C-4

Farah saw the time, and made the call immediately. The call was answered through the third ring. A screen floated in front of Farah, showing Kia's face.

"Good morning darling," Kia greeted. "Why do you look like you have something exciting?"

"I do," Farah confessed. "Got a call just now."

"Stop," Kia said, thrusting her palm into the screen. "You know I'm team B. Unless absolutely necessary."

"It's not. I'm only saying."

Farah didn't complete the sentence, Kia didn't need her to.

"You're free to use the card. And you've got the time you'll need. Anything else, just ask. Do I need to remind you to be careful?"

That was Kia's true worry.

"I don't know," Farah answered honestly.

It was an answer that had Kia feeling extremely uncomfortable, because when Farah said she didn't know, it meant she could be in far greater danger than when she said it could be dangerous. It also meant that Kia couldn't stop her. Personal feelings aside, as the editor she couldn't ask a reporter of hers to refrain from following a story.

"Is Moe back?"

Kia was calm, with great effort, as she asked the question. Farah's face scrunched in pain, and that was all the answer needed. Kia sighed.

"Maybe this is good," Kia said weakly. "The story. Could give us the kind of push we need. Just be careful. Keep Asar in the loop. You know what I mean."

"I know," Farah replied. "I intended to."

Kia was startled. Before she could begin to search for the words, Farah continued.

"I know. I promise you, it'll be okay. Just precautions. You know, most times, it's unnecessary precautions."

"I hope so. Go on then. I'll have Puyol cover for you."

"Thanks."

Farah smiled. Kia blew her a kiss. Farah laughed, and blushed.

Farah closed the screen. Pulled up another, on which she wrote a message to Asar.

= Onto a story. Might be trouble, I don't know.

The reply was almost immediate.

= Okay. Keep me in the loop. Don't go anywhere by yourself.

She thought for a while before writing her reply.

= You're not busy? Don't let me keep you.

The reply was immediate, as it always was.

= Sure. Just do as I say.

Farah smiled.

= Okay. Thanks.

There was no reply. Asar never wasted words. He never wasted actions either. He was a serious man who at first seemed to have no understanding of humour. It was even more so the case where Farah was concerned. She couldn't complain though, for it was a result of her own choices.

She did trust Asar more than any person could trust another. And not just because it was necessary. The preparations were complete. She could get started.

She sat at her work table. No one else was allowed to sit at the table, not even Moe. Farah said it messed with the energies of the place, and that would greatly affect her work. She could be vicious when spouting words that sounded like nonsense to others, and positively terrifying when crossed.

She smiled automatically as she rested her hands on the table. She took a deep breath, aligned her energies, before pulling up a blank screen.

She had a great memory. She called it her superpower. She remembered the conversation word for word. She wrote it all, including the pauses and the tones. When she was done, she read it from the beginning, and could hear the caller's voice. She concentrated on the voice, writing her observations.

- Confident. Clear. Strong. Young? Beta Tester?

She stared at the words. Trying to make a sketch in her head. Who was it? Why her? Was it real?

The biggest reason for so many questions. Why did it seem so easy?

She thought long and wrote the message to an old friend. A request for help.

= How are the Bloody Maries?

The reply was five minutes in coming.

= Good. Got a fresh batch of prawns delivered. Want to come over?

She smiled fondly.

= Love to. There's a story.

= Serious? Don't tell me. The bug? That's all everyone's talking about.

= Yeah.

= Give me five.

She smiled. She could wait five minutes.