studied it.
"This is extensive," Miranda said, leaning in to analyze the data. "Months of surveillance and tracking."
Rapi moved to Arthur's other side, her golden eyes scanning the information with mechanical precision. "The sightings follow a pattern. Look at the intervals between locations and the timestamps. It's a patrol route."
Ludmilla nodded approvingly. "Exactly what we concluded. The Pilgrims move through the northern territories on a regular schedule. Not predictable to the day, but consistent enough to establish patterns."
"This particular Pilgrim," Rapi continued, her finger tracing paths across the screen without touching it. "Based on the progression and timing, we should be able to intercept her patrol route within the next forty-eight hours."
"If we move to these coordinates," Arthur said, highlighting a junction point where multiple patrol paths converged, "we maximize our chances of contact."
"Agreed," Rapi said. Her hand briefly touched his shoulder, the gesture both tactical and something more personal. "But you've been operating for eighteen hours straight, Commander. We should rest before attempting contact with an unknown entity."
Arthur wanted to argue, but his organic body chose that moment to remind him of its limitations. Fatigue pulled at his consciousness, the adrenaline from the Tyrant battle fading into exhaustion.
"She's right," Ludmilla said. "The data center is defensible but exposed. We have a better hideout nearby, properly insulated and secure. You need sleep, Commander, and we all need recovery time."
The hideout was another cave system, but this one had been transformed into a proper forward operating base. Insulated walls held heat generated by portable fusion cells. Supply caches lined the walls, organized with military precision. Sleeping pallets were arranged in a defensive configuration that allowed quick response to threats.
Arthur claimed a pallet near the center, his prosthetic limbs requiring minimal maintenance but his organic torso desperately needing rest. As he settled against the thermal blanket, he looked at Ludmilla, who was checking defensive sensors near the entrance.
"You've been tracking the Pilgrims for a while," he said. It wasn't a question.
Ludmilla paused, her expression becoming guarded again. "We have."
"Why?"
She was quiet for a long moment, her blue eyes distant. "I have two reasons. The first, I'd rather not discuss yet. The second is that I feel it's my duty. I know that's vague, Commander, but the full explanation requires a level of trust we haven't established yet."
Arthur considered pressing, but his tactical instincts recognized the boundary. "Fair enough. When we've built that trust, I'll ask again."
"I'll answer," Ludmilla promised. "You've earned that much already, killing the Queen of Hearts. But some stories take time to tell properly."
Movement caught Arthur's attention as Alice bounded over, settling herself directly beside his pallet with cheerful determination. The temperature around him immediately began to rise, warmth radiating from her proximity.
"You're giving off heat," Arthur observed, surprised. "I thought your outfit was designed for cold weather."
"Nope!" Alice said brightly. "It's actually a cooling suit. My body temperature runs really high for some reason. Way higher than normal Nikke specifications. So I wear this to keep from overheating. Which means I can keep you nice and warm while you sleep!"
Her body heat was remarkable, pushing back the cave's chill more effectively than the thermal blanket. Arthur felt his muscles relaxing, tension bleeding away as warmth suffused through his organic tissue.
"That's actually very helpful," he admitted, his eyes growing heavy. "Thank you, Alice."
"It's what friends do!" she said, her enthusiasm undiminished. "The legendary Rabbity needs his rest before we go find the Pilgrim. I'll stay right here the whole time, promise!"
Across the hideout, Arthur saw Rapi watching them, her expression unreadable but her posture suggesting she wished she had claimed the position first. V smirked knowingly. Miranda's smile was professional but amused.
Ludmilla moved to her own pallet, her voice carrying across the space. "Sleep well, Commander."
Arthur's consciousness was already fading, exhaustion finally claiming its due. His last coherent thought was awareness of Alice's steady presence beside him, her warmth and her promise creating an unexpected sense of security.
In the frozen northern wastes, surrounded by Nikkes who had become something more than soldiers, Arthur Cousland surrendered to sleep.