by A. K. DuBoff
“Have you been paying attention to the news reports? There’s already a major political upset underfoot with this system.”
Kira had watched President Joris’ address while she was getting ready in the morning. The call for peace and to recognize the authority of the Taran Empire aligned with her own political leanings, but she was saddened to see counterarguments pour in from commentators after the speech ended.
Her home system was fairly isolated compared to the core worlds in the Empire. While the three planets offered sufficient resources to maintain a good quality of life, their relatively low population would be an issue in the long-term. Exactly two college-level institutions existed in the Elvar Trinary, limiting career options, and the relative self-sufficiency required many people to take positions in manual labor or service. Given the level of technology available, everyone should have been able to pursue more advanced work, if they desired—but the imbalance in population relative to the necessary functions to keep their little civilization running meant many people were held back. Mysar had raised the issue on numerous occasions, but the gentle Elusian people were content to allow their future to unfold at a slower rate. They were very young worlds and still needed to find their own identity.
Rejoining the Taran Empire would supply some of that culture, and the resources necessary for balanced growth that would provide greater opportunities to all citizens. It was the greatest argument against the Mysaran’s bid for independence and why they would unify in the end.
However, the path to get to that resolution was messy, as the birth of so many nations was. The Elusian president’s words would not sway everyone. With any luck, those objections would subside once final agreements were signed.
“Those reports of Guard military action were proved to be false rumors,” Kira replied after a moment of reflection on Leon’s question. “The news outlets are making a big deal out of nothing.”
“That’s the news for you,” he said.
“Just remember, I’m covert ops—whenever we can keep it that way, at least. Unless things go completely sideways, no one should ever know I was here.”
“Monica already knows,” Leon countered. “Every time you set foot in the facility, you put yourself at greater risk.”
“I can handle myself.”
“I don’t doubt your ability to kick ass and take names. Stars, my shoulder is still sore from when you almost took me out yesterday.”
She flashed a semi-apologetic smile.
He waved it off. “I’m fine.”
But Monica is telekinetic, for foksake. She’d rip me apart with her mind, not dislocate a shoulder. Kira’s doubts must have been written on her face, because Leon just raised an eyebrow and tilted his head in response.
“She might be dangerous,” Kira continued. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I need proof of what’s going on in there. The Guard is counting on me to get the job done.”
“Perhaps I can find someone on the inside who’ll help you out…”
“Why didn’t you mention that possibility before?”
“It didn’t occur to me until last night. I got to thinking about what you said regarding the ‘hidden’ jobs—cleaning staff and the like.”
“Right. What about them?”
“Well, I might know a guy. He has zero technical aptitude, and I was thinking any collaborators would need to have some grasp of the tech we were investigating, so he didn’t come to mind. But this guy is all about keeping people fed and happy.”
“Are you talking about a lunch server?”
“Indeed I am. Think about it—if there are people being held captive, they have to be getting some kind of nutrition. And that food needs to get routed through somewhere.”
“You may be onto something.”
Leon nodded. “We’ll pay him a visit this morning.” His face lit up. “Oh, and I got you a present.”
A present? Please tell me this isn’t for our three-day anniversary… “What for?”
“It’s so terribly romantic—a privacy bubble.”
“You mean a close-range cloaking module? That’s military tech. Where did you—”
Leon shook his head and pulled out a palm-sized device from his jacket pocket. A seam ran around the perimeter of the metal rectangular object, adorned with a wheel and three buttons on one side. A tiny logo was on the underside.
“You forget that all military tech makes its way onto the civilian market in dumbed-down form,” he said. “This one is used by ecotourists to get close to wildlife without scaring them off—it records a visual of the surroundings and plays that back along with noise-cancelling waves around a holographic static field bubble on a loop, so you can talk within it and from the outside it’ll just look like you’re sitting there. The loop won’t hold up to close examination, but anyone glancing at a video feed shouldn’t get immediately suspicious.”
Some women might swoon for flowers, but Kira was a sucker for a good gadget. And pastries—Leon had nailed that one the previous morning.
She took it from him, noting that the operation looked identical to the Guard’s devices she’d used throughout her career. “This is going to be so unbelievably handy. Thank you.”
He tore his gaze away and stared out the windshield. “We should probably get inside.”
“Right.” Kira unbuckled her seatbelt and reached out to open the car door.
“Kira…” Leon grabbed her nearest hand, stopping her. “Be careful in there today.”
She gave his hand a squeeze. “I will.”
They climbed out of the car and entered the lobby.
With the cloaking module tucked into her pants pocket, Kira strode toward the security arch after Leon. He flashed his ID and passed through first.
When it was Kira’s turn, the guard held up his hand. “The Director would like to see you.”
Shite. Kira’s stomach dropped, but she gave the guard a polite smile. “Really? She’s already been so generous with her time.”
Leon paused on the other side of the archway, looking uncertain about what to do.
“You go ahead,” Kira told him, making eye contact. “If you haven’t heard from me by lunchtime, call the Guard,” she added telepathically.
“I’ll see you later,” he acknowledged, trying to hide his worry but not quite succeeding.
“Where should I meet the Director?” Kira asked the guard.
“Head through the B Wing arch. Someone will meet you inside.”
This is why I shouldn’t bother making plans. Kira nodded her understanding and strolled across the lobby to the other arch positioned next to the reception desk.
“The Director asked for me?” she questioned the guard at the B Wing arch, and he gestured her through.
She held her breath while she passed underneath the scanner, but it didn’t seem to flag her cloaking module. Small blessings.
Kira continued walking forward. A set of double doors automatically opened for her with a hiss, revealing an all-white hallway similar to the others she’d encountered in the rest of the facility.
A lone man with short, brown hair and gray eyes was walking toward her down the hall. “Kira?” he called out.
“Yes, hi.” She recognized him as the scientist she’d seen in the cafeteria the previous day, whom she’d tried to follow into D Wing. This can’t be a coincidence.
“I’m Jared,” he greeted, extending his hand when he was close enough. “I work with Monica.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” she lied, and pumped his hand. “Monica wanted to see me?”
“Yes, she’d like to chat with you later about your test results. But first, I wanted to conduct a follow-up examination.”
“What for?” Kira’s tone had more bite in it than she intended, and she took a deep breath, putting on a smile that she hoped was friendly. “Sorry, didn’t get sufficient caffeination this morning.”
He chuckled. “We’ve all been there. I can get you a cup of coffee to
sip on while we meet. This way.”
Jared spun around and walked back in the direction he’d come from.
“Have you been with MTech long?” Kira asked while she fell into step beside him.
“Going on twelve years now,” he replied. “This is my first opportunity to work with Doctor Waylon, though. She’s something of a living legend in this industry.”
I guess it makes sense when you have abilities few others possess and you aren’t afraid to use them to your own advantage. Kira kept the thought to herself. “I take it you like working for her?”
Jared nodded. “I do. She has a commitment to fulfilling her vision unlike anyone else I’ve ever encountered. It’s infectious.”
This guy’s all-in—no leaked information coming from him by choice. Fortunately, I don’t need his consent. Kira nodded. “I appreciate someone committed enough to do whatever needs to be done.”
They halted outside a door. Jared swung it open, revealing a windowless room with two chairs on either side of a table—similar to the first room where Monica had taken her the previous day.
“I’ll grab you that coffee while you get settled,” Jared offered.
“Nah, don’t worry about it.” Kira stepped inside. “I’m supposed to be on vacation, after all—I’ll just take a nap.”
Jared gave an abrupt nod. “Very well. Please, have a seat.” He took the chair on the far side from the door for himself.
Kira eased into her chair. “So, what kind of testing is in order for today?”
“I’d like to run a detailed blood analysis. I believe that your telepathic abilities might be tied to a form of nanotech we’ve never been able to detect before.”
That was new. “Nanotech, really? What makes you say that?”
“When I went over the results from your test involving the gerbil—”
“Yes, that…” Kira grunted.
“—I was surprised to see a… connection between you and the rodent. While we knew such connections existed between life on Valta, the mode has been a mystery. This latest analysis used some new visualization technology. The differences are so minute that I’m not surprised they were missed in past research efforts. It revealed a sympathetic resonance between a unique structure in your and the rodent’s brains, which I believe is responsible for telepathy.”
That explains my hankering for carrots. Kira crossed her arms. “What does that have to do with nanotech?”
“I analyzed the gerbil, which was raised here, in comparison to those bred offworld. That structure is only present in life native to Valta—and upon further examination using the advanced imaging models, the structure did not have the same markers as the other organic material in the creature. This suggests that perhaps the structure is formed as a result of nanites existing throughout this ecosystem.”
“Wait, you dissected him?” Horror spread across Kira’s face. She’d done her fair share of killing in the Guard, but Mr. Fuzzers… Her hand clenched into a fist under the table.
Jared cocked his head. “Don’t tell me you actually developed an affinity for the creature?”
No one talks about Mr. Fuzzers that way! Kira barely kept her fury in check. “I’m not big on killing creatures in the blind name of science. For food is one thing, but—”
“Oh, it was far from a meaningless death. The data we collected was very illuminating.”
“I’m sure it was.” Kira slipped the cloaking module from her pocket and set it in the center of the table so it could begin recording. “Now, what were you saying about this nanite structure?”
Jared ignored her question, staring at the device. “What’s that?”
Just need to buy some time while it records enough to loop. Kira tried to sit as still as possible. “It’s my optical stimulator for light therapy—space can get pretty depressing, you know. I need my treatment mid-morning and don’t want to forget.”
“A walk outside in the sun might do you well.”
“Oh, I’m sure it would, but there’s something I wanted to show you in here.”
Jared’s eyes flitted to the device. “Is it that?”
“What? Oh, no!” Kira forced a laugh. “That device has nothing to do with it—pretend it’s not there. Actually, I thought it might be interesting for you to experience some of my abilities firsthand. That seems better handled in one of your labs, so I figured I wouldn’t be outside at my normal treatment time.”
“That actually does intrigue me.” Jared leaned forward. “I’m curious about what you can do.”
“What’s easiest to demonstrate is a direct neural link.”
He sat upright in his chair. “On second thought, this probably isn’t the best time.”
That’s right, he should be worried. I can control him and he knows it. “Are you sure? I promise to be gentle.”
His gaze drifted downward then back up to her face. “We should probably stick to my planned tests. Perhaps another time.”
“That’s a shame.” Kira had been counting the seconds. It wasn’t a ton of footage, but it’d have to be enough. “Well, I guess I can delay my treatment. I’ll put this away so we can get started.” She reached out for the device on the table and slowly drew it toward her, all the while covertly manipulating the dial on its side to trim the footage to the middle segment of the recording, from when they’d been sitting still. That way, the holographic projection wouldn’t begin or end with her arm extending; hopefully no one was listening into the audio in the room. Once the trims were complete, she activated the cloak.
Her skin prickled as an electrostatic field radiated out from the device, followed by a second wave as the holographic outer layer and noise cancelling effect initiated.
“What the—” Jared was about to bolt from his chair, but Kira lunged across the table and looped her right forearm behind his neck, slamming his head down on the table. He grunted, dazed from the impact.
Kira took the opportunity to dive into his mind, locking him in a telepathic vise while she returned to her chair. She leaned forward with her palms flat on the tabletop. “What is in D Wing?” she asked both aloud and in his mind.
He resisted—more than most would be able to. Perspiration formed on his brow as he fought against the intrusion. “I won’t tell you.”
“I command you. What is in D Wing?”
His breath became ragged, gasping as Kira tightened her hold on him.
“Tell me,” she ordered again.
“Research,” he replied at last. “Genetics research.”
“What have you done?”
“We created a new strain. The Robus.”
The statement confirmed that the research was the same as that in the other MTech facility. Now all Kira needed was some tangible evidence so the Guard could move in. She may have been given authority to use any intelligence-gathering tactics necessary, but it’d be her word against that of a powerful organization.
“Where is the entrance?”
“There is one in each wing.” A shudder ran through him as he fought to regain control, but he was powerless in her grasp.
“How do I get in?”
“A code and scanner.”
“What is the code?”
He relayed a number string, then added, “But there is a biometric scanner. You’ll never make it through.”
Kira thought about her options. “Is there anyone watching us right now?”
He resisted answering, his eyes almost beginning to roll back in his head. “No, I was your designated monitor.”
A smile crept across Kira’s face. “Underestimated me again,” she muttered. “All right, Jared, we’re going on a little field trip.”
CHAPTER 12
Kira tightened her telepathic hold on Jared as he struggled in the seat across the table from her.
“Wha…” Jared’s words faded to a faint rasp. “What are you doing to me?” he questioned in his mind.
“Just controlling you the way I have no doubt you’ve been c
ontrolling your ‘subjects’ for stars know how long. And you’re going to help me get everything I need to bring you down.”
Hatred filled his eyes, accompanied by fear and worry. No, it was disappointment. This was a man who firmly believed in his work, however misguided it may have been. Kira could appreciate his dedication—she felt the same way about her own missions—but that didn’t give him a pass. No one would get away with perverse experimentation on her watch.
“You’re going to do everything I tell you,” Kira told him. “If you try to tell someone anything is wrong, I’ll compel you to gouge out your eyes and then slit your own throat.”
He nodded. With her inside his mind, there was no doubt that he believed her.
“Now stand,” she ordered, switching over to telepathic commands since they’d be stepping outside. She was now firmly enough embedded in his mind that she didn’t need to maintain constant eye contact.
Kira deactivated the cloaking field, an irrelevant cover after Jared had confirmed that no one was watching at the moment, and returned it to her pocket; it might come in handy wherever they were headed.
Jared unsteadily rose to his feet and stumbled toward the door.
“Relax.” She tried to send him soothing mental tones. “No need to be concerned. I won’t hurt you if you cooperate.”
Kira checked over Jared’s appearance. Fortunately, the whack on his head didn’t seem to have left much of a mark, except for a little redness. It probably wasn’t enough to draw attention.
“Lead the way,” she instructed.
Jared opened the door and stepped into the hall, his movements now appearing more fluid than they had initially. His innate twitchiness worked to her advantage, should any security guard happen across footage of them walking down the corridor.
The halls were empty. Kira walked just slightly behind Jared, as if he were leading her of his own free will.
He traced a path deeper into the facility, down two extended corridors.
Stars, how big is this place? The facility seemed entirely too large for the workforce she’d seen—or for the population of Tribeca, for that matter.