Important: opening and ending scenes added (8/01/2016)

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Chapter 4.

(Erina)

On my cellphone, I listened to a member of my team, Franz Herschel, report in on the progress to reactivate Maestro Em Eighty-Three’s contingency core.

“It’s busy incorporating the data contained in the last incremental archive. Should be done shortly. With this it will be up-to-date to the point where we lost contact with the Sarcophagus.”

I nodded unnecessarily. “Thank you, Franz.”

“Em Eighty-Three will report in when it’s ready.”

“Thank you.” I ended the call, and faced the occupants of the observation room. “Since we’ve been relying on the Maestro’s prime core installed in the Sarcophagus, we haven’t fired up the contingency core in weeks. It’s having to absorb weeks of incrementally archived data. We don’t know how stable the processing matrix will be.”

Uma muttered, “Just what we need. A mentally unstable Artificial Awareness.”

The dwarfish figure of the Chief Directory had been observing the multiple screens on the curved wall, but soon turned her chair about to fix her attention upon me.

“Will we be able to use it to establish contact with the Maestro installed in the Sarcophagus?”

I resisted the impulse to shrug. “We don’t know.”

Whirlander lips drew together into a thin line, before muttering, “Most disappointing.”

I took a quick breath. “We knew we hadn’t broken down all the layers to the Sarcophagus’s systemry. My team estimated we were approximately seventy-three percent of the way there, and that’s when they hit a wall.”

“So now what?” Whirlander asked. “Do we even know where it is?”

I faintly shook my head. “It’s gone autistic. In other words, it’s not responding to our requests.”

The sound of a box being crushed drew everyone’s attention.

Actually, Akane was meticulously folding her popcorn box repeatedly in half. With her gaze on the box she was making smaller, she asked, “How did you ever communicate with it before?”

“By quantum transceiver. It’s the only way since we have no positional fix on the Sarcophagus while it’s moving through Limbo. It’s not like we can point an antennae in its direction.”

Akane mulled over my reply. “So you can talk to it, but you don’t know where it is.”

“That’s correct.”

“But now you can’t talk to it anymore.”

I swallowed unhappily. “That’s correct.”

Akane snorted out a laugh. “Your day just isn’t getting any better.”

I raised my shoulders sharply. “Shut up, Akane.”

“Are you losing your temper, Erina? Is that why you’re not thinking clearly?”

I took a step toward her. “You’re not helping the situation.”

“Do you want to know where that girl is?”

The cardboard box in her hands was now palm sized but rather thick. It took considerable strength to fold it that far. Certainly far more strength than I possessed.

I discreetly swallowed and directed my gaze upon her face. “I already know where she is.”

Akane folded the box one last time, then tossed it from palm to palm. “So why haven’t you gone there already?”

I threw a look at the ero midget – the Chief Directory – sitting in her multipurpose chair.

“Do we take the risk?” I asked her.

“Are you concerned with antagonizing House Alus Novis?” Whirlander questioned by way of reply.

“Putting Cassidy in that containment sphere was not a good idea.”

“Then I’ll take responsibility for it since it was my idea.” Whirlander folded her hands atop her lap. “Very well, since in all likelihood our errant Gun Princess has run off to her Prince in shining armor, why don’t we give them a little time alone?”

I realized my mouth had fallen open, and closed it shut.

Whirlander tapped a tune out on her thighs. “We can always confirm that she’s there by spying on him.”

I pointed out, “His luxury apartment is clean of any surveillance equipment. I wouldn’t try testing whatever security measures he’s brought along with him from his universe.”

Akane laughed. “Yes, but we’re already looking through his windows and listening through his walls.”

I stared at her in shock. “What? You’re spying on his apartment?”

A terrible fear was close to being realized.

Akane laughed again. “Don’t tell me you didn’t’ know. Jeezes, Erina, how naïve can you be?” Abruptly she covered her mouth in mock startlement. “Wait—don’t tell me you’re afraid of what you might see? The Princess and her Prince in a compromising situation?”

That was one fear, but not the one I feared the most. Or maybe it was on par with my personal fear. I just couldn’t decide on which of them was worse.

I had to forcibly relax my hands and restrain myself from punching the young woman.

Of course, with her physical abilities, any attempt I made to injure her would be futile.

Akane smile coyly. “Well, do you think the Princess will answer the call of the wild? She is a nubile young girl after all.”

Whirlander whirled in her chair.

Her fingers blurred as she entered commands at an insane speed on the armrest consoles.

“We’ll need additional holocams, thermal scanners, ultrasonic sweepers—ah, we’ll need more audio receptors! And an uprated sound system preferably with twelve channel surround sound! And seismic sentinels too. Need to capture every bedroom shaking moment.”

She wiped the drool from her lips.

“Let’s make this a four dimensional experience!”

Uma softly muttered, “The midget is really living up to her reputation….”

A cold sweat began to trickle down my spine.

#

Sitting up on the bed, I looked around quickly and gauged I was in luxurious bedroom with a double-bed, walk-in closet, and en-suite bathroom.

The décor was rather spartan, with lots of white complemented by shades of beige and light tan.

Everything had rounded, beveled corners, including the bedhead.

I peeked under the bedsheets and confirmed I was butt naked.

With a growl, I climbed out of the bed then proceeded to wrap the top bedsheet around my body. I couldn’t determine out how to tie it, so I resorted to holding it up with one hand – all of which was a belated attempt at preserving my modesty since there was no doubt Simon had witnessed by naked glory.

Then I walked to a corner of the bed and looked down at Simon lying supine and unconscious on the soft creamy colored carpet.

My punch to the jaw had knocked him out cold.

Thankfully, he’d avoided striking anything along the way to the floor.

I was relieved, but then angry.

However, first things first.

Walking around in a bedsheet in Simon’s bedroom was akin to inviting disaster.

The longer I stared down at him, the deeper the scowl that grew upon my face.

“Humph!”

The sight of the open door to the en-suite bathroom gave me an idea.

I stepped over Simon’s motionless body, and walked into the bathroom. Looking about the interior, I noticed the pair of white bathrobes hanging from hooks mounted to one wall.

“Hah,” I muttered as I noticed one robe had a feminine cut. “So he has a lady friend, but that doesn’t stop him from kissing me.”

I took the feminine bathrobe off the hook, and slipped into it after dropping the bedsheet from around my body.

Walking up to the wide bathroom vanity, naturally all white, I ran cold water into the basin.

I splashed my face, then stared at myself in the mirror.

I was back to being Cassidy.

Blonde hair without a single dark streak, and my eyes were hazel once again.

I took a deep breath and sighed.

Washing my hands and face once more, I remembered to pat myself dry rather than wipe away like a man would.

Ensuring the bathrobe’s sash was tightly done up around my narrow waist, I stepped out of the bathroom and walked up to Simon.

I stopped beside him and watched him slowly regain consciousness.

He uttered a low groan and reached up to rub his jaw. This prompted a gasp then a grimace.

When he finally opened his eyes, he found me glaring down at him.

I turned my glare into a scowl. “Hello there, Sunshine.”

He gingerly stroked his jaw. “Nice to see you too, Princess.”

The man just never learned.

Since I was standing to his left, I planted my left foot on his crotch…and dropped my weight on it.

Simon gasped and his eyes bulged. “Gah—what—what are you doing?”

I eased up on the pressure but kept my foot firmly planted. “Are you looking to join the sisterhood?”

He gave me a hesitant frown. “My apologies. Whatever do you mean—gah!”

I used his groin for a stepping-stone. “I said, do you want to join the sisterhood? If so, you won’t be needing these.”

He wheezed loudly. “Stop—stop! For the love of the multi-verse have mercy.”

Again, I eased my weight off his crotch. “Are you ready to repent?”

“Dear Princess, would you be so kind as to elucidate the source of your discontent?”

I crushed his manhood. “Don’t call me Princess.”

He gasped for air. “Very well…then what…shall I...call you?”

“Right now you’re talking to Cassidy. But if you piss her off her evil personality will take over and you’ll be dealing with Mercedes.”

He nodded haltingly. “Very well…Cassidy dear.”

I started to stand on one foot – my left foot.

Simon hastily added, “Cassidy. I meant, Cassidy.”

I planted my weight back on my right foot. “Now then. I need answer.”

He gave me an exhausted yet relieved nod. “As you wish.”

“Where am I?”

“My apartment in Ar Telica’s Ring Zero, District Five.”

I placed it on a map in my mind. This meant the apartment was near the shore of the bay. “Why am I here?”

“Ah…your Sarcophagus delivered you here.”

“It did?” I frowned as I remembered the dream.

Falling into the white, chilling cloud in my dream now made sense to me.

It was the Sarcophagus emerging into this reality.

“Oh…so I was saved by it.”

For some reason, the realization took an invisible weight off my shoulders.

Having the missing pieces of the puzzle now in place gave me a sense of relief.

I studied Simon who regarded me with wary concern, and asked him, “Why would it bring me here?”

Simon was quiet for a short while, and looked faintly uncomfortable. “The Sarcophagus was provided by House Alus Novis. In the event of your life being in danger while in this reality or universe, it has been instructed to come to your aid, and deliver you to the House representative. That would be me.”

I frowned again, then peered around the bedroom. “It didn’t come crashing through the walls or ceiling.”

“No, not at all. The emergence field was quite well modulated. The breach failed to disturb any of the furniture.” He raised a hand cautiously. “As a matter of fact it delivered you into the living area while I was watching the evening news.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “You do that?”

“Excuse me?”

“You watch the news.”

He gave me a conflicted, complicated look, as though he was unsure in what way to reply.

I raised a hand quickly. “Forget it.” Holding back a sigh, I asked, “So, do they know I’m here?” Abruptly I gasped and asked, “Wait—do you know what happened to me?”

Simon blinked quickly, before pressing his lips into a worried thin line. “The Sarcophagus informed me of what it knew of the events aboard the Telos Corporation research vessel. It appears someone took a special interest in you, and placed you inside an isolation block.”

“Do you know who that would be?”

Again he looked uncomfortable. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

I noticed he was looking uncomfortable and a little embarrassed. However, I pressed him for an answer and leaned forward a little. “Who put me in that cell block?”

Simon took a couple of breaths. “Cassidy, dear, if I may impose upon you.”

“What?”

“Would you be so kind as to…set me free? Please?”

I furrowed my brow into a scowl. “What was that?”

He gave me a sheepish, yet discomfited smile. “For my sake more than yours, I’d appreciate it if you stopped doing that.”

I swept a glance over myself. “Doing what?”

Simon looked to be edging toward despair. I could see the sweat beads running down his flushed brow. “Your foot, Cassidy dear. Please, please I implore you to stop moving your foot. ”

It took me a moment to realize what he meant. I was unconsciously rocking my left foot side-to-side, forward and back. The realization lanced through my mind, shocking me into a momentary loss of reason.

“I’m so sorry—geh!” My eyes grew unbearably wide. “Wh-what is this?”

Simon cleared his throat and fearfully pleaded, “My dear lady. I beseech you to pay it no mind.”

At first I thought he was joking, but a longer look at his face strongly implied otherwise. “Wh—what the Hell?”

It felt like I was standing on…a log.

Suddenly the notion to look down at my left foot became unbearably terrifying.

I began to tremble all over.

And Simon broke into a full sweat. “Cassidy. Please. Be reasonable. I entreat you to listen to me.”

“Listen to you?” Cassidy’s body alternated between shivering and trembling. “Why? Why? Tell me why?”

Simon raised a hand, his palm toward me. “My dear girl, you must understand there are certain elements beyond a man’s control. Ah—when certain tactile input takes place, a man tends to respond a certain way. I’m certain you recall your days as a strapping young lad—”

“Wrong.”

Simon swallowed in a hurry. “I beg your pardon?”

“Wrong.” I repeated. “Wrong. Wrong. Wrong—this is wrong!”

Simon lowered his hand. “Err…Cassidy?”

I clenched my hands and closed my eyes as wave of shame rushed through me from head to toes. However, what really shook me was the feeling of utter humiliating defeat. A sense of complete, unmitigated loss that gurgled down into empty despair. It was like eating humble pie of the most bitter kind.

I covered my face with both hands. I realized I was being overly emotional, but I couldn’t stop myself. Maybe it was all the female hormones rushing through Cassidy’s body.

I struggled to hold back a sob, as I heard the concern in Simon’s voice.

“Cassidy? Cassidy, are you alright—?”

“Why?” I snapped. “Why? Why? It’s wrong and it’s not fair.”

“Um…Cassidy. Please, calm down.”

I dropped my hands, clenching them into fists, and glared fire and brimstone at the man. “Just die!” I screamed.

Then I raised my left foot high and slammed it down with enough force to crack a wooden floor.

I’d never seen a man move so fast in my life.

The fear of losing a limb and possible death was a powerful motivator.

Through the red haze filling my eyes, I watched Simon scoot back with the speed of a bullet, his face a mask of terror.

My foot crushed the carpet, missing his trunk by a mere inch.

The floor boomed and I thought the walls shook a little.

But the Ronin elements within Cassidy weren’t close to giving up.

I stalked Simon as he scurried backwards along the floor.

It was satisfying to hear him plead for mercy.

“Cassidy—no, Mercedes. I implore you. Stop. Please stop and think about what you’re doing.”

The tendons in my hands popped and cracked loudly. “I bet you’re real proud, aren’t you? Yeah, you’re a real man amongst men. Or are they all built the same from where you come from?”

He retreated until his back hit the bedroom wall behind him. “Mercedes—why are you so angry?”

“You—you have no idea how mortifying that thing felt under my foot.”

“Please listen to me.”

“Something that large should be illegal!”

Simon started to raise his hands. “Mercedes, let’s be reasonable. Please, think it through.”

“Beg.”

“I’m sorry?”

“I said beg.”

Simon frowned ever so slightly. “Um—”

I raised my chin, and glared at him down my nose. “Are you too much of a man to beg?”

For a long while, Simon remained as he was, his hands raised toward me, but then he lowered them slowly. The fear on his face began to ease, even if just a little.

“No.”

I clenched my jaw, and a cauldron of emotions tightened my throat, making it difficult to swallow. “Fine. Then today is the first day of your new life.”

I started to crouch, my intention clear, when Simon surprised me by gathering his feet under him and standing up.

He was taller than Mercedes, standing a very respectable six feet or so.

Dressed as he was in a light summer shirt and long shorts, I gained a good impression of his build. It was clear that despite being in his middle years, he was remarkably trim.

I found myself responding by standing at Mercedes’ full five feet eight inches, but I was forced to look up at him.

His grey eyes met mine, and he shook his head slowly. His voice was low, and quiet calm, yet I could see the fight or flight conflict warring behind his eyes.

“Enough. Do what you will, but I will not beg.”

I arched my eyebrows at him, and a burning shiver ran through me.

After a long moment, Simon swallowed and stated with firm conviction, “Not all men are created equal.”

Simon moved fast. But Mercedes moved faster. Yet at the last moment I gained control of the anger—my anger—that was fueling her.

Instead of punching through Simon’s stomach, I felt her fist punch through the wall as I slowed her reaction down a mere heartbeat.

Simon tossed his body aside, and caught himself from falling by supporting himself against the adjacent wall.

“And not all women are created equally!”

His cry reached me.

I pulled my fist out of the hole in the wall, and stared at him with burning, conflicted feelings.

Simon was breathing hard, fear warring with the severe expression on his face. “Mercedes…Cassidy…you are judging me unfairly.”

“Do you know…do you know what I have found the hardest to accept these past few days?”

I watched him breathe a couple more times before guardedly shaking his head. “No.”

“This…feeling of emptiness. This…sense of missing something important to me.”

He did well not to frown as he stayed silent.

I pointed down at myself. “This…this body…it’s not me.”

Simon watched me with nearly unblinking eyes.

I lowered my clenched hands to my sides, and I tried relaxing them. “For the past five…six days…I have tried to look at myself in the mirror…without looking at myself.”

The feelings bubbling in the cauldron deep in my chest surged against its inside wall like storm waves crashing against the breakers.

I had to let go of the shivering building up within me.

When it ran its course through my body, I found my voice again.

“I am not a girl. I am a boy. And this body, as beautiful as she is, is not mine. This is not who I am.”

I took another deep breath.

“And I’m reminded of this every single effing time I have to sit down to pee.”

Another deep breath.

“And every effing time the wind blows up my effing skirt and freezes my ass and my damn cu—”

“Cassidy!”

His sharp cry assailed my ears, shocking me so much I actually trembled.

Gone was the look of fear on Simon’s face.

Now…now I saw anger…and stark disappointment.

He shook his head. “That is unfitting for a lady to say.”

I stared at him, disbelief running between my ears, and then I started to laugh.

It was low at first, almost like a series of hiccups, but then it grew into unmistakable laughter.

I laughed until my sides began to ache.

I laughed but there was no mirth, no joy or happiness behind it.

It was a deranged, despairing laughter born of the mix of unstable emotions that now spilled out of the cauldron within my chest.

I laughed, and then I cried.

To his credit, Simon did not move toward me.

If he had, I was certain Mercedes would have ripped his body in half.

Instead, he stood quietly by the wall, and watched me cry.

I wiped at my tears, and between wracking sobs, I cried out the words I’d wanted to say back then at the beachside resort.

I made my demand loud and clear.

“Give me back my body!”

I cried, and I howled, and I stamped my feet.

“Give it back! Give it back! Give it back!”

I raised my fists, intending to rush him and pummel him into a bloody mess.

“Give me back my life!”

At the last heartbeat I turned away and slammed Mercedes fists into the wall beside me – the wall separating the bedroom from the spacious en-suite bathroom.

And Mercedes ripped the wall apart.

She kicked it. She punched it. She tore out pieces of it and flung them like a debris carried by a storm into the bedroom.

Then she lost her will, and sagged against the wall, before slowing turning to face Simon.

Maybe because he said nothing – maybe because all he did was quietly observe me – maybe that was the reason why I felt anger and resentment toward him.

Maybe it was the reason I rushed him – because I wanted him to flee – to take a stand against me.

But Simon did nothing but follow me with his eyes.

Even when I pushed him back against the wall behind him, Simon made no attempt to defend himself or fight back.

So in the end, I stood before him, my whole body trembling and shivering, with a fresh run of tears streaming down my face.

I couldn’t manage more than a ragged whisper.

“Say something….”

Simon pressed his lips together, and continued silently watching me.

“Say something….”

But he said nothing. He just stood there, his back leaning against the bedroom wall, wearing an expression that had grown unreadable.

I drew back my right fist…and dropped it down to my side.

After a while, when my tears abated to the point I could see properly again, I tried my voice.

It was harsh, and my throat felt as dry as sandpaper.

“You people…took my life…and put me in this…monstrosity.” I swallowed a couple of times. “I hate you. I hate all of you.”

I turned and started walking away toward the bedroom doorway.

“Mercedes, wait….”

“Go to Hell.”

“I made a promise to your sister. And I will keep it.”

I stopped walking but didn’t turn around. “What promise?”

“That I would return you to your body.”

I laughed and shook my head weakly. “Yeah, but what kind of body will it be. Can your kind really regenerate my body?” I looked at him over left shoulder. “I don’t believe you can. I believe you lied to my sister to get her co-operation. And once you get what you want from me…you’ll get rid of me.”

“That is not going to happen.”

“Liar.”

I started walking again. Exiting the bedroom I stepped into a spacious living room that was twice the size of my student apartment.

I felt somewhat disgusted by how large Simon’s apartment was.

However, I didn’t bother wondering how he had acquired it. No doubt the Telos Corporation was involved.

Sweeping my gaze over the expanse of the living area with its sofa seats, coffee and dining tables, shelves, and so forth, my attention was caught by the wide window wall that looked out onto the horseshoe shaped bay.

The curtains were drawn back, and I had an uninterrupted view of Ar Telica at night.

The city lights were on, illuminating the tall skyline and streets far below.

I walked up to the window wall, entranced by the scenery.

Sparing a thought for my sister, I wondered where she was.

I was also a little unsettled by the silence in my head. Ever since Jive had wailed away in terror, there had been no hint he was still inside my head. Had no idea what had happened, nor could I explain the behavior of the Angel Fibers within my body. However, those Fibers had done something to the sphere’s hatch and caused it to open.

I was free, yet as I stared at the night skyline, I realized I was trapped.

The freedom I was experiencing now was nothing more than a temporary reprieve from captivity.

I heard and sensed Simon walk into the living area, and come to a stop a few meters behind me.

“Mercedes. There are some things you need to know.”

I listened but didn’t turn around. I could see his reflection in the window.

Simon pressed on somberly. “I disabled the wetware in your head. At the moment, they have no idea where you are.”

That took me by surprise. “How?”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“I used the Sarcophagus.”

I swallowed, and nodded shallowly. “I’m listening.”

“The Sarcophagus is much more than your personal armory. It’s a safe haven. You can take shelter inside it. You can rest, heal, and regain your strength using its support functions. And you can use it to travel around. You can even travel to my universe, if you so desire, though there is a procedure—a route—you must follow.”

I gave him another shallow nod.

Simon slipped his hands into the pockets of his shorts. “We gave the people of your reality a great deal of access to the Sarcophagus’ inner workings. We didn’t give them access to everything.”

“Because you don’t trust them.”

“Because we don’t trust their intentions for you.”

I held back a frown and slowly half turned to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“Your people are at war with a dangerous species. You represent a powerful new technology that can be employed in the war. But it’s an immature technology. Also, if your existence was discovered by the public, the repercussions are both good and bad. In other words, the people of your reality aren’t ready for something like you. They are more likely to accept the cybernetic Gun Princesses, than an entity such as yourself.”

“An entity? Thanks. You sure know how to make a girl feel special.”

I realized what I was saying, but referring to myself as male right now wouldn’t have had the same effect.

“Mercedes, you are special.” He took a very deep breath. “There are many in my reality who believe you are the Eve that will give birth to a new humanity.”

That notion made me shiver and not in a pleasant way. “I’d rather die first….”

“Please don’t say that.”

I laughed under my breath. “Wait. I’m already dead.”

Simon stepped closer, his hands now at his sides. “Mercedes, Ronin’s body is safe. I assure you, it will be returned to you. You have my word as the representative of House Alus Novis.”

I laughed again, tainted by bitterness. “And all I have to do is fight and win. Right?”

He gave me a single firm nod. “Yes.”

“Why?”

He took a deep breath. “On the surface, it’s about prestige and honor for a ranked House such as mine.”

“And below the surface?”

He shook his head gently. “I cannot say.”

“Why?”

“Because you don’t trust me.”

I shook my head back at him. “And that’s precisely why I don’t trust you. Because you’re not telling me the whole truth.”

He cocked his head at me. “And can I trust you if I do?”

I turned round and faced him. “At least it would be a start.”

“I can give you more control over your life.”

“Huh?” I drew back an inch or so. “What?”

“They watch everything you do, and won’t hesitate to cage you if it’ll ensure they get what they want from House Alus Novis.”

“I don’t understand.”

“By ensuring your cooperation, they get our cooperation.”

“And you give them stuff that’ll help humanity win the war?”

“We’re dealing with a corporation. Do you think they’re doing all this because they’re altruistic?”

I swallowed quietly. “So it’s about making money, rather than helping humanity survive.”

“But if humanity dies then they can’t make money, which is what drives every corporation. They know this, and its why they’re willing to deal with us, bend over backwards for us, and beg if need be in order to ensure our continued support.”

I folded my arms under my breasts. “What’s your point?”

“I can use that to get you back your privacy. I can make sure you’re allowed to live your life as Cassidy Reynier. I can limit their influence in your life.”

I noticed I was biting my lower lip but didn’t stop myself. “What do you want in return?”

“I want you to win.”

“How? I’m not trained to fight. I survived last time by the skin of my teeth.”

“You have a talent far above normal people. You’re ability to process sensory data at enormously high speeds is phenomenal.”

My face twisted into a full frown. “My what?”

“When we designed Mercedes’ body, we wanted to ensure that Ronin’s extraordinary hand-to-eye coordination was retained. In particular, your ability to overclock.”

My frown eased. “I thought that was something unique to Mercedes.”

“No. It’s something you could do beforehand.”

“But I’ve never overclocked.”

“Not to the degree Mercedes can achieve. But it was indeed a latent talent we identified and incorporated into her body, now your body.” He took a step closer. “You won your first match without training beyond what you gained in the game arcades. You have talent, and you will gain the skill.”

“How?”

“By training, of course.”

I released my frown, and relaxed my face. “And who is going to do that?”

He pursed his lips together for a long moment. “I have someone in mind.”

If I was to fight, and win, then training toward that goal was something I couldn’t avoid. It was something I’d accepted a while ago, but had been too preoccupied with adjusting to life inside Mercedes to spare it much thought.

I believed I’d taken a step toward that goal this morning when I asked Crais Shepherd to teach me those martial arts he employed against this uncle.

But should I leave my training in Simon’s hands? Could I trust him?

I wanted to know more of what he had in mind before I made a decision.

Simon stepped closer, and I quickly raised a hand, stopping him.

“Mercedes?”

“I need time. Time to think about it. And you need to tell more about what you’re planning for me.”

“Very well.” He glanced over my shoulder at the night skyline visible beyond the glass wall. “It’s late. Why don’t I order us something to eat?”

“You can’t cook?”

“I’d need to shop for supplies. However, I can indeed cook.”

“Aren’t you well rounded,” I muttered under my breath.

He placed his hands behind his back. “Then what shall it be?”

“Clothes.”

He leaned forward a few inches. “Hmm?”

“Clothes. I’d like clean clothes. And to take a shower.”

He smiled faintly. “By all means. I believe I have something that might suit you.”

I noticed he’d grown relaxed around me.

However, before I could say anything the door bell chimed.

Simon half spun toward the door, then spoke into empty air. “Home. Corridor visual.”

A holovid bubble a meter in diameter appeared a few feet away in front of Simon. He and I regarded the image outside the door to the apartment.

He let out a heavy sigh. “Building security.”

“Why are they here?”

Simon regarded me through lidded eyes. “Because undoubtedly someone made a scene, and our neighbors heard it.”

I jerked back.

He was right. I’d certainly made a lot of noise, and brought trouble to his doorstep.

I loudly sucked in air, which pushed out my breasts under the robe. Of course, Simon’s attention was briefly drawn to my chest. However, now wasn’t the time for me to make a snide comment.

The doorbell chimed again.

Growing anxious, I asked, “What should I do?”

He regarded me from head to toes. “That look isn’t going to do.”

I clenched my hands before me. “Then tell me what to do!”

“Does that mean you’re willing to trust me?”

“For now—yes!”

“Well you’re too young to be girlfriend—”

“A wise assumption,” I snapped.

“—so I guess you’ll just have to hide.”

The doorbell chimed a third time.

I hastily pointed in its direction. “But with all the racket I made, they’re going to be looking for a body.”

“True. Though I may convince them the noise came from a holovision recording.”

I stared at him flatly. “That sounds even worse.”

Knocking on the door succeeded in grabbing our attention.

Simon said, “Go into the bathroom and wet your hair.”

“What?”

“Just do it. Then wait for me in the bedroom.” He snapped his fingers at me. “Go, Mercedes.”

I did as told, and hurried to the en-suite bathroom. Opening the shower head, I slipped the bathrobe down to my waist, then stuck my head under the water. Once it was moist if not wet, I turned the water off, and slipped back into the robe. When I passed by the mirror, I saw that I was once again Cassidy and not Mercedes. The frequent changes between physical personas was starting to unsettle me.

With a loud breath, I walked out into the bedroom, and grimaced when I saw how much damage I’d done to the wall.

There was no easy way to hide it.

I looked around, searching for furniture I could position in front of the damaged portions of the wall, but there wasn’t any I could use. Hauling the bed upright against the wall wasn’t an option. It would look even more bizarre and suspicious.

The sound of voices coming from the living area caught my attention.

Standing near the bedroom door, I eavesdropped but soon I heard Simon call out for me.

“Cassidy, would come out here, please.”

Taking a couple of deep breaths, I fluffed my blonde hair a little, tightened the robe about me and then stepped out into the living area.

The two security guards dressed in black uniforms regarded me from head to toes.

They did well to hide their surprise, but I caught the hint of it in their eyes.

One of the men indicated I should come closer, so I stepped up to Simon and stopped beside him. I was careful to keep some distance between us.

The older of the two guards compared my appearance to an image on the data slate he held in his left hand.

“You’re Cassidy Reynier?” he asked, but it sounded less a question and more like a statement of confirmation.

“Yes, sir.”

“What is your relationship to this man?”

I choked back a gasp, as my thoughts fell into a spin. Rather, it was like the thinking part of me was the red ball bouncing around in a roulette wheel.

The guard tipped his head toward me an inch or so. “Miss?”

In my mind, the roulette wheel slowed and the ball came to rest on one particular square.

“He’s my cousin’s boyfriend.”

The guard glanced at Simon, then asked me, “Care to explain?”

I folded my arms under my chest. “Simon is my older cousin’s boyfriend. My cousin is Erina Kassius. She works for the Telos Corporation.”

The guard expressed neither belief nor disbelief, however, he did study my appearance once more. “I see. Do you have any proof of this?”

I sighed loudly, tossed my wet hair, and dropped my weight onto a hip. “Look. He’s my cousin’s boyfriend, not mine. I’m not having an affair with him, and if you want proof, then I can tell you I’m still a virgin.”

Dear gods—did I just say that?

Ignoring the way Simon suddenly stiffened, I kept my attention on the security guard, and held up a finger. “Besides, he’s too old for me. Not my type. And there’s a boy at my school that I’m looking to make mine. So I don’t have time for old guys like him. Okay? I’m not doing anything wrong. He’s not doing anything wrong. We’re not having sex. What more do you want?”

“Would you care to explain why you’re here?”

“I had a fight with my cousin, and I came here.”

“I see.”

I planted my hands on my hips. “What’s that supposed to mean? And why are you here anyway?”

“We’re investigating reports of a commotion. The neighbors heard a woman screaming violently from in here.”

“I told you—we’re not having sex.”

The guard gave me a thin look, but his partner looked noticeably embarrassed and glanced away.

After a moment the questioning guard asked, “Can you tell us about the disagreement with your cousin?”

I chose to cross my arms while clenching my jaw. “Why do I have to tell you anything? You’re not the police.”

“Would you care to explain yourself in front of them?”

I dropped my arms to my sides and trembled in anger that wasn’t entirely faked. “Fine. You want to know? I’ll tell you. I found out my whore of a cousin was cheating on her boyfriend. I confronted her about it and we got into a fight. I was furious with her so I came here to tell Simon the truth. And then—and then we started arguing because he didn’t believe me! And he accused me of trying to break him up with my bitch cousin! And that’s what happened! Are you happy now—huh?”

I don’t know how I managed it, but my cheeks suddenly wet with fresh tears.

I gasped and touched my face.

How had I become this distraught again? What was wrong with me? I was supposed to be faking my emotions yet I was crying as though everything I’d said was true.

I stepped back and covered my face for a long moment, before dabbing at my tears with the sleeves of the bathrobe.

I wasn’t looking at the guard when I heard Simon say, “It’s the truth. She’s telling you the truth. I didn’t believe her.” He sighed heavily, and then added, “I still…don’t want to believe her.”

A heavy silence fell upon us.

It last for a long while, until the older guard said, “We’ll have to enter a record of the reported disturbance. If the people who reported the disturbance choose to enter a formal complaint, we’re obliged under building regulations to report this to the police.”

Simon nodded slowly. “I see. Then I’ll have to call my legal representative and seek his advice. Is there anything else?”

I had stopped crying, and my face was dry again, though my sleeves were moist.

The guard spared me another look before adding. “I suggest you keep it down.”

Simon released a heavy breath. I watched his shoulders rise and fall.

He gave the guard a solitary nod. “Yes, I understand. My sincere apologies.”

I bowed my head and kept my eyes downcast.

The guard said, “Thank you for your cooperation. We’ll be in touch if we need anything else.”

“I understand,” Simon politely replied.

With my arms folded tightly under my breasts, I remained stationary when Simon and the guards walked by me on their way to the apartment’s entrance.

I refused to look at any of them, and chose to keep my attention on the carpeted floor.

It wasn’t until Simon came back sans guards, that I started to relax.

Then I saw his disgruntled face. “Wh—what?”

Simon stared at me through narrowed eyes. “Your sister is not going to be pleased if she ever learns about that lie.”

I shrugged, feeling a little nervous. “Well, I had to think of something to tell them. Something they’d believe. I won’t tell her if you won’t tell her.”

Simon’s mouth opened, but then he closed it with a weary shake of his head.

Wanting to change the subject, I indicated the bathrobe I was wearing. “Sorry, but could I trouble you for some clothes.”

“Isn’t there anything else you’d like to say to me?”

I remembered the damage to the wall, and my attempt to castrate him underfoot. “No. Not that I can think of.”

Simon’s eyes widened. “You—you’re unbelievable.”

“By the way, you had no right to kiss me.”

He blanched for a heartbeat, then sheepishly turned away. “I have no idea what you mean.”

“I may look like this, but I’m still a guy inside.”

He faced me again. “Are you saying that kiss did nothing for you?”

I shook my head. “It turned my stomach.”

“Then why did you kiss me back?”

I gasped. “I did no such thing.”

“You most certainly did. And you seductively ran your tongue over your lips. That’s something only a girl can pull off.”

“Gah—that’s a lie!” I poked his chest with an iron hard finger. “You took advantage of me and I’m still under aged. That makes me jailbait. Jailbait!”

Simon made a shushing gesture. “Will you keep your voice down?”

I hissed through clenched teeth. “I am keeping my voice down!”

“And you’re calling yourself jailbait?”

Realizing how that sounded, I blushed furiously and stepped back.

But Simon followed me. “And one more thing. I really cannot abide a woman who isn’t honest with herself.”

I stopped retreating. “I’m not a woman.”

He stopped advancing. “Shall we test that?”

I wagged a finger at him. “Don’t even think of crossing that line.”

Simon folded his arms across his chest. “Very well. For now, we can leave things as they stand…with you in denial.”

I lowered my voice and hardened my expression into a glare. “Simon. You’re treading on thin ice.”

“You’re going to be Cassidy and Mercedes for at least a year.”

“But then I’ll go back to being Ronin.”

He took a long slow breath. “You have almost a whole year to experience life as a girl. Are you going to throw that opportunity aside?”

“Opportunity?” I blinked slowly at him as I rolled the word around in my mind. “Is that what you think this is?”

“Yes.”

“Go to Hell, Simon.”

His shoulders grew rigid, then abruptly he shrugged, and then turned away. “There’s no getting through to you.”

I started to growl, when he suddenly strode away.

Simon walked across the living room and disappeared into a hallway.

When he came back, he carried a bundle of clothes and a shoebox with him.

He dropped that bundle into my arms.

I looked down at the clothes and shoebox, then faced him with a question on my face.

Simon pointed to the bundle. “I had that ordered and delivered this afternoon while you were asleep. They should fit you fine, including the shoes.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. “You…you know my sizes?”

“Indeed.” He indicated his bedroom. “Get dressed. Then we’ll continue our discussion from earlier.”

“What discussion?”

“About how we’re going to get you trained for the Princess Royale.”

I felt a little defeated hearing that. “Oh….”

Simon regarded me with a penetrating look. “Don’t you want your body back?”

“I—I do.”

“Then prove it. And I don’t mean by wrecking another one of my bedroom walls.”

I sucked in air noisily through my nose, then stormed past him, across the living room, and into his bedroom.

With one foot, I kicked the door shut.

The force of the impact caused the door to rebound open.

The top hinge plate tore free of the doorframe.

I stared at the door as it hung awkwardly from the remaining hinges.

“Cassidy!”

I squeaked and fled into the en-suite bathroom.

“This is coming out of your allowance!”

#

(Erina)

Whirlander looked up at me.

“What the Hell just happened?”

I looked down over my right shoulder at where she sat on her multipurpose highchair.

“I’m sorry, I’m not following you—”

Whirlander jammed a finger at the large curved wall with multiple rectangular screens peeping in on Simon’s apartment. “What is this travesty?”

Akane snorted. “I’d say someone wants her money back.”

Whirlander tossed her hands in the air. “After everything that happened between them and this is what we get?”

Uma snapped, “Why are you so angry?”

The diminutive Chief Director banged her hands on the chair’s armrests.

“Where’s the sex?”

I stared at her – we all stared at her – and endured mounting disbelief. “You are truly disgusting.”

Whirlander sagged in her chair, then languidly swept an arm at the wall. “All this and nothing happened. What a waste…a total waste of resources…and that girl has no idea on what she’s missing out.”

I couldn’t contain myself, and planted myself in front of Whirlander. “That’s enough. Don’t you dare talk about my brother that way! Is that clear?”

Whirlander regarded me with a confused look on her face. Then her expression darkened.

“Akane.”

The young woman was cleaning her nails with a butterfly knife. “Yes, Boss?”

“Go fetch that girl.”

I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening, and not at the butterfly knife. “Wait a moment! Just what do you have in mind?”

Whirlander raised an eyebrow at me. “Why do you ask?”

“Because you’re sending Akane. That’s a bad move considering Akane pumped Cassidy full of tranquilizers.” I tapped my chest. “If anyone should go fetch my brother, it should be me.” I jerked my thumb at the nearest wall, not minding which direction I was pointing. “We’re out at sea. Allow me to use one of the Vee Tolls to fly back to Ar Telica.”

“Denied. Akane will suffice.”

“Akane will make things worse.”

The young woman gave me a deep bow, with the knife pressed across her chest. “Thank you for your support, Doctor Kassius.”

I ignored her and locked stares with Whirlander. “Cassidy will not respond well to her.”

Akane straightened and planted her hands on her hips. “Are you forgetting your so-called cousin tried to kill you?”

“That isn’t true,” I retorted.

Akane shook her head with a pitying look. “If I hadn’t intervened, you’d be laid out on a slab by now.”

“She was angry, but she wasn’t going to kill me.”

“Does the wrist hurt?” Akane asked. “Maybe all the tranks in your system are clouding your Alpha brain, but you’re in denial.”

I faced her. “So what are you planning to do? Walk to his apartment door, knock on the door, and shoot them both with tranquilizers when they open it?”

Akane grinned wolfishly. “That sounds like a plan. I like it.”

“This is serious. You think you can fetch her against her will. Have you forgotten she has the Sarcophagus with her? That device is a portable armory.”

Whirlander nodded in agreement. “Which is precisely why Akane should go.”

I looked at the short woman on the chair. “You’re going to start a fire fight in the middle of Ar Telica’s Ring One.”

Uma broke into the argument with a sharp tone, and handed me her phone. “Erina, it’s for you.”

I stared at the phone I took from her. “What?”

“Just answer it,” she grumbled.

I held it up to my ear. “This is Erina Kassius.”

“What do you want?” Cassidy’s voice came through clearly.

I forgot to breathe, and my mind flatlined for a second or so. Then I quickly lowered the phone in my hand and activated the speaker function. “Cassidy, is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“But—but how?”

“Someone called Uma Personality or something called Simon’s cell phone and asked to speak to me.”

I looked down at the number on the phone’s flat display, then up at Uma in disbelief.

She folded her arms and shrugged casually. “Why make a mountain out of a mole hill. Isn’t it easier to just call him?”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “You had his number? How did you get his number?”

“Same way you did.”

I blanched then blushed hotly. “Hah?”

Uma peered at me. “What’s with that reaction?”

“You—you slept with him too?”

Uma paled. “No! I agreed to dinner and dancing! Nothing more!” She gasped. “My gods—you didn’t.” She lowered her arms and retreated a step away from me. “I thought you were kidding when you said you went back to his apartment after your date.”

I waved the phone angrily. “That’s because you kept egging me on wanting to know the details. And I was drunk that night. And I can’t remember much about it either! I can’t even remember sleeping with him!”

Uma appeared to wilt. “You harlot….”

My whole face felt like it was alight. “Who are you to judge me? You used to string up men like a daisy chain during college.”

“That was a social experiment.” She tapped her temples. “Mind works, remember. All part of furthering my thesis.”

“And how many relationships did you ruin as a result?”

“I didn’t ruin them.” She pointed at Akane. “She did.”

At that moment something narrow and sharp flew past Uma’s face, and slammed with a loud ‘thunk’ into the curved wall.

Strands of hair drifted in the air in front of Uma’s face.

Her bangs were sliced in a horizontal line.

“Oops,” Akane giggled. “My fingers slipped.”

Uma reached up and gingerly touched her hair with a trembling hand.

I stared at the butterfly knife impaled on the wall.

Something went snick, and when I slowly turned toward Akane, I saw she had a switchblade in one hand and was gently running the edge of the blade over the back of her other hand.

Akane looked at me innocently. “What?”

A small voice emanated from the phone in my hand.

“Erina…is that true?”

I looked down at the phone.

Cassidy voice grew a little stronger yet her tone was distant. “Erina, did you sleep with Simon?”

I swallowed again, unable to decide how best to answer her.

Akane suddenly spoke up. “Hey, Princess. Do you want to see the recording?”

My heart stopped and my innards abruptly became cold.

Akane laughed. “Your cousin puts in quite the performance.”

There was a dull but very loud thud.

That was the sound of me fainting and hitting the floor.