by Zoey Indiana
"You still are, but this protects you. If you are found, you won't be thrown in Is'Ora Prison for treason. Now you can leave the condo and enjoy what the inner-city has to offer. And, this is the best part, you can be another set of ears at Ray'Nia Base for the resistance. Because most high ranked officers don't pay attention to assistants, they are more likely to speak freely." Freya sat at the table, noticing that O'Paka had Bash's devices out on the table. "What are you doing with these?"
"I'm glad I can help you at the base." She looked over the table before answering her. "I wanted to know what they did, and I got bored."
"I already know what they do and have a plan to use them. You don't need to worry about them."
"What are you planning?" O'Paka's question made her think. How much should she trust O'Paka? A quick peer into her mind reveal genuine curiosity with no reserved thoughts about anything more sinister. For the third time she made a leap of faith, something that had been beaten out of her during her childhood. Trust no one, never give up information, never show emotion. The lessons they taught her rushed back and she shoved them back. She'd trusted Nova after seeing the video of her mother, and she'd trusted Bash when she had no other reason to. Now it was O'Paka's turn.
"Bash was developing a new type of cloaking technology, one that will let the user look and sound like someone completely different. I am going to use it to get back into Lay'ata Base and kill Major Tas'Ki ."
O'Paka gasped, “You can't kill her!"
"Why not? She betrayed me and the resistance. Because of her, that entire Resistance camp was wiped out. Two-thirds of the people that were there when ARI raided are still missing, presumed captured or killed. One of the three men in existence is now being held by them. All because she reported the camp to your mother claiming I found it."
Freya's voice grew until she was yelling. She checked herself when she saw O'Paka had sunk down in the chair and was intently fidgeting with her fingers. She'd upset the poor woman, likely bringing back a bit of PTSD that her mother had caused.
"O'Paka, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell and it's not like me." Freya kept her voice gentle and soothing. "After I was born, I was taken from my mother. They put me in a special research program where they constantly conditioned me. By the time I graduated from the program, I could completely block all my emotions."
"That's awful."
"It was, but lately, I've been feeling flashes of emotion. They're all so new, I don't know how to handle them."
"I know you like to keep your secrets, so I appreciate that you shared this with me." O'Paka got quiet for a minute and focused on her fidgeting before she spoke again. "It's because of that man, isn't it?"
Freya wanted to pretend she misinterpreted her words but couldn't. "Yes, he's made me feel things I never have before. And the worst part is, I can't tell if it good or bad."
"Trust me, it's good." O'Paka gasped and then smiled. "I have a new plan. Instead of killing Major Tas'Ki, you can use this stuff to free Bash."
The idea smacked her. Why hadn't she thought of that before? Her gut twisted as she realized she'd been too focused on the idea of vengeance that she'd forgotten other options. From birth, her only motivation for living was to kill and take revenge. Then suspicion closed in on her. "How did you know I found him?"
"I didn't, but it was only a matter of time before you did. Besides you were just reassigned to the top base in the entire organization. Odds are he was relocated here."
"That's true."
"Besides, what the point to revenge when you lose everything you love in the process?"
O'Paka's question made her think about things she didn't want to. If she was successful in bringing down the Sovereign, what would she do afterwards. She'd never considered what life would be like after she'd obtained her goal. O'Paka was opening her view of life and it made her uneasy.
Already she could tell that it would be an adjustment for the two of them living in the same space, though that would change if she managed to free Bash. She would never leave him again. Once he was safe, she would find the key to bringing down the Sovereign. If along the way, she found a way to destroy Major Tas'Ki, then she would. Then they would leave the city and find a small area out in the wilderness to live the rest of their lives. Or they would all die.
Ray'Nia Base: Freya
It was now or never. Freya chanted silently to herself that Bash's cloaking technology wouldn't fail her now. She'd seen it work just fine when they'd infiltrated Hiro Camp, and he'd had time to improve it since. Walking past the building where her office was located, she reminded herself that no one would know it was her. A few minutes later she arrived at the research and development building that she'd narrowed down as the only place where they would keep him.
Expecting more security, Freya was surprised security waved her through without any other identification. The research she did on the building didn't show any high-level security measures, but that didn't seem right. This base was considered the most secure out of all the bases in ARI, and with the specimens they were holding here, security should be tighter at the door. In the section of the lab she was headed towards had computerized security measures but those were easy to bypass with the right tech. She kept walking even as doubts started to form about his location. Maybe they had him in a secret place that wasn't with the other specimens.
Confidence in her research won out and she continued to her first check point. Using her cloaked hand, she pressed it to the biometric scanner. Just breathe, someone holding their breath would be more suspicious. A small chime indicated that it accepted the hand print, and she let out a breath of tension. This tech was almost scary at what it could do. Using her telepathy to override or incapacitate the sensor would have taken much longer and might not have worked. With an air of belonging and confidence, she walked through the first door and headed onto the second.
The halls were empty on this side of the security check. Freya pushed on through the next to gates which also had hand scanners. Just as she dismissed the security, she passed into the next room. A security checkpoint with floor to ceiling scanners. Unsure of the tech, she couldn't risk setting off alarms. Pulling out a small computer port from her handheld, she used her telekinesis to attach it to the security computer when the guard wasn't looking. Walking towards the scanner like she belonged, she activated the same virus Bash had created for Hiro Camp.
Alarms sounded in a different part of the building and the guard ran out. Freya slipped through the useless scanner and the main lighting system crashed. Back up lighting made the hallways glow yellow. Doors slid open as a safety measure as the power went down.
Walking to the section that should contain him, she listened with her mind, she begging to hear the static she missed. It was much quieter than before, but it was there. Listening, she heard one other person, and she couldn't wait to beat the shit out of her. She reached the door of the lab that held Bash and she felt her adrenaline spike. Deep down inside of her, she knew it was for seeing him again, not the fight that might ensue. With backup power, the door was already open and she walked in with slow intentional movements. Deja was to her right looking at a large screen, and a quick glance showed that Bash hanging limp while chained to the wall.
"Who are you?" Deja's voice made Freya almost lose her control.
"Major Tas'Ki from Lay'ata Base. I'm here inspecting the goods that were relocated from Lay'ata Base."
"It's been here for days, why are you just now inspecting it?"
"Who are you? What's your rank?" Using the same tactics officers had used on her.
"I'm special agent Deja So'Journa, working under the command of Lieutenant General Rok'Sha. You don't have clearance to be here, leave now."
"I came through the security gates, so apparently I do have clearance to be here." If Lieutenant General Rok'Sha was involved with Deja, then there was a lot more going on than she'd expected. She listened to Deja's spiraling thoughts. The situation was a lot worse
than they realized. Nova would lose her shit when she realized how deep this went and how corrupt ARI was.
Deja reached for the emergency call button sticking out of the wall next to her. If she called for help, Freya would never make it out and neither would Bash. She was too far away to reach Deja before she pressed the button. Instead of rushing her, Freya threw out her telekinesis, planting Deja's feet to the floor. Screeching in anger, she tried to break free from the invisible hold, but it held her in place. Since all monitoring equipment was on primary power, she didn't need to hide her identity. She turned off the cloak, revealing her true identity to Deja, enjoying the fear on her face as she realized what was happening.
"The only regret I have at the moment, is that I can't kill you slowly and painfully like you deserve."
"No! Please don't kill me. I haven't done anything wrong."
"You haven't done anything wrong? You're holding a human being and torturing him for the sake of science. There are so many things wrong with this situation that I don't have time to waste it on you."
Deja grabbed her chest as Freya's telekinesis released her feet and began squeezing her heart. A heart attack didn't even begin to make up for what she'd done, but it would do. For good measure, Freya also paralyzed her vocal cords, no need in letting anyone hear the screams. Deja's body thrashed as she dropped to the ground. In the moments after her body stilled, Freya heard the soft clanking of chains. Spinning around, she saw Bash's flat eyes focus on her then fury lit in him as he struggled against the chains.
"Bash, give me a second and I'll have you out of those chains."
"If you let me out of these chains, I'll rip you apart until there is nothing left to identify."
His gruesome hostility made her take a step back. "I'm here to rescue you."
"Bitch, you put me here. You wouldn't rescue me, kill me maybe."
Realization dawned on her and a sick feeling settled into the pit of her stomach. "They told you I did this?"
"Of course they did, because you did this to me. I trusted you, and I stupidly believe that you saved me because you were different instead of like the other women."
"But I'm not a spy for ARI. I want what's best for you."
"Liar." His words pierced her heart.
"We don't have time for this. I'm here to free you and we need to leave now."
"Don't fucking touch me, you've already done enough."
She held back tears as she realized he would never leave with her willingly. Reaching into her pocket for the small injector, a tear rolled down her cheek as she ignored the pain from her chip. He would never forgive her for everything that had happened. At least she could free him. Taking a step closer to him, she carefully injected his shoulder with the serum that would take his will away. It would make him highly suggestible while taking away his own drive. It was a nasty drug that had plenty of side effects and one hell of a hangover. It was the same drug Crimson had used to make targets murder their families and then commit suicide.
Bash started to say something, but his voice slurred until he was incomprehensible. She watched as his muscles relaxed and he stood from the hanging position he had been in when she first entered. Moving slow, she removed his restraints and watch as he stood there waiting for direction. As the women at the camp had done, she'd drugged him to take away his will.
"How do you feel?"
"All pain is gone."
Dread built up at his response. One of the rarer side effects caused a desensitization to touch. If she lost control of him, he would be able to take out several people before his body gave out. They needed to get to O'Paka as soon as possible. She gave him the other handheld that was already programmed to cloak him.
"Press activate."
Without hesitation, Bash pressed the button. Freya watched him disappear and Sha'Rah appear in his place. Quickly she inspected the cloak, it was pretty good, but there was a slight distortion due to the size differences of their bodies.
"Come on, let’s go."
She paused at the door, listening for thoughts outside the room. Even though they were disguised as other people, she didn't want someone who belonged in the lab to stumble on them. A soft hum of thoughts came from behind her.
"Wait here."
She didn't need Bash wandering off. Freya kneeled down to Deja's body and placed a hand on her neck checking for a pulse. Though it was faint it was still there. This would definitely complicate things because when she woke up, she would tell everyone who had actually been there. Though Deja was larger than Freya, she was still able to lift the limp woman over her shoulder. She reached out to her handheld and adjusted the parameters of the cloaking program so the Deja's body would be invisible to people passing by. As long as no one came into contact with her she may be able to pull this off.
"Okay Bash, let's go."
Freya peered out into the hallway just to double check that it was clear. She turned and started walking down the hallway but noticed Bash was still standing in the doorway.
"Bash, follow me."
She'd only use this drug one time before and she learned very quickly to always say the person's name when giving a command and had to be very literal about that command given. This time Bash followed her down the hallway. They turned a corner and Freya thought they should be fine as long as she didn't do anything suspicious. No one should know that she wasn't who she said she was. A woman walked down the hallway and her adrenaline spiked. She wasn't worried about herself, but she didn't want him to be captured again.
She thought to the woman that there was nothing to see here and to keep moving. Time slowed down as she expected an alarm to sound or soldiers to swarm the hallway and demand that she gave herself up but none of that happened as the woman passed them in the hallway continuing to walk as if nothing was wrong, Freya continued to the planned exit were a packet would be waiting for him outside cloaked.
To her surprise, everyone in the base was too distracted with the effects of the virus. She opened the door leading to outside expecting an ambush, instead O'Paka uncloaked the transit that was waiting for her. Quickly she opened the door and tossed Deja's body in then turned back to look at Bash.
She reached a hand out to him, "Bash just a little bit further, need to get in the transit." But she could tell the side effects were already starting to take effect. His steps became erratic and agitated. Soon he would become aggressive and she wouldn't be able to control him. Making her moves slow and deliberate she stepped towards them. She kept the injector hidden behind her back and so she could get close enough to inject him. All of a sudden Bash took a step forward with his hands up like he was going to strike. Freya's heart broke as she used her telekinesis to hold them in place as she drugged him again.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered to the only person she'd learned to love.
Within seconds his entire demeanor changed. Freya reached out and grabbed the arm that still appeared to be Sha'Rah's and pulled him towards the transit. A few steps from their goal, his feet started to drag. They were running out of time; the drug was hitting his system quickly. Freya realized she forgot to take into account that he was probably dehydrated, and it was hitting him harder because it was an overdose. She guided him to the door and right before he went down she put both hands on his back and pushed him headfirst. There was a sickening crack as Bash's head hit Deja's.
Freya slammed the door and ran around to the front passenger side and got in. O'Paka pushed a button and then she felt the transit jerk into motion. They would probably be safe just driving off the base since there was no security on the way out but they didn't want to take a chance. As the cloaked transit left the base, sorrow started to suffocate her. She knew he would never forgive her for what happened. Despite all the lies he'd been told, Deja had been right about one of them, she may not have handed him over to ARI but this was her fault. They would never be able to be together.
Chapter 18
Freya's Condo: Bash
Pain flooded him as awareness returned. His eyelids refused to open due to the stabbing pain from the light. Taking a moment to push the pain away, he felt around. Hands ran along a blanket while he was laying down. He was on a bed, but whose was it? Rolling onto his left side, he gasped when pain exploded in his shoulder. Nausea rolled over him, making him freeze and fight the urge to vomit. When he had it under control, he swung his legs of the bed. Fighting to sit up, main magnified until he panted. Once the struggle was over, he sat on the edge of the bed with only one eye partially open.
Grey composite flooring, beige walls, and an empty grey armchair sat in the corner of the small bedroom. Setting his feet on the ground, he stood, only to fall back on the bed when the world around him swished back and forth. Clutching the navy blanket, he steadied himself until his senses returned to normal. Just a few minutes, then find out where the hell you are. He didn't want to sit long until he knew who'd brought him here and why. Searching his memories, he remembered rushing Deja, but nothing after that. How had he gotten here.
At that moment, the door clicked and slid open. Freya stood holding a tray with dishes on it. His heart rate slowed as his muscles relaxed until he remembered Deja's words. Freya told me where you were. She's a great little operative, don't you think? Fire burned through him at the betrayal. He tried to rush at her, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. The last few days built up until he had to lash out.
"What the fuck are you doing here?"
Freya stopped mid step and looked over him, her eyes dulling. After several seconds she blinked and her eyes met his.
"Helping you mend." As usual, her response was short.
"You are something else, you know that?" He snarled, wishing he could attack her like she had him.
"Yes, I fall under the else category, not many others like me."
"That's not what I meant." Shaking his head, the world swayed again. "Let me guess, it was you that liberated me from Deja's lab?"
