Dirty Mirror

by R S Penney

  “Ilia?”

  “Not quite.”

  Crossing her arms, Melissa backed away from the other woman with her head down. “Jena?” she stammered. “Is it you?”

  The other woman smiled, nodding to her. “Yeah,” she said, stepping forward. “It's me…For all intents and purposes, anyway. Everything I was exists within Ilia, and now that knowledge is yours.”

  “You're…a simulation?”

  Jena shrugged, then turned on her heel to pace a line in the grass. “That's one way to put it,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. That hawk-like gaze…So familiar. Perfect in every detail. “A part of me will always live on inside Ilia. She knew every tiny corner of my mind.”

  “So, you're a very accurate simulation.”

  “That's a very human way of looking at it,” Jena said. “From a Nassai perspective, Jena and Ilia are the same person. Everything that was Jena exists within Ilia, and so it's simply a matter of Ilia expressing herself as Jena would.”

  Closing her eyes, Melissa sucked in a deep breath and nodded. “I get it,” she said. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

  “You're nervous.”

  “Well…Yeah.”

  Jena's grin was infectious as she stared down at the grass. The woman reached up to press a hand to the top of her head. “Think about what I just told you, kid,” she muttered. “Ilia knows everything I know…which means you know it too.”

  “But…Nassai can't just beam knowledge into your mind.”

  “No, they can't,” Jena said. “But they can accelerate the rate at which your brain forms neural pathways, and Ilia has been structuring yours to match mine.”

  “What…What are you saying?”

  Tilting her head to one side, Jena smiled like a mother who had just watched her little girl win a talent show. “Get ready to pull a Neo,” she sad. “Because, sweetie…You know Kung Fu.”

  “Oh.”

  “Now, it's time to use it.”

  The dream world seemed to fuzz, colours and objects blurring together until they were gone, and Melissa felt herself being pulled back into the moment. The voices of the other Keepers chatting, the cheers as the match went on.

  She opened her eyes.

  A small crowd stood between her and the ring, but she was tall enough to see Akiri jump and perform a spin kick that took Tavis across the cheek. The man dropped to one knee, rubbing his smarting face.

  Sarl Venson stood on the steps that led up to the ring with his arms spread wide. “It is over!” he shouted, nodding. “Both of you grab some water and recuperate. You're done for the day!”

  People started clapping.

  “Next match,” Venson said, scanning the crowd for a victim. “Reiko Corthali and Melissa Carlson.”

  Damn it.

  Melissa hung her head, then wiped sweat off her brow with one hand. You can do this, she thought, making her way through the crowd. Jena just told you that Ilia found a way to impart some of her knowledge.

  As she ascended the steps, Sarl Venson stepped aside and offered a wolfish grin. “Good luck,” he said. “You're gonna need it.”

  Melissa climbed over the ropes with only a little awkwardness and moved into the middle of the ring like a prisoner on his way to an execution. People were chattering all around her; ignoring them was difficult.

  On the opposite side of the ring, Reiko Corthali pulled himself over the ropes and landed nimbly on his feet. The man was tall and slim with Asian features and short hair that he wore in spikes. Melissa knew that “Asian” was the wrong word to use, but she was used to thinking in those terms.

  Reiko clapped his hands and then moved into the middle of the ring, standing in front of her with his feet apart. “Don't worry,” he said. “I'll go easy on you.”

  Melissa held his gaze for a moment, then squinted. “Don't hold my account,” she said. “I'm not going to learn a damn thing if you don't push me to my limits.”

  “All right.”

  Melissa backed away from him, adopting the proper defensive stance. Her stomach was churning, her face drenched in sweat. And then suddenly…she was calm. Somehow, this didn't seem like such a big deal.

  “Begin!” Venson shouted.

  Reiko moved forward like a man dancing on a cloud, and despite herself, Melissa backed away. Something in the way he moved his feet felt significant. He's going to lead with his right hand, she noted, allowing him to close the distance.

  Reiko threw a punch.

  Melissa ducked, allowing his fist to pass right over her. She slipped past him and then counted. One breath…two breaths. She jumped and kicked out behind herself.

  Reiko spun around just in time to take a sneaker to the face, a hit that landed with enough force to make his head jerk backward. The man stumbled away until his body hit the ropes at the side of the ring.

  When Melissa landed, she turned to find him down on all fours, shaking his head to get his bearings. Reiko was on his feet again in a heartbeat, coming toward her with that look in his eyes, the one that said he wanted to prove a point.

  Melissa backed away with her fists up in a guarded stance, sweat prickling on her face. The fear in her belly was too much to ignore. Stop being so timid, the quiet voice whispered. You know what to do.

  Reiko closed in on her.

  He threw another punch.

  Melissa ducked, evading this blow as cleanly as she did the last one. She threw a pair of jabs into his belly, forcing him to back up, then rose to deliver a devastating right cross to the nose.

  Reiko stumbled.

  Melissa jumped and snap-kicked, sending her foot into the man's chest. The raw power of it sent her opponent stumbling backward again. Reiko hit the ropes and then fell face-down on the floor.

  People cheered.

  “This match is over!” Venson cried out.

  As she stood in the middle of the ring with her arms hanging limp, Melissa frowned down at herself. The sweat on her brow tingled. “I'm sorry,” she mumbled, though no one heard a word of it.

  Venson was standing on the steps, facing the crowd and gesturing for the next two combatants. “Rael Tarvo and Max Jefferson!” he called out. “You two are next, and I do not want to see a repeat of last week. Do I make-”

  “Wait?”

  That was Akiri's voice.

  Melissa stepped forward, moving close enough to see the tiny woman shove her way through the crowd to stand on the bottom step. Akiri was at most five-foot-three, short and slim with pale skin and a bob of brown hair. “I want a crack at her,” she said. “She's gotten pretty good.”

  Venson kept his back turned as he stood on the top step with arms crossed, shaking his head. “You've both already been in the ring,” he said. “I'm not willing to put two of my pupils in the medical centre.”

  Planting fists on her hips, Akiri craned her neck to stare up at him. “Come on!” she pleaded. “I'm fine, and Melissa didn't take a single hit.”

  “Melissa?” Venson asked.

  “I'd rather not.”

  “There's your answer.”

  Akiri wasn't satisfied, however. The woman leaped with a surge of Bent Gravity, tucking her knees into her chest and flipping through the air. She went over Melissa's head and landed in the middle of the ring.

  Melissa spun to face her.

  Akiri turned partway around, glancing over her shoulder with strands of brown hair falling over her face. “You're not scared, are you?” she asked, raising one eyebrow. “This is only a sparring match.”

  Crossing her arms, Melissa strode toward the other woman with her head down. “I don't want to fight you,” she said. “I do this because it's necessary to hone my skills, but I don't enjoy fighting, even when it's practice.”

  Tilting her head back, Akiri blinked at her. “Well,” she began, “then why don't you 'hone your skills' against someone who will give you a challenge?”

  “Fine.”

  Without warning, Melissa bent her knees and leaped. She somers
aulted over the other woman's head, then dropped to the mat a few paces away. “You really want to do this? We'll do this.”

  She spun around.

  Sarl Venson was standing on the top step with one hand clutching the top rope, shaking his head. “We're gonna have words about this, Akiri,” he said. “But if you insist on going through with this, let's get it over with.”

  “Trust me,” Akiri said as she moved forward to put herself within arm's reach of Melissa. “This will be over soon enough.”

  Akiri was much shorter than her, and she bounced from one foot to the other like a rabbit ready to flee from some hungry wolf. This woman was cagey; Melissa could tell. Something in the way she moved suggested speed and evasiveness.

  “Begin!”

  Akiri turned her body for a high roundhouse kick.

  Melissa leaned back in time to see the sole of a training shoe pass right in front of her nose. The other woman brought her leg down and spun for a back-kick.

  Melissa doubled over, slapping Akiri's ankle with both hands to deflect the blow. Thrown off balance, the other woman stumbled with her back turned and tried to regain her equilibrium. Now!

  Melissa ran in, slipping one arm around Akiri's throat, holding her in a choke-hold. Oh, no, no, no! That was a mistake! Panic welled up inside her. She's a Justice Keeper, remember? Different rules!

  Akiri jumped, throwing herself backward and taking Melissa with her. They both fell to the floor with Melissa's body hitting the mat first and providing a nice cushion for the other woman. The wind fled her lungs.

  In an instant, Akiri rolled off her and started getting to her feet. Have to move fast, the voice whispered. Without thinking, Melissa rolled away from her opponent to put a little space between them.

  She got to her feet with a grunt and raised her fists into the proper stance. The fear in her stomach was noticeably absent. Why was that?

  Wiping her mouth with the back of one hand, Akiri winced and let out a groan. “All right,” she said, striding forward. “I really wasn't expecting that. Have to give you some credit for surprising me.”

  Watch her feet, the voice warned. Get ready, she's getting close.

  Akiri threw a quick right-hook.

  Crouching down, Melissa reached up to clamp both hands onto the other woman's wrist. She gave a twist and forced Akiri to double over with her arm extended. You know what to do.

  Then she rose, bracing one hand upon Akiri's shoulder while leaving the other on her wrist. In this position, it was easy to turn and send her opponent stumbling head-first toward the ropes at the edge of the ring.

  Akiri staggered like a drunken sorority girl, barely able to slow herself before she hit the ropes and bounced off. The woman was dazed! Now was the perfect opportunity to move in and finish this fight.

  Melissa spun on her.

  She charged across the ring, then jumped and curled her legs as she flew gracefully through the air. A swift kick to the face should do it, she thought. Just wait for her to turn around and then-

  Akiri blurred into a streak of colour, solidifying once again just a few feet to the left. Time bubbles! They ought to be illegal. Melissa landed with a loud thump and spun to face her opponent.

  A fist hit her right between the eyes, blurring her vision for a moment. Another fist struck her chest with enough force to drive the wind from her lungs. She was backing off, trying to get her bearings. Come on, the voice whispered. You know how to handle this! You've done it a million times.

  Akiri came at her.

  Melissa jumped, turning belly-up in midair. Her feet came up to strike Akiri's chin, and then Melissa flipped upside-down, pressing her hands to the mat. She was upright again in an instant.

  Melissa charged in.

  She punched the other woman's chest with one fist, then followed that with a quick jab to the nose. Akiri stumbled, blood leaking from her nostrils. Time to end this.

  Melissa spun and back-kicked, her foot slamming into Akiri's chest with strength only a Keeper could manage. The other woman was thrown backward, knocked onto her ass ten feet away.

  Groaning, Akiri tried to sit up and then flopped back down onto her back. She just stretched out there, blinking tears out of her eyes. “Bleakness, Melissa,” she said. “How did you learn to fight like that?”

  Venson was on the far side of the ring with the top rope gripped in both hands, watching her with skepticism on his face. “Where indeed,” he said. “You two are both done for the day; go get changed.”

  Melissa quickly made her way to the change room, hoping that no one wanted to talk about her unexpected victory. That look on Venson's face…Did he suspect that her Nassai was accelerating the rate at which she learned? That could be dangerous. There was a not entirely insignificant chance of brain damage. It didn't matter. This was her only option. Sooner or later, she was going to have to face Isara again.

  And when that happened, she would be ready.

  Chapter 22

  This gray-walled corridor in the detention centre went on for what seemed like forever with photographs on the walls depicting scenes of nature. This close to the Detention Centre, there were very few windows; so Ben figured that the designers tried to compensate for that by hanging pictures of waterfalls and gardens. Prisoners had windows, yes, but those were made of glass strong enough to stop bullets.

  Ben walked along with his arms swinging, smiling in an attempt to look casual. “It can be done then?” he asked his companion. “You're sure?”

  In a blue skirt and a turquoise t-shirt, Keli moved through the hallway with her hair done up in a bun. “I can handle it,” she muttered in a voice so soft it was barely audible. “In case you've forgotten, I've overpowered Keepers before.”

  “Don't remind me,” Ben said, shaking his head. “If you can manage it, try to be subtle. I'd prefer it if she didn't know you've read her mind.”

  “That will be difficult with a two-soul.”

  “I know.”

  “Just make sure you do your part.”

  Ben shoved his hands into the pouch of his sweater and hung his head as they made this final leg of the journey. “I know my part,” he whispered. “Bleakness take it all, I am ready to betray my friends again.”

  The corridor ended in a set of metal doors that were gleaming under the fluorescent lights. A biometric scanner on the wall would be their first obstacle, but with any luck, he wouldn't have to hack that. Hopefully, he would convince one of the guards to simply let him in.

  The weakest part of any security system was always the human factor. Computers would do as they were instructed without variation, and almost all of them had protocols that would make it impossible for external attacks to do very much damage. If you really wanted to fuck with a system, you had to con some poor dupe into opening the wrong file and letting a script run on his machine.

  It was the same everywhere.

  Exploit humans; with proper persuasion, you could talk them into doing just about anything. Ben touched the door chime just below the scanner. Moments later, a woman's voice came through the speaker. “Yes?”

  Closing his eyes, Ben took a deep breath. “My name is Tanaben Loranai,” he said. “I'm a consultant with the Director Andalon's team, and I've been ordered to interview one of the prisoners.”

  “Ordered by whom?”

  “Larani Tal.”

  Moments later, the doors slid apart, and he was looking at a cramped room with a desk next to a door along the back wall. A blonde woman sat there, reading a report on her monitor. “Who are you again?” she asked.

  “Tanaben Loranai.”

  “And Larani Tal sent you down here?”

  Ben grinned, bowing his head to her. “Yeah, that's right,” he said, approaching the desk. “She's had me interview Calissa Narin at least half a dozen times. She wants me to take a crack at the new prisoner.”

  When the blonde woman looked up, her green eyes were like lasers that threatened to scorch the flesh off his body. “T
he new prisoner,” she said, arching an eyebrow. “You mean the one who looks like Director Morane.”

  “Yeah. Her.”

  The woman leaned back in her chair, folding arms over her chest and shaking her head in disbelief. “You expect me to believe that Larani Tal wants you to interrogate this prisoner,” she said. “I didn't receive notification of your orders.”

  “Well, that's embarrassing,” Ben replied. He rolled up his right sleeve and began tapping commands into his multi-tool. “I've got the orders right here; she must have just forgotten to CC you.”

  In truth, he had forged the e-mail, using several proxies to make it look like it had come from Larani's address. No easy task, that. Official Keeper communications used a verification code that the user never saw. It had taken him close to four months to figure out how that code system worked and to design an algorithm that would duplicate it. He had never used those tools until now.

  Ben wasn't sure what it was that compelled him to find a way to break every system or circumvent every rule. He knew it would get him in trouble – Bleakness, it had already gotten him into trouble – but Isara was a gold-mine of information, one of Slade's most trusted lieutenants. She would have intimate knowledge of his plans.

  Larani and the others would never do what was necessary to get at that knowledge, but if they wanted to ferret out the crooked Keepers who were still at large, they had to know what Isara knew.

  “Everything seems to be in order,” the blonde woman said. Her eyes fell upon Keli, and her expression hardened. “Who's this?”

  “An associate,” Ben said. “She works for LIS.”

  His chest tightened when it seemed as though this lady might demand to see Keli's credentials. Keepers weren't entirely immune to telepathy, but as Keli had said earlier, influencing a two-soul without her knowing would be extremely difficult.

  “Fine,” the woman said. “Go on in.”

  The door behind her desk opened, leading to yet another gray-walled hallway with doors at even intervals along each wall. His heart was pounding. This was not going to be an easy session.

  Isara's cell was the third door on the left. Ben paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before approaching. He hadn't been able to rig up some special workaround to bypass the biometric scanners, but hopefully, that wouldn't matter. Larani had given him access to the prisoners when he had interrogated Calissa, and with any luck, that access had not been revoked.