SPOILERS UP TO Komarr. Rated PG-13. Feel free to print out, download, or pass along, without alterations. Also, don't hesitate to blast me out of the water, via milesphile@hotmail.com. (I am not reading beyond the first spoiler chapter of A Civil Campaign, so please try not to spoil me before September.)
My characters are rather insistent about it--- they don't like being lent out. (The opinions and actions of the characters are not necessarily shared by the author.) I am, of course, terribly happy that Lois lets us play with hers.
A Bit of Evolution (v. 1.9)
By Tracy Garcia
Chapter 6
Secret Whisperings
The psychologist from ImpMil, whom Miles had requested, was the last to join the early morning conference in Allegre's office. He was younger than any of Miles's personal physicians (he shuddered to think what a psychologist would have made of his childhood) but he knew Lord Vorkosigan through his mother's scholarships. He and Miles had been observing the prisoner, and attempting to talk to her, to no success. "She seems to talk to herself. I suspect she might have split into multiple personalities. Perhaps some kind of stressor in the environment." The psychologist tapped his light pen authoritatively. Gregor raised his eyebrows. "What did you do?" he said to the ImpSec medicos. "Nothing, Sire---!" "I'm not sure I agree with that diagnosis." Allegre's lip twitched. He seemed remarkably at ease in his chair, though his eyes were shadowed and weary. "The analysis of the recording shows that the sub-vocalizations are, for the most part, orders. Our prisoner is communicating with the outside world. Of course, we don't know how." " 'Of course'?' " said Gregor. He had come, ostensibly, to thank the woman for saving his life and Laisa's. Actually, the woman's successful security breach was foremost on the Emperor's mind. Currently they were holding her "for safety reasons"; no one specified whose safety. "Nothing yet on how she got in, or smuggled the weapons, or her accomplice?" Miles asked, gently. Allegre grimaced. He did not relish the prospect of a black mark on ImpSec's record. "No, my Lord Auditor. This woman is a puzzle, Sire. We're throwing the resources of all of ImpSec at her, and she doesn't budge. It would be embarrassing if it weren't so dangerous. To penetrate our defenses, she has to have new technology, but we don't know where she got it. She must have accomplices but they seem to have vanished off the face of the Empire. We don't know how she did it, and she won't talk to us." "And she's afraid of fast-penta," Miles added. "Went hysterical when I entered with the hypospray. Screaming. Pulling at her hair. She only looked at me when I put it away." He had gotten the strangest feeling that she'd been studying him, in that moment of connection. I don't think I'll mention that to Gregor, quite yet. The psychologist put in, "That was a neurotic event, definitely. Even if her fear is fully founded, her reaction went beyond normal bounds." He was still a bit miffed by Allegre's dismissal. "More like a fast-penta allergy. You'd be frightened too. Whether natural or artificial, we're not sure," said Allegre. "Her words are rather illuminating, though." He keyed up the recording.
The next silence stretched for several hours. Allegre skipped it. "She seemed to be listening during all that time. Occasionally there was a 'yes' or 'no' or 'we can do that,' but otherwise she was quiet. At the end of that, however, was something rather… interesting."
"What do you suppose that means? She said 'Sire,' plain as day," said Gregor. "Let's find out," said Miles. "She's right where we can find her, for once." The woman rose when they entered the interrogation room. A transparent partition separated them, but Miles was uncomfortably aware of her presence. Her eyes were twinkling, as though vastly amused by some private joke. She wasn't acting the captive's role at all. Even her posture's straight without straining. Like Elena. Or Mother. "Sire," she said formally, bowing. Sinewy muscles showed through the loose prison smock. She settled into parade rest. "That's the first time she's talked to us," Allegre muttered. Gregor stepped forward. "You saved Our lives. For that, We, and I must thank you. I'm afraid this is a poor way to repay you, but all We ask is some cooperation." "The hospitality's understandable. Otherwise, I was only doing my duty, Sire." "Duty to whom?" asked Miles. "I was never one to argue legalities, M'lord." Gregor cocked his head. "Who are you? Why are you here?" She remained silent. "I suppose you won't be telling us whom you were talking to." She blinked. Are you crazy? Her expression said. "What is your name?" asked Miles. She looked up at that. Her eyes --- grey, Miles confirmed --- regarded first the Emperor and then Miles himself. "Miles, come here." Miles thought he recognized the lilt of command in that voice, and wondered how old she really was. He'd have guessed her in her late thirties or early forties. She was one to be obeyed… Without thinking he opened the airlock with his Auditor's chain. Behind him, Gregor stayed Allegre's electronic countermand. In the chamber her bare scent overwhelmed him for a moment. He recognized it from their first meeting. She got down on her knees, an amazingly smooth motion for someone so tall, and leaned forward. Up close, last night's cuts merged indelibly with a thin network of scars. For an instant Miles was terrified that she would strangle him or kiss him, but she took care not to touch him. She must have sensed his distress, for her lips pulled back in a vulpine smile as she whispered in his ear. Miles didn't see her get up and sit down in the far end of the cell. Lost in thought, he walked back to the booth where Gregor waited. "Miles?" "…thought so. Sire, m'lord, the vids didn't catch that. You were in the way, and it was too soft for even our equipment. I hope your little stunt gained you something," said Allegre. "Miles, what did she say," Gregor said. Lord Auditor Miles Naismith Vorkosigan looked up at the woman beyond the clear partition. "I don't think she'll be saying anything more." The next morning, ImpSec's most enigmatic prisoner disappeared from her cell. Miles and Gregor were not surprised. |
"You can touch hallucinations. Hallucinations can even touch you." - The Warrior's Apprentice |