Chapter 29

  The Code

  “Many in our line of work might speak of the code, but it is meaningless and trivial. An ideal way of saying you were better than the rest because you had morals. Don’t listen to them, when anyone offers you a code, take it, bind it, then leave. Never let them know what you can do, until they can’t say what you can do to others.” - Marcon on how to be deceitful to fellow liars

  “I think you are right, it has changed…” The female Cerusian began, then continued. “I think it has gotten brighter since we started watching her fix the fastening.”

  Well, this too was a problem, for apparently her S-Ranked Spirit Infusion was more powerful than that of the original Tinkerer who worked on the original pendant, but this was fine. So long as it stayed at this level, nothing would come from this one interaction, at least that is what she thought.

  Then the oddity began, the female Cerusian who had held a contemptable gaze in her eyes from the start of this whole encounter suddenly changed. Her whole demeanor shifted. One second she was disdainfully dealing with these lesser beings around her. Then the next, she was genuinely intrigued by Arla.

  As if seeing her for the first time she opened her eyes and began to look at Arla, where she began to truly take her in. Arla could feel the Cerusian’s eyes roving over her like some kind of three-dimensional display that would disappear in a moment, if not immediately memorized. Realizing this thought was likely more accurate than not, she decided to leave.

  “Well, if you are satisfied with this, you can find us in the Advanced Mechanical Engineering department,” Arla said as she rose from her seat and grabbed her tray of half-eaten food. Then looking down at Chloe, her roommate and possible loose end in this, Arla gestured for her roommate to come.

  “Come on, we need to do that thing,” Arla spoke.

  Chloe for her part just looked momentarily confused, there was a moment of doubt on the roommate’s face as she stared at the male Cerusian. But then her posture dropped as it was clear that the male’s attention was attracted by the bauble that Arla had fixed. Seeing that she apparently lost to a trinket, Chloe just nodded and rose up as well.

  With that the two got up and left, Arla moving quickly as she effortlessly wove her way through gaggles of students that were all moving and merging to return their own trays. Chloe on the other hand had to sprint at times to catch up to be by Arla’s side as she moved. Finally, the two exited the Dining Facility and began to make their way out.

  “Well that was informative,” Chloe began. Arla for her part could only nod, not wanting to make any statements, at least not for the moment. Instead, Arla felt her mind going to protection mode. She began scanning everything, looking for more Cerusian artifacts, looking for possible cameras and anyone that looks like they might be trying to monitor the two as they made their getaway.

  It was clear that even here they were covered by odd layers of energy, but now Arla could almost feel the way their layered pattern of energy worked. At least, that was what she hoped as she began randomly zagging sideways through certain areas or taking random side passages that went off to less traveled paths of the Academy.

  Chloe looked like she wanted to comment, to ask what was happening, but instead just decided to watch Arla, then she tried to look in the directions that Arla was. It was clear that Chloe was at the very least intrigued by her odd roommate and her actions.

  Arla knew that there was something off by the way Chloe just seemed to accept everything that was happening to her and didn’t seem to question what was going on. But this was a boon right now for Arla, as she knew that keeping Chloe away from the Cerusians who could then use Chloe to track down Arla was a big possibility.

  This also meant that, soon Arla might need to have the talk with Chloe.

  Not that she wanted to have the talk with anyone, but Arla had learned that defining boundaries early on in relationships was important. This was why, Arla chose to go to the nearly empty footpaths that lead to the Engineering Department, an area that had long since lost most of its interest by standard students. Arla eventually began cutting through a side street, feeling Chloe quickly following behind her, only to stop and pause once Arla turned to face Chloe, where she would have the talk.

  Shock.

  There was a moment of surprise as the two locked gazes with each other. Arla used this moment to take in as much as she could about her odd roommate, a roommate who was mostly silent until certain points in time, like this occurred.

  Chloe paused, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air, and the stopped. Showing that she was scared, but was quickly able to regain control over her emotions. This was good, if their relationship was to continue, which it must given that they were roommates, this part would be important. Then the next part would be for Arla to convince Chloe to follow the plan.

  Silence.

  There was a moment of silence that covered the two, then they both began to speak at once.

  “That was amazing, where did you…” Chloe began.

  “I need you to not associate with…” Arla also began.

  There was a momentary pause as the two realized they were talking in stereo, then pausing for a moment they both stopped and gestured for the other to speak.

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “You first,” Arla declared.

  “No, you, please,” Chloe countered.

  “A real Canadian standoff,” Arla muttered, using the odd phrase that Marcon would often say in such a situation.

  “A what now?” Chloe began.

  Arla paused and then used the moment to state the truth. “You know what, I don’t really know. My dad, well the person that raised me, he would call these types of awkward situations a Canadian standoff.”

  “Oh, what does that mean?” Chloe asked.

  “I don’t actually know. Allegedly it is an ice planet, or part of a planet, filled with overly nice people, but I don’t really know.”

  “Odd,” was all Chloe could reply to that comment.

  “Yeah, he was a pretty odd guy, but he got me here.” Arla continued.

  There was another awkward pause, then finally Chloe realized it was likely her turn to talk. Which was exactly what she did.

  “Okay, I have to ask, how did you palm the gemstone so effortlessly, and how did you replace it?” Chloe began.

  Badump, badump.

  Hearing the question, Arla’s heart began to race as she didn’t think she had been found out that quickly. No wait, there was no palming, no movement away, nothing that would denote a slight of hand.

  “What are you talking about?” Arla asked.

  “Look, I know a sleight of hand when I see one,” Chloe pressed.

  “I’m done,” Arla stated, figuring it was best to just drop the subject and look like an offended party.

  “No, wait, I’m doing this wrong.” Chloe replied. “Look, I didn’t even think you were one of us, until I witnessed it firsthand. I mean your technique it was flawless, better still you managed to fool two Cerusians who were watching you toy with their precious trinket, right in front of them.”

  “One of us?” Arla pressed, realizing that there was something going on here that she had clearly missed.

  Chloe was visibly excited at her retelling of events. Hearing her exuberant expression, Arla could only look around making sure that no one was walking by. This was an acoustical dead zone, for whatever reason the building walls were thick here and the alley way made it so that any voices heard from here would be distorted beyond standard listening ranges. Additionally, this area had no direct cameras recording, and as far as Arla could tell there were no other magical detections in place either, making this place perfect for a private conversation. Which is what Arla assumed having such a spot on campus would be for, that these and other alcoves like this were designed specifically to have private conversations go on that would not be recorded or witnessed by others.

  “Yeah, that’s why I got sent here. I was told to be on the lookout for someone called Marcon’s kid. I spent the first few weeks here looking for everyone. Then earlier I had my suspicions, and after witnessing that display a moment ago, I am now convinced…” Chloe began, but was quickly cut off by Arla’s physical reaction.

  Before Arla and Chloe had a moment to contemplate what was happening, Arla reacted.

  Gurgle.

  Chloe soon found herself pressed against the wall, with Arla’s forearm shoved into Chloe’s neck. The force was violent, unseen, and worst of all for Chloe unavoidable. Yet, there was still room to negotiate, as she was able to breathe, but barely. This was either a tactical oversight, or…

  “Speak,” Arla commanded. That one word letting Chloe know that how she answered this next part would be very important.

  “Relax, I’m here as a friend. Or at least an accomplice,” Chloe her free right hand moving in a placating gesture. Her left hand and arm had somehow been pinned behind her back, held in place by a well placed palm. Their faces were so close, that the gesture might actually look intimate to anyone passing by, two cadets caught in a brief moment of passion.

  “Accomplice for what?” Arla snarled back, before stating, “also realize that I will slice off your arm before you manage to get out that metal rod you are working out of your right sleeve.”

  Realizing that she had been caught, Chloe then held up her right hand in a peaceful gesture.

  “Look, I wasn’t given too much to go on, just that someone named Marcon had a kid and that kid would be here.” Chloe explained calmly, her voice low enough so that Arla could hear, but also making it clear that she too didn’t want others to know of their conversation.

  “Are you with them?” Arla hissed.

  “With who?” Chloe asked, but then a thought filled her mind, “wait you mean the space dolls? No, they are an unfortunate hindrance. But, looking back, they might be a good thing as I don’t think you would have ever pulled that palm job in my presence had they not cornered you.”

  Right now, contingency plans were going on in Arla’s mind. She had enough slush funds to make it off planet, bribe a few transit authority personnel and make her way out of here. For a moment Arla contemplated snapping the girl’s neck, and leaving. That’s what Marcon would have told her, tie up loose ends, anyone that can tie you to the crime and leave.

  Arla looked into Chloe’s eyes and that is when Chloe must have seen the stoic resolve that was now building up within Arla.

  “Wait, stop. What about the code?” Chloe pressed, desperation clearly filling her voice as she dropped her tired right arm for half a second, only to feel an increased pressure on her neck for her efforts.

  “What code?” Arla hissed.

  “The code, the binding code. You know your secrets are mine, just as mine are yours?” Chloe pressed, nervous apprehension in her voice, as she could truly see Arla at this point.

  “You’ll make the binding pact?” Arla asked, releasing her hold on Chloe and giving her some room. This was a ploy, as it also meant that Arla could generate more force to stop or neutralize Chloe if she did anything stupid.

  “Yeah, the oath of secrecy,” Chloe began.

  Hearing that, Arla paused as a faint smile crested her lips. She knew this pact, it was an old smugglers and thieves code that had long since gone out of fashion, mainly due to it being unenforceable. At least, most people couldn’t enforce someone to keep their promise.

  “The oath,” Arla nodded as she took another half step back, giving Chloe a chance to breathe.

  Phew.

  Seeing her back off, Chloe visibly relaxed, as it was clear she thought this would be enough to get out of this situation in tact and avoid any major problems.

  “Okay,” Chloe replied, holding out her right hand and waiting for Arla to do the same. Arla just raised her right hand and gripped Chloe’s smaller hand in hers.

  “Your secrets are mine,” they both began speaking in unison, then they paused. But unlike earlier at the standoff, this pause was done to make sure both were going to speak the same phrase. A phrase that all true smugglers knew by heart. Just knowing this phrase caused Arla to believe that Chloe had been playing a double role all this time. Then the two continued the chant, “just as mine are now yours. I will not speak of what we say or do, just as you will not speak or otherwise break our oath of secrecy, lest your mind rots, your body fails, and your tongue swells up causing you to choke to death on your own lies.”

  Arla threw in the last part, Chloe’s by comparison was a lot more direct, “may you die a thousand deaths.”

  But both had their part, as they were now the binding and enforceable oaths used to ensure that these secrets were kept private. The reason why Arla felt relaxed after this binding oath was that she was able to use her S-Ranked [Support- Temporary] Spirit Infusion power to enhance the capabilities of this oath.

  The effect was temporary, meaning that Arla would need to occasionally renew the fusing of power into keeping the oath binding for both of them.

  Glow.

  As they pulled their hands away from each other, both of their hands glowed with a barely visible source of purple spirit energy.

  Seeing the mark randomly appear, Chloe’s face went wide as she could only stare on in horror.

  “Wait, did you just?” Chloe began, but then found her hand going up to her mouth as she could already feel the subtle powers of the oath taking effect.

  “Did I just enact our oaths? Yes, now we will see how truthful you were about wanting to keep this a secret. Don’t tell anyone about me, ever.” Arla declared, before turning and leaving the alleyway.

  Chloe looked understandably shocked for a moment, but then had her face change from shock to a satisfied smile as she watched Arla leave her sight.

  “You are truly unique, just as they said you’d be,” Chloe began. Then as if wishing to test the binding effects of the oath she had just taken, Chloe pulled out her communicator and tried to type out a message.

  Migraine pain.

  Only to have the power take an immediate effect, as Chloe could feel blood pooling into her brain, causing intense pressure and pain to form just from thinking about talking about the girl.

  Realizing this was going to be tougher than she expected, she smirked to herself and put away her communicator. Then after taking another moment to fix her uniform, she smiled to herself as she left the alleyway, knowing that her time here had just gotten a lot more interesting.

  Who would have thought, the mark would have been my roommate all along? Chloe thought to herself. For a moment she thought about saying the words, hoping they would be picked up by one of the recording devices hidden around campus, but soon found her tongue to swell up just from thinking about inadvertently giving out information about the target.

  Realizing this would be a challenge, Chloe smiled as she finally found a challenge worth her time and attention.

  “Very well then, we will play this game,” Chloe managed to say out loud, realizing that this was not enough to set off her own mental compulsions related to her breaking her oath.

  Smiling to herself, realizing that the games had just begun.