PREVIOUSLY, ON “LEGEND OF AKI: REBIRTH”…
Aki’s half-sister Rho takes the place of a male guard named TN-MN6, a.k.a. “Tin Man,” to infiltrate the prison facility on Karlessa Minor. After an awkward conversation with TN-MN6’s friends Drekker and Cosmo, Rho makes her way to the solitary confinement wing. There she finds Arden Sabik, her creator, and tells him she has come to break him out of jail…
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KARLESSA MINOR: MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON
They passed unmolested through a series of mostly-deserted hallways. Rho walked two steps behind her father, keeping up the pretense of a guard escorting his prisoner. Arden Sabik’s hands were cuffed in front of him for the sake of appearances.
“When we get out of here you’re gonna need a place to lay low for a while,” said the CAST as they walked. “You worked with KAI-OS before, so I was thinking… Janth Dyson’s gone, but maybe you could team up with the new guy on the block. Y’know, Dyson’s replacement. What was his name again? Oh, right. Okada.”
“
Lee Okada, you mean.”
“Didn’t know his name was Lee, but yeah, that’s the one. He seems to be going places. Now that the ARKS have taken out the other three Kings he’s pretty much running the whole show by himself, huh?”
“Okada’s too ambitious. He doesn’t know how to hold back. The man won’t stop until he’s taken over everyone and everything, and what’s worse, he seems to have forgotten how to keep a low profile. Sooner or later he’s going to attract the wrong kind of attention. Let’s just say I don’t want to be around when that happens.”
“Wow, pops, I’m impressed! You really
are well-informed for somebody who’s been stuck in solitary the past three years.”
“As I said, I have my sources. And Okada may have paid me a visit or two… personally.”
“Personally? The big kahuna came to see you himself? What for?”
“CAST programming. I’m still the best there is… and he knows it. His so-called ‘experts’ needed my technical expertise designing some doppelgangers to replace the Ur Executive Council.”
“Doppelgangers? You’re saying Okada plans to replace the entire Council with fakes? That’s crazy!”
“He’s already done it, you fool. At least that’s what I was told. And with a move that big, sooner or later somebody’s going to catch on. That’s why I plan to stay as far away as I can. I still have plenty of friends in dark corners I can turn to if necessary. Okada’s brother in Cerberus, for instance.”
“Fine, it’s your call. I’ll fly you wherever you wanna go.”
“First things first. You still have to get me out of this infernal place.”
* * * * * * * * *
Every corridor looked more or less the same. Just as the stark gray walls were starting to blur together in a hypnotic haze, they spotted their first real challenge ahead: a checkpoint manned by a single guard.
“Are you certain this is going to work?” Sabik whispered.
“Trust me, I’ve got this. Just stay quiet and let me do all the talking.”
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As they approached the checkpoint, Rho couldn’t help but notice the guard’s striking, green-eyed stare.
Well, well, if it isn’t “the lovely Miss Green Eyes” in the flesh, the one Drekker was raving about. At least I assume that’s her. There’s no way around; guess that means we have to go through. Well, here goes nothing…
They stepped in front of the guard post. Rho thought she caught a flicker of recognition from Green Eyes, but when she searched her host’s memory files she couldn’t find any record of TN-MN6 ever meeting the woman.
“Why hello there, big fella! What can I do for you today?” Green Eyes asked with a wide smile.
“Uh, prisoner transfer,” Rho replied, caught off-guard by the woman’s unexpectedly friendly greeting. She skimmed through TN-MN6’s memory files one more time but came up empty-handed. “I’m moving him to the, um, east wing.”
“You need a transfer order to move an inmate to another wing. But I’m sure you already knew that. You
do have a transfer order, right?”
“Of… of course I do! Let’s see, I’m sure I have it here somewhere…” Rho materialized a holographic computer screen in the air and pretended to search for the nonexistent order. All the while, alarm bells were going off in her head.
Calm down, Rho. Maybe you can still talk your way out of this. She seems friendly… almost weirdly so. She might let us through anyway. It’s worth a shot, I suppose.
“This is really embarrassing, but, um… I can’t seem to find it. I’m sure I had it with me earlier. Maybe the file got moved or deleted somehow? I know this is asking a lot, but could you possibly bend the rules for me just this once? The boss is gonna be, like, super pissed if I don’t get this guy to the east wing on time, and I would
really appreciate it if you could help me out, Miss… um…” Rho glanced at the name tag pinned to the guard’s uniform. “Kathryn. I’ve seen you around but we’ve never actually met... right?”
“We haven’t met, but I know very well who you are, and was wondering when you’d finally get around to saying hello. In fact,” she said, tucking a lock of auburn hair behind her ear, “maybe you’d like to… get to know me a little better? And please, call me Kate.”
Something clicked in Rho’s mind.
Wait, is she… flirting with me?
Human nonverbal communication was notoriously difficult to read. Rho had a better grasp of it than most CASTs, but it wasn’t a cakewalk by any means. If she was wrong here, if she had misjudged the situation, things were about to get very awkward, very fast.
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Rho put a hand on her hip and adopted a pose that—she hoped—would come across as suave and self-confident. “I would like that very much, Kate. Let’s say… my place, tonight after work? I’m sure we can get to know each other
really well.”
Kate’s smile broadened. “Very assertive… I like that. Okay, it’s a date, then.”
“Great! Really, uh, looking forward to it.” Rho could scarcely believe it. Against all odds, a ray of hope had appeared.
This might actually work! She’s totally into you—well, TN-MN6. Time to butter her up so she’ll let us through.
Rho called up her host’s memory files on the subject for inspiration. Specifically, the conversation between his friends from a few minutes earlier. “By the way, has anyone told you that you have beautiful eyes? They remind me of rocks—
emeralds, I mean. That was it. Big, sparkling emeralds. And, um, every time you look at me, it feels like my insides are being electrocuted. In a good way, though! Definitely in a good way. You know, it’s like that old saying—”
Beside her, Sabik cleared his throat. Intentionally.
“A-Anyway, it would be super cool if you could let me through. I can bring that transfer order tomorrow if you need it.”
“Welllll… I’m not supposed to, but for you I’ll make an exception this time.”
“Really?! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re a lifesaver and a total sweetheart. If I had a mouth I would totally kiss you on the lips right now.” Rho stopped to compose herself. “I mean, uh… thanks, babe. I owe you one.”
“You’re certainly welcome. Just be sure to save some of that ‘enthusiasm’ for later, okay?” the woman replied with a wink.
“Huh, later? Oh, right, right. I gotcha.
Later.”
Of course, I won’t be around then. TN-MN6, you should be thanking me. I scored you a hot date tonight!
Rho and Sabik stepped through the checkpoint scanner. They had done it! The first real hurdle had been cleared.
Against her better judgment, Rho stopped and turned to address Kate one more time. “Thanks again. You know, it’s funny, I thought maybe you were interested in Drekker.”
“Drekker? That blonde guy? No, why would you think that?”
“Well, it’s just, earlier we were all talking and he said—”
Kate’s brow creased with sudden concern. “Wait, you and your friends were talking about me? What did you say?”
The CAST realized her mistake too late. “Uhh… nevermind, forget I said anything.”
“No, tell me.” The woman’s green eyes were piercing, her tone insistent. Rho wouldn’t be able to dodge the question this time.
“It was nothing, really. Just, y’know, guy talk. I mean, a few things may have been said, but none of it
meant anything.”
“First you say it’s nothing, then you tell me a few things were said. So which is it?”
“It’s nothing, I swear!” Rho insisted.
Kate folded her arms across her chest. “Then what did you talk about?”
“Random stuff. Like… how your eyes are really green, something about curves, and Drekker thought you were checking him out. But that’s all!”
“I can’t believe this!” she cried angrily. “I thought maybe you were different from the others, but now I see you’re just a typical guy like all the rest.”
“I’m not, though! I’m really, really not! Come on, you’ve gotta believe me.”
“Oh
please. You can forget about that date we talked about, you jerk. And you know what else? I think I
am going to need to see that transfer order after all.”
Rho held her arms out in a pleading gesture. “Look, I’m sorry, okay? Give me another chance! I… I’ll make it up to you, I promise! We’ll go on five dates, ten, whatever you want. Heck, I’ll marry you tomorrow if that’s what it takes! Just, please, you have to let me through!”
She took an imploring step in Kate’s direction, accidentally tripped over her own heel, and went tumbling forward—straight into the other woman. Her pointed metal forehead banged into Kate’s comparatively soft one and the green-eyed guard crumpled awkwardly to the floor.
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Fighting a rising sense of panic, Rho bent down and laid two fingers against Kate’s wrist. There was still a pulse. “Just unconscious. Thank the stars!” she exclaimed in relief.
“You certainly have a way with women, a regular Casanova,” quipped Sabik. “Now, can we get on with the escape part of the plan?”
“Uh, right.” Rho performed a brief diagnostic scan of Kate’s injuries, found nothing serious except a bruised forehead, and stood back up. “She’ll be fine… I think. Though I’d hate to be in this body when she wakes up.”
* * * * * * * * *
They were two corridors past the checkpoint when the alarm sounded. It was a loud, whooping wail accompanied by a repeating message that one of the prisoners had escaped. Rho didn’t know whether the other guards had discovered her father’s empty cell, Kate’s unconscious body, or both. It didn’t really matter. The important thing was, she was racing against time now.
Hurried footsteps echoed from further down the corridor. Rho and Sabik stuffed themselves into a small utility closet to hide from a pair of guards running past. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Rho had been in her normal body, but as it was, the accommodations were a fairly tight squeeze.
“Well this is rather dark and unpleasant,” Sabik remarked, his arm pushed up against Rho. “Now I know what being a sardine feels like.”
Rho giggled, a sound that seemed rather out of place with her host’s vocal processors. “Y’know, I think this is the most you’ve spoken to me, like, ever. Compared to your usual, brooding self, you’ve been a regular chatterbox today.”
“Being stuck in solitary confinement has a habit of doing that to a person.”
“I suppose it would. Anyway, don’t worry, we’ll be out of here soon. Just think of this as daddy-daughter bonding time.”
“I thought I told you before—”
“Yes, yes, I know. You didn’t build me to ‘fill some bloody sentimental hole in your life.’ But you know what? You still designed me, built me, and programmed me. As far as I’m concerned, that makes you my father.”
“Hmph.”
* * * * * * * * *
Rho waited thirty seconds before checking to make sure the coast was clear. Not seeing—or hearing—any more guards, she motioned Sabik to follow her down the empty hallway. They had almost reached the end when the elevator doors in front of them parted and out stepped TN-MN6’s friend and fellow guard, Leon Drekker.
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“Tin Man!” he exclaimed in surprise. “Didn’t expect to find you down here. Did you hear about the escaped pris…” He trailed off when he noticed Sabik standing nearby.
“The escaped prisoner?” asked Rho. “Um, yep, sure did. He’s… right here, actually! I, uh, caught him trying to sneak past me. Was just about to return him to his cell.”
Drekker scratched his chin. “Well you’re goin’ the wrong way, buddy. His cell is back that way, in the solitary wing.”
Rho looked over her shoulder, pretending to be confused. “What? H-Hey, you’re right! How silly of me. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on our way…”
“Nonsense! I’m already here, I might as well come with you.”
“That’s… that’s not necessary, but I guess if you really want to…” Rho couldn’t think of a plausible excuse to get out of it. She and Sabik would just have to play along for now.
Drekker rapped her playfully on the arm. “What’re friends for, right? Besides, I think Miss Green Eyes works on this level. If I’m lucky I may get a chance to talk to her, ya know?”
“Uh… right.”
This isn’t going to end well, thought Rho.
* * * * * * * * *
The three of them retraced the same path Rho and Sabik had taken the first time through—which is why it came as no shock to Rho when they stumbled across Kate, still lying motionless on the floor. Once again Rho had to feign surprise as Drekker rushed to the unconscious woman’s side.
“What happened to her?!” he exclaimed, cradling her head in the crook of his arm.
“Uh, beats me. Maybe our escaped prisoner here got the jump on her. Yeah, that’s probably it.” Rho turned to Sabik. “Isn’t that right, old man?!”
“If you say so,” her father grumbled under his breath, clearly annoyed.
Nearby, Kate stirred. A moment later her eyes fluttered open. The first thing her blurry vision settled on was a large bluish haze standing over her. When she realized who it was, everything abruptly snapped back into focus.
“YOU!!!” The woman pointed menacingly at Rho. “How dare you talk about me behind my back like that! And then you have the gall to propose
marriage?! What’s wrong with you?!”
The blue CAST looked from Kate’s furious scowl to Drekker’s dumbfounded expression and back again. “Ah… you must have me confused with someone else. Yeah, that’s it. This is all just one big misunderstanding…”
“Misunderstanding, my ass! And here I thought you might be a decent guy, not like most of the jerks who ask me out. I sure was wrong on that count, wasn’t I? I guess this is what I get for taking a chance once in my life…”
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Kate continued to rant and rave but Rho tuned it out.
Okay, this has officially become the worst situation ever. I have to find a way out of this, and fast! But how?
When in doubt, a distraction often works wonders. “Drekker, behind you!” Rho shouted. “There’s another escaped inmate!”
“Say what?!” The blonde man whirled around to face the imaginary threat. During the brief second he looked away, Rho delivered a lightning-fast chop to Kate’s temple, just hard enough to knock her out again.
“Sorry, guess I was wrong,” said Rho when Drekker turned back. They both looked down at Kate’s unconscious form. “Oh hey, would you look at that. She must’ve fainted from all the excitement.”
“Looks that way. Say, what was that she said about a marriage proposal?” asked Drekker, one eyebrow raised.
“Um, I think she bumped her head a little too hard,” Rho replied. “The woman was delirious, clearly. You should take her to the infirmary, I’m sure they’ve got plenty of ‘mates and atomizers stocked up. Be sure to stay with her—don’t leave her side for a minute. That way, when she wakes up and finds you there, you get to look like the gallant hero.”
“Smart thinking, Tin Man. I don’t know when you got to be so savvy with women, but I have to say, I’m likin’ this new side of you.”
Drekker scooped Kate into his arms and, like a knight in shining armor, carried her off down the corridor. That was the last Rho saw of them.
Actually, I just wanted to be rid of him, she thought,
but who knows, maybe that lovable goofball will end up with Kate after all. I sure ruined TN-MN6’s chances with her, didn’t I? Sorry about that, big guy.
“Okay,” she said to Sabik, “now that we’re done with that little detour, let’s get the heck outta here, shall we?”
TO BE CONTINUED
Author’s Notes:
Originally Posted by Zorafim
Spoiler!
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If I need any more male CASTs in the future I'll keep you in mind!
Switching places is kind of her thing, though, so you can expect to see more of that.
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