The Mission

Part 9

I suddenly felt a chill over my entire body. I could guess at her meaning, but I feared the worst. The Embracing Sisterhood was not above all sorts of experimentation on children. Little kids as weapons. And then there was talk of strange hybrids. My stomach filled with disgust. I slipped the candy away and leaned closer to where Tsumiko was gesturing.

She explained, "You probably know we've been working on nanites which can pass by any detector or warning system the other side has come up with. They are quite small and appear as grains of dust to a scanner. We've only managed to implement them down in this area of the base. One more protection against intruders. Slowly converted into one of us and they never even realize it's happened. One of my favorite tools. I really wish I could spread it everywhere."

I felt tense. I knew what she was saying to me. But I still had my mind, and I knew my goal. I hadn't been changed. But I would have to be careful and self-aware of what I was doing at all times, just in case. Of course, what she was saying was probably just fishing for a reaction from me. Checking to see if I would respond with alarm, confirming any lingering suspicions she might have. I responded with a careful nod, adding, "A shame it is not ready for that yet, dear Sister."

Tsumiko smirked and tapped one of the tanks. "In due time…" She then assigned me to go confirm some data with a worker towards the back. Giving me space. A comfortable level of space. Probably testing me again. I'd have to work at the task and find some way to finish my job afterwards.

I played the good Valkyrie, going through the data and then reporting back to Tsumiko, who delighted in a video of cells shifting. There was some talk of whether a subtle plague could work in place of massive lines of nanites dropped from the clouds. Infect male carriers and then various methods from there. Keep them as carriers until a command was issued. Make sure they only passed on female offspring.

They were the kind of things which had been heard in passing before. It was another thing altogether to hear serious talk of it and the how and where of planning. I offered to parse some of the data and Tsumiko gestured to a nearby computer I could use.

It was within the line-of-sight of several workers. A challenge. I opened many windows and started the task I was supposed to do. At the same time, I hid the window I needed to work through and issued various commands. It would take a long time to get the corruption of the keys, but it would be worth it.

To add a further distraction, Tsumiko talked to me every chance she got, not only drawing attention to me from the others but requiring I pay attention to her words.

"I remember long ago when I was young…I had dreams of a world like this. One of my favorite dreams was that I could make anything I said happen. Like…'the world is all good little girls' and I could open my eyes to all the new girls…Pure bliss…"

I kept my gaze on Tsumiko. I had a thought. I told myself it was a stupid one. I shouldn't have tempted fate. But I had to ask. I had to know. I had to ask her, "Why do you do it? Why do you convert the others? There's been so much war. So many have been changed. There have been many who have been lost to both sides. We have superior numbers and technology. Why keep the battle going? What's in it for you personally, if I may be so bold?"

Not a good idea at all. But I figured I would never get another, better chance to ask. Tsumiko looked at me with narrowed eyes. A mix of suspicion and disappointment came with her gaze. I held my look and tried to imbue it with curiosity.

She asked me first, "You doubt our purpose?"

I lied carefully, "I believe in our purpose, but I came to that decision on my own. I know you chose this path as well. I'm just curious how and why you made that choice."

Tsumiko folded her hands. "Choice is a curious thing. There are times when I doubt it exists at all. I knew all my life that I was made for this. I am here because I must be. My only goal is the complete victory of the Sisterhood. Only by embracing humanity as all kindred sisters can we move forward with the beauty of tomorrow. A Valkyrie who does not feel that same truth of purpose makes me look twice with skepticism." Her eyes took upon a calm, serious darkness.

Still, I didn't waver as I replied, "A leader who cannot express deeply, truly, and fully the wisdom of that beautiful tomorrow is but a shadow beside what that reality could be."

I folded my arms. Tsumiko approached and appraised me carefully. She peered at my body and dug into my eyes with her gaze. I should've been terrified. I should've recanted my words and bullshitted something clever. But I held my ground. Even if I wound up imprisoned in the base jail there were ways I could get out of that. My mind swirled with possibilities of what might come next.

The tension ebbed when Tsumiko gave a soft puff through her nose. Then it relaxed when she noted, "Such a bold Valkyrie you are, Nora. But I still see your loyalty to the cause. And a true maiden must do more than just agree with her elders. Still, make sure you don't leave respect behind. And yes, a true leader knows her purpose and can express that wisdom. If only words alone could make the others see the truth. Perhaps…I should put your boldness to the test…what things do you think we are doing wrong which we should fix?" She stepped lightly around the room, circling towards me. Our conversation had drawn all the others off their tasks. I figured such confrontations were rare. I'd have to play my endgame carefully.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I retreated a bit in my words, "I am neither a scientist nor a strategist, dear Sister. I am but a warrior who has seen day after day pass between our side and the other one. Back and forth, till so many have been lost to both sides. I just want the suffering…of my sisters to end."

I felt optimistic I hit the right nerve. Tsumiko's eyes softened and she gave a faint nod. It was as though all our back and forth words had crystallized and she could see me in familiar terms again. "That is what I want most of all. One unified sisterhood. Taking in all our Little Ones. All our sad ones. All the ones who do not know their kin but will soon enough. We will embrace them and wipe their tears away."

I clenched a hidden fist and let her lead the enthusiasm. From her words, she pondered whether to give a speech before returning to her work. I wouldn't have much time. I did what I could with the screen available. The lingering attention meant I could only keep the window open half the time. Far too quickly, I heard Tsumiko call to me, "That should be enough, bold little Nora. We have much work left to do. Come with me."

I didn't feel confident in what I'd managed, but it would have to suffice. Tsumiko led me out of the room as I removed all evidence of my tampering and set my plan to execute on a sufficient delay.

The route to our next location took me away from the positions on my map which I thought looked promising. This in itself gave me a glimmer of hope but also a measure of concern. Perhaps I was too suspicious or Tsumiko had seen through my disguise and figured it all out. I could be going to a location more secret than all the rest, or I could be going to my demise.

I held my breath as the new door slipped open. It had taken a little longer to open than the others and the scanner gave a few more passes of Tsumiko's arm before it decided we could enter. I doubted that this door would've opened with my usual tricks. Inside, I had to pause and gaze. Rows of adult-to-older men in a glass-covered children's play area. They moved quickly for their age with smiles on their faces. I wished I had the confidence to film it.

Tsumiko spread her hands towards the glass and announced, "Our new project. Each a very young sister with contact nanites in the guise of an unassuming male. We're training their personalities to fit in. Any touch they give a man causes him to be converted, never realizing anything has changed. A sleeper agent sister who has only had contact with other men. None of them realizing the menace in their midst."

I noticed a hot chocolate machine off to one side. I made my way over. Behind me, I heard Tsumiko call, "Get me one as well. I love chocolate." I poured out two cups. Then I glanced towards Tsumiko. She was turned away. I had a plan. Something in a deep pocket. I made sure none of the other girls in the room noticed me. I had to work quickly. I made like I was stirring the thick concoction.

I stepped lightly with both cups, my eyes on the one in my left hand. I gazed at it but tried not to look obvious. As I approached Tsumiko, I held out the one in my left hand with a warm smile. She looked at both then reached to take the one from my right hand before I could say anything or come up with an excuse for why one was more ideal than the other. My lip quivered and I swallowed a lump in my throat.

I stared at the remaining cup and held it close to myself. Tsumiko looked at me calmly and raised her cup slightly with a smirk, noting, "Cheers…" I gave a little nod back and put my mouth to the lip of the cup. I mimed that I was drinking. I wondered if I could swallow and then find a way to spit later.

Then Tsumiko took a full drink of her chocolate. She swallowed it with confidence and then set the cup aside. She looked at me.

My cup was empty. I set it aside as well. She glanced around. No stains on the floor. She cleared her throat, ordered the other girls to keep their eyes on the test girls, and finished her drink before continuing, "Now, I suppose we should stop lying to one another. I know you're a spy for the men. I know you crept around the base and made it through the old areas before infiltrating this section. And I know that before you entered you were an effeminate man who did a great impersonation of a woman's voice. But all that has changed now. You're one of us. Not one of them. It's over…you can turn off that silly illusion."

She stared at me sharply. I knew she expected to see fear and confusion in my eyes masked by my training. She figured I probably still had some fight in me, and she delighted in the chance that she might be able to break me. She looked out knowing just what she would see. The shock that spread through her eyes as she saw my true, relaxed expression was deeply satisfying.

Words failed her. I spoke instead, telling her calmly, "You have no idea who I really am…."

I flicked off my illusion for a moment, knowing the others were too far away to notice. Tsumiko staggered backwards, her mouth spasming like a fish's without water before she found the words, "You!?…How?"

I left her with the question as I picked up her empty cup and noted, "Won't matter soon, because you won't remember any of this. Your drink..."

Her head quivered and she clenched her teeth, her words coming out softly, "No no. Not…possible…you drank it too. You had to…" I was glad we were off to the side of the room, where there were no others.

I displayed my empty cup, remarking, "You're right. I did drink it. But I put it in both cups…"