The Mission

Part 2

In a small, concerned voice, she said, "Forgive me but…you're alone. Where is your Valkyrie Sister?"

Just the question I didn't want to hear. Guards always in twos, aside from the Durga. This went beyond what we had recordings of. I had to state, "I am meeting up with her. Forgive me, sister, but I must hurry." I gave a quick turn back towards the unranked sister. She was closer than I would've liked. I projected a dour expression. Sensors on me read the expression and translated it into a Valkyrie expression soon after.

The sister was still watching. I could pull my tranquillizer, but she might scream in the time it would take to knock her out. The illusion was my only option.

She clutched her hands in front of her. Then she looked down. She bowed a little and said, "Of course. I'm sorry. All my love to you and your Sister, beloved protector." Finally, her footsteps receded. I started walking again at the same pace and didn't look back till I heard a door slowly open and close with the soft scuffs of boots through the threshold. A quick glance back. She was gone.

I hurried again and ignored the damp feeling of hidden sweat. The way ahead would be no easier. Still more barracks but these didn't appear as active. I moved like I believed I was a watchful guardian looking for another Valkyrie.

Past the last row of barracks, I switched the illusion off. There was a cluster of trees ahead, a services building beyond them, and a dwindling, yellowed park. What used to be the mess hall and some extra housing would not be far off. The old parade grounds were right next to the infiltration area, but I'd go beyond that to one of the chapels and double back because it would provide me more cover than the open grounds.

I checked my position one last time, hurried under the cover of the trees, and threaded my way through the edge of the park. Every time I thought I saw a figure moving in the dim light, I slowed my pace and resumed the movements of a Valkyrie.  

Despite everything, this part was disturbingly easy. I clenched my jaw and soon sighted the chapel. Like everything around it, the lights were on. Sounds. I switched the disguise back on. A light vehicle motored down a nearby road. Four girls headed in the direction I'd just come. Valkyrie steps….shit!

They were turning towards me. I could run for it and try to lose them in one of the buildings, but suspicions would be raised. I kept to the Valkyrie steps.

The vehicle, a small jeep, was headed right for the road I was about to cross. I decided to stop before it. Every part of my fluttering heart wanted to turn back, dash across the road, and find cover in the swelling darkness.

I didn't have more than a long breath before the jeep was at my position. It slowed to a halt right next to me. Two Shieldmaidens in the front and two unranked girls in the back.

"Greetings, blessed Sister", said the Shieldmaiden nearest to me. "Do you need help?"

None of my excuses I used before were likely to work on Shieldmaidens. I was also uncomfortable with how close they were. I feigned a quick cough and sniffle as I covered my mouth. This would hopefully cover my lip-matching. I replied, "Greetings, dear sister. I was just out for a cleansing walk."

The Shieldmaiden further from me leaned forward and asked, "You're ill, fair Sister?'

Using my free hand, I held it in a "stop" motion. I had to remind myself not to wave it because of possible blurring. I told her, "Not ill but ill of feeling. It passes with the vibrant evening air." I added a slight, extra cough to keep my hand up.

I knew this wasn't going as well as with the other girl. The unranked girls seemed placated, but the Shieldmaidens were curious and full of questions. The nearer one asked, "Could you not take one of the remedies in the infirmary? Sister Mari has so many wonderful medicines."

I gave them a nod. Of course, I knew about the infirmary. We had a clear understanding of everything there. And we especially knew that if ever a non-Sister was found wounded, the common practice was for treatment, but that the kindness of the medicine would erase what they were before forever, leaving a healed Sister. I certainly didn't want to get anywhere near there.

Softly clearing my throat, I took a breath, as much for theatrics as for myself, and said, "I know Mari well. She is a kind sister. She has helped much but still, I crave the evening air. For many reasons…"

Fill the lie with another lie. I made sure the illusion translated the image of blushing to what showed. My eyes darted away and then down. The nearest Shieldmaiden picked up on this, probably thinking she was clever. She smirked and noted, "Oh. I see. I notice you are headed for North East Housing. Do you live there, blessed Sister, or do you know someone there?"

I hesitated, just the amount necessary, and cleared my throat again. I took my hand away, put on a mature expression of calm, and folded my hands. I regarded my words and timed my speaking for each delay, "I know at least one blessed sister there." Then I adjusted my position and tried to catch as much shadow on my face as possible.

One Shieldmaiden looked to the other. Hard to tell if they were exchanging smirks but the girls in back sure seemed more curious about them than me. Suppressed giggles. A good sign. I had their guards down. The nearer one looked back to me and remarked, "I see. Well, then we shouldn't hold you…we would give you a lift to the North East Housing, but there is nowhere left to sit."

The unranked girls stammered to offer up their seats, something often done for elder sisters. I declined politely and noted, "I enjoy the walk."

Probably not the best response, but I couldn't let them get too close. The nearer one regarded me as she said, "I know Valkyries have their ways, but I don't often see one by themselves, especially at night…so I must say…" She held her words a long moment.

I feared she was leading to an accusation. I didn't know if I could deal with this situation without some sort of hostile action. But, after a long moment, she smiled warmly and stated, "…That 'someone' must be special. Still, a Valkyrie must always remember to set a good example for her Sisters."

Admonishing, even lightly. I didn't know a Shieldmaiden would be so bold. It seemed even an elder sister without her partner could be questioned. I would remember that. For the moment, I had to be clever. I offered, adding wistful warmth to my words, "I would never wish to leave my closest sister's side. Which is why I am so eager to swiftly take my steps back to her."

The Shieldmaiden's demeanor changed to one of ease. She had a slight blush, and the younger ones were whispering. The one at the wheel of the vehicle gazed off with even more of a blush. With a kind bow of her head, the nearer one told me, "Then you best not keep her waiting. Blessed safety and love to you, elder protector. And many joys to you…very soon."

I fidgeted for appearances and she nudged the driver to head off. They all waved as they went. I held my hand up and walked across the street as soon as they had passed.  

Once they were out of sight, I could breathe normally again. I feared they may have been testing me with some of their questions. Our intel on the details of the base was not exact. If they had asked me which room or further details I would've been in a compromised spot.

I dashed off through the narrow, dark places as fast as possible. I didn't stop until I made it to the chapel. I hid under the narrow streams of light through the windows. I felt the lower sections of the wall for vibrations. Perhaps a few people moving inside but not a large group.

We knew members of the Embracing Sisterhood followed a belief system but knew little about its practices and dogma. We knew conversion was considered their duty. They couldn't pass a man on the street and leave him a man. Sure, they were more insidious and quieter about it now but if you caught sight of one of them then your only fate was to join them. No claims to the contrary. No clever trickery could sway a sister from her so-called duty. The idea of not adding someone to their Sisterhood was incomprehensible. I could only imagine what kind of activities took place inside the chapel.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The side of the chapel cloaked in thicker oaks was where I camped out. The windows were far above me. It was not my primary objective, but I could probably get a few images from the optic of the interior.

I raised the long tube until it was stretched high above me. I raised it as far as I could and maneuvered the device to peer inside.

The image was, as before, grainy and fish-eyed. I bent it a few ways with my aching fingers. I had the presence of mind to make sure my illusion was still on and pressed the lens as close to the window as possible. A few symbols. I made sure to set the feed to record. The pews were still there. All sorts of items hung on the walls. More symbols. Nothing dark or creepy. Some candles. On the whole, it didn't seem that different than any chapel. A few figures moving about. I crouched down and noticed there was a platform near the window.

The maps didn't mention a second level to the chapel, but it easily could've been added at some point by the ES. I got a sudden, tingly feeling in my head. I should've paid attention to that sensation, because not more than a few seconds later, a shadow passed through the window and I heard a high, tense female voice yell, "HEY! Who's there?"

Just the words I didn't want to hear. I darted to the ground and crouched under the oak as far as I could. I reeled in the optic with a snap and paid attention to the front door. I'd have to make a move to the side of the chapel, but I didn't want to give my opponent any glimpse of me to confirm their suspicions. I could still be passed off as a scary branch that leaned too close in a breeze.

But I couldn't tell where the sister inside was looking. I could try stunning her, but I knew she wasn't the only one inside the chapel. Furthermore, there could be a second lookout. For the moment, I kept under the darkest part of the oak. I could emerge later as a watchful Valkyrie and act like I was responding to a possible intruder. The problem would be how to transition and how to keep the sister as far away as possible.

The chapel doors creaked open. I drew my tranquillizer and tried to keep myself down. The low-lying branches were good for cover, but I could hear every slight scratch of my body brushing up against them.

Footsteps out the door. The Sister scanned in my direction with a flashlight. I covered up as much as possible. She was getting closer…I had to think of something clever. Then, an idea occurred to me. It was chancy and would test the quality of the illusion, but I had to give it a try.

I snuck to the farthest end of the oak, checked that I didn't have anything stuck on me (which might block the illusion optics), and made my way out from around the tree. The light immediately flicked to me as I asked, "Fellow Sister?"

I worked on the situation in my mind. We knew that sisters, even high-level ones, tended to play games in a child-like manner with those close to them. There were plenty of rumors as to why, but all interrogations could yield were that it was tied to their beliefs. The games and wars of children… I had to put all that aside. I had to exist in the role.

I looked around curiously and then asked, "Where is she?"

The sister in front of me just held a small flashlight. She wore clothes different from the guards and even unranked sisters I'd seen before. Shieldmaiden clothing wasn't vastly different from the old army garb which used to be worn on a base like this. It was designed to fit close and not poof up while still showing the sense and flow of a gown with warm yellow-and-brown banded tones. Valkyrie clothes appeared more like something a mythic Amazon would wear with pants-like leggings and a lean torso section in ethereal blue colors. The commanders didn't get why they didn't just use regular military uniforms and had instead adopted this look. Some of it seemed like puffy pantaloons and some of it wrinkled and creased. The unranked girls wore a variety of outfits, like an average girl in the past might wear and others wore rather plain clothing.

The sister before me wore a simple gown, soft-white like cream and as sleek and glossy as satin with blue-threaded spirals branching outwards. The iconography appeared vaguely familiar, but I didn't have time to stare, I had a story to tell.

I asked the sister softly, "Where is my sister? She was just here…"

The sister didn't take a step towards me. She trained her flashlight across my body. We really had no idea what a focused light might do to the optics involved in the illusion, but it was about to get tested in the field. I tried not to brace myself but held my body relaxed and glanced around.

Once her flashlight had passed over me a few times, the sister inquired, "Who are you looking for?"

I wove my tale with the softest and most practiced words in just the right tone.

"My Valkyrie sister. My beloved other. We were heading back from a patrol and my dear kin wanted to play. Hide and seek. Such a silly game. But I felt at ease. So, I joined her. We ran…we chased. We laughed. Then I heard these strange noises from far off. And I was over here when there was this rustling by the blessed sanctuary. I'm sure I saw something dark. I raised my guard and sought my sister. But she was gone, and I don't know where she went. I hope…oh…dearly I hope nothing has befallen her. Please please…" There were so many holes in my story, but I could fill them if she asked.

I even worked up the sense of tears and a strangled quality to my voice. So much practice and so much preparation. It was more than I ever hoped I would have to say to anyone on a mission. So many words. So many places to slip up, but I felt confident because she had her light moving around and not trained on my face.

Still, a huge risk. I wasn't even sure if I'd used the proper terminologies. At least I had a fallback, just in case, resting in one of my hidden pockets.

The sister looked at me for a careful moment. She searched me. Too deep a search? Was she looking at the seams in my disguise? I would have to change tactics if her expression suddenly shifted.

After a long moment, her expression did change…but to one of calm concern. She gave a small bow of her head and her shoulders settled. Her light hung at her side as she answered, "Oh my….blessed Sister. I hope the same hope as you. I came out because I noticed something small and black scraping against one of the windows. Like a very slender bat. I can't be sure what it was…" She pointed her light up to the window I had been searching as she added, "But it seems to be gone now." She gave a little sigh and looked at me.

She was sure to ask many questions or ask me to come inside the chapel. So many possibilities. But she didn't. She clapped her hands softly and made another little bow as she said, "May all blessings of love be upon your dear kin. May you find her swiftly. And may you know the warm, constant embrace of your sister very soon." She gave a serene, vaguely creepy smile. Part of me wanted to fly away at her words but my rationale told me this was just the sort of thing she'd tell any of the other sisters.

I smiled at her intentionally and scanned the area before I took a particular interest in the direction of my route. She watched after me with that countenance I always noticed on the most devoted of the ES. I tried to not let it get to me as I made my way towards my location. I projected the demeanor of hope that my sister was just around the corner.

I kept up the act until I was clear of the chapel. I found the darkest corner to camp in and watched to see if the Sister from the chapel would follow me. I just heard a far-off creak of an old door. She had to have gone inside.

I grit my teeth. Nothing about that encounter felt right. It went according to plan but, again, that's what was unnerving me. My excuses, my presentation. It was no better than any operative who tried to breach a base and so many were caught with less cause than I was giving them. I had to wonder if they were letting me through. But I allowed the thought to enter my mind for only a moment.

If that was true, then I would never leave this base.