by A. K. DuBoff
Kira opened the door and stepped inside. “I feel like I just got back.”
“Because you pretty much did.”
“True.” She grabbed her travel bag from its storage cubby and tossed it on the bed. “I swear, things normally aren’t like this.”
“The part about evil forces threatening to destroy the galaxy or you traveling a lot?”
Kira thought about it. “Okay, so maybe both of those things happen more often than I realized. I guess I’m just not used to leaving someone when I go on a mission.”
Leon sat down on the edge of the bed to watch her pack. “We have plenty of time to figure things out. I had no expectations when I took this job. You have a career and a life here independent of me.”
“Stars, how are you so nice and understanding?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a bad thing?”
“No.” She grabbed a pile of underwear from a drawer and dropped it in her bag. “You’re entirely too good at being objective.”
“Well, I am a scientist,” he pointed out with heavy sarcasm.
Kira only rolled her eyes in response.
“Okay, fine, you want to know my secret?”
She paused her packing. “Please, enlighten me.”
Leon propped his hands behind him on the bed. “When everything went down on Valta, my entire life was turned upside down. You came back into the picture, I realized that what I thought was my dream job was in fact a corporation controlled by evil aliens, and I discovered my sister had been intending to assassinate a president. Oh, and I watched you strangle a woman.”
“Yeah, that was a thing.”
“Needless to say, it was a pretty rough few days,” Leon continued. “As I was processing all of it afterward, I realized that I didn’t completely lose my shite while it was going down. Freaking out at any number of times during those events would have been tantamount to death, so I stuck it out. And, I survived. That got me thinking, maybe it wasn’t productive to get upset about a lot of the little things that happen on a day-to-day basis.”
Kira cast him a sidelong glance. “Are you suggesting that you decided to not let anything get to you when you came here?”
“Not exactly,” he clarified, sitting upright. “More like, I decided from now on, every time I feel myself getting worried or angry, I ask myself if having a gut reaction will help the situation. Sometimes, that adrenaline rush is just what’s needed—like when I was down on Valta getting the equipment out of the lab, and we were attacked. But getting upset when you have to go off and do your job? That doesn’t help either of us. I’d rather enjoy the time we do get to spend together.”
“I can totally tell that this is scientist-you applying logic to real life, but you’re right.”
“I feel like I should get a recording of those last two words being spoken in that order.”
Kira rolled her eyes. “I admit when I’m wrong.”
“You do.” Leon beckoned her, and she sat down next to him on the bed. He took her hands in his. “But in this case, it’s not a matter of correctness. I just don’t see the point in spending energy getting upset about circumstances that won’t change no matter what I do.”
“I could use some more of that attitude myself. There’s been a lot to come to terms with.”
Leon caught her gaze. “And we can help each other with that.”
She squeezed his hand and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m really happy to have your freaky calmness.”
“Always.” He kissed her forehead.
Kira pulled away. “There’s something else. Before we go to Gaelon, they want me to get an AI.”
Leon’s eyes widened. “An AI? That’s quite a step.”
“Yeah.” She frowned. “I know you’d suggested it already, and there are definitely merits to a pairing. It’s just a little different when it’s a formal request.”
“They’re not forcing you, are they?”
“No, they’d never violate autonomy like that. It’s more of a ‘highly encourage’ kind of scenario. But, if I don’t want to, I could see my position on my team being reevaluated.”
He searched her eyes. “How do you feel about it?”
She shrugged. “I’ve spent a lot of time being in other people’s heads. It’s strange to think of someone being in mine.”
“Don’t do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
“That’s not my hesitation. The tech is well-established.”
“Then, what?” Leon asked with concern in his voice.
Kira searched for the right words. “What if the AI discovers that the nanites have done something to me beyond what other tests have shown? I mean, they’re coded to me and don’t transmit to others. Does that mean they’re linked to my DNA, or something?”
“Blissful ignorance doesn’t solve problems.”
“But it’s so much less stressful!” Kira cracked a smile.
Leon squeezed her hand. “If it does discover something, then I’ll do whatever I can to help you find a solution to that, too.”
She sighed. “Not getting the upgrade would just be delaying the inevitable.”
“I think that’s the right call, for what it’s worth.” He eyed her. “Not to mention, you already started packing for an op you knew you likely wouldn’t go on unless you get the AI.”
Kira stared down at her half-packed bag. “Huh, I guess I did.”
“Never underestimate the power of your subconscious.”
Kira nodded. “Decided before I realized it. Well, I guess I should finish packing and then report to Medical.”
“Of course. I’ll just sit here and silently judge your lack of folding technique.”
She gave Leon a playful shove as she walked toward her dresser, and he caught her hand on the backswing.
He drew her back to stand in front of him while he remained seated on the bed. “Look, joking aside, I know we’re still figuring each other out again. We spent a decade apart, and even now you’re going through some major transitions—first the nanites, and soon you’ll have a new AI to get to know. As tempting as it is to pick up right where we left off, we’re not the same people we were when we were a couple before.”
Kira placed her hands on his shoulders. “I like the first impression of the new you as much as the old one, and I want to see where this can go.”
“I’d like that, too.”
She gave him a quick kiss. “But right now, I really do need to pack.”
“I know. I’ll leave you to it.” He started to get up.
“Stay. Keep me company,” she told him, resuming her packing.
Leon settled back on the bed. “Do you think you’ll find that world you saw in your vision?”
Kira glanced at him over her shoulder. “If we do, I’m worried what might be on the surface.”
“It goes without saying, but be careful.”
“I will.”
— — —
Rebuilding the Mysaran government was proving even more difficult than it sounded on paper, and Ellen Calleti had anticipated it would be anything but straightforward. As she reviewed the latest report about the government officials who had been under alien telepathic influence, she was reminded just how large the job ahead would be.
Ellen sighed and spun around in her office chair to look out the window at the Elusian capital city. I’ll never be able to take care of everything from here.
Mid-morning sun bathed the glass buildings in a warm glow. The city had become her home, despite the roundabout way she’d come to serve the world. Even with her continued ties to Mysar and Valta, her first duty going forward had to be to Elusia.
In that capacity, it was critical that she help restore stability to the Elvar Trinary. Following the Mysaran chancellor’s untimely death, the power vacuum had introduced opportunity for the wrong people to force their way to the top. President Joris of Elusia was counting on her to make sure that didn’t happen. But sitting in an office a world away
didn’t provide a great deal of control.
Ellen rose from her desk. I know what I have to do, but going back there…
Mysar had become a place of bad memories. Her years in school during her early-twenties had been what any young person would wish for, but her involvement in the dark dealings of the subverted Mysaran government, and its secret manipulations of the Sovereign activists, had forever changed her impressions of the world. Even though this was her opportunity to rebuild, part of her was afraid of how much more unpleasantness would be uncovered and further taint what few positive memories she did have of Mysar.
“Worrying about what I might find won’t help anyone,” she muttered to herself.
With a heavy sigh, she trudged to the door.
President Joris’ office was two floors above her own. The elevator deposited her in the reception area.
Behind the reception desk, Nico smiled at her. “Finally decided you need to go in person?” the young man asked.
Ellen tilted her head. “How did you know?”
“Based on the recent communications regarding Mysar, it doesn’t take much extrapolation.”
“Good point. Is Joris free?”
“Should be wrapping up a call any minute,” Nico replied. “I’ll let you know.”
Ellen took a seat in one of the waiting chairs at the center of the lobby, using the time to create a mental packing list for her upcoming journey. She’d have to dig through her closet for some lighter-weight dress clothes, for sure.
After five minutes, Nico gave her the go-ahead to enter the president’s office.
“Good morning, sir,” Ellen greeted as she opened the door.
“How are you doing, Ellen?” President Joris was standing behind his desk while reading from a tablet. He glanced up when she approached the desk.
“Fine, sir. I’ve reviewed the present state of affairs on Mysar, and I think it’s prudent for me to go in person.”
He nodded. “I thought that might eventually be the case.”
She smiled. “It seems like since I officially became your press secretary, I’ve done almost everything but that job.”
“I think you’ve written a speech or two,” Joris replied with a smirk.
“Well, I do need to justify my employment.” She chuckled. “At any rate, I’d like to go to Mysar so I can really dig into things.”
“I anticipated that when I suggested you work on this. It’s what we need to solidify the relationship with the new leadership, whoever that may be.”
“More than that, I’m hoping to do some recon,” Ellen continued.
“Regarding what?”
“The ancillary government activities. I’ve seen a handful of reports containing conflicting information about production, with no clear trail for where the materials went.”
Joris gave her a questioning look. “Trade with Elusia and Valta?”
“Not enough to account for it,” she replied.
“Another question for others to answer on our behalf.” Joris sat down in the swivel chair behind his desk.
Ellen raised an eyebrow and took a seat in one of the two guest chairs across from him. “Have you heard from the Guard?”
“Yes, but they’ve given no indication about specific action items. However, now that Colonel Kaen is himself again, I’ve been assured that all future matters regarding this situation will be dealt with swiftly and decisively.”
“That sounds more like it.”
He nodded. “Music to my ears.”
“Anything else you’d like me to be on the lookout for while I’m on Mysar?” Ellen asked.
Joris turned serious. “Potential threat to us, present or future. If the Mysarans have a secret militia stashed away somewhere, I’d rather know about it now than find out when they send a landing party to Elusia.”
“Consider it done, sir.”
He nodded. “Safe travels. You’ll have a job waiting for you when you return.”
Ellen smiled. “I won’t hold my breath for it to be the same one.”
— — —
Colonel Terence Kaen wasn’t particularly fond of interruptions, but he couldn’t ignore a call from the Elusian president. With a sigh, he activated the video call on his office viewscreen.
“Hello, Mister President, what can I do for you?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Joris said, smoothing back his white hair. There was a slight flush to his face, highlighting his light blue eyes. “I wanted to give you an update on our rebuilding efforts.”
“Yes, I’ve been meaning to check in with you. How are things progressing?”
The president smiled. “Ellen is in the thick of it now. Again, I can’t thank you enough for stepping in to help on Mysar before.”
Kaen held back a scowl. “We would have moved in regardless. As I explained, we were only delayed in acting because of my… condition.”
“Forgive me, I should have asked how you’re doing.”
“Good as new,” Kaen replied. It was close enough to the truth to share with an acquaintance.
However, if he was being honest, it would take time to get over his experience—the feeling of being trapped inside himself. The alien, Nox, had been able to exert a level of control that no being should have over another. Kaen had never given up, but he’d certainly seen the potential for a dark outcome that he wasn’t eager to encounter again.
“Glad to hear you’re well,” the president continued. “I know you’re busy, so I won’t pester you with more pleasantries. The reason for my call is to let you know that we’ve reached out to Mysar to engage in political talks.”
“Good, but you’re not beholden to keep the Guard apprised of your activities.” Kaen folded his hands on his desktop.
“Of course. I only thought it relevant to inform you because we have certain suspicions we hope to either confirm or refute through the investigation.”
“Which are?”
“That Mysar had been producing more than the system used. Official records can’t account for the discrepancy.”
Kaen’s brow furrowed. “Where do you suspect it went?”
“Toward some secret activity that the alien controlling Chancellor Hale was up to,” the president replied. “If that proves to be the case, we’ll need outside assistance to determine what those materials were used for and if there’s an ongoing threat.”
If I had to guess, that material ended up in Gaelon. Kaen nodded. “Thank you for the heads up. We’ll be standing by for your findings.”
“Take care.” The president ended the call.
Kaen leaned back in his chair. If the aliens were building something, their supply from Mysar had now been cut off. That might not matter if the project was already complete, or if they were just getting started. But if a project was near completion… they might be all the more aggressive to see it through to the end.
He released a slow breath. Whatever Kira’s team was up against, it was going to be a revealing expedition.
CHAPTER 3
Kira fidgeted on her exam bed. She’d been prepped with various injections over the past day to make her body receptive to the upcoming AI hardware installation. All that remained was to meet her intended AI partner and confirm that they were both willing to proceed with the pairing procedure.
Normally, a soldier and AI would spend weeks getting to know each other, but Guard Command had been insistent about an accelerated timeline. In the interest of expediency, Kira had begun the physical preparations while the AI, Jasmine, was transferred from a Guard base near Lynaeda.
“Jasmine has just arrived on the base’s local Net. Are you ready to meet?” Doctor Elric asked Kira, coming to stand next to the exam bed.
“Can’t wait,” Kira said, far more nervous than she could recall being for any other meeting.
Elric handed her a headset. “A voice chat will be different than the direct neural link of a pairing, but it will give you a chance to feel each other out.”
&n
bsp; Kira put in the earbud and pointed the integrated microphone toward her mouth. “Okay.”
“Patching you into a meeting space now.” The doctor left her alone in the private room.
“Hello, Kira,” a warm, slightly synthesized-sounding female voice greeted.
“Hi. You must be Jasmine.”
“I am.”
Kira tried to get comfortable on the bed. “That’s an unusual AI name, isn’t it? I’d heard a lot of you adopt acronyms for your designation.”
“Yes, that is tradition—such as the CACI clones found throughout the branches of the Taran military. In my case, one of my early fascinations was with botany. I always found jasmine flowers particularly beautiful, so I took it as my name.”
“It’s a nice choice.” Kira paused. “Hey, as much as I’d like some getting-to-know-you small-talk, I think we should cut to the chase. Have they told you about me—you know, about the Robus nanites?”
“I appreciate your directness. Yes, I was given your official file and the relevant reports related to MTech’s research,” Jasmine confirmed. “It was actually because of your unique situation that I was interested in the pairing.”
“I don’t know if I’d risk being paired with me.”
“You risk your wellbeing whenever you depart on an op, do you not?”
“Yes, of course,” Kira replied. “But that’s to help others.”
“It’s no different for me. You are in a difficult position, and I believe I can help you—in addition to helping those you would aid through your own actions, by extension.”
Kira swallowed. “Admittedly, I could use someone I trust to have my back. I love my team, but they don’t fully understand what’s going on with me.”
“I would like that opportunity,” Jasmine said.
“Have you been paired with a person before?” Kira asked.
“Yes, on two prior occasions. You would be the first soldier, however.”
The revelation caught Kira by surprise. She had figured they’d partner her with an AI specializing in covert operations to match her own skillset. “What did you do before?” Kira asked.
“My specialization is in biomedical research.”