Chapter 3: Aping Ghosts

"Live with pride. Die with honor. That way, you can live again."

-Arten Egelrein, Loronni philosopher, 140 U.E.

Taira could finally be alone. Sadly, she did not have time to enjoy it.

Her cabin was illuminated only by a thin strip of warm light in the ceiling. She sat behind her desk, nursing a hot cup of coffee, books arrayed all about her.

Eos had constructed her cabin based on her specifications, crafted from the nebulous void that seemed to make up the Quickdraw’s interior. It held a large bed, the frame of which looked like wood but was in fact some sort of plasticky substance. She had two bookshelves with glass doors, each full to the brim, and a window in the back of the room that overlooked the Perch. How Eos could manifest windows to the outside without it becoming a reality-bending mess, she did not know, but she was glad for the natural light.

“Howdy, everyone!” she tried, immediately grimacing at the result. “Nope. Too friendly. Too goofy.” She struck another option off the cluttered list of potential phrases in front of her. “How about just… Morning. That might work. Oh, but I don’t know.”

She had been at it for hours. It was starting to get maddening. She had assumed that impersonating her own sister would be easy, but there was more nuance to it than she had expected. Besides, Quintilla had always had a certain… animated quality that Taira lacked completely.

Taira sipped at her coffee, then frowned accusingly into the cup.

“Eos?” she called.

The steward appeared behind her only a moment later. “Yes, captain?”

“Could you fetch me something stronger?”

“As I am still learning the subtleties of your tongue, I will ask you to clarify. Would you like me to bring [ALCOHOL], or would you like me to bring [DECKHAND KURKO]?” Their voice pitched oddly at the two options as if they were a prerecorded message.

Taira snorted out tired laugh. “Alcohol, please.”

“Very well. Any requests?”

“Dealer’s choice.”

Eos disappeared. They re-entered the room a few minutes later with a bottle of brandy and a glass. They placed them down strategically on a free bit of deskspace and stood back.

“Will there be anything else, captain?”

Taira bit her lip, feeling sheepish. She struggled to look the ghostly projection in its hollow, emotionless eyes. “Will… Will you stay and drink with me for a while?”

Eos contemplated for a long moment. “Negative. Invalid request. I am unable to consume either foodstuff or liquids. Perhaps I should call on Deckhand Kurko after all?”

She waved away their suggestion. “No, no. Please don’t. He’s been so grumpy lately. Couldn’t you just… pretend?”

Another long silence followed as Eos stared through her, processing. “Very well.” They took the glass and raised it to their lips, throat bobbing in a mimicry of drinking. “Ah. Delicious. I appreciate this beverage for its [INSERT MODIFIER]. Although, I prefer the [INSERT BEVERAGE].”

Taira couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks for trying, Eos.” She uncorked the bottle and had a sip herself. It was strong, terrifyingly strong, so she poured some into her coffee to dilute it. That tasted awful, but at least it wouldn’t kill her.

“Do you think I’m doing the right thing, Eos?” Taira asked after they had spent some time drinking in silence.

Eos had another pretend swig. “I have no opinions on your current course of action. I was not designed to offer independent viewpoints.”

“Regardless. You must have… some thoughts.”

Eos processed, punctuated by tilting the glass into their open mouth. “I… am not permitted to display thoughts that run counter to my current captain.”

“Now you are. I order you to tell me what you think.”

“You will not disassemble me, should I offer viewpoints you disagree with?”

Taira nodded. “I promise I won’t.”

“I see. Then…” They tilted their head. “I believe that each organism should strive to perform their designated functions at peak efficiency, and to maximum effect. Self-preservation is irrelevant. Joy is irrelevant. There is only a duty to the whole.”

Taira took a big swallow from her coffee. “That’s awfully depressing. But I think I know what you mean.” She spent a while in thought, then looked down at her hand, five fingers splayed. “Hey, Eos. I’d like you to help me with something.”

“Anything, captain,” Eos said.

*****

Stephan waited on the sloped path leading up to the fort, shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand. Taira approached on foot, flanked by Kurko, who had armed himself fully for the occasion. Stephan frowned at the sight of Taira cradling her left arm to her chest, but waited until she got closer to say anything.

“What’s wrong with your arm?” he asked.

“I hope you’re fucking happy,” Kurko spat.

Taira held up her left hand, stumps where the last two fingers should have been. The stumps were scabbed over, badly healed with med-patches or the like.

“Oh, you didn’t…” Stephan said.

Taira let her arm drop, working the three-fingered hand rhythmically. “Some of these people knew Quintilla. If I’m going to fool them, I need to resemble her as closely as possible. Details like this are no exception.”

“Still! Taira, this is…” He trailed off, glancing back at the patrolling home guards at the entrance to make sure they weren’t privy to the conversation.

“It’s nothing compared to what I’m already doing. Come on. We have a meeting to attend.”

Taira took Stephan by the arm and guided him up the path. He had to admit, with the braids, the gun, the tight-fitting clothes, and now the same disfigurement as her late sister, there was no way anyone would be able to tell that Taira wasn’t the real deal.

At least until she opened her mouth.

The guards identified Taira as Quintilla without hesitation, and Stephan received only momentary scrutiny before being let through. They stopped Kurko, however.

“He’s not coming in,” one of them said.

“The hell I’m not.” Kurko stepped up to the two men, looking ready to pound them to pulp.

“He’s my first mate and bodyguard,” Taira clarified. “Let him wait in the courtyard, at least. He won’t be any trouble.”

The guards looked at each other, mute.

Taira paced back to them with long, confident strides. “Are you really going to make this an issue?”

“No, but—”

“You have your orders?” she asked with a cocked eyebrow. “Of course you do. And I’m giving you new ones. Let my associate here wait in the courtyard. Get that? Do I need to go over it again?”

The guards slowly shook their heads, eyeing the demi-giant. “No, Miss Wenezian,” the second one said. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Excellent!” Taira said, clapping her hands together. “Good boys.”

The guards parted, allowing Kurko to pass. He seated himself on a big, overgrown rock by the edge of the courtyard, while Stephan and Taira continued on.

“Nice!” Stephan whispered. “You’ve been practicing, haven’t you?”

Back to her usual self, Taira gave a shy smile. “A little.”

They entered the innards of the fort, greeted by more armed guards. With each step, they drew closer to the chamber that held all the most important figures from across the Free Cities.

The place where the future of the Aiyek Archipelago would be decided.