S-2879 • L11 Irraluna • D00–D15
"Irraluna opens silence in slender radiance. The thread grows, curves, anchors its presence. Lilibe sings high—and the sky reveals itself. Irrasi seals fullness in living light."
Kiara and I took turns caring for Trix beneath the moons. When she described her symptoms, I concluded that her brain had freed itself of the nanites. I flushed her blood with IV fluids, but some had spread through her bloodstream, affecting the muscle tissue. Her movements were temporarily reduced. Even so, she improved faster than I expected.
And she was hardly the only one. Perhaps it was how often the mercenaries had endured violence. Accustomed to mutilated bodies, broken bones, damaged organs, and so many other forms of physical, psychological, and emotional abuse.
Yet their recovery rate was exceptional. Their bodies learned from pain. Absorbed it. Evolved. As though even suffering became strength.
The nanoscientist in me burned with curiosity. Imagine a medical nanodevice made from such powerful DNA. Even working in the emergency room, I had never seen anything like it. Their ability to readapt and recover far exceeded the most advanced medical nanodevices I had connected to. Some of them could plausibly reach old age. Mostly in Zenith wanted to live forever. That remained far from reality. Only life-prolonging nanotechnologies existed.
"How much longer do we have to wait?" Kiara asked impatiently.
I rubbed my shoulders, sore with tension. "I don't know. She could recover today, tomorrow, any other day. She's already regained eighty-nine percent of her movement in half a lunation. Remarkable."
The android nodded and left the room.
I returned my attention to Trix, resting on the sofa. Her days consisted of sleeping. Awake, her speech was disconnected. I presumed her thoughts were tangled.
It resonated with my troubled trauma. I tried to occupy myself with Trix. Or immerse myself in thought. My Mother and Enchantress gave me strength. When I slept, nightmares haunted me. I woke frightened, struggling for air.
Kiara was always there to comfort me. Keep me present. Her presence brought solace.
S-2879 • L11 Irraluna • D15 Irrasi
"Irraluna radiates its peak in living silver. Irrasi kindles fullness above. The tide sings wide beneath an open sky. The story carries on whole, in total light."
It was early. The snow distracted me. I felt cramps beginning.
"W-water." Trix stirred.
I hurried to lift her head. Brought the bottle to her lips. As she responded, I offered more.
She drank half. Signaled for me to stop and rubbed her forehead, sliding her fingers over the nanometallic scars on her cheeks. She seemed to contemplate the nanotechnological marks. Her gaze distant. Eagle eyes met mine. "You look familiar. Think I've seen you before. Just forgot where…"
I swallowed.
Her gaze pierced me, as though searching for something buried in my expression.
I held back a shiver. She must have seen my photo on the contract. I was without my mask. My hair its natural black. I worried she would recognize me. Her ability involved sight. The chances of her connecting the two were enormous. I swallowed hard. "Became Kiara's apprentice recently." That would have to do.
She lowered her hands. "Whatever. Must be imagining things again."
I sat beside her on the sofa. "How are you feeling?"
Trix moved more easily.
"You've recovered. Physically, at least," I diagnosed.
"I'm fine. My head, though… forget it if you wanna hear my head's fine. Everything in here's fucked up. Just one more thing for the collection."
The ease with which she said it surprised me. Denden had been aware of his psychological state too. All of them were. They knew their burdens well. All traumatized. Perhaps admitting the truth made it easier to navigate. One less weight to carry. Another tide to swim with.
"I'll get Kiara." Before I could rise, Trix held my arm.
She looked away. "Spasibo. Know you saved me. Now I owe you a favor." Trix pressed her lips together.
My lips parted in surprise. I composed myself. "No…"
"No arguing. Just wanna square things with you. That's all…" She stood with admirable steadiness and straightened her back, pride on her face. Barely looked as though she had almost died.
"Fuck. Knew I heard a familiar voice." Kiara entered the room, smiling.
"Yeah. Sick of this shit. Where's the lil' princess? Got business with her."
Kiara brought Anichka into the room. Before Trix, her face flushed. The princess began trembling, eyes wet. Looked ready to fall apart at any moment. Even I grew anxious. Everything was so unpredictable.
"I-I—"
Trix silenced her with a wave. "Quiet. Want that voice on mute." She signaled to Kiara.
The android rested a hand on her hip and spoke. Explained almost everything. Omitted a few things, particularly about Saymon. Why? Kiara was astute. I let go of her reasons.
"And… she's the Pakhan's daughter." Kiara stared at Anichka.
The girl was in tears.
Trix's eyes widened. Her astonishment became a smile. A malicious smile that foretold a vile intention. Cruel flames kindled in her eyes. Trix approached slowly. The princess retreated with every step. A powerful, murderous aura moved with her.
Anichka's terror surpassed human understanding. She hit the wall. No room for another step. Her fear spilled through the room and reached into me. I could feel her sweat mingling with tears. Her heart pounding so fast it threatened to tear through her chest. Her throat aching from swallowing sobs. Her head throbbing with pressure.
The air grew heavy, as though something invisible pressed against my chest.
Anichka tried to retreat, but Trix's pressure trapped her. "P-please. I meant no harm. He was going to kill my sister."
"Sister?" Trix leaned over Anichka. Her cruel grin widened.
The princess nodded.
When Trix slammed a hand against the wall, the princess shrank back. The mercenary ran her fingers through her hair, brushing strands from her face. Stroked her cheeks.
Anichka opened her eyes, uncertain how to react.
Trix grinned like a psychopath. "Funny and ironic, how fate works. You did this to save your sister while trying to kill the other?" Her hands moved down to the girl's neck. Caressed it.
Sister? Had she said they were sisters? I glanced at Kiara. She seemed unaffected by the revelation.
"W-what are you talking about?" Anichka asked the question in my mind.
Trix tilted her head back and roared with laughter. A laugh that discharged electricity through my bones.
The princess flinched.
The mercenary traced a finger along the girl's jaw. "Lemme guess. Best papa in the universe. Promised you the world. Your hero. Your mother wants to keep you apart. He's sad. His heart breaks every day he spends away from you. All he wants is to be with you. Every day. Nothing and nobody between you. You find a way to join him." Her voice grew angry. Trix tightened her fingers around Anichka's neck. "First few moons, everything's magnificent. You're so happy you could float." Fury filled her voice. "Then, cycles later, he locks you in a dark room. Straps you to a gurney. You lose track of time. Space. All you feel now is pain after pain. Pain every second."
Anichka's eyes widened. She tried to pull Trix's arm away. In vain.
"You wonder why. Honestly, though, you're so drugged you can barely think. You hear: she's perfect because she's his own flesh and blood. She'll be the weapon that brings everyone to their knees."
Anichka's face and eyes reddened. Almost purple.
"Guess what? All lies. He reduced you to a weapon. Used you in the worst way. Destroyed your heart." Hatred, sadness, and resentment drove her words. "He took from you the one you… loved most." Trix tightened her grip.
Anichka suffocated. Her feet swung. Her hands tried to grasp the last threads of life. Soon, she would be…
I felt the urge to run to her, but Kiara squeezed my shoulder. I forced saliva down my closed throat. Stayed where I was. Powerless. Another… another death… watching any more was unbearable.
The android's grip tightened. Her eyes reprimanded me. I nodded. I suffocated with Anichka's lack of air and Trix's devastating pain. My heart heavy. I wanted to cry.
"Understand what I'm saying?" Trix lowered her voice and looked down. Slowly released her.
Anichka fell to her knees. Desperately dragged in air, hungry to live. Her hands clutched her chest. Rose and fell rapidly. Even she seemed unable to believe she was alive.
I wanted to help. Held back. Showing indifference required so much strength. I pressed my fingers into the sofa.
For a moment, everything was quiet. Wind blew outside.
Anichka could only cry.
A bloodthirsty aura surrounded Trix. Her expression implacable. There was something more. Ah, yes… now she had a target.
Trix squared her shoulders and raised her proud chin. "Send me Cloakify again?" She turned to Kiara.
The android nodded.
Trix walked to the weapons table. "Y'know… I could do this from kilometers away." She picked up her sniper rifle and caressed the barrel. Slung it, then took an intricate dagger with aged gold detailing at its base. Turned the blade in her hands, pressing its tip against her finger without drawing blood. "You know me, Kiki. I like bringing bastards to their knees. Watching them shake. Beg with terror in their eyes. Cold sweat. Throats tight." She laughed wickedly. Then sheathed the dagger.
I held my breath. Took those words personally.
Kiara nodded, unmoved by the sinister declaration. "What do we do with the girl?"
Trix shrugged. "Whatever you want. Not my problem anymore. Just another svoloch'. Last thing I want is another one hanging around me. Except you, of course." She winked charmingly at Kiara and handed her a playing card. "Address to leave her at is there."
Kiara ignored Trix's advance and took it. A fleeting shadow crossed her face.
The Eight of Cups. One of Saymon's cards.
The mercenary turned.
As Trix was leaving, Anichka watched her with an unreadable expression. She stood. "I-is it true? You're…?" An anguished, hopeful tear slipped down her wet face. "My sister?"
Trix was about to cross the doorway. Turned her head. Whispered. An icy whisper that echoed through the wooden walls and slipped through the cracks. More wintry than the wind outside. "Forget it. Better if I'm not. I'm gonna destroy the last remnant of the blood of my blood." She pronounced her sentence and left.
I breathed as I hadn't in so long.
Anichka covered her face and cried again.
Perhaps because she understood what Trix intended by going to Khalmer-Yu. Perhaps because she was already allowing herself to grieve. Or perhaps it was the simple relief of being alive. Whatever it was, she surrendered to the tears and flooded the room.
"Hey!" Kiara pointed at the girl. "Stay outta trouble." She gestured for me to follow.
We walked to a room upstairs.
The android leaned against the wall, holding the card between two fingers. "He knew."
What did Saymon know? That Trix was the Pakhan's daughter? Anichka? Both? Before I could open my mouth, Kiara pocketed the card.
Rubbed her temples. "Better rest. Tomorrow, we finish this mission and go back to Brasil. Clear path ahead." She seemed to want to say more. Kept it to herself.
Knowing questions would be useless, I voiced what troubled me. "Trix might recognize me."
Kiara raised an eyebrow. "Worried about that?"
"No… I mean… yes… I don't know." I rubbed my nape. "The way she said those things…"
Kiara waved calmly. "Trix is the least of your problems."
I frowned. She ignored my puzzled expression.
"All right. Get some rest." She went downstairs before I could answer.
I looked awkwardly toward the staircase. What on earth had she meant?
It was the first time Kiara had shown unease. Though hidden beneath a dense layer, I caught a faint change in her. I concluded that, like any other being, she had reached a limit. Perhaps when she suggested resting, she had spoken more to herself than to me.
Kiara's essence had evolved far beyond any scientist's assumptions. After all, technologies are corchesweaves. Perhaps that was why they controlled the existence of corrupted androids. A sentient nanotechnology like her would mean freedom and autonomy for machines.
I approached the window. Snow fell endlessly outside. White. Silent. As though the world quietly accompanied the pain we carried.
I rested my elbows on the sill and my chin in my hands. When I breathed warm air onto the glass, vapor condensed. I wrote Maia's name.
Smiled. Let the memories come.