Chapter 82

The Old Switcheroo

  The seven words that every man hates to hear most, from someone they care about.

  “Wait, I need to say something first.”

  Yep, they were just said. With those seven words Jess has effectively become the sole commander of this conversation. With those seven words I have become a prisoner of my own mind. I am bound by silence, until she tells me what she wants to.

  Worse, I don’t know what she will say. She could still be angry at me. She could be angry at the idea of being a Twalo. I know I would hate needing to be bound to someone, in order to maintain a new status. Or even worse, she might not want to come with me. That she might want to return to the Academy, thereby blowing the fact that she somehow survived. With her alive, it would mean that I likely could have survived as well. Well, if not me, others might have also survived. That would lead to doubts.

  I have no doubt that we could get training and certifications from the Endarian academy of Thessia, like we did in the alternate universe.

  She might be worried about the certs she might lose out. To help, I know I could offer her some. Well more than some. I do have a thousand, well technically two thousand certs, but I have a feeling that one of those thousand will go missing here shortly. They better offer a great vehicle.

  So many thoughts are going through my head, that when she finally decides to tell me what is on her mind. I am almost at a loss for what to say.

  “I am really sorry for stabbing you.” She says, as she breaks eye contact and begins to tremble.

  Phew.

  Inwardly I let out a sigh, of relief that I didn’t even know I had been holding. So much had happened, I had been subject to so much friendly fire, attacks from a herald, orbital bombardments, the subsequent burning from being caught in the flames. That one minor stab, that was nothing.

  “Oh, that thing, it was nothing. Besides you stab like a girl.” I say familiarly. Then realize this is not my Jess. Technically this is not any Jess. I tense up, wondering if I took this too far.

  Giggle.

  She laughed, her tone that of soft wind chimes in the spring air. It was a soft melodic sound, that instantly let me relax. After a second, she recovers then responds.

  “Hey, I stabbed my pen a good two inches into your ribs. I know I pierced your lung.”

  “You stabbed me with a pen? And now you are bragging about it?” I ask, my tone playful. But seriously? Who brags about stabbing someone with a pen?

  “Not bad for a girl.” She says the last word mockingly.

  At that, I have to laugh. This was the Jess I knew. The competitive as hell woman who never backed down from any challenge. This time I feel the impulse for my wings and hold them still. Well not still, I force them together in the back, like a long dorsal fin.

  Badump. Badump.

  Yep, my wings are not going to betray my emotions now. Not while I force them together. Of course, this does nothing for my still beating heart. Even now, here in a hospital bed, she is absolutely captivating.

  “I have a question for you.” I manage, again wings held tightly together to avoid giving away just how much I care about this.

  She just raises an eyebrow in a way that causes a familiar smile to form on my lips.

  Hmm?

  She makes the sound of an inquisitive librarian. At that I close my eyes and regain my composure.

  “Have you heard about our current statuses, and the proposed future with the Endarians?” I ask. I know this is kind of blunt, but I don’t know how else to address this issue, and it feels like this is something that needs to be covered quickly.

  With that, she deflates slightly. “I have.”

  I let out a sigh but continue anyways.

  “What are your thoughts?”

  She pauses, turns her head away, but still glances at me through the side of her eyes. Finally, she turns back to me.

  “Can you put on a shirt or something. You are sort of distracting.” She says, as she waves her right hand around apparently indicating my still shirtless condition.

  Chuckle.

  I laugh, but then go over to the closet where a dozen or so patient gowns are stored. Grab one and begin to put it on. Making sure to tie it off in the back.

  “Did I tell you. I finally figured out why these gowns are made this way?” I offer, glad I can finally tell someone my joke. “Yeah, the reason they tie off in the back like this is for your wings.” I say, then turn around to show the fact that I can flap and move my jumbo-sized butterfly wings easily in the gown.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Groan.

  Hearing that sound, a particularly evil smile forms on my lips. That is a sound I miss from her a lot. I let a slight smirk form on my face, as I turn back to her. She looks at me, then just shakes her head.

  “You know what, never mind. You can wear what you want. Or not.” Jess says, apparently thinking that the hospital gown is too much.

  With that I just pull it off right there. I make sure to watch as she stares at me. I am perhaps enjoying this moment a bit too much.

  Awkward cough.

  I turn to see the detective still in the room. Apparently, he has grown tired of this whole situation.

  “Oh right. You probably wish for us to come up with an answer?” I ask.

  Hearing that Jess turns her head to the detective, then a look of nervous tension fills her face before she turns back to me.

  I just smile.

  “So, is there any way I can convince you to join me? I can of course give you all certs you need for your class evolutions.” I offer.

  She looks confused for a moment, then realization strikes her. “Wait, you don’t want to go back either?”

  Hearing that I chuckle. “To a place that orbitally bombarded me?”

  I know, I know. I keep bringing it up, but it is still traumatizing. I mean, we are both still in the hospital now, due to the orbital bombardment, give me time.

  Then she pauses.

  “Wait, you have certs? But how? Aren’t they like rare and stuff?” She asks, confusion clearly written on her face.

  “They are. But I happen to have a few laying around.”

  “A few?”

  “A thousand to be precise.” The Detective says.

  “Two thousand” I correct him, before continuing. “This of course depends on whether Jess wants to go along with this plan.”

  “Me?” Jess asks, suddenly realizing she is the center of attention. “Why wouldn’t I want to go? I finally get to see Endarian space, the monuments, the art, the four years of psychic training, the men.” She puts particular emphasis on the Endarian men.

  “The men?” I ask, a tone of incredulity in my voice.

  She looks at me like I have four wings. “Yeah. Don’t say you don’t find your eyes wandering during classes. Though now that I think about it, those Endarian females are pretty, as well.”

  As she speaks, I can’t help but feel a slowly emptying spot right above my heart.

  “I guess the question is, why would you want to go?” Jess asks.

  With that, I feel slightly at odds. Is she questioning why I would want this? I could tell her a lot of things. Like for instance I am a time traveling guardian of a rebellious space tree, that also exists outside of time. Or at the very least outside of time loops? Then there is the fact that I know at some point I am going to have to try to fight and hopefully kill Admiral Lemitov. That would probably go poorly if I was still in the human military. Also, given that he already tried to kill me once, yes by orbital bombardment, I want to get pretty far away from him. I could say all of these, but I don’t think she would believe me, even if I tried. So rather than telling the truth, I settle for a half truth.

  “Honestly, I want to go for the women.” I reply.

  “The women?” She asks, a note of disgust coming to her voice.

  “What? You said you wanted to go because of, the men.” I respond, but then compose myself. “Besides there is more.”

  “Oh? Well let’s have it. Why else would you want to go under these conditions?” She asks.

  “Simple. They have those wing cut chairs. In fact, all of their chairs are designed for the comfort of those with wings.” I respond.

  “That’s it? That’s why you want to go? Wing slit chairs?”

  “And shirts.” I add in helpfully.

  She pauses, and I can see that she is visibly getting angry, though I can’t quite tell why. Her breath is becoming shallower, and her body is being held in place like she is constricting her muscles as if to pounce. This is the problem with Empathy as a skill. I can tell that she is feeling a certain way, but I can’t quite tell why she is feeling this way.

  “If I might cut in. I would like to note that this deal comes with a weeklong stay at our most luxurious room. And this vehicle.” The Detective says, coming in to help de-escalate the tension in the room.

  Ping.

  I get an message, at the same time I hear a ping going to Jess’ communicator as well.

  At that I open the message and read.

  All hospital bills and fees covered.

  One six-night, seven days stay in the Ultimate Penthouse suite.

  One top of the line three seat space craft capable of multiple upgrade packages.

  Reading the description and layout of the ship, I almost instantly fell in love. It had solar charging panels. Kinetic charging panels, and multiple modular compartments. The ship was amazing, at least per the specs.

  “Oh, my gods. Is that electric lime green?” Jess asks, her tone almost giddy with excitement.

  At that, my pulse begins to race, slightly.

  I scroll down to the pictures of the ship in question, and finally look at the ship. Looking at it, I realize oh crap, it is shoot me in the dark, electric lime green. The same exact color as my mechanoid space suit that got quarantined and then destroyed in my last time loop.

  At that, I realize this must be some form of coincidence, right? This can’t be the universe’s way of warning me that this ship too will be destroyed utterly, after one use, Right?

  At this the detective visibly smiles like some cartoon villain who is about to rob the bank. He looks to Jess, and then looks back at me with a slight sneer, as he goes in for the kill. Turning back to Jess, he continues his little speech.

  “So, do you agree with this arrangement, madame. You gain this huge briefcase of certs.” He says, taking one of the two large suitcases he had been carrying with one hand. Then placed it on the bed.

  I am looking at this, as if this is some weird sales pitch. A sales pitch that I am somehow unable to stop, even though I see it coming from a mile away.

  “You gain a new identity, a free week’s vacation stay at our grandest of rooms, and a free vehicle. All you have to do is be tied to him. At least until you get to Endarian space, does that arrangement work for you?” He asks her.

  Clop-pop.

  The suitcase clicks open, and I literally see the moment the certs begin to glow brightly against the lighting of the room. These certs of course have my name on them. He is effectively offering her my hard-earned certs. I feel sort of disgusted and used by the whole situation.

  Looking down, Jess lets a faint smile form on her lips. It is that same look of avarice that everyone who just won the lottery seems to get, right when they realize they’ve won.

  “YES!” Jess exclaims, her body trembling with excitement as she looks from the case, then to the detective. “Yes!”

  With that, the detective takes a half step back, then turns to me. At this point Jess also turns her attention to me as well.

  “So all we have to do is get this guy to sign off on your new life.” The Detective says.

  With that Jess turns to me.

  Suddenly the attention is somehow on me and I suddenly wonder how we got to this place. When we had first entered the room, I was trying to determine how I could get Jess to come with me. Me, who by all accounts was a relative stranger to her, at least in this timeline.

  Yet, despite it all, I was the one who looked like I would deny Jess her right to freedom and happiness if I didn’t comply. Suddenly flustered about how this situation got turned so far around, and not wanting to waste this moment, I say the only words that come to mind.

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “YES!” Jess exclaims as she reaches into the suitcase and pulls out a pile of the certs like they are gold bullion, and she is a Spanish conquistador. I want to point out that those certs are utterly useless to her, until I give them to her, or relinquish my control over the certs.

  Still seeing her play in the pile of certs and throwing them up around her, in her hospital bed, brings a warm smile to my lips.

  “WAHOOO!”

  I think I almost feel the presence of celestial magic at work here. In fact, I am tempted to use my Revelation Sight on the detective, but I stop myself. This time, for now, I want this action to happen.

  Honestly, it is like a dream come true. Finally, after all these restarts. I finally get life the way I want. My brother is neutered. I know who one, and possibly two Prolaxian Heralds are. My obligations are over. I get a week vacation with Jess. A new life, a new identity, a new vehicle.

  Life is pretty good.

  Better still, it was Jess who wants this. Again, I can’t help but wonder if she is somehow being forced to do this? But if I don’t check, nothing is wrong? Right?

  I think about that. Then I instantly get disgusted with myself.

  Taking in a deep breath and realizing I might just mess up this perfectly good life. I change my Revelation Sight from passive to active.

  There is a glow, a golden glow that seems to surround Jess. With a sense of dread, I turn my head left, towards the detective. Then I let out a long sigh of relief when I realize the detective is not a celestial.

  “So are you going to sign the form?” The not celestial detective asks.

  Nodding to myself, I pull up the form, slide all the way down then apply my eSignature to the form. Send it back. Then taking the second cert case, I focus on the certs and relinquish my control over them, making it so they can go to anyone.

  With that, the deeds to the lime green three-seater fighter ship are transferred over to me. Then the detective leaves.

  I let out a sign of relief once everything was over and chastise myself for thinking that this was in any way influenced by the celestials. Sometimes life just goes right, eventually.

  I think to myself, though I am still confused about the odd golden glow that seemed to follow the suitcase of certs that Jess was practically bathing in. Still, I looked, I tried and I did not see any forms of manipulation.

  Yep, this was going to be my chance at a perfect life. All I had to do now, was not mess it up. How hard could that be?