Chapter Twenty-Eight

I stared at my ceiling, utterly consumed by boredom. My new room was great, sure, but I was spending too much time in it. I was starting to go stir crazy with barely anyone to talk to. After a moment, I pulled myself to my feet, dressed, slipped on a pair of shoes, and left the room.

Okay, who do I try to pester? Zafir? I pocketed my keycard as I strolled down the hall.

The floor I was on had rooms for me, my team, and Zafir. The central area had a kitchen, a large table for communal meals, a room with a large TV and plush seating, a reading area, and a gaming lounge. Across from our wing, rooms for a second team were still being finished. Above us by one level was a gym and pool, above that were conference and office rooms, above that was a dedicated lab for growing our own food in case of emergency—then there was the top floor, which was essentially the teams’ armory, parking for our skybikes, and access to a landing pad for any transport that needed to come or go.

Below our floor, it was similar layouts for Resonance Project staff and their families—from android and human janitors to the guards and staff, to researchers, to people whose role I wasn’t clear on. Every few floors there was another set of recreational floors to keep people happy—and so they wouldn’t have to come up and ‘mingle with the subjects.’

According to Zafir, it had taken a great deal of ‘work’ to convince the government to construct such a building for Resonance Project HQ, let alone to keep it from being subterranean. Apparently, quite a few of our staff couldn’t mentally cope with being underground for long periods of time. Since it caused their performance to suffer, he’d been able to ‘convince’ the bosses that a more pleasant environment would make everyone happier and therefore both more efficient and productive.

I wasn’t exactly going to complain about Zafir’s manipulation tactics getting us better living conditions, even if I now had more space than I knew what to do with.

The underground hospital, science labs, and holding cells were still atrociously white, though. But, at least the guards had been given rotating shifts throughout the building to keep them from being stuck down there.

I stopped by Zafir’s door and raised my hand to knock, only to find a note taped to his door, which read, Making breakfast. Come to the lounge if you need me.

I raised an eyebrow at the note then made my way down the hall again. Huh. He’s learning.

Zafir was coming out of the kitchen as I walked into the TV area. He had a questionable amount of food on his plate, and a huge thermos of coffee in his other hand. He gave me a tired smile when he spotted me, then motioned in the direction to the kitchen with his head.

“There’s a plate on the counter for you, and enough hot water for you to make coffee or tea.”

I nodded to him. “Thanks, I’ll join you in a moment then.”

When I returned and sat on the other end of the couch, Zafir glanced toward me and remarked, “You aren’t going to ask me how your team is doing?”

“If there had been any significant change in one way or the other, you would have forgone breakfast in favor of charging into my room unannounced while I was half dressed. Again.” I shot him an amused smirk when he scoffed.

“The investigation seems to be going quicker than expected, but hasn’t produced any useful information,” Zafir added, and I shot him another glance. For someone who looked so tired, he sure was being talkative. “I have my suspicions regarding who is responsible for the attacks on us, but we can’t act—even if I’m right. And so, I propose we focus our attention on the Resonance Project for now. There are plenty of matters you and I can test. Plus, there are the survivors who show no signs of cellular dissonance. They require taming and training.”

“ Zafir .”

“Yes?” He frowned.

“Are you okay? You’re rambling before having your morning coffee.” I pointed at his thermos.

“The silence is difficult for me to cope with.” Zafir sighed reluctantly. “I had grown used to them as background noise, perhaps.”

“Then play music or ambient sounds while you work?” I suggested. “Don’t get me wrong—I’m happy to chat. But I can’t tag along every waking moment. Even if I did, I shouldn’t distract you from your work.”

Zafir hesitated before speaking, “There are…a few other matters bothering me. The R’selkti queen remains in orbit, there have been no reports of break ins at any military installations despite our knowledge that there are rogue Syldrari searching for something. And, related, the brass have started suggesting that we should have you seduce your ‘contacts’ for information. They’re convinced that you could use your body against the Syldrari in the same way you could against a human.”

I raised an eyebrow as I tried to parse the onslaught of what the fuck. “Let me get this straight. The people who have been like, ‘oh no! Don’t let Subject Zero fuck anyone or anything’ want me to…”

“I disagreed, of course, and explained that Syldrari are above such behavior.”

“… oh really ?” I peered at him.

Zafir let out an amused chuckle. “Yes, really . Syldrari are higher creatures. They would know precisely what you were doing before you tried to do it.”

“That has implications I rather dislike.” I grimaced. If Syldrari would so easily know someone was trying to seduce them…just how much of my thoughts or intentions could they read the rest of the time?

Zafir gave me a mysterious smile before continuing to non-answer, “Yes, well, given that Syldrari emotions are such an open book, they learned other methods for reading other species. As it is exceedingly difficult for Syldrari to lie to each other…”

“Right. So, they found a way to accurately read other species. That, combined with a cultural—I’d imagine—disapproval of lying is why it’s always better for me to be bluntly honest when dealing with them.” I gave him an unamused look while he finally picked up his fork and knife.

“Indeed. Their ability to determine your… innocence , I’ll call it, is likely why they’ve taken to you,” Zafir mused, then shook his head. “We should discuss matters closer to home. Are you still eager to get back to your patrols?”

“Well, yes. I think we proved my extended absence hasn’t gone unnoticed.” I picked up my fork and stabbed a piece of omelet. “I’d say waiting too much longer will make the military ties obvious—or maybe the public will start thinking the government captured us.”

“Yes…I agree,” Zafir murmured. “You said Rel appeared to be quite distressed over your disappearance?”

“Yes. Even Aldiner was worried. Ciheri was too, though he was a little more focused on keeping the rave fish in check,” I answered dryly, startling a snort of laughter out of Zafir.

“Rave fish?” A puzzled voice questioned. I turned in my chair to see General Crowe walking toward us. Before I could even pretend to be formal, he held up a hand and said, “At ease.”

“One of her Syldrari acquaintances is rather like a party light, sir. They’ve been known to both consciously and subconsciously change their glow to music if they’re listening to any,” Zafir offered, quickly composing himself. “I’d imagine he’s been listening to Syldrari music via implant most of the times she’s seen him. Thus…the apparent nickname.”

Crowe shook his head, a lopsided smile twitching across his mouth as he glanced at me, “Good to see you’ve managed to maintain a sense of humor. I’m not sure I’d be able to maintain niceties with the Syldrari if I were in your situation.”

“Well, sir, I believe it’s important to recognize specifically who is responsible for such devastation. Blaming it on their species as a whole would make me an animal incapable of critical thinking skills,” I answered simply as I proceeded to cut up my breakfast. Zafir turned a little pale, but I ignored his warning expression. “From what I understand, there are humans off-world who have done horrible things to the empire as well—yet clearly we know not to blame the entirety of our own species.

“There’s much we can learn from other species if we make them our allies. And, given the reactions to the R’selkti queen’s statements, I’d imagine there are people who would be willing to work with us. There’s nothing that says we have to be at odds with other species, and we’d only grow stronger with good connections and alliances.”

Crowe scratched his chin. “I’ve been digging. The R’selkti who caused the Resonance Incident are no more—a son killed the guilty father and had the weapon destroyed. The R’selkti queen has, essentially, disowned her late husband and the son who put a stop to him. We can’t agree on who to trust—though this ‘queen’ personally makes me sick. Can’t imagine treating my kids the way she treats hers. Of course, in the grand scheme of our discussions, I have to keep personal feelings out of my arguments if I’m to make an impression on my peers.”

“A good example of how centuries of social and cultural manipulation can be harmful,” Zafir offered, leaning back in his seat. “Ah, but we shouldn’t keep you with hypotheticals and debates. I’m sure you sought us out for a purpose?”

“Yes, we have had an odd development.” Crowe nodded, then glanced from Zafir to me and back. “The brass voted to find a Syldrari opponent for Elara to train against. They’re not happy with her results against human targets and machines. We can tell she’s having to hold back, which means she’s not making progress—which in turn is going to mean the others aren’t making progress. If she’s going to train the other teams, she needs to get better and more powerful.”

“…finding someone to cooperate…” Zafir hesitated.

“Which is why they’re pinning the task on her. They want her to prove her connections are real.” Crowe rubbed his temples. “There are some classified missions we want to send her on, but not until we’ve determined her current strength against an actual Syldrari.”

“And where, exactly, am I supposed to spar with a Syldrari? The only real choices are here or outside the city.” I sighed irritably, looking over at Crowe.

“My recommendation is you ask one of the three Syldrari who know you live in this building. I know they’re smart—they’ll have realized this is a military installation.” Crowe shrugged before offering me a small box. “I’ve prepared a badge for you to give to whoever agrees to be your training partner. It’ll identify them as volunteer staff. Everyone working in this building has been advised to treat them as a member of the team—within reason. Conversations are to be careful.”

“Uh…does this mean I’m allowed to go outside finally?” I raised an eyebrow as I took the box.

“Indeed. Your patrols won’t be resuming yet, but you are free to go outside when you aren’t on duty inside. My investigations have concluded, and now I’m on to the next phase. There’s a note in there for whoever you pick as your sparring partner.” Crowe turned away, looking mighty pleased with himself. “Zafir, instruct your people to scan all food before consumption until we’ve caught the culprit. If you need more scanners—I’ll pay for them. Invoice me.”

“Yes, sir,” Zafir murmured, nodding. “Regarding Elara’s patrols…it would be wise to permit her to patrol as Lethe, at least. The public…”

“We’ll be discussing ‘Lethe’ at one of our next meetings. For now, no patrols.” Crowe shook his head and began walking, giving us a brief wave. “Call me if you need anything else, Zafir.”

Once the general was gone, Zafir sighed irritably and sunk deeper into his seat.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Going to pretend this wasn’t part of your machinations?”

“ Here though? Why, I was trying to arrange for your duels to be outside the city.” Zafir shot me a sideways look, an amused smirk spreading across his lips as he studied me. “Which you don’t believe in the slightest. I must admit, even I am surprised they agreed.”

“Oh yes, your master plan is coming together famously, I’m sure.” I rolled my eyes at him before taking a large bite of my food. Honestly. Bringing a Syldrari here? Will anyone even agree to that? Hell, who am I even supposed to ask?

“I have some suggestions…” Zafir offered thoughtfully.

I peered at him in suspicion. “Are you telepathic?”

“Perhaps. Why?”

I narrowed my eyes further. “That wasn’t convincing. You interrupted my internal monologue a little too perfectly for it to not be a direct response.”

“A coincidence, I assure you. Humanity has made a great deal of progress, certainly, but we still haven’t developed a method for telepathic abilities. The closest would be sending messages via implant—which of course, requires both parties make a conscious effort.”

Rubbing my temples, I muttered, “ Fine . Have it your way. What are your suggestions?”

“I recommend Rel for the task. The other two wouldn’t have enough experience or self-control—they would either play too rough or too soft. Rel, I believe, will be more adaptive.” Zafir took a swig of his coffee before continuing, “Of course Rel may want some manner of payment or exchange. I’ll have to see if Crowe sent me the full briefing for what is and isn’t acceptable.”

“And you think he’ll accept?” I raised an eyebrow.

Zafir smirked. “I think Rel will leap at the chance to make certain your ‘home environment’ is safe and comfortable.”

“Uh huh…” I sighed and shot Zafir an unamused look. “When am I going? I need to stock up on ludrán anyway.”

“This afternoon, assuming it doesn’t take me all day to read Crowe’s briefing. I’ll make a list if things I need you to pick up for me as well.”

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