After pressing the s a few times, Christina accessed further files oaff of Project Star Mirror. Bringing up Mariam’s details, Christina’s expression froze for a moment.

  Mariam Samuelian. ame: Scryer. Project Star Mirror Asset. Vermillion-Css.

  Known abilities: Enhanced perception of the unseen. Not easy to uand or imagine uses for, but it certainly has a number of applications in asset ma. ame: Eyes Of Wise Water.

  Ability to heal physical traumas and wounds, repairing damaged ans and regrowing minor missiremities. Surely possible to expand strength of this ability applying logic, as regeing deep wounds is still tissue rept, and at greater volumes than be healed externally. ame: Water Healing.

  her of the above abilities fall within proscribed categories marked as Knowledge Heretical and Antithetical. A therefore not required.

  Loyalty not iion. Scryer is a sed-geion immigrant, ae showing respect to her Armeniaage, has adapted well to Ameri life, and exhibits normal is and no subversive political ideologies. Family has been profiled, and again, have blended in well with Ameri society, and have no dangerous affiliations.

  Multiple uses. Healing of injured operatives, as well as soldiers and culturally signifit assets. Ability to detect cats who have slipped though the surveilwork and identify fs. Espionage and knowledge gathering, with Eyes Of Wise Water, has numerous advantages in scouting and uhing information on fn cats and anisations.

  On reading the file on Mariam, Christina’s expression had cramped up, but she muttered that there was an addendum to the final paragraph. Clig on it, the followi was dispyed.

  Suggest professional espionage/spy/military training to maximise her potential. sider recruitment into inner circle of Project Star Mirror, NSA Paranormal Branch Liaison role.

  “That’s…” Christina pouted, surprised. “That’s… very unfair in parison! Why am I of questionable loyalty and only worthwhile as a bribe or , but you’re in Adam’s good graces, Scryer?”

  Mariam and I exged gnces, before she shook her head, leavio answer. “Perhaps it’s because you are here with stolen data from the Director of your whole anisation, giving it to a fn cat?” The term was insulting, and irritated me, though since I already had a low opinion of Adam it didn’t ge anything. “You also exposed Mariam here? I mean… I’m grateful, of course, but…”

  “I only did that because I like you!” She insisted. “And because I know I persuade you to be helpful to Adam and the USA. I’m… fident…” She grinned, pushing her chest together with her arms, trying to look alluring. “…I am, don’t ugh, Scryer!”

  “Look, stop that.” I said seriously. “Christina. I’ve made it clear how I feel, but you’re right. We like who we like…” I wasn’t going to say love, as she clearly didn’t uand such feelings. She was simply awoken to her female lust, and because she had no uanding of ordinary human e and socialising, she had taken it to an off-puttireme. It’s ly fair for me to bme her for that, really. That doesn’t mean I have to like it, though. And for now… “And don’t who we don’t. But for now… this is your time to shine. You’re a stist, aren’t you? A seeker of knowledge and truth? So act like one. After all, didn’t you want to show me your strengths, impress me?” I steer her in a better dire, hopefully. I’m hardly smooth, but I’ve a lot more experieh women that I ever expected I’d have…

  Christina paused, thinking for a moment, then nodded, and the sck, almost scivious expression on her face when she looked at me faded, repced by a cold, detached smile. “Sorry, you’re quite right, Akio. I got… carried away by these new, ued and rather thrilling feelings.”

  “Just like always…” Mariam sighed, more coffee from the waitress.

  “I’m passionate… about what I choose to explore. But you’re right, Akio.” She affirmed again. “Now’s the time for work, not for pleasure. And…” Her smile was now sly and teasing. “…there’s nobody out there quite like little miss Christina. When I’m on fire, I’m the best in the world!” Her pride shohrough, and that was a little bit attractive, unlike her horrendous, perverted attempts at flirting. Still doesn’t make me fet what she’s like on the ihough.

  “In that case… look, I know it hurts your feelings a bit… which hopefully should make you uand the hurt you cause to others…” I began, and Christina nodded.

  “Mariam, a question, woman to woman?”

  “Oh God, I fear what is to e. Ask away.” Mariam sighed, resigned.

  “So, I… uh… made a rather tactless cim, ao have upset one of Akio’s close acquaintances. Maybe even a girlfriend?”

  “She’s not.” I shook my head. “But she’s definitely a dear friend of mine, and holy, I’m holding a grudge over it. She had a horrible experie in fact killed her, and you trivialised it…”

  “Horrible experience? You mean…” Mariam looked aghast, and I nodded.

  “Yeah, the one you are thinking. The one women fear.”

  “Angraget! You may be a genius, Christina, but it is only matched by your utter stupidity in other matters. She will not five you, not easily, perhaps not at all. Being struck, bruised and battered hurts and is fearful, but being… assaulted… also scars the heart, the soul. I shall ighe fact you said it killed her, for I have seen much sinahit’s messenger came to me. Christina, you should apologise, but be prepared for her not to accept it. Only as and genuine trition might make her five you in time. And if you are doing it merely to please Akio…”

  “Of course I am!” Christina said, almost proudly, and Mariam and I exged annce of fusion. Seeing that, Christina giggled. “You don’t uand? Look, imagine If I had a device that could fwlessly replicate a painting, down to every detail, each atom perfectly the same, even the effects of time and hard use perfectly recreated. Wouldn’t it be the painting? Could you say it has less artistic merit? It’s exactly the same, and if they were sed over in a dark room who would ever know? Would the joy of looking at the painting be any less? So yes, I want to make amends so you’ll five me. But I’ll still be apologising, and meaning it, so… how you pin, or not accept it?”

  For a moment I was silent, mulling it over, before letting out a bitter sigh. “I hate that the logi that is irrefutable.” I sighed. “If you perfectly mimiething, it effectively is that thing. And doing a good deed for a bad reason is still praiseworthy. Just… try your best?” I gave up. She does o repent for her treatment of Haru. Even if she still doesn’t get why, so long as Haru feels better, it’s a win. “Ba topic…”

  “Yes, I shouldn’t dwell on Adam’s disdain. After all, being a horap isn’t that dishonourable.” Christina, as always, was quick to rationalise. “I expect you have your fair share of those. Weren’t some of your fiancées offered in that manner? And you like them, don’t you?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m stantly being offered women for marriage. It’s a bit burdensome, but… some of them are good girls, sure. And I promised to sider everyone on their ows.” Christina smiled at that, perhaps imagining the pile of merits she thought she had.

  “Well, that aside… you are ied in this, no?” She pressed the s, and the file came up, but it was again password locked.

  “Huh, Adam’s a little more tech savvy than I thought. I craything given a few hours, but… twelve characters, huh? And if his main password is only letters, I expect this will be simir. Hmm…” Christina brought out her phone, searched a few terms, and smiled. “Too easy, Adam. Maybe you secretly wanted someoo crack it. It’s surely… EXTERMINATUS. There we go. Predictable as ever.”

  The s dispyed a list of abilities that Adam sidered too dangerous to allow to exist, and looking at them, I grimaced. Yeah, we’re replete with such.

  Mind trol and hypnotism, charming and illusions, perception manipution, dream trol, ing, shapeshifting, poison and hormonal secretion, matter transformation. Huh, the st one? “Why matter transformation? The others I get, seems he’s ed about free will, rgely. But that st one doesn’t fit…”

  “I see. Yes, Adam’s very impassioned about one’s as being their own. You might even say he’s fearful of losing trol of situations. So…” Christina brought up the detailed notes, and as I read it, it made sehough not for the reasons I was thinking.

  Matter transformation has the possibility of causing worldwide destru on an unpreted scale. Even fantastical abilities such as calling fire from the sky or summoning poisonous gases are localised and be managed. See Midas for an example. inally, the ability to turn matter into gold was ing on an eic level, potentially enough to cause worldwide market shocks and an eic recession if fiden the value of ours and others’ strategic reserves were promised. However, reports from ents who survived suggest that Midas also create other metals such as silver. If so… radioactive metals such as uranium-235 and plutonium could be created in signifit quantities, giving him the power to make huge swathes of the world uninhabitable, or provide the key pos for nuclear ons to terrorists and corrupt regimes. Nobody should have such power.

  “That… makes sense.” I agreed slowly, and Christina nodded.

  “Of course. Adam, love him or hate him, actually puts thought into his decisions. Although… I don’t believe it’s the power that o be disposed of, just… faulty users.” Christina’s flirty, annoying mannerisms vanished pletely, as she pohe problem. “Even looking at earlier, I see useful ways to utilise mind trol and hypnotism, for example. That ghost girl, just make her fet all the bad stuff.”

  I winced, and so did Mariam. “I know you mean well, but that’s a bad example.” I pointed out. “Sadly, the bad things that happen are just as much a part of us as the good things. If they were removed, it’d ge our personalities. We wouldn’t be ourselves. However, using them in ways to mitigate, to cope…” That’s what Haru do with her Light Of Muted Emotions. “…so you’re n, just… it’s ahat requites tact. Which is not your strong suit!”

  “Guilty as charged.” Christina admitted. “I’ll make a note of it. But you agree, then? Being able to ge oal into another, in addition to allowing us test the limits of physid chemistry, making new breakthroughs, there are a number of exotic metals that might have fasating applications. We just don’t know as they are too rare to test.”

  “Ihere’s also Astral materials too.” I agreed, warming to the idea. “Even with all our mines, we still have a she, and there are probably rare metals out there too. Adamantine, Orichalcum, Hihi’irokane… if those could be created from on iron…”

  “Fasating. Our resear items found in this Boundary is in the early stages. Some persist in both worlds. It makes me ever-more eager to see yitech facilities. I would love a tour…” Christina rubbed her hands together eagerly.

  “You know, you both seem oddly… patible, at this moment.” Mariam muttered, and Christina and I both spoke at the same time, though saying the opposite.

  “No way, it’s just an area of i!” I cried, while Christina agreed.

  “Yes, Scryer! Your keen eyes don’t lie. We’ve so mu on!”

  “God, what reas. No…” She sipped on her coffee, looking up at the sky. “It hardly matters. Your point is, that the ability is not what matters, it is the user.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. You’ve got healing abilities, don’t you? So do I. I haven’t ever used them this way, I have other, easier to use attacks, but I suspect that I could el Ether Healing to wildly disrupt the ws of someone’s subtle bodies. Just as too much medie is poison…”

  Mariam nodded. “I had sidered that. For… self-defence, if nothing else. I am not a fighter, but… if I were to be taken like the poor unfortunates I healed…” Christina looked away, whistling ily. “…I would certainly fight to the death. Perhaps even use my powers on myself and have a mercifully quid.”

  “Don’t say that. I’m trying to gloss over it.” Christina sighed. “Anyway… Midas again, huh? Let’s see.”

  She opened up his file, and there was a blurry photo of a dark-skinned man, tall and with long hair, though the colour was odd, reminding me a little of Shiro’s. That’s a bit of a giveaway, although… it could be dyed, I imagihough I remember Shiro menting how her hair refused to take any colour, even bck, back when she wao try to stand out less. There were several other shots, but each of them was a little vague, making it impossible to identify the man iion.

  ??? ame Midas.

  Priority Rank: Darker Vermillion. Threat Rank: Darker Vermillion.

  Projected Status: To be terminated. Heretical and Antithetical.

  ce Of Recruitment: To be termioo dangerous to capture, his powers make tai infeasible, and the potential risk is too great, as detailed.

  Known areas of influence. Sighted in South Africa primarily, but also Botswana and Namibia. No sightings in Zimbabwe, but golden artefacts recovered whidicate either traffig of such goods, or his presence.

  Known Abilities: Material to Gold. While irely firmed, tests on items retrieved from the Afri ti indicate with near certainly that they were ninally gold. Unless it is a hoax of multi-million dolr proportions, with little prospect of any gain, we safely assume this to be proven.

  Material to other metals. Not prove now silver and copper objects have been collected that fit the profile. Goal is to see if it is limited to so-called ‘precious’ metals, (Copper, Silver, Gold, Ptinum) or has other metallic effects.

  Deadly metal dust. While our falles sent to deal with Midas have been recovered, the cause of death is… irely expihough their lungs were heavy with golden dust, which seems to have caused haeming and pulmonary failure. Further autopsies will hopefully reveal further details.

  Addendum: If Midas is indeed able to ge materials to metals, araints toug him could be turo weaker, fragile materials, and worse, ging materials to explosive, radioactive or toxic metals could put any facility at risk. Therefore, as per my authority, signed off by the relevant parties from the NSA, CIA and gress, Midas is to be treated as a terrorist and subject to prima facie justice.

  “That’s… heavy reading. And holy, I see why Adam would want to get rid of you now, Christina.” I let out a long sigh, troubled. “It’s not the data, though this is way ahead of anything that the Japanese gover has, but… you’ve got proof that the Ameri political maery, going all the way to the top, is saning fn citizens, holders of Divine Favours. That’s… holy as bad as what we already hold on you, with the released captives.”

  “I thought… you’d want to know about other Chosen, and what Adam has on you.” she ceded after a moment of silence. “I didn’t think this through. An ht. It was also my insurance, but…”

  “You always think in ones and zeroes.” Mariam tutted, though she looked both terribly nervous and also slightly sympathetic. “Of course you did not realise. As for me now… I know far too much. This has not been a wonderful day.”

  “Nobody but us knows you were even here.” I soled her, and Mariam shrugged.

  “You think so. But I hardly be the only agent snooping around. The Director does wish to recruit you, or at best keep you friendly to his is, but he also… well, you read it.”

  I aking a sip of my now-cold coffee, frowning. “Yeah, he’s meticulous. And no offense, Christina, but… if you know about Mariam, then there has to be others you don’t, like the one leaking from my training school.” Shaeu’s abilities hopefully root them out, but if not… “He doesn’t fully trust you, and with good reason.”

  “Again, I was ag in his best is. Even Mariam agrees, you’re worth any price to secure.” Christina insisted, and it seemed she was setting aside her lust, thinking rationally. “Be ho, Akio. You believe you’re the best asset out there.” She brought up my file again, and listed off the abilities that the Ameris could firm I had. “Healing, light trol, fire trol, exceptional strength, exceptional speed, regeion, enhanced sensory perception, probability manipution…”

  I raised my eyebrow at that one, and she shrugged. “We went over your visit to Ameri exag detail. Not that it was hard to find Shaeu winning a Vegas jackpot. But you won big every time you pyed as well. There’s more, but you get the point. And it’s not just the sheer variety. Many of your abilities match or exceed those of ours who have focus in a single corresponding ability. Not all, of course, Adam has a few truly special assets in hand, but… it’s like Titan says, he wouldn’t want to fight you in a test of strength.”

  “Well, I do certainly see myself as the face of Japan, now.” I ceded. “And I’ve fought more Chosen than most and e out on top, so… that’s fair.” Sure, there may be those out there who’re strohan me, either by having a genius level of uanding with a potent Favour like Arisu-san, or though some incredibly lucky opportunities or incredible hard work, but… it’s a handful at best. No, now I’m mostly fag off against non-human threats in terms of danger, such as the golden-eyed devourer, h level Yōkai…

  “So, taking a few risks t you onside is being patriotic.” Christina insisted. “Though I admit I never sidered the political issues, only the knowledge leaks, which… I certainly hope to more than outweigh during my time here!”

  I shook my head. She was rather na?ve about some matters. I doubt very much Adam White will see it her way. Still, girlfriend or not, no, definitely not, she’s acted in good, if woefully annoying faith. That doesn’t make up for her crimes, not by a long shot, but… it definitely means I’d feel guilty if I let her die et imprisoned for this… ging the subject, I poio my file. “ I have a look at Shaeu’s, and whoever else you have data on?”

  Christina smiled, her expression rather sd lewd, but seeing Mariam signalling her with her eyes, she quickly wiped her drool and nodded, ging to a more… rexed… smile. “Sure, I do that…” With a fes on the s, Shaeu was dispyed, along with profiles for Motoko, Natsumi, Hinata, Hyath and Shiro… Looks like those who were shown during the two events in London. Hmm, they don’t have mu a Shaeu, really…

  ***

  “This is… nice.” Eleanor said, goblet held between her palms, as she sat o me, watg Aditi running through her paces, thhly testing her new ability, and the restored Status the Favave her. Shiro was with them too, cheerful suggestions, so it was Asha sitting on my other side, listening politely, allowing Eleanor to feel at ease. “Everything is always so… active, so… cheerful here. I’m jealous, if I’m being ho.”

  I remained silent, allowing Eleanor to unburden herself, but Asha spoke up. “Of course it is. For we are tred around Akio, and he saves us from our sorrows, our sufferings, and offers us hope. His passion warms us, like the sun on a leafy opy, and his love is as the moon, lighting the darkness.”

  “Is that it?” Eleanor snorted, before realising that was rather undignified, and her cheeks turned pink. “No, I suppose it must be. Yes…” She g Shiro, who was teasing Miss Callie pyfully, as she was one of these who had apanied me to save Eleanor and Britain, and so Miss Callie idolised her. “…there’s ughter here, and a genuine hope for the future. If anything proved I was too judgemental, it is this. Every time I visit, everyone is fag the future expeg it to be a good one. I envy that.”

  “It will be good.” I insisted. “Even though troubles we ’t imagine are ahead of us, we’re preparing as best we . You know the pn, right?”

  Eleanor nodded. “Of course. Just as agreed. This time, Britain will not be found wanting. I am endlessly grateful. Not just for saving Henry, and me, and probably Britain itself. With your ether, we have made whole the vacuum the lost Territories of London caused, and even your manpower helps us.”

  Manpower? Seeing I was fused, Asha expined.

  “Sihe seemingly eide of enemies from the coast has diminished, Ulfurid our other captains ofteroops through the Ring Gate, to subjugate enemies in London. It is good training, so he says.”

  “Yes.” Eleanreed. “And we are very grateful. Grandmother and the Prime Minister both say having you as an ally is reatest fortune. Grandmother even…” Eleanor shut her mouth, shaking her head. “Never mind that. I personally appreciate it. I dret… my attitude on our first meetings. Perhaps I’m too old-fashioned. Henry teases me about that all the time.”

  “Don’t worry. The girls have accepted your apology, and for the help… well, it sounds like a win-win. I trust Ulfurid we do need sources of experience.” I waved off her thanks, and Eleanhed.

  “The situation in Britan… it’s rather worse than we feared, and that anyone knows.” At her words, I asked if she should be sharing such with me, and she shook her head dismissively. “We’re allies, we stand or fall together. And as I said earlier… I trust you. Perhaps I wouldn’t with a sister, if I had one…”

  I smiled wryly at that, as she tinued. “…but with my life, or with my duty, definitely. The rot goes deeper than we ever expected. I envy you, Japan has such a united core. We… well, it seems that even among those who did not actively rebel were a number of sympathisers to Mary Stuart’s aims. We simply ’t trust them at this point, and have relieved them of their duties, and have them under watch. They itted no crimes, but… when trust is sile, better to be shorthahan stantly wary of betrayal. We… are struggling.” she admitted finally.

  “Yeah, I imagine.” I forted her. “Don’t worry though. If you push through for a few more months the situation will improve. Firstly when my Territory reaches Rank four, I’ll be able to scale up operations. Kyoto will be , but ohat’s done, we’ll focus on p ether into London. Thehat’s under a powerful Territory, you focus your scarce manpower elsewhere.” It’s a lot of ether, sure, but at the rate we are accumuting it, thanks to Eleanor allowing us the adherence from the Tower, I’d feel churlish not helping her out. Sure, my needs e first, but then we focus our own efforts on other needy areas of Japan while London is strengthened…

  “That would be a relief.” Eleanor ceded, sipping at her liquor. “Holy, I am not cut out for this. I do my best, but… do you ever think that way?” she asked me, as perhaps one of the few who could uand her.

  “Oh yes, although not so muowadays.” I admitted. “But even though I feel I’ve definitely grown, there’s still some issues that vex me. Like women.” I snorted. “The annoying thing is, when Christina’s not being weird, and I don’t think about her casual disregard for morality, safety and wellbeing, including her own, she’s actually very petent and useful. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not my type though!” I hasteo add, and Eleanor rolled her eyes.

  “The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.” Eleanor misquoted Shakespeare. “However do you put up with him?” she joked with Asha, who merely smiled warmly, and pced her hand on mine.

  “The good far outweighs the bad.” Asha said solemnly. “And accepting him means accepting all of him. I have s.”

  “Lucky.” Eleanor muttered again, and I got ba topic.

  “As for my worries, sure. Danger is ing, and I ’t help but stress over it. After all, in the past, we’ve prepared iely, which is ohis time…”

  “All that be done has been done.” Asha forted me. “We are not Gods, only those who strive to protect ourselves and what we hold dear.”

  “Yeah. It’s… a heavy responsibility. But… if not me, then who?” Tan, of course. But… that’ll put too much weight on Shiro, at least over the near future. I wao heal Shiro, sure, but more than that, I wao give her a happy life, the world kind to her she wanted. She has that now. Looking at Shiro ughing and joking with the British team, I once more affirmed it would be me, not Tan, who won er. Despite what that means. I’ll own it.

  “If not you, then who?” Eleanor echoed, mencholic, before she nodded, her blue eyes regaining their light. “Wise words. Likewise, if not me, then who? I hope we tihese days of retive peace, but I know that is a foolish hope. So instead… we should never let our alliance break. Together, we achieve more than art. Grandmother is especially keen on our alliance. So is Henry, and he’s persuaded mother, father and Richard too.”

  Asha nodded slowly, her yellow-gold eyes looking at Eleanor until she flushed and looked down at her goblet, she took a swig to cover herself, before expining further. “Politically, the Prime Minister is ebullient, having secured a trade deal with Japan in record time. Public opinion is… well, sadly split, the rot of Mary Stuart and Max Power’s… no, whatever was Max Power’s maations ruhey had been doing a lot of work behind the ses. But those who favour us strongly wish for us to tinue w together. Your popurity is as high as mine.” She smiled wearily. “Besides…” She looked at Aditi, and her eyes glimmered with uears like sapphires. “As, I’ll take those over words any day. Grandmother always said judge by deeds, not fair words. And while I worry for Aditi, now she will once again be on the front lines… I’m also overjoyed she let go of most of her regrets. And…” Her voice dropped to a barest whisper, but I could still hear her. “…it makes Sarah’s sins a little lighter.”

  “To our tinued partnership then.” I said cheerfully, trying to lift the suddenly sombre mood. Holding up my goblet, Eleanor did likewise, and Asha joined in too. We ked sses together, and after the toast, the versation turned rather more mundane…

  ***

  “This is a treasure trove.” I said, sing through the Vermillion List incredulously. Seeing information on Chosen worldwide the Ameris had gathered was both useful as a parison, and also as a resource. It reminds me there are still a few powerhouses out there, I ’t grow pt.

  “The King of the Faves, Son of the Sun, Huītzilōpōchtli. Daughter of the Moon, Mētztli. Midas. Arjuna…” That ame made me smile sadly, as apparently that was the initial Favour Aditi had possessed. “Saraswati…” This one had a picture of a rather elegant Indian woman, Amrita Goswami, supposedly one of the few female members of the Rajya Sabha, the Indian cil of States. Acc to the file she was keeping her powers a secret yet building a destine coalition of powerful men and women, perhaps to secure her own position, or maybe even seize power. Her abilities were rgely unknown but expected to be along the lines of simir to Yasaka-san’s. “…then there’s ame Kraken. He’s someone I o meet.” The Ameris had likewise identified one of the others who possessed the Seeds of the Fruit of the World Tree, and while they didn’t have those facts, they knew he had powerful water-trolling abilities.

  “And worse…” I tinued, l my voice. We were speaking in English, of course, and the few others around us were mostly Japaudents, but even so, I was leaking a trickle of invisible wind energy around us to mask the sound. “…there’s the ohe Ameri’s have abducted that weren’t British or Japanese. Like that Australian guy. Stupid idiot. Though I’m not oo talk.” I ughed self-depregly. While he had the bright idea of using YouTube to make money, I had been simirly reckless with my forays in Las Vegas. Luckily, I had the good fortuo remain ued until I had the strength to protect myself, but this guy found out the hard way what drawing attention could cause.

  “This puts me in a bind…” Christina was sweating now. As Mariam had criticised her, Christina hought things through when it came to doing what she wanted, achieving her goals, merely deg she o do it, then ag. And just like that, we have enough information on Ameri crimes to start a damn war…

  “It is a mess of your own making.” Mariam said without much sympathy, though her hands were shaking on her near-empty mug, as she realised she was implicated too.

  “I know. So help me get out of it, Akio, Scryer! I’m too young, beautiful and intelligent to die! I don’t want to die a virgiher!” She couldn’t help but crack a bitter joke, despite being pale as a ghost.

  “There’s no way I pretend I haven’t seen this stuff. It’s too vital to my is.” I was firm on that. “Besides, my memory is near-photographiowadays, so it’s already all stored in my head. In any case, my trip to America has to go ahead. It’s my duty to repatriate Egil Andersen’s corpse.”

  “It’s not just that. There’s something more to it.” Christina opined, and at my look, she shrugged. “Look, I get you… don’t think as highly of me as I’d like you to… fun though that sometimes is. But I won’t have you uimate my stific a! You don’t seem particurly ied in the supposed ure of your abilities, and hardly mention anything about it. And your initiative goes way beyond what I’d expeo, there’s something else at py. Don’t worry, Adam won’t screw you on this, although… I worry he might try a some favours out of you.”

  “Curiosity killed the cat…” I warned, but Christina only gave me a sful look.

  “I’m not stupid. You won’t kill me. I may struggle to uand people, but you, you’re endearingly predictable, at least in that regard.”

  “She’s right.” Mariam nodded. “I have only known you a few hours and from rumours, ae your uandable distaste, you are oddly kind to Christina here.”

  “It’s because he likes me, I’ve been right all along!” she crowed, and Mariam sighed.

  “Again, do not ruin a good moment.” She set down her mug shakily, and looked at us, deadly serious. “So, how do we get out of this mess? I for one, have no iion of being silenced when I have dohing to warrant it other than be dragged down by this madwoman.”

  “I… well, any ideas?” Christina threw it to me, and I sighed.

  “Certainly not your pn about being my girlfriend. No… hmm. Christina…” I made up my mind.

  “Yes?” she said nervously, starting to breathe faster, so intense was my gaze.

  “As far as I see, there are two paths before you. One, you go back to the USA and throw yourself into your work, making yourself indispensable to Adam. That might succeed, but then, after this mess, he might just decide you’re far too much of a loose on, a liability, to risk keeping around. Your only hope is he hasn’t noticed you’ve copied his data. I’m still impressed at how you did it…”

  “It was simple really. The biometrics I bypassed by some clever solutions, such as lifting his fingerprints and making a mould, and with my skills, I copy data even without unlog it, by usiric pulses to ge the system clod BIOS, f it into a special administrative safe mode… oh, yes, not the time for this, is it?” She flushed, falling silent, and I took over.

  “…so if he doesn’t know you might get away with it, but he’s a paranoid individual, I imagine, so you ’t hope for that blindly. That path is fraught with risk. The other path… is you cim asylum. And work for me.”

  She paused. “But… is this some way to secretly make me yours, no… no time for such amusing dreams… are you serious? I’ve told you, I’m actually a patriot. Besides, if I do defect, then Adam will send someoer me for sure. Maybe he’ll take a leaf out of the Russian’s book, and go for the polonium umbrel, or a little Novichok ced around the pce. You may be powerful, but… I still believe in teology! If Adam seriously pulled out the stops he could kill you. He could certainly dispose of me!”

  “Actually, I’m certain that Novichok wouldn’t kill me.” I sneered. “Though if I find out he’s trying, then I’ll be sure to return the favour. As for you… all we o do is give him enough iive. But that’s costly. So in exge you o pay up… and before you say anything, no, not with your body.”

  She shut her mouth, swallowing what she had been about to say. “So, with my research? But you doly approve of my methods…”

  “No, but…” I loaded up her data she had provided from her other fsh drive. “…holy, sidering your limitations, you’ve inferred a lot, and there are even a few points I’d like to take note of. As for… the uhical stuff… you got ohing right. Experimenting on ourselves is possibly stupid, but fine. I mean, you should see how I teach Ether Healing now. It’d get me thrown in prison for cruel and unusual punishments.”

  That seemed to i her. “You mentioned experimenting oranspnts too…”

  “Yeah. Just like you thought, it’s only logical. While determining where something intangible like strength or speed resides, vision is obviously in the eye.”

  “Or perhaps the brain.” Christina mused, and I nodded.

  “Yes, or there. But even I don’t have the ce to start carving out pieces of that. Though I’d survive it.” Probably intact. It’s the Wolverine problem, when he regees his brain, why do memories e back? But I have two funing minds, both the same yet separate at the same time, sort of like a pair of mirrored memory solutions in a puter, a RAID system. The Shapercrafting of Mae had certainly pushed such boundaries, and the more I thought about it, the more it seemed feasible. No, nht now.

  “So, I see. You’re more uanding than I thought. But…” Christina began. “I hate to admit it, but… you don’t trust me at all, do you? I see why, in hindsight. I mean, even now I’ve screwed up and gone farther than I imagined here. It’s not like you think me liking you makes me trustworthy, and… from an outside perspective, I probably would trust me either.”

  “Some self-awareness at st. This is a day for miracles.” Mariam muttered, but we both ignored her.

  “Yeah, your feelings… look, I’m fttered you like me. I don’t know why… no, that’s false modesty. Unfortunately I am starting to realise why. But… you’re very o such emotions, and you could quite easily stop feeling that way, or find someone else more iing, to your taste…” Christina tilted her head, listening ily, as I expined seriously. “Maybe that’d be for the best, all things sidered. But… whether you do or not, you’re too reckless, and so I’d need some assurahe question is…” I gazed into her eyes, and she took her gsses off, staring back boldly. “…are you prepared to accept being bound to not betray me? I won’t restriuch, and if you want to leave iure you … but you’ll be restricted heavily. Holy, it’s not a decision I make alone, I’ll o sult a lot of people, as well as the Ministry… but that’s all predicated on you accepting.”

  “Being bound, huh?” Christina mused. “The sort of thing Adam fears the most. If you have that level of power, you could bend the world to your will. Do anything, have anyone.”

  “It’s not my power.” I corrected. “And there are always limits. But if you accept willingly, from experience you’ll abide by it, and suffer little to no side-effects.”

  “I see. and other than safety and security, what’s in it for me?” she asked, and I shrugged.

  “I have Mortal Engineers and crafters who have talents beyond your own research. Like itech, as you put it. You’ll never be bored, and always able to find somethio explore. You even help me in my less ethical experiments, though usually I’ll be the b rat for that o’ll also enable you to make amends for your cruel treatment of the kidnapped citizens. You might have to accept their s and hatred, but… that’s a small price to pay for redemption. I’ll even e up with some sort of win-wihat satisfies Adam White and America as a whole. Though I’ll win more.” I decred. It would be so easy to say that she would get to spend time with me, but… even though I hate that she’s into me, it’s still fttering, in an odd way, and… I don’t want to trample on her so callously. Of course, there’s no way she’s my type, I’m just… sympathetic, ever so slightly.

  “That’s… tempting.” Christina admitted, lig her lips, a touervously, I felt. “Scryer… what do you think?”

  “I would say follow your heart, but… surely that would lead you into more trouble.” She swallowed. “What about me? I know too much. I repared to be exposed, for I have hardly done much to warrant you detaining me. I have only visited public spaces and iigated in that manner. But then… this fool, she…” She gestured to the ptop, before putting her head in her hands.

  “That’s easy. For now, you were never here.” I smirked. “Although you’ll owe me a favour too. But unless you think you’re stantly under surveilnce… as long as we never mention this except in the Boundary in private, you’re safe.”

  “No, I made sure to use a phone I bought locally to liaise with Christina here…” Mariam looked relieved. “I think I am safe.”

  “Lucky you. As for me…” Christina leaned in. “I do have some… ditions. Which might seem rather cheeky, sidering my position here, which I have to admit is rather tenuous. But I wouldn’t be Christina Bakker, stist extraordinaire if I wasn’t prepared to dan the edge of the gallows.”

  “All right, let’s hear them.” I nodded.

  “Firstly… like I said, I’m a patriot. And I also doirely fancy cutting all ties. You may not believe it, but I do have friends there. Sort of… and family too.”

  “That’s reasonable.” I agreed. “I suppose if the Ameris deem you a risk in need of sileng, whether you are prepared to risk yourself is your choice. I protect you here, but…” It’s her own life. So long as she ’t betray us that’s fine.

  “Sedly, I’m desperate to further explore this mysterious new world. I’ve only scratched the surface. I don’t want things hidden from me, I want to know it all! I’m a genius, even you admit it. What I could do with suowledge would shock you!”

  “That’s a perilous request, hence why I need assurances of your silend loyalty.” I pointed out. “Though if you work for me, obviously there’s little point in hamstringing your efforts. Though again, immoral and uhical research won’t be tolerated, unless I am prepared to be your test subject.”

  “A man after my ow.” Christina chortled. “So stly, you be o me?”

  I shrugged. “Don’t push your luck. I’ll be as o you as you deserve. Anyway, I have to make a few calls, see if this is feasible, but… you know what you have to dht?” Assuming the diplomatis are deemed tolerable for Japan’s is, I pass her off to Ixitt when Shaeu’s worked her magic… Then when I travel to America, she e with me and we untahe mess of her lies to Adam White…

  Pig up her tablet, which she then hao me, while Mariam looked at it like it was a tig time-bomb, whi a way it was, Christina managed a smile, though she didn’t look happy. “Of course. I have to grovel to that ghost woman… don’t scowl at me. I still don’t get it, but I’m trying to put myself in her shoes. I suppose I wouldn’t like it if someone else attacked me, because you wouldn’t like it…”

  “That’s not quite it, but… good effort?” I said, not sure why that was a question. Turning to Mariam, I smiled. “You say you have a Japanese phohat shouldn’t be monitored. Give me your number. I’ll be in touch. But nobody will ever know you saw this.” I pocketed the tablet, and she nodded, grudgingly giving me her number, while cursing Christina in what I presumed was more Armenian.

  All right then, that kind of threw off my pns for the day. I’ve calls to make…

  ShipTeaser