Lover

by Valerie J. Long

I needed a person as close as possible to my size, with similar proportions and a job that granted free mobility with an independent task. Providers were out of the question.

  In the morning, I watched several candidates entering the palace grounds. From my position near the entrance, I could spot names and companies on their IDs. This and their clothes gave me a first clue of their potential tasks.

  Thereafter, I found an Internet café and scanned for the companies. Of course, they all had their own websites, they just didn’t advertise with their special client. I discarded several candidates, as their tasks appeared too special to me—what would I know about the protocol or about the care for koi carps?

  The last on my list were a charwoman, a topiarist, a houseplant gardener, and an office messenger.

  I could clean. The only thing I knew about greens was their taste. For the messenger, I didn’t lack the skills but the location knowledge, moreover I had to expect a tight itinerary there. So I’d go with the charwoman?

  No. In an Internet forum, the respective person had once mentioned that her untold employer strictly ordered when and how long she had to clean which rooms, and that she could hardly go to the bathroom without advance notice. Such a job wouldn’t help me.

  The houseplant gardener, on the other hand, broadly wrote on how she could take her time to care for her dears without anyone interfering with her work. That sounded good, and I inserted a brief self-study about bonsai art.

  To my relief, I found out that the plants didn’t need daily cutting. Water and little fertilizer should suffice. If my gardener only missed one day, I couldn’t do much damage to her dears. The question was anyway how many plants would survive the next-but-one day.

  I even had a little time left for market research. Which Tokyo companies could deliver Dragon technology products?

  As expected, there were no reports on incidents at the airports, so Jana’s suits must have arrived unmolested. A pity.

  I used the evening to devour plenty of food in several venues, thereafter followed by a little high-tech shopping tour, and finally I granted myself the luxury of a few hours sleep.

  Chapter One-Hundred-And-Twenty-Seven

  It went much too fast and too easy.

  She managed to utter a quick “Hey,” then I grabbed her and pulled her into a side alley, holding her mouth shut. From her large brown eyes, she stared at me in fear, and that was part of my plan. In no time, I had recorded her facial geometry, her iris and her retina pattern.

  “I regret the inconvenience I have to cause you. I will not do any permanent harm to you, and I won’t use this situation to harm your country or emperor. When you’re found or wake up yourself, do not hesitate to contact the palace guard—skip the police.”

  Had she understood?

  A little prick in the right place put her to deep sleep. Quickly I brought my victim to the prepared hideout—more for her protection than mine—and relieved her of clothes, access ID and accessories. I left money, her personal ID, and her keys behind, and of course I dressed her in spare clothes. I wanted to be as authentic as possible, and part of that was her used clothes as well as her fingerprints.

  Now came the most difficult part. I wanted to look like her. That was a much more complicated change than just adding Yoshi’s slit eyes to my own face.

  Transform.

  —Confirmation for special function required.—

  Confirmed.

  Ouch! My face burned like fire, most of all my eyes, when my nanos began to perform their work. Oooh crap, I didn’t expect that! But there was no way back, I had to be at the gate in time.

  It’s just pain, Jo.

  It’s not Dandy who’s just cutting your eyelids off or skinning your face. It’s just your own nanos, following your own command. It will be over soon.

  The torture felt endless, but was finished after one and a half minutes. My face and my fingertips were still a bit tingly. I didn’t need a mirror to know that I now looked like her.

  On to the palace, Jo.

  After a few steps, I had adapted my walk to the unfamiliar high-heeled shoes. It took me longer to get used to the strange feeling of wearing panties, bra, and a short skirt. In exchange, I missed my nano armor on my skin—the entire material had seeped back inside me.

  I didn’t know who my victim knew, even less did I know about potential unknown admirers. Accordingly I played the absent-minded who mused about her plants. I had to leave her mobile phone untouched as well, as I didn’t know her secret code. I had to take the risk of acting strange on the brief remaining way to work.

  “Hello, Aki,” I then heard briefly before the ID check. “Hey, what’s with you?”

  I only shrugged and avoided looking at the young woman.

  “Your plants, what?”

  “The bunjin-gi,” I whispered—a shot in the dark.

  “Oh. Well, good luck.”

  For the security check, we were separated anyway. This was the critical part. Of course, the security staff knew every face that passed here daily. How long would my role-play hold?

  Long enough—probably Aki was rather introverted anyway, why else would she pick such a job?

  My bonsai tools passed the scan without problems. In exchange, the guard at the screen waved me closer after having passed the body scan. Was my cover busted now?

  “You have a little shadow in your head,” he said and pointed at the schematic display on his screen. “Perhaps it’s just a malfunction, but you might want to ask a doctor.”

  “Oh,” I said and examined the image of my Analogy. “Thank you, I will do that.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  I was dismissed and had to suppress a deep breath of relief. After all, I hadn’t passed the biometric checks yet.

  But fingerprints and eyes were accepted as well, and I received my internal ID.

  Congrats, Jo. You’ve passed the best security check on this planet. Now get your mission done.

  Basically, I only had to find the emperor now. Where would I find the emperor? In his living quarters. Under the pretense of caring for the topiary in his tokonoma, I’d boldly sneak inside. With the respective confidence, I passed the Imperial Household Agency to my right and approached the Kyuden, entered the large building and walked in the direction where I believed to find the living quarters.

  There were twenty steps left to the last door when it opened and two armored guards blocked my way with threateningly leveled underarms. “Stop! Freeze! You’re arrested!”

  Steps behind me announced the arrival of three more guards. As instructed, I didn’t turn toward them. Dragon crap. Now everything was botched.

  Chapter One-Hundred-And-Twenty-Eight

  One of the newcomers behind me approached me. “You’re not registered. Unplanned access to the emperor is forbidden, you should know that.”

  “Forgotten,” I murmured and considered how I could rescue the situation. Becoming invisible was ruled out, as I was dressed in normal clothes. Would I be able to move fast enough, or could they hit me anyway? Delicate.

  “This rule mustn’t be forgotten. What’s happened?”

  I put up a sad face and looked up to him. “The guard at the gate told of a shadow in my head. I thought about the possible causes. Except for a brain tumor, I had no idea.”

  “Give me your tools,” he demanded. “Perhaps the chamberlain will accept this apology, perhaps he won’t. Until he decides, we’ll take you to the arrest quarters.”

  Where I then might perhaps break out. That was a big perhaps—if the arrest quarters were as thoroughly secured as everything else around here, it could cost me one day. I didn’t have that much time left.

  “I must speak to the emperor. Now.”

  “Young lady, what’s that now? You know the rules. Come with me now.”

  “No.” Perhaps I could briefly confuse them? The door ahead stood open—if I could dash through between them and then doubled to the side?

  “Young lady, I don�
��t want to have to hurt you, but you have to come with me now. I may not let you in.”

  Should I? If it went wrong, if I wasn’t fast enough, they’d kill me and my mission would be busted—okay, not that I’d have to worry then. If I succeeded, they’d pursue me anyway, and how should I talk to the emperor then?

  I was so close, had come so far, and now I should let them lock me away? Where I’d remain until cult and Cartel invaded here? Who’d make short work of all potential witnesses—and what would they care about the life of an imprisoned gardener?

  My features became stern, as stern as the guard’s. “If I come with you, this way will only lead to death. My death, your death, the death of your fellows and of the emperor.”

  “What are you fantasizing there?”

  “I’ve come to relay a warning. The Dragon cult plans to attack the palace.”

  “What would you know about such things? Would you now please come along.”

  Hastily, I tossed him more information chunks. “They’re supported by Frostdragon armor suits from America. Those have arrived yesterday. The cult has allied with the Cartel. The attackers will have plasma weapons.”

  His fellows—or subordinates?—were quietly murmuring. I heard them anyway. “How can she know that—is she mad—what if it’s right—the situation’s hot anyway.”

  “Quiet,” my guard commanded. “You have no proof. Why should I believe a single word?”

  I was running out of options and time. The hide-and-seek no longer helped me, drop it. Either I could convince him or let myself be shot right here. At least he was still listening.

  I need my suit.

  “Because I govern the Dragon empress’ legacy.” That sounded very piled on even in my ears, but somehow it was the truth. Even if I had stolen this legacy.

  Under my clothes, I felt the nanos leaving my body and covering me. Arms and legs were still free, and I held my face in my hands. “I’m not Aki, the gardener.”

  Transform. Quick, even if it hurts. It’s just pain.

  It burned like hell, even inside my eyes where I shouldn’t have pain-sensitive nerves. It burned in my fingertips, and it burned in my mind. At the same time, the nanos running down my arms and legs tickled me.

  “What’s that?” the guard called out and made two steps back. “What legacy are you talking about?”

  The transformation was finished. What could I show him? Claws would be unwise.

  Golden skin, golden suit.

  And some more creative truth. “I am Johanna Meier, graduate of the Melbourne Dragon university, and I’ve been a friend of the Imperatrix Aurea Zoe Lionheart.”

  —Golden iris, too?—

  Does that hurt again? No matter. Yes, please.

  This time it didn’t burn. I took my hands away.

  The guard stared and gaped at me, his two fellows at the door copying him. “A Golden One,” the right guard then whispered.

  “Lóng”—Dragon—his neighbor added.

  That didn’t entirely apply, but right now their speaker was more important to me. “I must talk to the emperor.”

  “No,” the guard firmly disagreed. “You must talk to the head of the guard.” With a jerk of his head he activated his radio. “Code Three-Seven Gold.” Then he reported about my arrest and repeated the information I had given to him.

  His attention was momentarily more directed at his talking partner than me. The occasion was simply favorable for a little strip. With a claw I cut Aki’s top and bra open, dropped the skirt and also cut the pants. Now I only wore my golden suit—and the high heels. Gone with them!

  The two other guards—and probably those behind me, too—watched me curiously, but didn’t comment on it. Ah no, they were listening, too.

  What was happening at the far end of the line? His earplugs were well shielded against noise emissions, I could hardly hear anything. Or was it due to his talking partner being silent?

  If he was still ordered to arrest me, I had to be quick, quickly camouflaged, quickly leaving. For that I needed bearings. Where exactly were the two guards behind me standing? Where did their breaths come from?

  Were other guards close? Close enough that I could notice them?

  No, seemingly not. Instead, I felt watched again.

  Oops.

  Why did I have a feeling of distance here?

  North. Yes, exactly, it felt north.

  What the Jelly was that?

  —Active signature detected.—

  Pardon? Details.

  —Dragon, male, inactive. Anomaly.—

  I can sense the Dragon?

  —All signature bearers can sense each other.—

  So he can sense me, too?

  —Correct.—

  No hide-and-seek then.

  Cursed hellish Dragon vomit!

  Chapter One-Hundred-And-Twenty-Nine

  “The attack has been moved forward,” I said aloud. “It’s beginning now.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “One assault will come from the north. Entirely sure.”

  He cocked his head. “Assault on the main gate. No time—arrest!” his far contact was just commanding.

  “I’m sorry,” he began.

  I was sorry, too, but on no account would I wait for the assault’s result in some jail. I had already been that far a few minutes ago.

  Camouflage.

  And jump!

  Before the surprised guards could react, I hung from the ceiling above their heads.

  “She’s gone!”

  “She’s invisible, you idiot.”

  “A Dragoness!”

  “If she’s told the truth, the assault at the main gate is a distraction. I can’t discuss now with the Shogun that we had a true Golden One here and that we’ve let her escape.”

  There, he was right. Meanwhile, I slowly crawled toward the exit. Don’t cause any noises their suit detectors could perceive, I advised myself.

  “If we catch her—”

  “If she’s a true Golden One, we stand no chance here inside. You two keep your post at the door. We’ll reinforce the Inui gate in the north.”

  I had heard enough. My warning had arrived, so this part of my mission was accomplished. Now I was left with the Dragon. It would surely be better for the guard if I intercepted him far from the Inui gate. The three guards kindly opened the right doors for me, so I snuck through with them.

  Once we were in the open, I left them behind. They were running with their amplifiers, too, but I could easily beat that as long as I stayed on the path. I only had to make sure to not throw up little stones.

  Battle sounds already echoed from the south. So there weren’t just plasma and linear weapons? And probably no nano suits, either, otherwise the palace would already be run over. Which would soon happen in the north, if Jana’s men arrived there ahead of me.

  How many defenders did the guard command there? I could spot five, no, six guards on this side of the gate. They had taken cover behind fortifications to the side or at the top of the gate. That wouldn’t help them much against the invisible attackers. Probably the suits alone would be able to wipe out this small score—and the three behind me.

  How far away was the Dragon now? The suits should cover him, so they’d be close to him.

  Now that I knew that this feeling of being watched only meant that I sensed the presence of a Dragon, I could deal with it.

  A few kilometers away, and approaching fast. Oops, the gate—I simply jumped up from full running, swung around and let myself drop on the road beyond.

  Oh damn, at the far end of the street I could already see the air whirls of the first suits, running closer at high speed. The Dragon had to follow them, perhaps in one of the cars?

  A fine hiss warned me.

  The imperial guard had a defense against invisible persons—a powerful irrigation system! Next I felt the first sprayed mist on my skin.

  Can my camouflage compensate rain?

  —Partially.— />
  Crap. Well then—I quickly jumped behind a topiary and forward from there. The Cartel boys weren’t dense, they’d simply pick out the guard from a distance. Perhaps the guard could hold up for a while—at least the attackers couldn’t run them over from the distance.

  Where was my target?

  Close.

  And indeed—there was an anomaly. It felt somewhat strange, no, alien. What was that?

  Ghost?

  —That’s the signature of a Wyvern.—

  Chapter One-Hundred-And-Thirty

  Great. Yes, the term Wyvern told me something. In the Nemrut Battle, the Dragon empress had confronted a gang of rogue Dragons—Wyvern—who had strived to rule the world, and she had killed these Dragons in a battle, Dragon against Dragon. Her partner Angry April had defeated one Wyvern, too.

  There were only rumors about further details, but the fight against these Wyvern must have been far from easy. This kind of Dragons couldn’t spit fire, but instead was highly venomous, and their venom could be lethal for Dragons, too.

  Such a specimen was now coming straight across me. I had come to stop this Dragon at any cost—but my odds were dropping.

  The first blue-glowing, hissing plasma rounds passed over me. Simultaneously, I perceived the quiet whistle of steel bullets from the linear guns of the attacker before me and the defenders behind me. What did the guards shoot at? Oh yes, at the sources of the clearly visible plasma rounds. Or at depressed plants and footsteps in the soft ground. And a simple barrage across the road. Only, that helped as little against the robust armor suits as against the armored vehicles from which the cultists shot. Only single direct hits from the guards one by one took out a few attackers who had advanced too far.

  This was no healthy environment for me. Should I feel fear? Of what? Dying? Then I’d have left it all behind. Of a hit? That would just be pain. Of the venom? Perhaps. Of failure? Surely.

  Here, nobody could help me. I was alone.

  So my last hour seemed to have come. Well—I had lived my life, and it had been interesting. At least I’d show them a departure they’d think of for a long time.