Authors: Kyra Anderson
For all her efforts calming Kailynn down,
Isa was extremely worried about Venus finding out about their relationship. The
computer contacted her late in the night, telling her to report to the audience
hall first thing in the morning.
Isa decided not to tell Kailynn about the
upcoming meeting. She spent several hours that evening in her office, working
diligently on her computer. Kailynn found her in there past midnight, asking
her if she was coming to bed. Isa smiled and said that she would be in shortly,
but she was still in her office four hours later.
Isa caught a few hours of rest, but her
mind was too busy to be silenced for a restful sleep.
She went to the Syndicate Building early
in the morning, but was surprised when she approached the doors of the audience
hall and saw Remus, waiting for her.
“You’re here early,” she noted.
Remus sighed heavily, straightening from
leaning against the wall and taking a few steps toward her.
“Venus contacted me last night,” he said
slowly. “She told me to be here early, in case you needed to be contained.”
“Contained?”
“Because she’s going to discuss your
current affair,” Remus said. “And, from past experience, she knows how you get
when you are ordered to do something you don’t want to do.”
Isa let out a broken chuckle, her eyes
dropping to the ground.
“She clearly doesn’t know you well
enough,” Remus continued. “I don’t know what makes her think you would listen
to
me
.”
“I often do listen to you,” she murmured.
Remus pursed his lips.
“I don’t want you in danger,” he said
slowly. “When we were young and stupid, your rebellious spirit was enthralling,
but the thought of you gone…it hurts so much I can hardly breathe. I don’t know
if I could live if I lost you.” Remus dropped his eyes to the ground. “But I
always loved you most when you were being exactly who you were meant to be.”
Isa stared at Remus, silent for a few
seconds.
“Loved?” she whispered.
“Yes,” Remus said with a nod. “Everyone
knows I’m degenerate. There’s no point in trying to pretend like I’m not.” He
looked at Isa seriously. “I’ve always loved you, and I still love you. I always
will.” He smiled, though there was a painful edge to the grin. “I don’t want
you to be any less than who you are, and if that means you declare war on
Venus, then you know I’ll stand right beside you.”
Isa smiled, taking a deep breath.
“I love you, too, Remus.”
“I know you do.”
He began walking away from the door to
the audience hall when Isa stopped him.
“Remus?” He turned back to her. “Do you
think, had Colonel Amori not happened, things would have worked out between
us?”
Remus sighed heavily, walking back to
her.
“With all my heart, I want to say yes,”
he started. “But no. It wouldn’t have worked.”
“Why not?”
“Because you were never meant to be
tethered,” Remus told her. “What makes you exceptional is your ability to
evolve, to grow stronger, no matter the obstacle. You are creative, and
innovative, and brilliant beyond compare. I could never keep up with you, and I
would never want to hold you back.” He placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Everything in your life has been an upheaval, and the reason you and I worked
is because I was the only thing in your life that was constant, that
never
changed. I saw you moving away
from me long before Colonel Amori came along. You had the stability you needed
when you needed it. But you needed something to propel you forward, toward
something greater, and that was not me. I was part of the foundation to get you
to the top, but you need something else to go farther. I knew, eventually, I
would have to let you go.”
Isa lowered her eyes.
“You are a powerful creature, Isa,” Remus
whispered. “You think that Colonel Amori destroyed you, but you took the pieces
and you built someone even stronger.” His hands moved from her shoulders to her
face, turning her head to look at him. “Don’t change who you are, who you
always were meant to be. Fight for what you want, and what you believe in.”
Isa swallowed hard and nodded slowly.
Remus leaned forward briefly and his lips
brushed over hers.
The chaste kiss spoke volumes, signifying
both the end and the beginning of different stages of their lives.
Remus’ thumbs brushed over Isa’s cheeks
and then slowly left her face.
“Remus,” Isa said, her voice quiet. She
looked at him apologetically. “I wish that things hadn’t ended the way they did
between us.”
Remus pursed his lips and nodded tightly.
“Me, too.”
He walked away and Isa took a deep
breath, unable to turn to the doors until the Silver Elite was out of sight.
She performed the proper scans to open
the doors and walk into the audience hall.
As usual, the room was unbearably hot and
the single chair in the vastness of the room reminded Isa of how small Venus
thought her to be.
The computer was already depicted in her
hologram form, waiting for the Golden Elite to appear.
Isa walked forward, bowing her head
shallowly and sitting in the chair.
“
A-C89072,
your rebellion must cease immediately
.”
“My rebellion?”
“
You
are in a sexual relationship with the Trid Significant,
” Venus stated. “
I saw a recording of you engaging in sexual
activity two nights previous, and then again, brazenly in your office in the
Syndicate Building.
”
“Yes,” Isa said strongly. “I am in a
relationship with Kailynn. As much as you may disapprove, I am in love with
her.”
“
You
cannot comprehend such emotions
,” Venus said. “
This is a temporary rebellion. You are upset by engaging Gihron once
more, and you know that I would order your Silver Elite’s execution if he were
to touch you again. While I commend you for choosing someone you could
discreetly dispose of, I cannot condone these actions.
”
“I have no intention of
disposing
of Kailynn,” Isa said darkly.
“I love her, and I plan to stay with her as long as she’ll have me.”
“
With
the war with Gihron, you should know that they will use her as a means to trap
you, just as Colonel Amori used B-X20016 to blackmail you.
”
Isa took a deep breath, but her
expression did not change.
“I will be sure to protect her and keep
her safe from all harm,” Isa’s eyes hardened. “Even harm from you. I will rebel
against you, Venus, if you order me away from her.”
The computer was silent for several
seconds.
“
You
forget who you address,
” Venus said. “
Your
priorities need to be reordered. You created conflict between Tiao and Gihron
when you killed Colonel Amori. Once he was gone, you were quiet, which allowed
things to progress peacefully to this point. What he did to you made you more
compliant. That is something to be commended.”
Isa blinked at Venus.
“You’re
commending
that he tortured me?”
“You
inflicted most of the torture on yourself,
” Venus stated. Isa ground her
teeth together, biting back the angry words.
“You had become compliant. Now, you are rebelling once more. And I know
the reason is the Significant.”
Isa sat back in her chair, straightening,
preparing herself.
“
I
will not have you creating another situation with Gihron as you did before,
”
Venus said. “
You disobeyed me, you killed
thousands of people because you could not be Golden Elite as long as you held
irrational attachment to a sexual partner, and you nearly killed yourself in
the process while creating the foundation for this war. I will not allow you to
fall back into that behavior.
”
“Venus, Colonel Amori killed those
people. I was trying—”
“
He
would have been unable to do so had you not given him the codes to weaponize my
systems.
”
“I did not
give
them to him!” Isa barked. “He
ripped
them out of me!”
“
You
should have taken measures to protect yourself,
” Venus said. “
You know the information you hold and how
dangerous it is. Since you seem unable to keep yourself safe in such
situations, I am ordering the Significant’s arrest. I will determine at a later
time if execution is warranted.
”
“I will not let you arrest her.”
“
I
am issuing the order now. The Officials will have apprehended her by the time
this meeting has concluded.
”
Isa was silent, her hands folded in front
of her, waiting.
After three long, heavy seconds, a high
whine wailed through the room and the image of Venus flickered rapidly,
distorting and pulsing.
“You will find that order difficult to
issue,” Isa said coldly. “The information I hold is indeed dangerous. I have
programmed your system to respond a certain way to any official order you
issue.”
The wailing continued, the sound of air
being pushed through the room becoming a dull roar as Venus’ system attempted
to cool down from the virus that surged through her mainframe.
“
I
will not allow you to defy me in this manner
!” Venus’ tonal language became
piercing.
“I have always defied you,” Isa told her.
“And I will always defy you while you continue dictating to the people of the
Altereye System.”
Venus’ machines whirred, her image
flickering. Isa did not move, watching her struggle around the virus she had
spent the previous night perfecting. She was not sure how long Venus was
silent, but she did not leave the room. The Elite knew that she had to remain
strong in her defiance, and watching Venus in those moments was important to
show the artificial intelligence how serious she was.
“
You
dare to infect me,
” Venus said finally, “
yet, you have neglected to protect yourself once again.
”
In an instant, excruciating pain shot
through Isa’s body. She doubled forward in the chair, one hand reaching to her
chest, her breath knocked out of her. The muscles in her body quivered,
straining, tensed in electric agony. Another pulse radiated from her chest, and
she let out a choked cry, collapsing out of the chair and onto the hot floor.
She gasped, her eyes closing tight as pain exploded behind her eyes. Millions
of small sparks danced angrily over her skin and her bones trembled under the
flexing of her muscles.
She tried to catch her breath, but it was
impossible. Her chest felt as though it was about to explode outwards.
She writhed on the floor, the flickering
lights of Venus hologram disorienting her whenever her eyes fluttered open.
“
You
cannot destroy me,
” Venus warned. “
If
you shut me down, the entire planet will die, as will you.
”
Isa let out another pained cry, her body
convulsing as another painful wave washed over her.
She
barely heard Remus’ voice yell her name before she fell unconscious.
Isa was very pale when she returned home.
She was later than usual, and that worried Kailynn immensely. When she walked
through the door, the younger woman immediately ran to Isa and took her face in
her hands, looking her over.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” Isa assured. She leaned
forward and gently pecked a kiss on Kailynn’s lips. “A rough day at the
Syndicate, but I am alright.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Isa was quiet and pensive most of the
night. She did not touch her food, staring at the plate distantly. Kailynn
finally reached over and took Isa’s hand. The Elite jumped, startled out of her
thoughts. When she saw Kailynn’s comforting smile, she smiled in return, her
chest tightening once again.
Kailynn walked with Isa to the bedroom,
but stopped at the door.
“Do you think I should stay in another
room?”
Isa shook her head.
“No,” she said, squeezing Kailynn’s hand.
“Stay with me tonight.”
“What about Venus?”
“Let me handle her,” Isa murmured. “I
have more power over her than she realizes.”
Kailynn was both nervous and relieved to
be able to climb into bed with Isa. Isa still wanted her close, even though
Venus knew about them. However, she was worried that it was only a matter of
time before Venus arrested and killed her.
Isa was different that night. She made
love to Kailynn intensely, bringing Kailynn’s body to the brink of pleasure
over and over again. The former Significant could feel the anxiety and fear in
Isa’s actions, but the intensity of the Elite’s actions told her that being
with Kailynn was a means for her to handle her fear. She was trying to lose
herself, to focus her thoughts only on being with Kailynn.
However, Kailynn was completely exhausted
when Isa finally settled next to her and pulled her into her arms. The Elite’s
gentle kiss on her forehead and the way her fingers lightly trailed over
Kailynn’s shoulder guided her into deep sleep, allowing her sated body to rest.
She had no dreams. Everything was dark
and quiet.
Until a hand shaking her shoulder
disturbed everything.
“Kailynn,” Isa hissed. “Kailynn, wake
up.”
Kailynn groaned, her eyes fluttering open
slowly as she tried to clear the fog in her head. Isa’s hand became insistent.
“What?” Kailynn mumbled.
“Wake up,” Isa whispered. “Quickly, there
isn’t much time.”
Kailynn, remembering that things were
actually very dangerous for her lately, clamored out of bed.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
Isa grabbed a bag from under the bed.
“Get dressed.”
Kailynn did not question. She pulled on
her clothes as Isa glanced at her phone screen periodically. When Kailynn was
dressed, Isa motioned for her to follow and they both went further into the
house, finally going to Isa’s office. Kailynn thought she was dreaming for a
moment, since there was a section of the wall that was missing, but when she
stopped, trying to understand why the hole was there, Isa grabbed her wrist and
pulled her to it, stepping into the opening with the younger woman.
Isa crouched to the bottom of the hidden
elevator and lifted the cover on the control panel, typing in a short code and
pressing a button, causing the elevator car to descend.
“What’s going on?” Kailynn hissed.
Isa stood and turned to her, extracting
an electronic key from her pocket.
“This is the key to a safe house.”
“A safe house where?”
“I can’t say,” Isa said. “I don’t know if
anyone is listening.”
“Did Venus—”
“No,” Isa interrupted, shaking her head
quickly. “But we can’t be too careful.”
“Why hasn’t she done anything, yet?”
Kailynn asked, taking the key. “I thought she would be upset when she found out
about us.”
“She is,” Isa said with a tight nod.
“She said something?”
“Yes. Yesterday.”
“What did she say?”
“What I expected her to say,” Isa said,
turning to the opening as she felt the car slow. When the car stopped, she
pulled Kailynn into the underground parking garage. The cars were stacked in
rotating columns that held twenty cars each. Isa walked her along the rows of
cars for everyone who lived and worked in Anon Tower. “She wanted us to end our
relationship and she ordered your arrest.”
Kailynn felt her heart trying to climb
into her throat.
“Are they coming here now?”
“No,” Isa said. “I made sure that the
order never made it to the Officials.”
Isa pulled Kailynn to one car that was on
the bottom of the column, ready to be driven out of the parking system. Isa
crouched next to it and reached under the driver’s door, feeling along the
bottom until she found what she was looking for.
The car clicked, unlocking. Isa hurriedly
stood and opened the door, climbing in and using the side of her fist to break
one of the panels in the center of the car. Tossing the bag she had carried
into the back, she reached inside the hatch she had forced open and pulled out
a small, round disk, crushing it in her hand. Kailynn blinked at Isa, startled
and confused.
Isa turned to the controls of the car and
clicked open the override panel, unplugging two wires and moving a third to a
different port. She then popped a small drive out of her phone and slipped it
into an almost-impossible-to-see slot under the wiring.
“Okay,” she said, getting out and gently,
but insistently, pushing Kailynn in. Kailynn sat in the driver’s seat, staring
at Isa incredulously.
“I can’t drive this thing,” she hissed.
“And if they’re not coming here now, then what’s the hurry? And if I leave, she
can trace me. I have an emitter chip now.”
“I disabled the chip, and this is only a
temporary solution,” Isa told her. “I released a virus in Venus’ mainframe.
It’s going to screw up a lot more than just her ability to issue official
orders. Security is going to be compromised with that virus, and I do not know
if Gihron can hack any cameras or audio feeds as a means to spy on me.” Isa
placed her hand on Kailynn’s, looking at her seriously. “I need you to stay at
the safe house for a while, at least until I know the extent of the damage I
caused Venus.”
Kailynn blinked at Isa, trying to process
what the Elite was saying.
“You started destroying her already?”
“No, I weakened her,” Isa corrected. “It
will take a lot more to shut her down, and I need to buy time so I can figure
out how.”
“We’re at war and you’re thinking of shutting
her down?”
“No, not until Gihron has been
neutralized,” Isa said. “But I can’t risk your safety in that time.”
“I’m not leaving you,” Kailynn said,
shaking her head and trying to climb out of the car. Isa pushed her back.
“If Gihron finds out about you, I have no
doubt that they will use you the way Colonel Amori used Remus to get to me. I
cannot risk that. I couldn’t do that to you, or to myself. This is the best way
to keep you safe for now. Give me time to find another solution.”
“Isa, you can’t ask me to just watch from
afar and hope that you’ll be alright,” Kailynn said sharply.
“This is a way to be sure that I’ll be
alright, and you as well.” Isa took Kailynn’s face in her hands and kissed her
quickly. “Please, trust me. I know that this is a horrible solution, but for
now, it is the only one I have. Not only have I pissed off Gihron, but I’ve
screwed with Venus. I have two very dangerous enemies that I need to manage,
and I can’t do that if I am worried about you, or that they’ll get to you. As
it is, they are both after a way to contain me or kill me, and that’s you.”
Kailynn swallowed hard. She wanted to
scream at the Elite and tell her that she was never going to leave Isa’s side,
that they would find the enemies together, but she knew that she did not
understand how to fight in these situations. Isa knew how to play this very
dangerous game. Kailynn did not.
She swallowed hard, tears welling in her
eyes. Isa’s thumbs stroked Kailynn’s cheeks.
“I am sorry that it’s come to this, but I
promise,” her fingers tightened on Kailynn’s jaw, “I will find a way to keep
you safe.”
“Don’t do that if you can’t find a way to
keep yourself safe, too,” Kailynn said darkly. “I swear, Isa, if you try to
pull some stupid shit by putting yourself in danger just to protect me, I will
never forgive you.”
Isa leaned forward, kissing Kailynn.
“I promise,” Isa said. “They call me the
best Elite in centuries. It’s time to prove them right.”
“I’m pretty sure you already have.”
Isa kissed Kailynn one more time and then
stood, closing the car door.
Once she did, the car turned on and began
pulling out of the parking system, turning and heading to the programmed
destination. Kailynn watched Isa grow smaller in the distance as the car drove
to the street, turning onto the freeway and speeding away as the sun began to
rise.
Kailynn tried to pay attention to where
she was going, but the car drove out of Anon entirely and for nearly eleven
hours, the car did not stop. Kailynn was able to make out some names on signs
of areas and cities as she passed, but the names did not allow her to orient
herself—she had never heard of most of the places before.
The long drive gave her plenty of time to
think over her situation, and the more she thought about it, the more powerless
she felt.
She had always felt like a powerful
person under repressed circumstances, but she knew now that it had been her
ignorance and arrogance that allowed her to feel like that. She wanted to go
back to Isa and be there to help the Elite, but she knew that she would not be
able to assist other than just being there for support. Isa was the one who
knew how to fight and how to protect them, and Kailynn had to trust her to do
so.
The matter was entirely out of her hands.
And the feeling of being powerless scared
her.
The car finally turned into a garage and
slowed, parking in one of the seven empty parking spots. The car turned off and
Kailynn sat in silence for several minutes.
She reached into the back and pulled
forward the bag Isa had left in there, opening it to see the clothes folded
neatly inside under several currency chips, each reading five-thousand credits.
Kailynn swallowed hard and closed the
bag, feeling the reality of her separation from Isa settle into her chest. She knew
she had not only left the Elite not knowing where she was or how to get back to
Isa, but she knew she had to remain quiet and not draw attention to herself. It
was as Isa said—she did not know who was watching or listening.
Kailynn stepped out of the car and walked
to the only door in front of her, slowly pressing the electronic key to the
reader and hearing the door click. She stepped into the elevator, watching the
door close as if in a dream. The elevator lifted and stopped only four seconds
later, allowing her into the entrance hall leading to the main door of the safe
house. She walked in and pressed the electronic key to the lock reader, finally
walking into the safe house.
It was small, but clean and comfortable.
The living room had a sitting area and a television, and the kitchen was clean
and white. There was an open door on the far side of the room that led to a
bedroom. Kailynn stood, staring vacantly around the living room.