I was eighteen the year I stepped out of the shower and into a new life.
I had just gotten a towel wrapped around my wet body and was working on getting one around my long auburn hair when I heard a strange male voice behind me.
"Hello, Khareesa."
As expected, I whipped around to face the man, but managed to keep my grip on both towels. "Who are you, and how did you get in here?"
He was a nice-looking guy, red body armor and all. (Armor? Damn, he's a reploid.) "I have my ways, which you will probably learn," he replied. "And I think you know who I am. As to your unspoken question, Khareesa, the only reason I knew your name was because of Dr. Cain."
Feeling chilly now, but definitely not willing to lose any more modesty in front of a total stranger (Shit, how long has he been standing there… He does seem a bit familiar…) I asked, "Could we pick up this conversation in a few minutes, sir?" He nodded, and I made a break for the stairs, ran up, and disappeared into my bedroom.
Ten minutes later, I walked back downstairs in cut-offs and a tank top, with my leather sandals and hairbrush in hand. I set the shoes on the floor in the living room, then offered my strange (or maybe not so strange) visitor a seat and something to drink. "No, thanks" was his reply to the drink offer as he sat in Tarron's pleather armchair. I plopped onto the couch and wondered where Tarron, Danae, and Nacio had gone.
"So, sir," I broke the silence with as I slipped my sandals on, "you seem to have me at a disadvantage. I never caught your name."
"I never threw it out, lady." I blushed at a title more formal than I deserved, but he couldn't see it through the wet curtain of hair now in my face. As soon as I was sure the blush had faded, I flipped my head and tossed all my hair behind me, then proceeded to brush it out more thoroughly. "My name is Zero," he continued, "and Dr. Cain feels it is time for you to learn about your origins."
Feeling confused, I started to braid my hair. "What do you mean, learn about myself?"
"Dr. Cain did not tell me any more than that, and to bring you to his lab. But I will not take you by force; that is one thing that X stressed before I left, and it seemed rather important to him."
(Zero… X… Dr. Cain… Why does it all sound familiar?) "Well, okay, Zero, my curiosity has the better of me, but I think my hunger has the advantage right now. If you'll excuse me again," I said, rising, "I'll just throw together a couple of sandwiches, then we can be on our way." I pulled a hair tie out of my pocket and put it around my four-foot braid as I walked past Zero into the kitchen. (Did he look confused?)
I walked into the kitchen and opened up the fridge. I pulled out a bottle of water, some lunchmeats, two slices of cheese, and the bread and set it all on the counter. Closing the fridge, I glanced at the message board on the front. It read, in Tarron's barely legible scrawl:
Nacio and I are taking Danae to work, then we're headed out to the other end of town to help set up for the concert. Call me when you get up, love. After the late night you had, we didn't want to disturb you. T.
I smiled, then erased the message and replaced it with one of my own:
Went to visit an old friend. Don't know when I'll be back. Hugs and kisses to Nacio and Danae, all my love to Tarron. K.
I haven't the slightest idea why I wrote the first part the way I did. It just felt right.
I assembled my sandwich, bagged it and some chips in a Ziploc baggie, and put everything up. Grabbing my bottle of water, I went back into the den. "Okay, I'm ready," I pronounced as I dropped the water and baggie into my purse. We walked out, me being the last one out and, of course, the one to shut and lock the apartment door. Dropping my apartment keys into my purse, I pulled out my cell and slid the earpiece into the hollow of my right ear. The receiver rested right beside my mouth. Without even looking at the numeral pad, I dialed Tarron's cell number.
A quick "Hello?" answered the other end after a couple of rings.
"Hi, love," I responded. I noted the background noise of the mics being checked and other stuff being set up.
"Hey, sweetie. Listen, I can barely hear you, so can we talk later, Kiki?"
I wasn't sure there'd be a later, but I did make a mental note to kick my fiancé's ass next time I saw him for calling me Kiki. But I figured I could probably call him from wherever I ended up when I got the chance. So, "Yeah, sure, later, Tarron," was what came out of my mouth.
"All righty, then. I love you."
"Luv ya lots, Tar." Payback for Kiki.
"Bye."
"Buh-bye!" I ended the call and dropped the phone back into my purse. Then I realized Zero was watching me. Like he was trying to find the appropriate time to say something.
"Khareesa, we will have to take your motorbike, is that all right?" he asked. (How'd he know I owned a bike… Oh, it's the only vehicle in the lot.)
"Of course. May I ask why?" I replied as I started to dig the key for my motorbike out of my purse.
"Because I kind of walked here" was his quiet admission.
I smiled as I mounted my steed and secured my purse. "Men," I murmured jokingly. "They're all the same. Always trying to impress the ladies." With Zero securely seated behind me, we were off.
