by Viola Grace
The incoming assessment officer was an Azon, which made the transition to the passive Kremall tricky. She made notes on the tweaks she would need to make, and she felt the curl of satisfaction that solving a problem always gave her.
Officer Jerigar would be turned into a Kremall, and the social mores would have to be up to him.
She spent time doing more correspondence to her parents via secure relay than she ever had and painting. Her xenobiology studies were still progressing. Each day there was a new species, and each species needed to be learned.
Every now and then, she found herself smiling for no reason. A quick check in the mirror showed her face lighting up with an emotion she couldn’t pin down.
It was two weeks after she had worked over Officer Jerigar that she got another call. She had done a few cosmetic alterations since then but no other Kremall.
“Specialist Ambrehar, we need you to transform another agent into a Kremall. It is a rush job so go cosmetic only.”
She frowned at the image of Hremak. “No. The Kremall agents have to be altered all the way to the bone. They will be detected otherwise.”
“Our last agent was detected, and he has been arrested. He is being held on criminal charges.”
“That had nothing to do with me. He broke their taboos. He was a little fuzzy on the details when he left here and obviously had not done the proper research.”
Hremak paused. “How do you know that?”
“He moved wrong. I gave him all the details that I could, but he insisted on personal correspondence on the flight out. He ignored his own data collection.”
“So, if this new agent rescues him, you want him to have a social audit?”
“I think he should remain with the more active species. The Kremall are passive by social constraint. Their moves are calm, studied to keep from interfering in anyone else’s harmony. Disrupting harmony is death on Kremall.”
Hremak slapped his hand on his face. “Right. Can you come down and collect this one? We can’t spare anyone from the zip department.”
“On my way down.”
Illuma set her bots and machines to prep for the alteration, and she went to her zip launch, taking the pod down to Lowel.
It wasn’t the first time she had played chauffeur, and it wouldn’t be the last.
She was whistling music from the wedding as the zip cut through space at an alarming rate. When it stopped, it was nestled in the cradle at Citadel Lowel.
She popped the top and climbed out, hopping down to the deck and looking for her passenger.
She had her zip pod rotated to the outgoing lane, and she wandered into the waiting area. There was one person there, and the stillness of their body was beautiful.
She kept her tone modulated low. “Greetings. I am here looking for my passenger.”
He turned, and his Citadel robes flared out. “It is good to see you again, Specialist Ambrehar.”
“Agent Luring?” She was staring at Olwick Luring, but his mannerisms had changed. He was moving like a Kremall, every gesture calculated.
“Indeed.”
“Well, as you seem to be headed to Kremall, we had better get you ready.”
He inclined his head and smiled. “Thank you. Pardon my restraint, but I prefer to stay in character while doing any assessments.”
“It is wise. Please, come with me.” She slowly lifted her hand to wave him toward the doorway she had just passed through.
He glided through the doorway, and she followed.
She moved slowly around him and opened the zip pod.
“It seats two. Please settle up front and close your eyes if you have motion issues.”
When he was seated, she slipped into her spot and keyed in the departure code. The zip lined up, charged and they shot away from the Citadel and through the stars.
Amusement filled her as she watched his hands tremble.
“Specialist Ambrehar, how is it that you can be filled with amusement but nothing shows on your face?”
She looked at him on her table and felt the déjà vu of his features in front of her.
“I had a disconnect. When I was five, my father grieved for the loss of my mother, and he worked away from home. I lost my connection to the emotional world, and because of it, I can feel but my face doesn’t know what to do.”
“I heard a rumour that your mother was Nishan. Who was with your father at the wedding?”
She flicked a smile. “My mother. We got her body back.”
Illuma’s face turned to business, and she nodded to him. “You are going out. When you wake, you will be a Kremall. I have a wardrobe for you, and it will help you with your part.”
“Are you coming with me?”
“I will see what the orders say.”
“Don’t you need a transformation?”
She chuckled. “My change is considerably faster.”
He looked a little worried; his beautiful features were tense. She patted him on the arm. “Here you go.”
The hypo knocked him out, and the installation of the temporary organs began.
Kremall had two hearts and extra adrenal glands. Their control and societal structure was designed to handle the extra strength that was provided by the organs. It was what made the Kremall dangerous and so polite.
She did her own internal alterations while she waited for his. The memo had come through that she was needed to help with retrieving Officer Jerigar.
Identities were generated for them, and she memorized the details while practicing the moves required of a Kremall woman of high social class. It was more of a dance than a walk, but she managed to gain a bit of grace before Olwick woke up.
He was sitting up wearing the skin she had overlaid on his. His nose was flat, his skin a pale yellow and his eyes were liquid black.
Her features were similar, but the Kremall features were more impressive on him.
She moved into the room as silently as she could and placed the folded clothing at his feet. She turned slowly and made her way to the door.
“Lady, please wait.”
She turned and gave him a bland look. “I am waiting.”
He got to his feet, and the sheet that had been covering him fell to the ground. Looking him up and down, his skin complete with family marks, she had to pat herself on the back. She did good work.
He looked at her and paused. “Specialist Ambrehar?”
She stood with her hands folded in front of her, relaxed and loose. “Indeed, but for the purposes of this assignment, please address me as Mistress Librin.”
“Mistress. You look like a Kremall.”
“Well, Master Rimka, that is the object of the mission. Your clothing should fit. I measured you extensively while you slept.” She bowed and left on that creepy note. Inside, she was cackling wildly; outside, she was as calm as a windless day on a pond.
The long skirt fluttered slightly as she walked, dragging behind her for two feet. The wide-sleeved, thigh-length robe was a lovely pastel blue that matched the lipstick she was wearing. Well, she wasn’t wearing it. She had made her lips blue and coloured in her eye makeup as well.
Her hair was a mossy green in an elaborate arrangement and studded with pearls and gemstones. She was a walking work of art. The only thing missing from her costume was the rings. They would weigh her down, and she had needed to finish her work first.
The rings slid onto her fingers, and she moved her hand through the air. Control was easier with the weight on her hands.
She heard a slight noise behind her, and Olwick stood in the doorway to her quarters, fully dressed and very settled in his Kremall clothing.
The long skirt that he wore was slightly pleated for ease of movement, and his wrapped hip-length robe had narrower sleeves than hers did, but they exposed the heavy metal cuffs that he wore.
His hair was in the deep-green arrangement she had worked on. The topknot twisted and then flowed into a cascading braid down his back. A single large ge
mstone was pressed into the knot.
She turned and bowed. “Master Rimka.”
“Mistress Librin. Your appearance gives grace to this station.”
“Master Rimka, I feel safer just having you near.” The formal words were honest. She did feel safer with him next to her.
“When do we depart?”
“If you are ready to go now, we can go. The shuttle is prepped and ready. I have your dossier for you to study on the trip.”
“Splendid.”
“I will lead the way to the shuttle bay.”
“Thank you. Your company is something I look forward to on the journey.”
Their formal conversation continued in the shuttle until it was second nature. Acting like an alien race wasn’t something that she minded. It was fun to take her acting skills out on the road.
Their dossiers said that they were an engaged couple, and the missing officer was her brother. She would be able to sign him out of custody, and if everything went well, she would get him off world, disguised as her cousin.
Kremall didn’t allow aliens on their soil. It was going to take all the stealth tech at her disposal to get them in and out without notice.
The ground vehicle was stowed in the cargo bay and fully charged. When they got to the surface, Master Rimka was going to have to do the driving. Ladies didn’t drive unless they were alone. Their jewellery got in the way.
Chapter Five
She politely directed him through painfully organized traffic until they reached the courthouse.
Master Rimka parked the vehicle, paid for the parking and they walked together into the courthouse, down the stairs and to the holding cells.
Their pace was slow, and they had information of data that had been slipped into the system.
Mistress Librin walked up to the counter, and she inclined her head when the Kremall on the other side acknowledged her.
“Greetings of the day to you, Mistress. What may I do for you?”
“Greetings of the day. I have just learned that my brother has been brought in on charges of incivility. I am here to help him deal with them if that is permitted.”
The clerk nodded his head, his deep-brown ponytail swinging behind him. “Who is the male with you?”
“Master Rimka. My intended. We were with his family when I got the news. We arrived when it was possible to leave without rudeness.”
The clerk gave an understanding nod and brought up the records. “Mistress Librin, you are cleared to visit him. I am afraid that Master Rimka will have to remain in the visitor’s lounge.”
Rimka nodded his head. “Thank you for your consideration.”
The clerk nodded and waved his hand gracefully toward the open archway with the word Visitors above it.
Mistress Librin nodded her head and thanked the clerk before walking through the archway at Rimka’s side. The archway concealed a scanner. She could feel the pressure on her energy patterns. It was an odd feeling but not unexpected.
Rimka took a seat, and Mistress Librin followed a guard through holding cells until she was sitting across from the face she had created.
Officer Jerigar looked surprised and that was a dead giveaway. He had thrown away the constraints of the Kremall and was living in his Azon mindset.
The energy wall between them disappeared, and she stepped forward. “Brother. It has been too long since I have seen you. Three weeks is forever.”
He blinked and recoiled. “Sister?”
She held out her hands to him, and he took them. They stood for a moment in formal family greeting.
“You have strayed from harmony, brother. The law is not pleased.”
He nodded. “I know it. I must say that my behaviour in here has not been particularly admirable.”
“Not everyone has fine moments. I wish that I could take you home with me now, but there is too much to be dealt with. Sadly, your relapse has done some damage to your reputation. I will see what I can do for the Librin family name. Stay here, and I will return when I can.”
The entire conversation occurred with her holding his hands. What neither he nor the guards noticed was the invisible mist climbing up his arms and wrapping around him like a transparent glove.
She inclined her head and smiled. “Be well, and take care of your wardrobe. It is the only one you will have in here. Neat matters.”
“Yes, sister. I will follow your direction in this. I know you have my best interests at heart.”
“I truly do. Now, take care of yourself.” She squeezed his hands and left him, stepping across the barrier a moment before the cell wall returned.
She thanked the guard and returned the way she had come.
Mistress Librin stopped next to Master Rimka. “I have visited with him, and he is unkempt but intact.”
“That is comforting news.” He rose to his feet with lazy elegance. “What will we do now?”
“I will speak with the clerk and determine our options.”
He was at her side as they walked through the archway and returned to the clerk’s desk.
Mistress Librin began the world’s most polite negotiation that eventually got her in touch with the prosecutor.
Master Rimka remained at her side, silent and protective. When she spoke to the prosecutor about her brother’s past, he checked the file. “Excuse me. No one mentioned that he had occasional flares of instability.”
Mistress Librin inclined her head. “He was trapped in a cave-in when we were children, and the healers and psychics were unable to completely supress the flashes of emotion.”
“Pardon me for my rudeness, but why was this file sealed until now?”
She didn’t know how a Kremall blushed, so she simply ducked her head. “It was a matter of embarrassment for my parents. As soon as I knew that there was an issue, I released the file.”
The prosecutor nodded sympathetically. “Your actions might save his life.”
She inclined her head. “So I was led to believe. Thank you for hearing me.”
“It was not difficult to listen to you, Mistress Librin. Your voice is like the cascade of music.”
Master Rimka made a small noise and the prosecutor blinked in surprise.
“And that was insensitive of me. Pardon me, mistress, master. I will be in contact with you as swiftly as I am able.”
Master Rimka handed him the contact card, and they took their leave in a painfully formal way.
When they finally made it to the open air, she took a deep breath and exhaled. It was the only stress outlet that she had.
“Mistress, where shall we go for lunch?”
They slowly walked the streets near the legal centre, and when they found a shop that did not require reservations, they went inside.
Seated across from each other, they went through three courses before Rimka excused himself and exited the restaurant.
In a few minutes, he returned. “The prosecutor is going to hand him over to you at the close of business today. The paperwork is being processed.”
She had to keep to her character. “That is very kind of him.”
“The historical files had a great impact on the judge. He will allow you to take him home for additional therapy.”
She smiled slightly and inclined her head. “It is wonderful to hear.”
“The best news I have heard all day.”
They ate the rest of their meal in companionable silence. Five hours of walking around the town and looking into shops later, they were back at the law building, and she was signing Master Librin into her custody.
As if he was indeed a traumatized man who was grateful to his sister, Master Librin had smoothed his hair, tidied his clothing and cleaned his face.
Mistress Librin walked up to her brother and took his hands. “It is good to see you free. Come, we have much to discuss, brother.”
“I will follow where you lead, sister.”
Master Rimka inclined his head. “Come with me, soon-to-be brother. We w
ill get you rested and ready for your recovery.”
The politicians and legal representatives looked fondly at them. Mistress Librin guessed that it was nice to see a family back together.
When they were in the vehicle and on their way to the shuttle by the most circuitous route possible, Master Librin blurted out. “I don’t know how you did that, but thank you.”
Mistress Librin looked at him. “Please be calm. We will be on the way home shortly. You can lose control then.”
He nodded and swallowed, pulling himself back in. Emotional control was not his strong suit, but it was odd. His file said that he was completely stable.
They made it to the shuttle, docked and locked in. They waited until the magic hour and Illuma got them in the air.
She ripped into the nearest cloudbank and from there left the atmosphere as fast as she could.
No shots were fired, nothing was mentioned, and Officer Jerigar was still wrapped in the protective coating that she had given him.
As the shuttle streaked through the stars to the nearest jump point, she verified the navigation and sat back. “Oh thank the stars.”
She pulled her rings off and collected them in a fold of her sleeve. Illuma got out of her seat, and she headed to the back. “Who is in the mood for a nice, tasty rationed meal?”
Jerigar raised his hand. “I will take three. I believe I have a hypothesis as to why I lost control.”
“I would love to hear it.” Olwick’s voice was back to normal.
Illuma kept out of it and set to storing her jewellery while she heated a stack of ration meals.
Her hands felt so much lighter she could barely stand it.
She got back to the galley in a few minutes, and the meals were ready. Olwick had prepared tea.
Olwick chuckled. “You are so less shiny now.”
She rolled her head from side to side, “But I weigh about five pounds less. It is a good feeling.”
They sat and ate their rations. Jerigar nearly bit through his eating prongs to get to the food.
“The plant compounds that they use in their food kicked my adrenal response into high gear. My heart was beating like a drum from the third day. By the fourth, my control was cracking.”