Chapter 7

Alja took great care to be exactly on time the next morning. After last night's encounter she had no desire to do anything to appear strange in any more ways. The Councilor greeted her with perfect politeness and to her relief he came right to the point today.

"Before we start on the psychic plane, I'd like to have some more information about your unusual sleeping habits." He had contacted Aden about it minutes ago, so he could double check the information without giving them a chance to exchange via the Net and align what they wanted to tell him. As far as the field medic of the Arrows was to be trusted, he had verified what Alja had told him the night before but couldn't give him much more information. And he hadn't given him a reason, why the anomaly hadn't been mentioned in her file. He assumed the Arrows weren't done gathering proof for his loyalty. It was understandable under the current conditions in the Net. And it meant he had to be careful with Alja. It might as well be that she was a test of how far he was willing to go for the support of the elite assassin squad.

Her answer was prompt and given with the typical Psy accurateness.

"I usually sleep for two cycles of three hours per day. I compensate with meditation if I need more rest. I didn't drop out when I was a child. The ability only developed as I grew older. I suppose it is a higher shielding mechanism. But as I said, we don't know for sure." Another half-truth. She had first dropped out after an excessive use of her powers when she was four years old. It had saved her life at the time. When she grew older and came to understand the impact of her ability, she had become fearful of giving into unconsciousness as long as she was in the Net. She had often exhausted herself not being able to sleep for days until her nature had found that way around it. She wondered if it would one day stop when she felt safe. Something she wasn't likely to ever experience.

"What happens if you drop unconscious otherwise than sleeping? You could be drugged or knocked out and stay out for longer than three hours."

"I usually wake, because the lack of biofeedback gets uncomfortable. If I didn't, it would have the same effect as for any other Psy. I would probably die." It was inconvenient to let him in on the information, but if it distracted him from her more dangerous secrets she didn't mind if he knew. It would not be a great disadvantage. There were easier ways to kill her, if anyone ever got close enough to drug her or knock her out.

"Any more details on that? I don't want any more surprises."

Well, I'll keep some surprises in reserve. Just in case I ever want you to turn up in my bedroom again. She could suppress the words just before they got out. What the hell was the matter with her? It was not like he was going to understand a joke. But the urge to provoke him was almost irresistible. Another slip of her behavioral control. During her recent missions she definitely had allowed herself more freedom with the feeling races than was good for her.

"No. But in case you were wondering: you might have felt as if you touched a wall of liquid when you teleported in last night. I was told that's what it feels like when someone brushes my shields with Tk. And it was what awoke me." She threw the piece of intel in to show her willingness to cooperate. He seemed to be satisfied on that point after all.

"That's what I thought." He couldn't resist trying it out now. So he reached out to her shields very carefully with Tk, not to attack this time but to scan over them. It felt like touching a waterfall that was flowing in every direction at once. Soft but somehow impenetrable. "Do you feel every tangency?"

Hell yes. When she felt it, she almost shuddered. It felt like a caress to her senses. Impossible. She had never reacted emotionally to shield contact. She swallowed dryly before answering, not trusting her voice right now. "Yes. That's how I can distinguish what to let in when it is required." His touch lingered for seconds. For a moment his eyes seemed a little less remote. Then he broke the psychic contact, blinked and the stars in them were as distant as ever.

"And you always sleep fully dressed?" An abrupt turn in the conversation.

"I need to be ready on call at all times. I was given to understand that was part of the job." And she needed to be able to get away. She had learned it the hard way over and over. Never let down your guard. Not when you eat, not when you're in the bathroom, not even when you sleep. The words of her first instructor in the training facility still rang in her head. Marino Ghetty had been as cold as any other Arrow, but he had seen something in her she did not fully understand until she was much older. And he had ensured her survival the only way he knew: making her harder, stronger and faster than everyone else, although that had meant even less of a childhood than the others in Arrow training had. Even though he had taken so much from her, caused her pain most people never experienced, he had always cared for her safety. He had been the closest thing to family, she had and she was thankful for everything he'd done, because once she had understood, what she really was, she knew that he was right: If the wrong people ever caught so much as a rumor of her existence, she wouldn't last five minutes without her training. Wrong people, such as Kaleb Krychek probably.

His next words brought her back from the memories.

"Or are you concerned about the security of this building? You have also brought an interesting weapon without clearing it with security."

"I was trained never to enter unknown territory unarmed. You should be more worried, that I was able to get it into the building. And as I have pointed out to your security chief yesterday there are currently two ways to get access to this building without teleporting. Maybe I should be concerned about your building security."

Very few people would have been so confident in his presence, Kaleb thought. As an Arrow she might be used to following orders, but she clearly had a good portion of her own will. That was not necessarily a problem, if he could find a way to direct that will.

"That was good work. I have already ordered to fix that."

"May I ask how?" Those gaps would be hard to cover without Arrow training.

"Yes, you're going to be informed about it with the rest of the security team anyway. I have subcontracted some able soldiers from BlackEdge – the local wolf pack – lately. They have excellent night vision, sense of hearing and smell – just what is needed to fully cover the spaces you pointed out. They will be worked in the security plans immediately."

"You're trusting changelings with the task? That seems an unusual risk."

"Unusual yes, risk maybe. But we live under unusual circumstances. And I am not the only Councilor relying on changeling support in some specific areas." Nikita Duncan and Anthony Kyriakus had worked together with the predatory changeling packs in California and it had paid well for them. "Will their emotionality be a problem for you? I don't want to switch one security risk for another. If you get trouble with your conditioning I can take care that you don't have to work too closely with them."

Of course it must be her flawed Silence if there was something to be concerned about. "There won't be a problem with the changelings. But I have another request. I usually don't advertise my cardinal status. Few people in the Squad know about it. But contrary to my blades my contacts didn't make it through the security scan. If possible I'd like to wear them whenever I'm working with someone from outside your inner circle of staff."

"Understood, you can conceal the eyes whenever you want. But will the lenses fool the changelings in the long run? You shouldn't underestimate how perceptive these creatures are."

That was something she wasn't likely to do. She had learned on first contact that the changelings somehow always knew she was different than others of her race, that she was not Silent. That was why she didn't like them too close, just like anyone else who threatened to uncover her secrets.

"I have special biomorphing lenses. They mimic the natural contraction of the iris under different light conditions. They cannot be distinguished from natural eyes other than by an iris scanner." After a short pause she added. "So can I keep the blade?" She hated to ask for it, but this was just too important. And she couldn't risk going against any more regulations without permission. She was too peculiar already.

"I understand your needs as a soldier and I want you to be fully functional as such. You can wear whatever weaponry you perceive suitable. But you will report anything that qualifies as weapon to Delenko before you bring it to my property. Consider the other blades in your rooms cleared as well. I signed them in myself."

He had searched her quarters already although there couldn't have been much time since she left just about fifteen minutes ago. Obviously the term privacy was not known around here. Her "Thank you, Sir" sounded a little relieved nonetheless. She needed her weapons to feel anything close to safe. And she began to think that her coming here had been a very stupid idea. She'd have nothing but trouble with that man. But she was also fascinated by him in a way she couldn't yet explain. No one had ever been able to imbalance her so easily and he made her want to try and do the same back to him.

Kaleb had learned two things so far: First, Alja's weapons were important enough to her, that she accepted to let it show. And second, she was concerned about her disguise in a way that went beyond the Arrow training. Her perfectly cool appearance made it easy to forget she wasn't Silent. But when he factored it into the equation he realized there was only one explanation for her behavior: She was afraid of something or someone. The question was why and who? He would find out. He always did.

"So, how does your shielding on the psychic plane work? Will you need any access to my shields?"

"No of course not. You wouldn't allow that, would you?" The provocative words were out before she could stop them. You'll dig your own grave if you don't get a hold on that streak of yours. She thought. But she couldn't help it. The man just made it so tempting to try and get him out of his shell of ice and stone.

"Probably not. But then, it would only be dangerous for you to know what I have to hide." A threat – of course that would be his reaction. But it was something. "Why the physical contact then?"

"My shields are physically tied to myself. They spread along my biofeedback link into the Net. The link is the bridge between the body and the Net – between the physical and the psychic plane. When I have physical contact with another Psy I can align my own link with his and virtually wrap my shields around that link and the appended mind too. That way we appear as one mind and I stay invisible myself, while I can give you whatever appearance you choose."

"Appearance?"

Good. Another opportunity to bring her less suspicious skills to his attention. Without hesitation she rattled through the refined functions of her shields.

"Usually I would mimic your own appearance in the Net so the additional shields stay invisible, but I can also make you look like anyone else. I can simulate practically everything including a changeling mind. That doesn't work with their race, of course. They're not psychic and are relying on smell to identify others. But any Psy would take me for a human or a changeling if I wanted to. These qualities are only of interest out of the Net of course. Inside the Net I can look like any Psy mind of which I have an exact signature. How good the deception is depends on the complexity of the signature and how long I have to build up the fake. But I am positive, if I study yours for some time I could even fool the other Councilors."

Kaleb began to understand why the Arrows had kept someone with her abilities in spite of her flaws. She really was intriguing. There were endless possibilities what one could achieve with someone who could imitate the mind of a Councilor! Only, he would need to ensure that he was the one who controlled her. Therefore he needed to find out what she wanted and pose it as bait – or threaten her with what she feared. Something he'd done a thousand times before. And it was even easier with those who felt. They could be manipulated through their emotions.

"Then mimic my own mind first. We'll do a trial with Delenko to see how it works. If it's sufficient to deceive him, you stay for an in-Net meeting with some business associates of mine. Do you need anything else for preparation?"

"You need to specify where I can touch you. Any amount of skin that one of my hands fits on is fine. Just pick somewhere it doesn't disturb you too much." Most Psy were very uncomfortable with touch so she had made it a habit to leave them the choice of the location on the rare occasions that aspect of her talent was requested. He surprised her again.

"Will that be sufficient?" he asked, unbuttoning the upper half of his shirt and pulling the left sleeve off his shoulder thereby laying bare a good portion of well-defined pectorals and upper arm. That was an offer of rather intimate contact. She stared at the smooth, slightly tanned skin for a moment, thinking that she wouldn't mind at all to touch him there. Damn, another unacceptable reaction. She took care to answer more appropriately, than her impulsive response suggested.

"Of course, but your hand or lower arm would have been enough as well."

"I might need both my arms to handle the datapad or comm system, while we're in. So that way you are least likely to cause disturbance." Cool practicality in every word. Of course, it would not matter to him that the suggested area was considered a rather intimate space for skin to skin contact by the emotionally able species.

"Right. Will you need to get up too, or do I just stand behind you all the time?"

"You can also sit." This time he did not bother to get up to gather a chair. He moved it silently from the wall behind his own with Tk without even looking at it.

This seemed a nice enough job, Alja thought: Sitting behind a man with a hand on his shoulder, while her natural shields did most of the work. She only needed to connect to him and ensure that no one could sense her own presence, which was what she had done for years every time she surfed the Net. At least this was far better than any more killing. She had been good at it, as good as any Arrow but she always knew she wasn't made for it. Having a conscience and a disposition to feel what she did to her victims wasn't exactly what qualified her for that profession. Yet again Marino Ghetty's words echoed in her mind. When you get an order you follow it. You don't ask questions. You don't hesitate – especially if it's a kill. She had always obeyed, even though it had brought her close to insanity. But she didn't know how much more she could have taken. So even if the recent developments meant a higher threat to her own life, she was glad that her new position involved her in more defensive tasks.

Satisfied with the outlook, she settled behind the Councilor and laid her hand on the curve where his neck flowed into his shoulder. The same warmth she had felt the night before, met her palm now, the sensation intense given her numbed tactile senses. And that skin with the color of desert sand – it was so alluring to stroke along the line of his shoulder. Get a grip on yourself, Alja!

She forced herself to hold her hand rock still and concentrated on the task at hand. "I'll start now. It may take a short while for me to adjust the first time. Say if you experience any disturbance." She searched for the column of light and energy that was the vital link of every Psy to the Net. When she found it, she slowly laid hers parallel to it and let her shields flare out. They flowed around his mind like a thin layer of water mirroring the mind inside and reflecting it to the surface, effectively staying invisible that way. Then she found herself inside the confined space of her outer shields with a mind that was as pristine and chill as an ice crystal.

He was very cold even for someone Silent. Being so close to him soon started to feel very uncomfortable. So she retracted her psychic senses and tried to ignore the absolute lack of life he all but radiated into the Net. She was used to work with the most Silent Psy. But inexplicably with him it disturbed her. It was also what constantly provoked her to get some motion out of that icy star. She didn't act on the impulse this time. She'd done enough damage already. Provoking him any further would just get her into trouble.

To her relief the trial session with Delenko went perfectly. Kaleb just contacted him telepathically and asked for some random information on security matters. At one point the security chief even asked if Kaleb had talked to her already.

No, I expect her in a few minutes to check my own shielding. I want you to do some quick test attacks just to be sure I'm prepared. The Councilor lied without hesitation.

If you think that is necessary. But I don't think I'll find any weak points.

Just do it.

The telepathic attacks were strong and refined. She'd expected nothing else from someone who was allowed to work for the most dangerous Psy in the Net. But nothing she couldn't deal with or even threatened the camouflage.

As I said. Your shielding is impenetrable, just as always. Delenko stated after a few minutes.

Are you sure there are no irregularities? It might not show as weakness but in the way my shielding reacts.

No not at all. They react completely normal, just like – a startled pause. She is with you right now, isn't she?

Correct. How did you notice?

I didn't at all. I just guessed, because you have no need to test your shielding, Sir. After another short Pause he added. She's truly remarkable. I can see none of her additions to your shields. Is she in the Net at all?

Alja just couldn't resist. Yes, she is and she can listen to our conversation. She replied in a perfect imitation of Kaleb's telepathic voice. She knew she had really shocked him when he quickly intervened before she could go on.

And yes, I only wanted to know if you can sense her. That would be all for now.

Hell, she was dangerous. No wonder he repeatedly sensed a threat coming from her in the periphery of his awareness. Although he didn't believe in such a thing as instinct, he apparently had a subconscious sense for danger.

"How come the Council doesn't know of someone with your skillset?" he asked the moment they returned to the physical plane.

"No one knows I can do what I just showed you." She'd kept it to herself, because it was another quality that would make her too dangerous in the eyes of most Psy who wanted to maintain their power. But another stupid urge to impress the one in front of her had made her give up one more of her well-kept secrets.

"Then why let me know?"

"You've been very tolerant with my anomalies so far. And I pay my debts as soon as I can." Loyalty, the trademark of the Arrows. It was logical enough.

A part of Kaleb's mind already started racing through the options, this new ability of his personal Arrow opened up to him, while he prepared her for the telepathic business meeting with the matriarch of the Liu group. So he didn't realize that the warning signs of something off, something wrong in the back of his mind just grew a fraction stronger. And something long dead, something that was hidden deep inside his chest, under layer upon layer of ice and rock, sparked to life.

To Alja the business meeting she attended was comparably disinteresting. No one ever noticed her presence and she had already known most of the info that passed between the two parties. So she let her gaze wander on the physical plane. The man beside her was handling the comm system parallel to the conversation on the psychic plane seemingly without effort. She could feel his attention shift along the link sometimes, but he was so fast it really seemed as if his mind was fully present in both places at the same time.

She could sense the slight movement of firm shoulder muscles right under her palm. Strong, male hands were moving almost elegantly over the touchscreen while he verified financial data on the internet. He definitely knew what he was doing with those hands and she wondered whether they'd feel soft or a little rough on her skin. Every move, everything about him seemed efficient and controlled. Even his face was nearly motionless, fully focused. His hair was the darkest shade of brown. He wore it in a business man's cut, combed back neatly out of his face. She wondered if it would look tousled when he woke up in the morning, tried to imagine his face with a few longer strands of it falling onto his forehead. Only when she started considering how it would feel to trace the smooth lines of his strikingly attractive profile with her fingers, she caught herself. Her mind had wandered off again. That was inacceptable. She was Psy after all and her mind a tool she usually handled just as efficiently as any other of her race. She made a mental note to keep away from any indulgences that brought her closer to the erratic world of emotion: No human contact, no music, none of her hidden treasures and only nutrition bars for food until she had these annoying impulses contained. She couldn't afford any slips in her self-control. Not in her current situation. So she was glad when the meeting was finally over and lifted her hand off of him the moment they had both left the psychic plane.

"That went very well. I'm sure your talents can be very useful to me in the future," he stated at once.

She'd passed another test, gotten another step close to being the instrument of a cold and ruthless Councilor. No, she'd been that all her life. A step closer towards protection, safety – that was the way she should see it. But why did it feel like another trap? "I am glad you approve. Did the touch bother you?"

He hadn't really noticed her as long as she'd shielded him but now he found it took a little effort to get used to her absence again. As if he had to compensate for something that was missing. At her question he wondered if he had accidentally let it show. "No I am used to physical contact due to the combat training. And my conditioning is by far not that fragile. But doesn't it bother you? You should be more sensitive if you are prone to emotion."

"No it's only minimal contact after all. I barely feel it." Usually. And she still had no idea why she reacted so differently with him.

"You seem to have excellent strategies for coping."

She'd about had it with him thinking she needed to constantly 'cope' with her flaw to not turn into an uncontrolled heap of emotion. So her response came out a little to earnest.

"No, it's not really a strategy. It's a byproduct of the martial conditioning process: They tried to put me under dissonance of course." Everyone with martial potential got a severe form of pain conditioning to control their powers. "But it didn't stick. So they tried harder and harder until they finally gave up. But at that point I was irreversibly numbed to physical stimuli." Her brain had tried to shut off the pain stimulation, which had been futile because dissonance was designed to start in the brain itself.

"You mean your ability for perception is gone?"

"No not exactly. I know whether it is cold or warm, whether there is pressure on my skin or tissue hurt. I can even perceive pain to some degree. But it is no longer a real sensation. My perception is no longer connected to any emotional reaction. I had to train to consciously react accordingly to any stimulation. It works well now but it took some time. I think that's why they stopped trying to install what they did to me as an addition to the usual pain conditioning: Arrows need the ability to withstand pain, but they also need their senses together."

Was there any atrocity, his race hadn't yet tried in the pursuit of Silence? No wonder the woman stood her ground so well. Even though she felt, there probably wasn't much left she was afraid of, certainly not pain. Which made him wonder again what it was, she was trying to hide from so obsessively then. That had to be the key to control her. But as long as he didn't know what it was he'd try playing nice.

"If there is anything you need to train your sensitivity further let me know. I'll see what I can do."

A modest "Thank you, Sir" was all the reaction he got.

Suddenly he wasn't sure whether he had only offered it as bait for her trust. There was something else. The tingling of danger in the back of his mind again. But it might also be the strain of the last days. He hadn't slept much, surfing the Net most nights, preparing to seize control of a Net that was dying under his hands.