by Cary Caffrey
I know what Dr. Wolsey would be saying right now, but I'm sure you'll agree that we're long past the fail-safe point. There's no turning, back.
All that remains is to turn it on.
Yours truly,
Lisa
* * *
Three Kingfisher transports took off from the compound carrying the thirty girls and their instructors. The heavy overcast skies hung as low and gloomy as Sigrid's spirits. The Academy was almost back to normal, finally freed from the clutter of giant containers and crews. The only visible change was the temporary barracks that housed the Mercenary Force; the majority of the mercenaries would stay at the Academy to guard the new girls, while a platoon would accompany the senior girls to the 'Annex', as it had been aptly named.
They weren't going far; the Annex was only fifteen kilometers distant, but much of that was straight up. As the transports burst through the cloud bank, Sigrid caught her first glimpse of the new facility. The mountains here were a series of sheer, vertical cliffs; the Annex was literally carved directly into the side of the tallest peak. The Kimura engineers had spent the last few months blasting and tunneling to create the facility. Five stories of terraces and windows were visible from the exterior; Sigrid could see people moving about on several of them—staff members and workers who had gathered to watch the approach of the transports.
There was no visible landing platform though, and the transports climbed even higher, up and over to the far side of the hollowed-out mountain. They landed on a platform built atop the wide glacier at the base of the peak. The ice was smooth and as firm as concrete, and held the heavy structure easily.
The glacier shone brilliantly, reflecting the dazzling midday sunlight. As the girls exited the transports, their enhanced eyes adjusted easily to the blinding light. Lacking such modifications, the instructors had to wear dark goggles. They also wore heavy coats to protect them from the wind that ripped across the ice.
Sigrid gasped as she stood before the large portal the engineers had cut into the rock. Twenty-five meters high and more than a hundred wide, it was large enough to allow entrance and storage for the transports and trucks that would service the facility. Icy flecks of snow, whipped by the fierce, gusting winds, struck Sigrid's bare arms and stuck in her hair.
Suko placed Sigrid's discarded coat over her friends shoulders and dropped Sigrid's duffel at her feet. "I think you forgot something," she said, pointing at the bag.
Sigrid was still staring at the maw ahead of them; she felt as though it would swallow her.
"Come on—it'll be okay," Suko said, wrapping an arm around her. Sigrid picked up the duffel and let Suko lead her by the hand to their new home.
Inside, the hallways were all of polished stone, hollowed out from the mountain above them, with some sections constructed with shaped permacrete. The idea of living in a series of tunneled-out warrens had seemed depressing. Sigrid had imagined her new home to be cramped and claustrophobic, but the high corridors and spacious common areas—with large windows and terraces—filled her with a sense of awe. She'd never seen a place like it.
Their guide led them up two levels to the living area where they'd be quartered. Each girl was presented with her own room, something most of them had never had. Only the richest families, most of whom lived in Earth's cordoned-off enclaves, could dream of having rooms to themselves.
Sigrid dumped her duffel on her bunk and looked at her new home. The walls were of the same grey, polished stone as the hallways outside, but the room wasn't drab at all. The rock had a sparkle to it that caught and reflected the light from the overhead lamps. Her bed was larger than the one she'd had in the dormitory, and she had her own desk. There were no closets, but a small armoire sat in the corner, along with a number of hooks for hanging jackets and clothes.
"Looks just like my room," Suko quipped.
Sigrid jumped; she hadn't heard her friend come in. Suko put her arms around Sigrid's waist, resting her chin on her shoulder.
"Could be worse," Sigrid reasoned. She was starting to think the Annex might not be so bad.
"I have a surprise for you." Suko put her lips next to Sigrid's ear and whispered, "There's a swimming pool."
* * *
Sigrid sat alone in her room, a little overwhelmed by how quiet it was. Nine years of being surrounded by more than thirty girls had not prepared her for the emptiness of the sudden solitude she was experiencing. There had been no work for the girls that day. They'd spent their time exploring every inch of the Annex, though they'd all been assured that tomorrow would be all work. If she didn't get to sleep soon, she'd pay for it in spades in the morning.
Sigrid undressed. She tossed her shirt and bra in the laundry and folded her pants neatly on a hanger before she climbed into bed. Normally, sleep came as soon as her head touched the pillow. Rosa and his staff always did a good job of making sure the girls were exhausted. Sigrid tossed and turned for a further ten minutes before casting her blanket off and staring wide-eyed at the stone ceiling.
"Fuck…"
The door to her room glided open almost silently. She grabbed up the discarded blanket and covered herself quickly. But it was just Suko. She poked her head in cautiously and entered the room once she knew Sigrid was awake, closing the door behind her.
"I couldn't sleep," Suko said. Her long black hair flowed down around her shoulders, shimmering in the dim light. She wore only the small T-shirt and briefs she normally would for bed. Sigrid moved over to make room as Suko slid onto the bed next to her.
"I can't sleep, either," Sigrid said. "I don't think I'm used to all this quiet." What she didn't say was how strange it felt not having Suko next to her.
"I know." Suko stared up at the ceiling. "I was just thinking about tomorrow."
"Me too. I keep wondering what it will be like."
Suko frowned. "Dr. Garrett said we'd be better after the final phase. But it's not like I feel sick."
Sigrid crinkled her nose in a frown. "I don't think I like the sound of being Activated. What does that even mean?"
"And, better? Better than what? You'd think it'd kill her to explain something for once. They never tell us anything."
"That would make too much sense—nothing they do here seems to make any sense." Sigrid leaned her head on the pillow next to Suko, touching the tips of Suko's fingers with her own. "And then, I guess they'll send us away."
"I was trying not to think about that." Suko poked her playfully.
"Sorry." Sigrid chuckled softly. "When they do, I hope they send us to Crucis—maybe they'll send us to the Naval Academy. That's what Chesna thinks. That might not be so bad. Maybe we'll all go." As long as we go together—she didn't have to say it.
Neither of them spoke for a while, both were lost in thought. Sigrid didn't know what the next day would bring, but for the moment, Suko was next to her and that was all that mattered. She began to feel she might finally get some sleep and succumbed to the softness of the mattress…
Suko leaned on her elbow. "Well, I should get back—I just wanted to…" She was looking down at Sigrid, her hair hanging loose over her face, brushing against Sigrid's. "I just wanted to see how you were doing."
Suko made it halfway to the door before Sigrid stopped her. "Wait. Stay. I don't think I'll be able to sleep in here by myself."
Suko's relief was accompanied with a smile. "Me too. I mean…if it's all right…unless you think we'll get in trouble."
"Come. There's room." Sigrid lifted the blanket and patted the mattress beside her.
Suko stared down at her; she paused, looking almost shy for a moment, but then she pulled off her T-shirt and slipped in next to her.
Sigrid flinched as their bodies met under the covers. She laughed. "You're cold."
Suko laughed back. "You're warm."
Sigrid covered them both with the blanket and wrapped her arms around Suko, pulling her closer. This was much better than being alone in her empty room. They lay there facing each othe
r, eyes open. Suko brushed the loose hair from Sigrid's face, tucking it gently back behind her ear, stroking the soft hair of her neck with her fingers. Sigrid breathed deeply and felt her eyelids grow heavy. She was almost asleep when she felt Suko's lips touching hers; kissing her softly, Suko whispered, "Goodnight."
There wasn't much room in the small bed. Suko was perched slightly on one elbow, her other arm rested between them, which Sigrid could feel pressed up against her. Suko still felt cold so she pulled her closer, sharing the warmth of her body. As she moved, she felt Suko's hand slip between her thighs; her fingers were ice-cold and she shivered at the touch. The two girls stared at each other, eyes wide open, barely breathing.
"Goodnight," Sigrid whispered back, finally returning the kiss. She let her lips linger there, not pulling away. Her mouth parted slightly and she felt the tip of Suko's tongue flick over her lips, then a kiss on the tip of her chin and the soft spot on her neck. When her lips found Suko's a second time, her mouth surrendered to the open intensity as she felt Suko's tongue dart deeper into her mouth.
Sigrid slowly lifted her leg, freeing Suko's hand, but Suko didn't pull away or withdraw it. Slowly, nervously, Suko inched her hand higher, pausing as the tips of her fingers brushed the seam of Sigrid's underwear.
A wave of delight mingled with terror swept over Sigrid, and her heart pounded, sending butterflies coursing through her body. Both girls froze, stared at each other. And then Suko kissed her again, tracing her fingers over the soft material of her briefs. Sigrid's whole body trembled under the delicate touch. She pushed up against her, and, finally, she thought, Suko reached into her underwear, touching her very softly with the tips of her fingers.
Sigrid took in a sharp breath as she felt Suko's fingers slip inside her. She wrapped her knee around Suko's waist, squeezing her gently.
Suko stopped; she looked at her anxiously and withdrew her hand. "Are you okay?"
Sigrid nodded vigorously and whispered, "Yeah—more than okay."
Sigrid reached down and quickly pulled off her underwear before redirecting Suko's hand. She covered Suko's hand with her own, guiding her with her own fingers. As Suko began to caress her with more urgency, Sigrid felt the warmth blooming within her, a tingling that stretched from her spine to her toes. Her arms coiled around Suko's neck—she kissed her deeply, pressing her body hard against her. Sigrid moaned softly and shuddered as her orgasm surged quickly into a rushing, sweeping climax. She flopped down into the mattress, fighting to steady the excitement in her breaths.
It took a moment for her head to clear. She was still grappling with what had just happened—she hadn't realized anything could feel so wonderful, so intense, so sweet. She wanted more.
Sigrid sat up and nudged Suko onto her back. She kneeled over her, tucking her hair back behind her ears. She felt the softness of Suko's skin beneath her hands, the curve of her breasts. Suko shivered as Sigrid drew her hands slowly down the length of her stomach, pausing just below her belly-button. Suko raised her hips to help Sigrid as she pulled her underwear off. She kissed the tips of Suko's knees, her lips traced a line up the inside of her leg; her cheek brushed against the soft warmth of Suko's thigh. She kissed her lightly, first with her lips then her tongue, until Suko responded in ecstasy, shuddering softly against her.
As they gathered their senses and breath, Sigrid became very aware of Suko staring at her. Suko beamed brightly, her eyes twinkling like never before.
"What?" Sigrid asked; suddenly feeling quite self-conscious. Blushing, she held the edge of the blanket over her.
Suko laughed. "What do you think?"
Sigrid blushed hotter still. "Oh…right."
Still flush with excitement, Sigrid lay back down next to Suko, pulling the blanket over both of them. They shivered, as if suddenly cold, then held each other close.
"Now—I think I'll be able to sleep!" Sigrid said, snuggling fully into a much warmer Suko.
"You…you don't suppose anyone heard, do you?"
Sigrid looked around and pounded the hard stone wall with the back of her fist. "I think we're safe."
They kissed again—a brief struggle with the blanket ensued as they fought playfully to get the blasted thing to cover their toes. Within minutes, they were both snoring soundly.
* * *
February 22, 2348
Suko had been gone all morning; she'd been called to the Treatment Room to be Activated, as they called it, leaving Sigrid to pace the lengths of her tiny quarters while she waited for her own name to be called. There was no schedule because the doctors were not entirely sure how long the procedure would take, but that only fueled Sigrid's anxiety toward the whole affair.
Finally, her turn came. An orderly showed up at her door and led her to the Treatment Center. Dr. Garrett greeted her and waved Sigrid to a padded chair surrounded by an array of terminals and displays.
Dr. Garrett smiled warmly. "Hello, Sigrid. How are you feeling today?"
Sigrid was too nervous to answer, but Dr. Garrett, focused on preparing the procedure, didn't seem to notice. She brought the data-uplink module over to hook up to Sigrid, who flinched and pulled away.
"It's all right, Sigrid. This won't hurt."
"I know, ma'am, but…" She swallowed. "What will it be like?"
Dr. Garrett considered the question before answering. "The clinical term might be, a heightened situational awareness." Sigrid heard a pronounced click as Dr. Garrett slipped the data-uplink into her access port. Dr. Garrett smiled. "You're going to feel great."
Sigrid gulped.
"Now, I'm going to put you out for just a moment," Dr. Garrett said. "Can you count back for me?"
Still not quite convinced, Sigrid nodded and began her practiced count backward from ten. She remembered getting as far as seven this time, and then nothing. As with her other treatments, it felt as if only a moment had passed when she blinked her eyes open. Doctor Garrett was leaning over her, looking at her expectantly.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"I feel…" Sigrid was about to say fine, but she suddenly became acutely aware that something was very, very different.
She felt a rush—a surge of sensation, a hyperawareness of…everything; smells, noise, the touch of the fabric on her skin…color…she could smell color. When Sigrid looked at Dr. Garrett, she could feel the woman's heart beating. The sound was deafening. Her PCM fed streams of data to her, displayed in her HUD: pulse, heart-rate, respiration, perspiration. She could even smell the woman's breakfast on her: orange juice, coffee, two slices of rye toast—and something else…
"You had sex," Sigrid said. Then looking at Dr. Mitchell, she said. "With him."
Sigrid giggled, but the laughter shook her violently inside. She could feel the blood moving through her veins—and count the corpuscles. Her skin, her hair; everything crawled. She could see her entire self; not as a whole, but as every individual composite. Heart, pancreas, brain, bionics; even the billions of nanomites that scurried through her system. She could identify each one individually. "Hello, little robots," she said and laughed, as if tipsy with sensation.
Her attention was drawn to the two orderlies in the corner; the men fingered their stun batons, eyeing her suspiciously. They registered as minimal threat. One of them leaned on his left foot, as if wondering if he should attempt to restrain the girl. Sigrid had already calculated seven ways she could take him down and incapacitate him if he tried as much.
The walls had been recently painted; the stench of its solvent filled her lungs. Worse were the acrid aromas of sterilizers and cleaners, all mixing into a toxic stew, along with Dr. Mitchell's cologne. Sigrid threw up what felt like an endless gushing stream. In slow motion, she watched as particles burst from her mouth; she found herself analyzing the content of each particle as the memories of her breakfast came flooding back.
Dr. Garrett was holding her by the shoulders, shaking her. Sigrid could see that she was talking, but the words hadn't yet left her mouth
. The Doctor's stress levels had elevated dramatically. Sigrid didn't know why this was so—she felt fine. In fact, she felt so good, she thought she'd go tell Suko.
In a flash, Sigrid was at the door of the treatment room. This seemed to increase the general state of agitation in everyone around her. Two of the technicians lunged to grab her. Much too slow. She tripped one and knocked the other on the head, causing them both to fall into a heap. She burst through the door and into the hallway. Four security officers were rushing toward the Treatment Room—toward her. Sigrid didn't know what they wanted, but they clearly had something on their mind. She braced to strike before they could bring her down.
Then came a stabbing sensation in her buttock. She spun and saw Dr. Garrett holding an empty syringe. She felt the cold lorazepam enter her bloodstream. Sigrid wondered why she'd done that. As she pondered the question, she felt the nanomite swarms coursing through her system, already working their magic to break down the drug and nullify its effects.
Sigrid laughed. She couldn't remember ever feeling so good. She was about tell Dr. Garrett how wonderful it all was, when one of the security guards hit her with a shock-round. What a curious sensation. "Hey!" Sigrid protested.
"Sigrid!" Dr. Garrett grabbed her shoulders, shaking her. "Sigrid! Can you hear me?"
Sigrid's ears were buzzing and her rear smarted from where the guard had zapped her, but, yes, she could hear her now.
"Ow," she said.
She felt the euphoria recede, her control flowing back. Her senses were still being bombarded from every which way, but she could make sense of things now. It was a question of focus—she just needed to focus.
As her vision cleared, she became aware of everyone gathered around her, staring at her. The ties on the back of her hospital gown had come loose during the melee. She reached around to hold the gown closed.