Carnevale and Subterfuge

by Selena Illyria

  “Depends. The test trials were inconclusive. There wasn’t enough fieldwork conducted to come to any conclusions, so we don’t know what she’s capable of. However, it’s my guess that yes, the threat level would lessen. Even the hologram would deplete her reserves. We can assume she’d go after both her clones and the machine.”

  “I’ll place extra security on the holding area,” Tigress said, hurrying out of the room.

  “Here’s another question,” Ana said. “Why didn’t she kill Tigress? Or the other person she imitated? Why leave them alive?”

  “Too many bodies to bury is too much time wasted,” Roberto said. “Why kill when you can incapacitate? Disappearing members of crew would draw too much attention to her. Much easier to knock them out, assume their identities, and stow them away in their quarters or med deck.”

  Drogan nodded. “So we can assume that the only person she wants dead is the real ambassador, which is both good and bad. My crew isn’t in danger but he is. The question is, how do we make it to Veritas 10 and capture her?”

  “Use me as bait,” Diego said. “We leak the location of the real ambassador and go from there.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ana tense but couldn’t say anything to soothe her just yet.

  “I’m for that. We can have special ops waiting for her and go from there. Where is Tigress? She should have been back by now.” Drogan looked around. He hit a button on his desk just as the doors whooshed open.

  “Sorry for the delay. The captain of the special ops unit had an idea. He drained the machine to almost nothing, leaving just a little bit of energy left, and set it out in the open. The trap is set. If it works, we’ll be able to catch three birds with one stone. The conman won’t have to risk himself, the ambassador will be safe, and we’ll get the assassin.”

  “Careful, Chief. I’ll start to think you like me,” Diego smiled.

  Tigress sneered back at him. “You’re more useful alive than dead. Besides, I dislike the real ambassador. Smug bastard thinks he can jerk around my people. Not likely.”

  Diego smiled as Tigress settled in next to him. For the first time since taking on this job, he felt comfortable. Both Drogan and Tigress had his back, and he and Ana were making progress.

  “Captain, when this is all over, I’d like to speak to you.” Diego sipped the last of his coffee before setting it on the arm of the chair.

  Drogan nodded. “I would like that.”

  There was a lot unsaid in those simple words, and Diego was hopeful. Despite the claustrophobic feel of the ship, he had Ana and that was enough for him. He could sense a new adventure on the horizon if Drogan took him on as a crewmember. In what capacity he would work, he didn’t know. “Come on, love. Time to go to bed. I could sleep for a week.”

  “Captain?” Ana remained seated, waiting.

  “Go on, Officer Lavender. It’s been a long two days.” Drogan nodded.

  Diego and Ana rose and left the office. Without thought, he put his arm around Ana, and they stepped into the lift.

  “How are you doing?” Diego said, placed a kiss on Ana’s temple.

  “Tired.”

  The ride to their floor was short. As they ambled toward Diego’s quarters he couldn’t help but wonder why the ambassador had chosen to leave his hiding place. The danger hadn’t been lifted. Diego remembered the interest he’d shown in Ana, and how the man had flirted with her. A shudder rippled through him. He hadn’t wanted to say how disturbing it had been. Although Ana had shown no interest whatsoever, Diego had seen enough of that type of behavior in men of power to know that it wasn’t over. The ambassador wanted Ana. She’d stood up to him and most people didn’t do that. He just prayed the man would get the message before something bad happened.

  When they arrived at the door Diego punched in the security code and stepped into the room. He took a moment to survey the space until he felt it was safe for Ana to be inside.

  “You OK?” Ana said, as she brushed past him to sit down.

  “Tired.”

  “We need to talk.” The words were spoken quietly, as if she didn’t want to actually say them out loud.

  “I know.”

  “I don’t like the ambassador.”

  “Neither do I.”

  Ana laughed. “I have no interest in him whatsoever. He makes me uncomfortable, but I do want to talk about after this is over. Where do we go?”

  “Not sure,” Diego lied. Until Drogan agreed to his idea, he wouldn’t get Ana’s hopes up or put her into a space where she felt conflicted.

  “Liar.”

  Diego smiled. “How did you know?”

  “Your expression was neutral. I won’t press. Too tired to. But can I ask if there’s hope?”

  “Yes, you can, and yes there is. Things just have to work out the way I want them to.”

  “OK.”

  “I want to pursue this, Ana, I do.” Diego settled across from her. “I want to be with you, that’s certain.”

  “But you don’t like being on the ship.”

  He shrugged. “There’s ways around that. Do you want me to stay?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank the Goddess. Should we go to sleep now? I’m knackered.”

  She held out her hand. “OK.”

  He took it and reluctantly stood up. For a moment the room swayed and a yawn escaped from his mouth.

  “You’re really tired,” Ana said.

  “Everything has collided and I’m feeling the effects. They said this would be easy. When I return to Il Doge I’m going to throw a tantrum.”

  Ana laughed. “You don’t look like a tantrum guy.”

  “Yes, well, I’ll make sure not to have it around you.”

  “I’ll just have to be there to make sure that you’re on your best behavior.”

  Diego sucked in a breath at the thought of his mother meeting Ana. The idea didn’t make him uneasy. The memories, on the other hand, that could be brought up didn’t sit well with him.

  “It’s OK.” Ana pulled him to the bedroom. “Nothing you did will make me leave you.”

  Diego’s heart stuttered at that statement. “You don’t know what I’ve done.”

  “But I see the result. You’re a good man. That I know.”

  “You won’t know until I tell you…and I’m scared.” The confession made the darkness inside of him rush up to squeeze his heart. The breath was stolen from his lungs as he tried to shove his emotions back down.

  “You can tell me in bed. Now strip.”

  He didn’t argue. He took off his clothes and climbed into bed. Ana scooted toward him and he wrapped his arms around her.

  “Now tell me.” Ana placed her head on his chest.

  For a moment he tensed. The words were stalled on his tongue. He wasn’t sure he could do it.

  “It’s OK, just tell me.”

  Diego sighed and let the words fall from his lips unchecked. “I’ve killed people. I took their money and saw evil up close.” A shudder went through him. “I saw people die and did nothing to stop it. I’ve seen innocent people being crushed under the heel of the rich and did nothing to stop it. Sure, I’d give back occasionally, but for the most part it was about me. I lied to people, made women think I was in love with them. I took money from the rich but I didn’t care who got caught. People lost their jobs and lives because of me. I stopped caring about anyone but myself.”

  “That’s a lie. If you didn’t care about your brother and mother then you wouldn’t have taken this job.”

  “Yes, but they had to use her health to even get me to see her. I wouldn’t have gone had they not told me she was dying.” Diego had never confessed that out loud. “I wouldn’t have gone if they hadn’t said she was on her death bed. There are parts of me that are still angry that I had to grow up so fast, that I was the one to protect my mother and brother from my father. I’m angry that I may have a half brother out there. And I’m tired. I’m tired of using people to get what I want…and I’m tired of
being used.

  “I was once pulled into starting a war. I got out before things got too bad. The fight is still going on. But despite everything I’m proud of the cons I’ve pulled. Well, some of them at least. But for the most part I hate myself. I hate that I’m proud of some of the things I’ve gotten away with.”

  Ana said nothing, so Diego continued. “I can’t look myself in the face anymore. I don’t know who I am, and I don’t know if I can come back and care. I did this job to have my record wiped clean and get paid. That’s it. That was the biggest draw of all, even more than doing the job for my dying mother.” Diego hated the words coming out of his mouth and what these confessions could do to the way Ana saw him.

  “You’ve lived a life most people could never imagine,” Ana said at last. “But you do care, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing any of this. You wouldn’t care about me or your brother. You’re lying to yourself so you won’t get hurt. You’re scared of how I’ll react, and you’re unsure of your future. Stop thinking and just let go. You’ve had a long two days. A lot has happened. You’re running on empty, Diego, so it’s time to rest. Let me take care of you. Let me help you.”

  “Oh? And how are you going to do that?” He turned his head and watched her roll her eyes.

  “Just go to sleep.”

  “But you didn’t answer me.” He chuckled.

  “I’ll answer you in the morning. Now sleep.”

  At her words, his eyelids began to drift downward. A yawn escaped and he groaned.

  “Fine, but your answer better be really creative.”

  “Oh, trust me, it will.”

  * * *

  Morrigan surveyed the brig through the vent. Still only one guard on duty. Stupid officers. She dug into her breast pocket and drew out her laser knife. She cut through the vents and grabbed the covering before it fell. Pulling it inward, she rested against the wall and went into shadow mode.

  She slid out of the duct and landed without making a sound. She crept along the wall, moved past the stasis pods, and headed to her power cell. Her body felt jittery as though she was working on near empty. Her fingers tingled and her feet ached with each step she took. When the large battery came into sight, relief swept through her. Eagerness to become fully charged made her rush toward it. When she arrived at the cell, Morrigan reached out with trembling fingers.

  As soon as her hand made contact with the machine, there was a whir of the fan and the delicate music of a computer coming to life. The first pulse of electricity rushed up her arm. It was like a balm to her weary muscles. But the hit didn’t last. The energy stopped almost as soon as it had begun.

  Anger overcame her. A hot rush of emotion welled up inside of her and became physical. She hit the machine, letting out a shriek of rage.

  Hands wrapped around her wrists and drew her back. She fought and kicked, screamed like a banshee at not being able to feed her tired body properly. Pain pierced her neck. Her limbs became heavy, movement sluggish. Her eyelids fluttered. She tried to struggle against her captors but nothing happened. Her hands and feet didn’t respond. Her legs and arms felt like lead.

  As the darkness of sleep took hold, she tried one last time, ordering her nanotechnology to respond. Nothing. She felt the shackles close around her wrists and the coldness of a slab through her bio suit.

  “When she wakes up, I want to talk to her.”

  Morrigan knew that voice but couldn’t identify it. Her thoughts moved as if mired in molasses. She tried once more to move, but nothing happened. As the last of her thoughts floated away, she prayed that she’d get another shot at the ambassador.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Time floated by on slow wings. When Morrigan next awoke she was no longer on a cold metal slab. She sat in a hard chair. Dark walls met her blurry gaze. She tried to lift her hands to rub her eyes and clear her vision but found her limbs wouldn’t move. Her body felt too heavy. An attempt to move her head only showed her more dark walls. Dim light bathed the space from overhead. Nothing else took up room with her. Unease crept up her spine. Fear tightened her throat. Her heart beat out a staccato rhythm against her rib cage.

  Not since training camp had she been captured. Morrigan had vowed on that day never again to be so helpless. Not until years later, when she returned from her mission to find her base dismantled and her fellow soldiers gone, had that feeling returned.

  The whoosh of air drew her attention. She turned her toward the sound. What greeted her pushed away the fear. The emotion was replaced with rage. She tried to lunge toward the man, lash out, strike him. Much to her fury, her body still refused to move.

  “I’m sure you know who I am,” said the ambassador, “as I know who you are, so no need for the formalities. I’ve taken the liberty to study your files. We’ve also downloaded your memories from your core processor. Lots of interesting reading. What struck me the most was that your memories have been altered.”

  A small panel opened in the floor and a chair rose into view. The ambassador sat across from Morrigan, taking a relaxed pose with his ankle resting on his knee. He gazed at her, no emotion on his face.

  The anger took a backseat to curiosity. Morrigan took a moment to digest what he’d just said. She did an internal scan to corroborate his statements. Her data port had been accessed while she’d slept and data had been downloaded, but his claim that her memories had been altered didn’t ring true. Although, something didn’t feel right—she didn’t feel right.

  “You wouldn’t know. The scientists who created your braincase and interfaced your mind with that of the core computer in your body have remote access through a backdoor program they installed in all the Chameleon Cyborgs. You wouldn’t know you were hacked until it was too late.”

  The ambassador tilted his head to the side. His dark blue gaze bore into her making her uncomfortable. She’d heard whispers of secret things that the scientists had done, things like that, but she had dismissed them as myth. There hadn’t been enough evidence.

  “You’re lying to save yourself.” Her voice came out husky, as if unused for some time. Morrigan swallowed a few times. She couldn’t help but wince at the pain that caused.

  “Don’t take my word for it.” With a wave of his hand, the ambassador made a hologram appear in front of them. The schematics to Morrigan’s body rotated before her. Lines and small letters detailed the modifications that had been made along with the programs that were installed in various parts of her.

  Morrigan read through it all, absorbing each and every scrap of information. This design was much more detailed than what she’d been shown when she’d first joined the program.

  “I’m sure you’ll think we altered this information to suit our purposes. Look at the time stamp. As you know, that can’t be altered. Their programming is far too complex for the likes of anyone but the creator to modify.”

  Morrigan’s eyes scrolled to the bottom of the page. A small shriek left her mouth as she read the small seal at the bottom. The signature of the document’s creator stood out in bright red pixels. The name was clear enough to read. Her heart sank. The world around her crashed down as crimson bathed her vision. She’d been lied to and used.

  “I was never a part of this project,” the ambassador went on. “I never signed off on it. I’d argued against it in the highest courts due to this type of manipulation by the secret sectors of government who felt they were above the law. They used this program you’d been recruited to for their own purposes. They used you and your fellow soldiers to carry out assassinations in the name of patriotism and government.

  “I am on my way to Veritas 10 to request permission to investigate how far this actually goes. I feel you could be useful. I’ll give you all the information I have if you agree to form a team to investigate this matter for me. I have permission from a panel on this matter. You will answer only to us and no else.

  “Once we have all our findings, we will go public. If I don’t do as I say, you have my permission to kill
me. Do we have a deal? Better yet. I’ll let you think on it.”

  “I will think about it,” Morrigan said. The ambassador’s gaze hadn’t wavered as he spoke. He was serious, that much was obvious, but Morrigan needed time to digest the new information she’d been given.

  The ambassador rose. “These are your quarters. You will be under 24-hour guard. Your ability to move about the ship will be limited. The captain will want a full list of all your victims. At the moment, we’re recharging your fuel cell. Before we reach Veritas 10 I’m going to request that you go through an operation, whether you agree or not, to have a tracking beacon put inside of you. Also, many of your parts are outdated. I’ll be requesting that you be outfitted with new equipment and programming. Whether you choose to take part in my project is up to you, but as a soldier of the military it’s a piss-poor shame that they used cheap parts to turn you into a weapon. I’ll return in the morning. Good night Morrigan.”

  With that, the ambassador left her to her thoughts. She wasn’t sure what to think. When the room began to move around her and a bed and a sink slid out of the wall, she jumped. The shock of being able to move around surprised her even more. A food processor, chair, and table lifted up from the floor. The room became basic quarters for a serving officer, not a prisoner. This courtesy being extended to her made her both suspicious and tired.

  Morrigan just wanted to know what to believe. She knew one thing: if the ambassador was right, she wanted blood and justice.

  * * *

  “Thank you for coming to see me so early,” Drogan said. His voice was full of fatigue. “I know it’s four in the morning, but I felt I should speak to you before we reach Veritas 10. We’re only a few days out, and I wanted to deal with this before we got there. I’ve been briefed on your past and your abilities.

  “A man of your unique skill set, I feel, would be an asset to my crew, and I’d like you to join us. Not as an officer, of course, but as a consultant. Your abilities and connections would be very useful to us, and allowing you to retire would—in my opinion—be a waste. I’ve spoken to the ambassador, who agrees with me. Your exemplary performance, your loyalty to him and concern for the crew, as well as your quick thinking, has allowed us to possibly gain an advantage on the shadow government that is trying to get more than a foothold in our way of life.