(Callie)
Callie rose early as usual. With a yawn, she pulled up a hologram, using the blue glow to check the time in the dark of her room. It was five pm on a Tuesday. There was a notification of a missed call. The number was unknown and arrived nearly an hour prior. Maybe it was spam? She was expecting a call from Taniya today, as they needed to prepare for the arrest of senator Orlean, but the number was unknown. Callie quickly leapt from her creaky bed, deciding that she would have to skip training today.
Her thoughts were in a jumble, bouncing from how the arrest might go to their conversation with major Farlen and Peyton yesterday. She slipped on her thin ankle high socks and called the unknown number back. Her comm rang several times before someone answered. "Hello, iz zhis Callie?" asked a woman, her words in a heavy Slax accent.
"Yes, I am Callie. Who are you?" Callie asked, strapping a thin ceramic knife to her inner thigh.
"I am Nakita, a friend of Warren."the woman said. Callie froze, her eyes narrowing and her heart skipping a beat. Warren hadn't replied to her in four days, and the first she hears of him was from a stranger?
"Go on."Callie said suspiciously. Could this be a trap? Was the Devali trying to get her to reveal herself? She decided to play things safe and see how this played out.
"Fourr dayz ago, Warren left me with a message to give yu. He told me to wait for five dayz, but I'm worried. It'z been four dayz, and he still hasn't replied to any of my callz."Nakita said, her tone concerned.
"What is the message?" Callie asked, her heart racing. The woman on the call took in a deep breath."He said to tell you he was going to see Villus."Nakita said uncertainly.
Callie froze at those words, going quiet. "When was this? How long ago?" Callie asked, her stomach clenching and her thoughts running wild.
"Warren left my apartment four days ago, right after they posted thoze photoz on the newz."Nakita said, worried.
That was not good. Villus, he wouldn't kidnap Warren, would he?! Callie clenched her fists, pushing down her blinding rage. Who was she kidding? Villus wouldn't hesitate to do something awful to Warren or Callie if he gained an advantage.
"Why were you with Warren? And who are you?" Callie asked, pushing down her fury. "Well, we vere in bed when he received za photos. It was odd, he seemed nervous, but he went to meet thiz Villus person anyway."Nakita said, worriedly.
"Wait, are you that arms dealer he has a crush on?" Callie asked, her mind racing with concern. What was she going to do? "I think so, unless he talkz to other arms dealers."Nakita said concernedly.
"Can I call you back later? I need some time to think."Callie said. "Of course, if you need anything, weaponz, armour, then give me a call. Warren iz my friend, and I am willing to help."Nakita said, before hanging up.
Callie stood from the bed and paced, her socks sliding along the cold tile. Why the hell was this happening? She shook her head. It was obvious. This had something to do with the leak of Warrens and Villuse's photos.
Her stomach tighten, she hoped that bastard wasn't torchering Warren. Four days? Damn, and Villus still hadn't called her to make his demands. If Villus kidnapped Warren, then he would interrogate Warren. Only once he got all the info he could, then would he call Callie.
Would Villus kill Warren? Probably not. He would use Warren to blackmail Callie herself. Callie scowled. Villus must think they were working against him? Her heart thudded, and she ran her hands through her long silky black hair in frustration.
She wanted to punch the wall, or stab someone in the face, Villus in particular. Callie took in a deep breath, calming her racing heart. First things first, she needed to put on clothes, then she needed to contact Villus.
She dressed slowly, making herself take her time. It was never a good idea to go into such an important conversation angrily. Just knowing Villus might have Warren captive made her blood run cold.
Once dressed, Callie created the three layered sound ward Taniya taught her. The green ward took her almost five minutes to put in place, but she was determined. On completion of the ward, Callie hit the call button on her comm and waited. Callie took in a deep, cleansing breath of filtered air, pushing aside her feelings as the comm rang.
"Callie," Villus said, his tone smug. "What do you want, Villus?" Callie demanded.
"What ever do you mean? You called me. I should be asking what you want?" Villus said with amusement. She could practically hear the smile in his voice. Callie didn't reply for several seconds, letting the silence linger. Callie, eager to hear how Warren was doing, broke the silence first.
"I'm sure you have already discovered the truth, but I will say it anyway. Neither Warren nor I revealed your faces to the Zrixians. We didn't betray you!" Callie said, forcing down her rage. She couldn't show weakness, or Villus would use it.
"Perhaps you're right. Warren is surprisingly tough under torcher. It's been four days, and he still hasn't cracked. I'm starting to think he actually doesn't know anything. That and he is almost out of both toenails and fingernails."Villus said offhandedly.
Callie swallowed back the urge to yell at Villus. She was going to murder him, and not gently. "What do you want in exchange for freeing Warren alive into my custody?" Callie asked, her stomach clenching.
"Straight to the point, I like that. You know what I want. I want information that will help me destroy the Zrixian empire."Villus said reasonably, as though that kind of information was easy to get..
"Why don't you just destroy one of their reactors again like the Secari did two years ago?" Callie asked. Villus paused at that, seeming at a loss, taking several long seconds to reply.
" Because, without access to the power grid at the city's core, it won't matter. And that place is far too secure to infiltrate and destroy, especially after our last attack on the empire. Can you believe those idiots didn't blow up the city's main power core? They actually blew up one of the city's reactors instead? They should have known the Zrixians would have backup reactors." Villus said angrily.
Callie swallowed. Dustin was right! He hadn't been lying about the secari being the aggressors. "Why did the secari blow that reactor up in the first place?" Callie asked, her mind a jumble of confusion and concern.
"They were meant to destroy the capital city Valia, not wreck one of the city's backup reactors."Villus said, as though it was like going to the market. "But why?" Callie asked softly.
"It was a preemptive strike on the empire. If it would have succeeded, the empire would have never got up the courage to attack Etria."Villus said reasonably. Callie swallowed. This was a lot to think about, but she needed to get back on task.
"What is your price for freeing Warren?" Callie asked, her mind racing. "It's simple. Give me something I can use to topple the empire, or at the very least make the empire suffer."Villus said, as though it really were that simple.
"And where in the hell am I going to get that kind of information?" Callie asked, her anger leaking through."That's not my problem. But since I'm a generous man, I'm willing to give you four more days. If you have the information I desire on Saturday, I will release Warren to you."Villus stated.
Callie gritted her teeth and paced angrily, wanting to yell at him. "I will get the information you need. Just don't hurt Warren anymore! Return him to me alive and well."Callie demanded.
Villus laughed maliciously," You have four days. I will send you Warrens location on Saturday. However, if you don't send me the information I desire, then Warren is going to lose some digits, maybe a leg this time."Villus said thoughtfully..
"You better not hurt him anymore! I swear I will throw you into a vat of acid with a rock tied to your leg if you keep hurting him." Callie said angrily.
"You are such a fool Callie, this is why I told you to never make friends."Villus said, before hanging up. Callie paced furiously, her feet slapping on the cold tile floor. She wanted to both scream and have a good old-fashioned meltdown. Not to mention the fact that Villus actually admitted the secari were the aggressors in this war.
She opened her door. On second thought, she should go for a run. Callie really needed to burn off some energy. She only glanced at Dustin's sleeping form on the couch as she left the apartment, going to the massive training hall of the navy. Callie quickly dressed in her practice armour and made her way to the track. She then took off in a sprint, deciding she shouldn't fight anyone today.
If she did, someone might die. Her mind raced and her feet slapped rhythmically on the plastic flooring. She took in deep breaths, more in an effort to calm her racing thoughts than because she needed to breathe. She still had about an hour before they were going to arrest a senator. Callie smiled. She really hoped he struggled and tried to run away, because she needed something to hit.
Her conversation with Villus played through her mind. Well, now she knew that Etria or at least the Sacari were the aggressors. But what did she do with that information? Her stomach tightened in worry and her heart raced. What now?
Even if she knew the truth, how did she go about changing sides? The better question was, did she want to change sides?
Well, she liked Taniya, and Dustin. But most of all, she was concerned about her growing feelings towards Dustin. He was smart, hot, and trustworthy. Callie snorted, pushing herself even harder, her body drenched in sweat.
Who was she kidding? Dustin was all those things, but she was a liar, a murderer and untrustworthy. After all she did, the lying and the killing, she doubted he would ever forgive her. Much less consider dating her.
If she was being honest, she still held suspicions about the empire, and that might never change. But she actually had friends who lived here. Well, if they ever found out of her betrayal, they would hate her.
She missed a step in her run and staggered before returning to her rapid pace. That shouldn't cause her so much anxiety. The realization that she was in the wrong for attacking the empire weighed on her. Not because of killing, but because of how her friends might react.
Her bicep vibrated several times, startling her. She stumbled, almost crashing into another soldier on the running track. "Hello?" Callie said, answering. "Hey Callie, meet me over by the gate outside the naval base."Taniya said, sounding exited. Callie checked the time. Oh wow, it had already been an hour?
"Alright, give me a few minutes, ill be right out."Callie said, heading for a quick cold shower to cool off.. She dressed and rushed to the front gate, scanning her comm to get out.
The sleek black Bileran was parked just outside of the front gate, on the street. Traffic was busy this time of day, a blur of shuttles rushing past at incredible speeds.
The passenger side door open as she approached and Callie lept inside. "Come on, we still need to change into our official uniforms."Taniya said gesturing with her chin towards the back seat.
Callie shut her door, and Taniya pulled out into traffic. Callie turned in her seat, eying the Devali uniforms. "Did they have one in my size?" Callie asked dubiously.
"Yea, but it might be a little loose for you. It's for a man. There aren't many women your height in the Devali." Taniya said with a smirk.
"That's fine, makes it easier to hide my knives with baggy clothes."Callie said, feeling a little exited. It wasn't every day she got to arrest a senator, which improved her mood immensely.
Taniya gave her a dubious look as she weaved through traffic. "How did you get so tall, anyway? Did your parents force feed you too much Vat grown meat?" Taniya asked. Callie cringed at that terrifying prospect. "Vat grown meat for my entire childhood? That sounds awful."Callie said with mock disgust. Taniya burst out laughing, her focus mostly on the road and the other shuttles around them.
"It's not so bad. I mean, unless you can prove me wrong?" Taniya asked, glancing at Callie hopefully. Callie smiled for real now, her anxiety falling away a little. How did Taniya do that? She always made things a little happier, a little brighter.
"You are on T, I'm going to make you an imported steak so good you will never be able to look at Vat grown meat the same."Callie said smiling.
"Yes! I can't wait! Can we make some dessert too? Dustin is going to be so jealous!" Taniya said, practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.
Taniya's excitement was infectious and Callie smiled for the entire drive to the headquarters of the IE, almost forgetting about her shitty morning.
Callie had no idea how someone as upbeat and friendly as Taniya could be the child of Lady Veronica? Dustin was closer to lady Veronica's personality, but also softer and much more friendly with a sense of humour. Callie dubbed those effects on Dustin as Taniyas influence. In fact, Callie found herself actually hugging Taniya occasionally. Ok maybe Taniya refused to leave until she got a hug but still.
Callie still tensed up for hugs, but she no longer grabbed a knife when it was Taniya that close. Instructor Tren would be so disappointed in her for her lack of caution. Callie's good mood soured at that thought. Instructor Tren's methods of instilling caution into Callie and the others involved bruising and lots of broken bones.
They arrived at the Imperial enforcers headquarters with only twenty minutes to spare. In a hurry, they dressed in the back of a transport truck tasked to their mission. They changed clothes and Callie glanced at Taniya, who was wearing a bright pink bra and white boxers under her blouse and pants.
The young woman still had some bruising on her mostly healed toes and on her legs, as well as her arms. Callie swallowed, despite the bruising Taniya had never complained during training. Her stomach clenched. Callie herself caused at least some of those bruises during training. Callie felt like one of her instructors in that moment, and hated herself for causing the bruising.
Taniya was looking at Callie as she removed her blouse, revealing her bare torso. Callie still had on a black sports bra and a pair of blue panties, but her scars were visible all across her torso, arms, and legs. Dozens of small scars from training, and the thousands of small needle scars from her accident.
"What-"
Callie raised a hand and looked away, slipping on the white button up undershirt.
"Who did this to you?" Taniya asked angrily. Callie didn't turn. Of course Taniya was disgusted with her scars. She dressed in the blue uniform quicker, wanting to cover up. Each of her scars was a mark of her failure, a time when she failed to defend herself or her friends.
She didn't want Taniya to see her shame. Taniya would surely see the scars and decide Callie was too weak. And besides, that look Taniya gave her. It was a look of horror and pity, reminding Callie of her inability to keep Warren and Peyton safe from the punishments of their instructors..
Callie took in a shuddering breath, slipping on the blue suit pants over the scars of her long legs. She looped her new belt with her knife through the pant belt loops and clasped the belt to hold the loose pants around her waist. She swallowed, wondering if Taniya might reject her friendship after seeing her failures so plainly on her skin.
Callie was lost in self pity, looking at the inner wall of the transport truck, when she felt Taniya approach her from behind. Taniyas' arms, clothed in a white shirt, wrapped around her waist gently. Callie tensed, but stopped dressing. Today wasn't going according to plan, so a hug could be allowed. Ok, maybe she needed a hug damnit!
"I'm sorry for looking at you like that. I was just surprised is all."Taniya said. Callie nodded. ", It's alright, you should see my failures. They are a reminder of my inability to protect my friends."Callie whispered. Her long black hair fell around her face, but she let it hang there.
"I am not upset at you. I want to meet whoever did this to you so I can stab them in the face."Taniya said, hugging Callie tighter. "Trust me, you don't want to meet them!" Callie said, thinking of Villus. She glanced down at the blue suit jacket with the gold stitching Devali across the back. She couldn't exactly put on the jacket, with Taniya hugging her from behind.
Then again, Callie was just looking for something to distract herself from this conversation. It brought up way too many unpleasant memories that she would rather not relive. There was a loud knock on the back door of the transport shuttle.
"Hurry it up in there! We leave in five!" shouted an enforcer.
Callie reached down and gently removed Taniyas' arms from around her. Callie turned to see the younger woman was wiping tears from her eyes. "Your teacher did, did he do that to you?" Taniya asked, anger crossing her face. Callie nodded her head.
"They punished my failures and if I tried to protect my friends from punishment, they punished both me and my friends."Callie said, pulling on the blue suit jacket. It covered her shoulder holster nicely, concealing the weapon.
"Is that why you tense up all the time when I get close? Or reach for a knife?" Taniya asked, her light hazel eyes glimmering. Callie let out a breath. "Yeah, so please try not to startle me if you can avoid it. I don't want to accidentally cut you. Especially since you and Dustin got me this really sharp knife." Callie said, caressing the embroidered black spider on the smooth leather belt.
Taniya nodded. "You better hurry, I don't think a bra and boxers go over the way they want on the news."Callie said, giving Taniya a mischievous smile to break the tension.
Taniya laughed, wiping her eyes. She quickly dressed in her own dress pants and blue suit coat. She tied her long blond hair into a ponytail and twirled, giving Callie a faint smile.
"Are you ready?" Taniya asked. Callie shrugged. "Honestly, I am excited to put a politician in handcuffs. And I don't mean the fluffy pink handcuffs people use in bed."Callie said, grinning.
"That's absurd. Do you actually use handcuffs in bed?" Taniya asked. "Well, that depends. I first need to convince a guy to put them on."Callie said, with a mischievous smile. Taniya choked in laughter.
Callie opened the back door and stepped out into a group of ten enforcers, leaving Taniya laughing uncertainly.