Chapter 14, the art of diception 3

(Callie)

Callie's comm buzzed, and she gritted her teeth, glancing down at the watch shaped device. Her comms blue and green metal glinted in the light of the city barrier. For an hour so far, an enforcer stood across from her and gave her a stern lecture. Callie's patients were thinning as the man went over all twenty three laws she had broken in her mad flight across the city.

"Please report to the navy administrator building as soon as possible to fill out the damage forms." said the Officer.

Callie nodded, feeling like her younger years. She hadn't received such a stern lecture in a long time. Reprisal in the compound was usually physical, not mental, so she couldn't complain too much.

Callie glanced across the cordoned of parking lot and strode towards Dustin. She was exhausted, but she had promised to go with him to the hospital.

Dustin waved half heartedly. He had bags under his eyes and was practically falling asleep standing. She doubted she looked any better, having stayed up all day and through the night. Her eyes were heavy, and all she wanted was sleep. They made their way through the parked emergency shuttles and the two enforcers' vehicles blocking entry to the parking lot. Shuttles slowed along the street as passers-by peered out to see what was happening.

They waved, and a taxi pulled over its back door, opening with a hiss of air. The traffic of the street flowed past, rustling her hair with their wake.

The taxi ride was quiet as Dustin nervously tapped on the shuttle door. Unlike when Callie drove, the taxi driver kept the speed limit and didn't drive recklessly. Dustin's left hand swiped the air, moving in a circular motion as if slowly drawing a circle. Callie watched him work, and with each passing minute, the weight on his shoulders seemed to lessen.

" What are you working on?" Asked Callie after twenty minutes.

Dustin's eyes focused on her, as if assessing whether he could share this information. She noticed that tinge in his eyes, that look one gives where they wanted to trust, but had been betrayed too many times to fully trust anyone.

" Just writing a report." Said Dustin, clearly deciding he still couldn't trust Callie.

Callie glanced away, but as always, she kept her surroundings in mind. The passing skyscrapers made of their glinting metal were breathtaking. She still couldn't believe that a city floated amongst the stars. Callie let out a sigh. If not for the attack on Etria, maybe she could have visited to explore and see what the empire had to offer.

Her mood lifted at the thought of seeing new things, but then images of Tiniya came back to her mind. Body bruised with dark purple welts and her toes bleeding profusely. Her thoughts whirled.

The shuttle slowed and turned into the parking lot of the navy admin building. The image of a seagull on the front of the skyscraper almost made her smile.

" let's go!" Said Callie, breaking Dustin from his meditation.

He perked up at the sight of the giant golden eyesore on the front of the building. It still brought Callie no end of amusement that the artist had butchered painting the raven so badly.

" What are you smiling about?" Asked Dustin as she walked up on the curb.

" Well, take a long look at that golden image of the raven. And then tell me why I'm laughing." Said Callie. For most, they might not have got the joke, but Dustin was a man whose job it was to know the cultures of other planets and empires.

" Are you asking me professionally or casually?" Asked Dustin.

" Both!" Said Callie curiously.

" Professionally, that is a symbol of the empire and so shouldn't be besmirched." Said Dustin, his lips turning up slightly.

" And casually?" Asked Callie.

"Off the book, I think it looks like one of those little thief birds from Saleia." Said Dustin, his lips turning into a grin.

" That's what I said!" Said Callie, unable to hide her laughter.

Dustin chuckled, his mood lightening.

" You need to tell that joke to Taniya when you meet her. She loves that kind of humour." Said Dustin, leading the way past the guards with a badge. Dustin lead the way through the building to a medical wing. Callie hadn't even known there was a medical wing, but it made sense. Spies like Dustin and Taniya were off the books and therefore couldn't go for a proper checkup at a civilian hospital.

" How is your shoulder?" Asked Callie. He hid his pain well, his face not registering the wound with more than the occasional tightening around the eyes.

" It still needs healing. The medic did a quick stitch and gave me enough positive energy to stop the bleeding." Said Dustin, favoring his right shoulder.

" What is with that protocol, anyway? The other medic seemed to be reserving his energy as well?" Said Callie.

" Well, protocol on an active mission states that any injured are healed with the art until they are no longer in fear of death. Then they are sent to the hospital or other sites for more thorough recovery." Said Dustin.

" Makes sense. In a fire fight trying to fully heal everyone would tap a medic's reservoir after maybe three people." Said Callie, nodding at this protocol.

The interior of the admin building changed from office like to the whitewashed walls and sparkling cleanliness of a hospital. A nurse with bags under her eyes and a forced smile held up a hand as Callie and Dustin approached, halting them in their tracks.

" Authorized personal only." Said the nurse, steel in her voice.

Dustin pulled one of his many badges from his worn black jacket.

" I'm a private investigator Bradly mars. They brought an injured woman in today. She is seventeen blond hair covered in bruises and was unconscious. Can you direct me to her room?" Asked Dustin, his tone more of an order than a question.

" Only if you agree to wait outside until the patient wakes. I won't have anyone, no matter their title, to disturb that poor girl's rest." Said the nurse, putting her meaty foot down.

Dustin's face fell at the words, and Callie butted in.

"Can you let him in her room? We promise to be quiet. She is his little sister." Said Callie. She knew the information was classified, but that look of gratitude on Dustin's face was worth it.

" Alright, but if I hear you make a peep, I'm going to throw you from the building." said the nurse, leading them through the maze of Halls with purpose.

Two guards stood out front of Taniyas' room, despite the fact they were in the admin building for the navy.

Callie noticed Dustin nod to them, his tense face relaxing.

" Are these soldiers on your payroll?" Asked Callie.

" Yeah." Said Dustin, opening the door with a soft click.

The soldiers in their heavy, hard shelled armour nodded to Dustin but glared at Callie. She glared back, not backing down an inch. One held out his hand as Dustin opened the door, stopping Callie.

"Weapons please." Said the soldier, his tone gruff.

" You didn't ask him for his?" Said Callie, her leather shoulder holster a comforting weight on her side.

Dustin glanced back at her through the open door. Callie could see him contemplating something, trying to decide if he could trust her.

" It's alright, Callie is the reason Taniya is in the hospital instead of strapped to a chair having her other toenails pulled out." said Dustin. Both of the soldiers at the door gave her a second look.

" Is this your new partner?" asked the first soldier.

" Yeah." said Dustin.

" Alright, if Dustin says you're trustworthy, I will give you a chance." said the soldier on the right.

The left soldier scowled at her, the woman's eyes burning into Callie.

"Dont mind my partner, she is a hard ass. We owe you for saving Taniya from those monsters." said the soldier on the right.

Callie cracked a smile and held out one hand to the man on the right. The man took her hand and shook firmly. Through his thick gloves, she felt his firm grip. Callie held out a hand to the woman, but she didn't bother to remove her hands from her rifle. That was fine. Callie didn't like handshakes, anyway. She entered the room, a faint beeping drifting to her ears.

Laying on a bed under a thin white blanket was the same young woman that was in the back of the van. The swelling on her face was gone, and no doubt, most of the bruising was gone. Doctors of the empire were known for their mastery of healing. There were two chairs next to the bed. Dustin took a seat and gestured to a chair beside him. The chairs were within arm's reach of each other, but Callie couldn't exactly refuse after Dustins recent proclamation of trust.

She sat in the chair. It creaked and Taniya moved underneath her blankets. Her chest rose and fell, her breath coming out softly. A tube of clear liquid entered Taniyas' arms and a clear heartbeat sensor beeped melodically in tune with the young woman's heart. Dustin's face scrunched up in anger.

" We will get them, don't you worry." said Callie. Her chest clenched as he smiled at her, his worried expression relaxing slightly. She pushed down her guilt at her deception.

" Yeah, thanks, I really want to catch them." said Dustin.

They sat in silence, Dustin' watching the body of his sister. The young woman's hair tumbled around her peaceful face. The art of the Zrixian doctors could heal her physical wounds, but Callie knew the mental trauma would be with her for far longer. Callie's eyes were heavy, and she wanted to go to sleep, but this wasn't the place. She was far too venerable to let down her guard. She pushed aside her discomfort for now.

Leaning back in his chair, Dustin succumbed first and fell asleep, his head lulling to the side. Callie smiled, the fact that he trusted her enough to sleep in her company was good, but she didn't think she could do the same. For a man of the Devali, Dustin was too trusting. She sighed, well that had to be the fact she had helped save his little sister.

Her comm vibrated, and Dustin's soft snores drifted to Callie's ears.

Callie pulled up her holographic display, and several blinking messages greeted her. She opened Villuses' message first. She skipped the first three messages, not caring for his insults.

" What have you found? Report." said Villus.

" The person you tortured is safe and under protection. The navy and Devali are pissed and out in force. They know our targets are high-ranking members of the government and are moving assets to defend them. If you would have been more subtle, the Devali wouldn't have caught on before we found our targets. Now they have the woman and she will no doubt tell them who you were looking for." Said Callie, an obvious rebuke in her message.

Her comm buzzed almost immediately, vibrating from the watch on her wrist..

" That is because you led them right to us!" replied Villus.

" I did my job. It's not my fault you left enough evidence for the Devali and I to follow." reply Callie closing message.

The comm buzzed again, but she ignored it. The report was done, and anything else was unnecessary.

She pulled open Warren's messages. There were two in all.

A warm weight rested against her shoulder, but Callie hardly noticed.

" I'm sorry Callie, I tried to stop him. Villus refused to listen, and wanted to torcher that girl." said Warren. That message was dated for two hours prior. There was oner more recent message.

" The Devali moved the prisoners. It was quick. After I left Villus, I went to the holding site. Lucky I did. Only an hour later three shuttles came, and each took a prisoner each. I found where they are holding one but I dont know if it's Peyton or not," Said Warren.

" That is bad. Do you still want to attempt a rescue?" asked Callie.

" Yes, it's the only way to make sure." reply Warren. Callie's mind whirled. How were they going to pull this off? Villus had plans, and Warren had his own. Someone coughed, and Callie focused on the small room. The young woman laying on the bed was staring at Callie in curiously. Next to her, Dustin was snoring in contentment, his head having leaned against her shoulder while she was messaging warren.

Callie glanced back at Taniya. She shrugged helplessly, careful not to wake Dustin. She was extremely uncomfortable at this predicament, but didn't really want to wake the man. His haggard, exhausted face and the opportunity to speak with Taniya alone made her allow the contact. Well, at least for now.

" You must be Callie?" asked Taniya, reaching for a small cup on a table next to her. She choked as she took a long sip, leaning back into her pillow.

" Yeah, and you must be Taniya?" asked Callie. Taniya raised her eyebrows.

" He told you my name?" asked Taniya, glancing back to Dustin's sleeping form.

" Well, yes, he needed help to save you. He was out of sorts when he called me tonight. I needed to know what I was getting into, before I lept into danger." said Callie, glancing at Dustin. His warm breath brushed her neck as he snored softly.

" I still can't believe he told you my name. Dustin is a stickler for the rules." said Taniya.

" He even told me you are his sister." reply Callie. Taniya's eyes darted to Dustin, confused.

" Was he really that upset? Its hard to believe he would reveal that information. Most times I have to remind him I'm his sister." said Taniya, furrowing her brows.

"He was freaking out. I would have called it a panic attack." said Callie. Taniya moved in her bed, adjusting with a grimace before settling back.

" I just can't see it. Dustin freaking out on my behalf?" asked Taniya, a wistful smile creeping onto her face.

" He was. Did you know I broke twenty three laws to get to your apartment? And he didn't say a single word." said Callie.

" Twenty-three, huh? I hope he offered to pay for the tickets." said Taniya. Callie cracked a smile.

" It was like playing pinball, but with a car. If it didn't cost me ten thousand crowns in damages, I would love to do it again. On the bright side, if I fill out the right reports, he will get the navy to refund the bill." said Callie.

" Figures, Dustin is a stickler for the rules." said Taniya, smiling fondly at Dustin.

"Or at least until it comes to protecting his people." said Callie. Taniya winced and reached to the side, pressing a button. The bed slowly moved and her laying position changed to seated. The woman's eyes bore into Callie, assessing her.

" I'm thankful for that. I really wasn't looking forward to more of that monster's questions." said Taniya, her face darkening in anger and fear.

"I know what you mean." said Callie, her own anger for Villus welling in her chest.

"Do you? I don't think you do." said Taniya angrily. Callie leaned back.

" My record doesn't show it, but my trainer was a bit of a sadist. Failure was usually a broken arm or fingers. Maybe even a broken leg when he felt like it." said Callie, thinking of Villus.

" Couldn't you report to your superiors?" asked Taniya, compassion on her face.

" That didn't help. I was training to be part of a private investigator's team. I had to deal with years of beatings until I got strong enough to fight back." said Callie, murder in her voice. The truth to the story was more gruesome than she let on. Villus and the others beat her for sure, but there had been one instructor that truly was a sadist. One night, the man having broken Warren's legs and arms went to sleep without a care.

"What did you do?" asked Taniya softly.

" He crossed a line one night. He broke the arms and legs of a friend. I made sure he could never do something like that ever again." said Callie, her nails digging into her palm.

Taniya nodded.

" After my recent experience, I can't blame you for doing that. I want to kill my torturer more than anything. To hear him scream, like he made me scream." said Taniya her lips quivering and tears falling down her cheeks.

" I haven't told anyone that story before, it's kind of secret." said Callie fidgeting with her chair. She wasn't sure why she shared that story. Noone, not even Warren, knew it was her that had killed Instructor Jackson that night.

" You haven't told Dustin?" asked Taniya furrowing her brow.

" Well, that is kind of bad thing to have on your ID." said Callie.

" I see, well thank you for sharing." said Taniya.

" You are going to tell him, aren't you?" asked Callie.

Taniya nodded her head.

"Can you let me tell him? It might seem like I'm hiding things if you tell him." said Callie. Well, she was hiding things, but this story shouldn't matter much. It was years since she killed instructor Jackson, but she would need to be vague. Taniya nodded her head in agreement.

" So what brought you here?" asked Taniya, glancing at Dustin.

" Your brother asked me to come. I think he wanted me to meet you. "said Callie, raising an eyebrow in thought. Now that she thought of it, that was a rather weird request coming from Dustin.

Taniya snorted in laughter.

" This is such a weird way to meet my brother's girlfriend." said Taniya.

" We are not dating." said Callie instantly. Taniya raised an eyebrow at Callie. During their entire conversation, Dustin had been snoring away, leaning on Callie's shoulder. She still felt extremely uncomfortable at the closeness, but didn't want to wake him.

" You may not be, but he couldn't stop talking about you." said Taniya.

" What do you mean?" asked Callie.

Taniya swallowed a lump and took in a deep breath.

" Before I was, ugh, taken, he called, and you were all he could talk about." said Taniya. Callie glanced at Dustin and then back at Taniya, letting out a sigh.

" You know that man I told you about? The one who disappeared at night. Taniya nodded. Well, ever since I trained under him, I have the desire to stab anyone that touches me. I dont know if I can ever trust anyone enough to be intimate with them. I will always think of the pain they might cause me." said Callie truthfully.

" And yet here is his leaning his head on your shoulder." said Taniya, raising an eyebrow.

" Well, I would feel bad for waking him up. If he is asleep, he can't send me to do that paperwork I know is waiting for me." said Callie, but she couldn't help but smile at Dustin.

Taniya actually smiled, lighting up the room. Dustin startled and sat up straight.

" Hey boss, you are awake." said Callie, glad the uncomfortable conversation was over.

Dustin yawned and rose to his feet, walking to the side of the bed.

"Why didn't you wake me?" asked Dustin, glancing back at Callie accusingly.

" I wanted to meet Taniya. I see who got the sense of humour in the family." said Callie.

"How long were you two talking?" asked Dustin.

" Long enough for you to drool on Callie's shoulder." said Taniya, somehow still able to crack a joke under the circumstances.

Callie burst out laughing, and Dustin flushed in embarrassment.