(Callie)
Callie slouched in her corner booth, her vision swam as she finished her fourth glass. Deciding she had enough of being drunk, she tapped her reservoir and the art suffused her body. Warmth washed over her and her vision cleared from a drunken haze. Her fumbling hands steadied, and her mind sharpened to a fine point.
The small television above the bar flickered to something disturbing. Subtitles flickered across the bottom of the small screen.
" They have brought it to our attention that the imperial enforcers are moving the prisoners from Berdant to the capitol Valia for trial today." The newscaster pushed her short brown hair behind her right ear before continuing." They have already boarded the Zts line cruiser and are preparing to depart." Their cameras pointed to the imposing navy admin building, not a large battleship. After all, what military shows the public their state secrets?
Callie clenched her fists. This was her worst-case scenario. She was too late. She guessed the rescue attempt with Warren might be their only chance, but guessing and seeing were two different things. What did she expect, anyway? It was just the two of them, her and Warren, against the empire. Villus didn't count. In her mind, Villus was an enemy that occasionally did something helpful.
"What's the matter?" Asked Taniya. " You seem upset."
"I'm just worried about the other Secari, the ones still on the loose." said Callie, forcing a smile.
"Me too," said Taniya shuddering." I will not be able to sleep without nightmares again for years."
"Where are you staying?" Asked Callie.
" The navy base down the street." Said Taniya.
"If you are still worried about intruders there, I can teach you some traps for your doors and windows if you would like?" Said Callie.
"That would be nice," said Taniya." Wanna come back to my place now?"
" Are you hitting on me?" asked Callie.
"I was about to ask you the same thing? Usually a night out and inviting someone over you to your place means something else." asked Taniya, flushing a deep red.
"Nope, I mean you are adorable, but I'm more interested in your sound ward." Said Callie, chuckling.
Taniya gasped, feigning outrage." Seducing me to get all my secrets?"
Callie stare deep into Taniyas bright hazel eyes and batted her lashes dramatically." If you tell me your secrets, I will fulfil your every desire." Said Callie seductively.
Unable to hold the swooning expression any longer, they both burst out laughing. Taniyas cheeks dimpled and her light blond hair spilled around the sharp lines of jaw as she laughed, clutching her stomach.
" Thanks, I, needed, that." Said Taniya gasping, and trying not to laugh.
Callie calmed herself, wiping a tear from her eye. It had been a long time since she laughed so hard, and smiled so much her cheeks hurt.
"Well, should we get going? It's quite early in the morning and I can't wait to get some sleep." Said Taniya.
Callie nodded, and they both rose from the booth. At first Taniya swayed, but with the faint trickle of the art, she steadied. Being an artist was good for clearing a strong buzz, but it's not like you could make yourself drunk again as easily.
They paid the bill with a tap of their comms and left through the rear exit, walking through the kitchen and out the back. The cooks and staff gave them curious looks, but ignored them otherwise. The sweet scent of grilling meat, pepper, and onions made Callie's mouth water.They walked between counters lined with dozens of spices and food in various stages of preparation.
Taniya led the way to her place. It wasn't far, as she was currently staying at the navy base. Soldiers rushed about behind the tall wire link fence, performing exercises and looking busy. The navy base was about as close to the green barrier as it would allow, having a direct exit into space.
It wasn't visible through the opaque green barrier, but ships would be coming and going from the base to underground docking at all hours. The surface level was merely the training floor for the army personnel, while the lower floors were where all the work got done. Taniya opened up a door to an officers bunk house. She gestured Callie to enter.
It was a small room, with a small well-made bed with a polymer chest at the foot, and a bathroom with a shower, not a tub. The only comfort was a two person couch and a small television that looked like it was from the dark ages.
"Doesn't a high-ranking woman like yourself have the crowns to afford a better room?" Asked Callie, as the cool air of the room washed over her.
"Yes I do, however I am weary of doing so again. The last time I had an apartment in the city it didn't turn out so well for me." said Taniya, flopping down, the bed creaking noisily.
Callie walked around the room, examining the two entrance points. She checked the edges of the window and then the security of the front door. The lock on the front door was pitiful, having a simple keycard scanner to allow entrance. That could be bypassed with extremely basic malware that almost anyone with a few hundred crowns could get.
As for the window, that would be easy to open by simply sliding the window sideways. She shook her head at the poor security of the officers' room.
" Doesn't the empire have the funds to pay for better security for their officers?" asked Callie, scowling at the window and door.
" Well, they do, but with the current tensions between the Slax and Zrixia, we are lacking space for soldiers. All the rooms are being filled up by the soldiers being called back to active duty. I could bully an officer from a better room but that would make me feel bad." said Taniya, leaning back casually on her bed.
"What are your thoughts on this tension between the Zrixian empire and the Slax?" asked Callie, checking for other entrance points.
"Well, I don't really pay much attention to state politics." said Taniya, bracing herself on her elbows." I pay more attention to the whereabouts of the politicians, not the bureaucracies. That is Dustins forte, he loves the politics."
"Really? I would have thought you would be deep in the politics?" asked Callie. Taniya shook her head, feigning disgust.
"We have people for that." said Taniya, waving her hand dismissively." My job isn't even to protect the politicians personally. I simply assign and direct the protective details."
" Have you even met most of your charges?" asked Callie.
"Some of them, but because of my job, it's unhealthy to have anyone actually know my real name." said Taniya.
"Fair enough. And what about Dustin? Does he always work in domestic affairs?" asked Callie.
"Nope, I focus domestic and he is foreign affairs," said Taniya." If you think about it, then this is part of his jurisdiction. The Secari are a foreign matter, and so they are his affair."
"I dont know about that," said Callie. " Major Farlen recently took over."
" Oh right, I almost forgot about that," said Taniya." I doubt the Ra will tell Dustin to back down. She will definitely keep him on the case behind the scenes."
"Do you think we will go to the capital? The prisoners will be there. If the Secari are going to strike again, it will most likely be there." said Callie.
Taniya smoothed her jacket.
"Likely. Also, the Ra will be interested in meeting you. Not to mention, the foreign ambassador is in the capital. The Ra will probably call Dustin back to the capitol to help smooth tensions." said Taniya.
"How will Dustin help?" asked Callie.
" As far as I am aware, the ambassador owes Dustin a favor or two. He might be able to mitigate this disaster." said Taniya, biting her lower lip with a worried expression.
" I haven't been to the Valia before." Callie smiled, " I wonder if it's as beautiful as they say?"
Taniya laughed.
" Its extremely practical, but also beautiful." said Taniya. " Wait until you see the emperor's spire, its so tall that it nearly touches the barrier covering the city. You should have seen the protests when the emperor banned anyone else from building a skyscraper like his. The public was furious that they protested for weeks." Taniya said, gesturing excitedly, sitting up on the bed.
" To be fair, you are Devali. It's your job to break the rules." said Callie, raising an eyebrow. Taniya snorted and burst out laughing.
" Thats true, but you can't act all perfect yourself. I remember hearing something interesting in the news. Apparently there was this enforcer, something about you breaking thirty four laws driving across the city." said Taniya.
Callie shrugged, unapologetic. "Hey, I didn't pay a single crown for that, and Dustin pushed it under the rug, so it technically didn't happen." Callie said with a wink.
"Besides, after getting to know you a little, I would do it again." said Callie, giving Taniya a warm smile. Taniya rose from her bed, the mattress creaking.
She approached Callie slowly and wrapped her in a hug. Callie tensed and wanted to push away. She was not comfortable in the slightest having someone so close. After a few seconds of uncomfortable physical contact, she decided it couldn't be helped. Callie tucked her arms to her sides over Taniyas to block the woman from grasping her pistol and hugged the young woman back.
The young woman shuddered at the embrace, but only squeezed tighter. Callie held Taniya for a while, letting her new friend let it out. Taniya released her embrace and took several steps back, wiping her face, but at that moment she looked her seventeen years, if not younger.
" What was that for?" asked Callie cocking her head.
" For saving my life, and then promising to do it again. I am in your debt." said Taniya, her voice cracking.
" In my debt enough to teach me your sound barrier?" asked Callie, raising an eyebrow.
Taniya grinned. "After you show me how to make traps on my window and door."
"How proficient are you at the Negative art?" asked Callie casually.
" I'm a beginner at best. Where did you learn the negative art?" said Taniya, eying Callie wearily.
"Dont give me that look. It's our jobs to find whatever advantage we can for the empire. And I have my sources." said Callie, grinning mischievously.
Taniya sighed and massaged her temples. " Callie, you are just like Dustin. You are both dabbling in forces you don't understand."
She shrugged, Dustin was dabbling while Callie was a master. She kept that to herself, let Taniya think she was just dabbling in the Negative art. The air darkened as she tapped her reservoir. Her plan for a trap was fairly simple. It involved a thin, mostly invisible net of energy. Layered thinly enough, the negative art could go unseen. First she placed a thin layer of energy over both the door and the window. Then Callie gestured towards the roof and tendrils of shimmering white energy intersected by pin pricks of darkness floated to the ceiling sticking softly to the roof. The shimmering nets clung to the roof hanging above the window and door.
"Well, that isn't conspicuous at all." said Taniya, looking up at the net on the ceiling.
Callie pretended to focus intently. She squinted, her lips drawn in a white line, doing her best to make this look as difficult as possible. In actuality, this wasn't all that difficult for her, but she didn't want Taniya to know that.
Callie directed a thin line of silver energy from the two barriers on the door and window to the nets, and then strung the line of energy along the floor to a corner of the room. She created a small fist sized ball of darkness. From a distance, the ball would appear as nothing more than a shadow in the corner. And an intruder would need to be inside the room to see it, so it wouldn't give away the trap.
" Come over here please and channel some of your positive energy into this control sphere." asked Callie. Taniya did as asked, cautiously approaching. Green energy flowed from Taniya's outstretch hand into the orb of darkness. The whole working of energy pulsed a slight green hue. Callie manipulated her own art, and green energy suffused the black orb again. Once again, the two barriers over the door and the window pulsed green for a moment, becoming visible, before turning translucent.
"There, now all you need to do is pay the upkeep for the trap. As long as you supply the black orb with a small amount of the art a day, it will stay active." said Callie, letting out an exhausted sigh of relief to make it appear as though that one working of the negative art took all of her reservoir.
"How does the trap know not to trap me?" asked Taniya, raising an eyebrow.
"Anyone who feeds energy into the control point will be able to enter without activating the trap." said Callie, gesturing to the small orb of darkness in the corner.
"How did you learn that?" asked Taniya.
" Trade secret." said Callie, leaning back on her heels and grinning like she had all the secrets.
" So what will the net do? Is it lethal or just to restrain intruders?" asked Taniya.
" Depends on the amount of power you feed into the control orb." said Callie, gesturing to the orb of darkness. "Watch the net as you feed in energy. The dark orb will convert your positive energy into negative energy before directing it along the silver line to the nets and the two invisible barriers. There will be a loss of power in the exchange, but the conversion is manageable. For a good reference, if the silver lines of the net are shimmering brightly, the net will break the bones in an intruder's body before crushing them to death. If they are a dull glow, the nets will simply cause bruising and hold them securely."
"Soo, I just feed in energy until the silver lines shimmer?" asked Taniya.
"Yes, I would recommend until they are shimmering. That way, you can leave the trap alone for up to twenty-four hours." said Callie, taking a step back to admire her work.
" Thank you. But This is much too advanced for me to copy. I may need several days of watching the structure of the working to replicate the barriers. But I don't think the copying the net is even possible for me, its shielded somehow. I can't see the lines of energy used to construct it." said Taniya, examining the working with a furrowed brow.
Callie smiled at Taniya. "Does that mean you are not up for the challenge? You have until you decide to let the working fall apart. Take all the time you want to decipher the trap. But please don't show anyone else, the net is kind of my own personal invention. And I do my best to keep that knowledge hidden." said Callie.
"Alright, I will keep yours a secret if you promise not to show anyone how to make my sound barrier." said Taniya.
Callie grinned in excitement, nodding emphatically.
Taniya raised her hand and gestured like she had at the bar. Green energy slowly drifted from her. This time, however, lines of energy filled the air, slowly forming a dome. Callie watched, impressed at the woman's skill. The lines weaved together around them. The lines on the inside were like thin strands of silken cord while the outer lines were woven together, creating a complex tapestry of energy.
Callie spoke, and the now visible lines of energy pulsed. She spoke again, examining the barrier closely. All three layers of energy pulsed. She stepped through the barrier to the outside and then spoke again. From the outside, she watched as the three layers of energy pulsed in sequence.
" Say something." said Callie, watching the energy closely. Taniyas' lips moved, and an indistinctive voice drifted to her ears. She could still hear the voice, but she couldn't tell what Taniya was saying, even though they were only ten feet away.
" Again!" said Callie. Taniyas' lips moved, and the barrier pulsed slightly. Callie grinned, as first the inner layer of lines lit up, followed by the middle and then the much larger outer lines of energy..
"That is brilliant." said Callie, stepping into the sound barrier again.
" Did you figure it out?" asked Taniya, grinning at the praise.
" I think so. Your lines of energy catch and distort the sound waves from the inside. While also amplifying and smoothing out the sound waves from the outside?" asked Callie, unsure of that last part.
" Exactly. The amplifying aspect was hard to figure out. Meshed in three layers, each layer of energy does a different thing depending on the sequence they are activated." said Taniya, letting her sound barrier fall.
" I wanna try. Can you guide me through it?" asked Callie excitedly.
"Alright, since you asked nicely. But don't be upset if you don't get it right away." said Taniya.
Callie tried to make the barrier herself. Taniya guided her, as Callie slowly created the sound ward. After nearly two hours, she was getting frustrated. Apparently, the thickness of each line had to be precise, otherwise the distortion of sound came across as static.. Or, in some cases, she would amplify her voice to the outside like she was speaking into a microphone. Callie's tenth attempt sparked, and she released the energy.
"Maybe we should take a break for now. The sound barrier does not take a lot of energy, but my reservoir is nearing empty." said Callie.
" Alright." said Taniya, " if it helps, you are getting a lot better. Just keep at it. It took me nearly a year to get it right. But you have an advantage that I didn't. You have me as your teacher. It took me a long time simply because I was experimenting and testing. In actuality, it's a four-star difficulty." said Taniya, waving dismissively.
"Uh huh, not all of us are five star artists." said Callie dryly.
" To be fair, I'm not either." said Taniya.
"Thats a lie. The complexity of that sound ward is definitely a five star in difficulty." said Callie.
Taniya flushed a deep red, smiling shyly. "Thanks, I worked hard to get it right."
"I'm going to do some physical training if you would like to accompany me?" asked Callie.
" I dont know, I'm not big into the whole fighting thing. And i should really get some sleep." said Taniya.
" Cmon, it will be fun. I need to repay you for showing me the sound ward." said Callie.
" But you already repaid me. I am the one that owes you for saving my life." said Taniya.
" Then repay me by coming to spar. "said Callie with a winning smile.
"As long as you go easy on me. I still feel like I fell down the stairs despite the help of the navy doctors. My body still needs time to recover, but maybe I can come for a little while." said Taniya, smiling sheepishly.
Walking together, they crossed between soldiers' quarters towards the training barracks. The large warehouse looked more like an airplane hanger back on Etria, but in the confines of the city's barrier they used it for training of soldiers, and to hold the shuttles for city enforcers. Callie, having done this before, led Taniya to the women's change room. They dressed in dark black navy jumpsuits. The outfit was soft finely woven fabric with a thin layer of tough plates that were linked between the folds of cloth.
The linked plates could lock up when struck, simulating an injury based on how hard you were struck. There was also a helmet that had a clear full faced visor that sealed into the suit. Unlike a battle suit, these had small air holes in the face shield and rear of the helmet for ventilation.
Callie strode confidently out into the massive training hall. Dozens of soldiers moved about, running, doing pushups or sparring in the training rings. It was mostly hand to hand combat, and grappling in the rings, but there were quite a few soldiers practicing their art.
It was rare for a person to be able to manifest their art. With Zrixians brilliant engineers, most didn't need to. The empire had a secret tech that they guarded jealously. They could augment their weapons and armour with the art. The weapon would draw the art from a person and amplify the weapon immensely, even if the person couldn't use the art at all. Sure, every person had the art to some extent, but that didn't mean they could actually use it.
Some artists could only enhance their bodies, while others could utilise their art at a distance. Rarer still were the artists who could do both.
Callie approached a fighting ring, smiling at the sergent with a single green star on his chest. In the ring, two
" Do you mind if we take a turn?" Asked Callie.
The soldier glanced from Callie to an anxious Taniya. Callie raised an eyebrow at the shorter man. Two privates sparred in the ring, both fumbling around like complete amateurs.
" Of course, maybe you can show these two privates a thing or two?" Asked the sergent.
The shimmering green barrier covering the fighting ring shimmer transparent and the two privates stepped outside. Both privates had a Velcro patch, and despite the fact they were fighting with the art moments before, neither had the distinctive green star of a full artist.
Callie pushed through the barrier, smiling a friendly smile at the two privates. There was no need to be hostile after all. The two privates watched Callie and Taniya square off.
She started off slowly, taking Taniyas' measure. The woman was a Devali. Callie didn't believe she was a poor fighter. She escalated the difficulty and speed. Once Taniya seemed to be stepping things at a fast pace, Callie went defensive, deciding to play a little game. She wanted to see if she could avoid getting hit.
Callie was dodging a kick at her face when she glimpsed two familiar men enter the large training hangar. As always, even during the fight, Callie was keeping track of her surroundings and so was watching when Dustin and Major Farlen enter. Wasn't the major supposed to be on a ship to Valia?
She bent and weaved, keeping Taniya at a distance. Callie breathed evenly, reading Taniyas's body like a book. Her knees bent and her left shoulder dipped away, advertising the left jab far in advance. Callie simply pushed the fist off course with her gloved hand.
Taniyas's center of gravity changed as she leaned all her weight on her front foot. With cat like grace, Callie bent at the waist, a boot passing mere inches from her face as it passed above her.
Callie snapped back to her full height, lunging at an off balance Taniya to poke the visor of her helmet playfully.
Callie smirked and darted away as Taniya struck at her chest.
"Oops. You almost hit me." Said Callie, winking.
Through the helmet, Callie could see Taniyas' face was flushed a deep red.
" Oh yeah, let's see you do that again. Unless you're too chicken?" Asked Taniya, grinning.
Callie rushed in with a burst of speed, dodging a quick series of jabs and deflecting a well-timed kick. She had to admit, Taniya was good. Her biggest weakness was she clearly didn't practice enough. Her movements seemed halting, lacking the grace of a master. And that was what allowed Callie to read her so well. Taniya had technique and skill. But she wasn't blending the series of moves as perfectly as she could. There was always a minor delay, a moment where she advertised her next move.
Such a moment happened again, where she braces her weight forward and balanced her upper body for a kick at Callie's side. She ducked the kick easily and tackled an off balance Taniya to the mat with a whomp. She wrestled Taniyas' arms under her knees and grinned down at Taniya.
The young woman gasped for breath but was grinning like an idiot. Callie reached down and poked Taniya on the helmet.
" Not bad. Next time try to keep Callie away, she specializes in hand to hand." Said Dustin. Tanya's eyes widen and she turned her head from her position on her back.
" If you think it's so easy to keep her away, then come in here and let's see you try it." Said Taniya gasping for breath. Dustin shook his head, but Callie could see the faint smile on his lips.
" Why is her here?" Asked Callie, gesturing towards major Farlen with her chin.
" We are going to be working with the major for the time being. In fact, he needs you for something." Said Dustin.
" For what?" Asked Callie. She felt a series of taps on her thigh as her downed opponent gave up. Callie rose and stepped away, allowing Taniya to rise on her own.
Dustin glanced around the fighting ring. The other three soldiers got the hint and saluted before walking away. Once they were alone, major Farlen answered.
" Dustin says you speak fluent Etrian, is he right?" Asked major Farlen, scowling as tho speaking the language was taboo.
" Yes, I speak several languages. It's a hobby of mine." Said Callie as though she just did it for fun.
" Really? What others do you speak?" asked major Farlen, raising an eyebrow.
" So what do you need my Etrian for?" Asked Callie, ignoring the question..
" We have a prisoner that only speaks a little zrixian. He wants to make a deal, but he either refuses to speak zrixian or he can't speak zrixian." Said major Farlen, a scowl crossing his face. Callie had to force down her excitement. This couldn't be happening, could it? Was major Farlen talking about one of the Secari? She took in a deep breath, tempering her excitement..