This choice: Switch plans and replace Kali Valentine • Go Back...Chapter #18Sudden Seniority by: rugal b.   "Thank you, kindly," you say to the porter as he pushes the luggage cart through the door.
Though technically a hotel suite, it's so large that it may as well be a fancy condominium. You could likely live comfortably here for as long as you wanted. You're in a good mood and this nice room puts you in an even better one, such that without thinking about it you give the young man an even larger tip than he would have reasonably thought. He's grateful but you simply give him a warm smile and tell him that you'll not need help setting your things down.
You move to unload one or two suitcases but don't completely unpack them, nor the rest of your stuff as you have no clue for how long you'll be in England. Oh, to be sure it'll be at least a few days as you have that meeting to attend but other things may come up in relation to it which could keep you here longer; far longer than you'd hope but you'd understand why.
Yes, you walk into the bathroom and in the mirror above the sink can see the reason why reflected clearly in the mirror. A woman with lovely copper skin and hair done up in auburn ringlets. A beautiful woman who looks to be in her mid-forties or early fifties but incredibly well maintained... and much older than her appearance would suggest. It's her face and yet it's also your own for Kali Valentine and Will Prescott are now one and the same.
Getting her had actually been far easier than anticipated.
Over a period of two weeks, the "McMillans" had a number of pleasant exchanges with Kali and eventually you'd quickly managed to worm your way into extended conversations inside her apartment. You were struck, of course, not just by her physical charms (and you now have a much deeper understanding of where they come from) but also by her non-physical ones. Kali was a woman of patience, dignity and the kind of caring and tenderness that made you quickly realize why it was her, even at her age, who was the chief teacher of all new recruits.
Yet behind that was also an air of vulnerability, a sense of regret and weariness. Perhaps, you'd wondered at the time, the life she'd lived amongst the Stellae had begun to take its toll on her. You'd understand if it had. You'd been with Diana, with Fane, for so long yourself. You'd grown to enjoy your work in a way, a part of you liking the thrill and most of it the camaraderie you'd built up among your fellow agents. Yet at times, it was undeniable that you felt tired; your work weighed heavy and some times all you'd wanted was a break.
Kali had likely been with her group for quite a bit longer, you'd thought, so surely that feeling would have weighed more on her. Some companionship a little closer to home, friendship outside of work. You'd gotten good at reading people -- in your line of work you had to be -- and that was the feeling you got from her. You'd taken the opportunity, then, to invite her to a small housewarming dinner with you, your "husband" and some friends. It took cajoling but she'd relented.
That Friday evening, Kali Valentine barely made it through the door before one of your "friends" -- Liu in disguise -- pounced on her with an injector. She was out before she'd even hit the floor and you were left to hope that Plante's machine, after luring him back from England with the promise of first rate field test data, did its thing. You didn't want to admit it but you were definitely nervous. This wasn't a mask, hell it wasn't a tattoo. This was something else entirely, something new and largely untested at this level. If things didn't go right...
You remember the blackness, then you remember waking up. You remember, in a soft voice with a bit of a brogue, telling Plante to copy "Ashley's" tattoo onto Liu. You remember Kali Valentine walking into your condo and you remember walking out of it.
You raise a hand to the face in the mirror and trace a bit of the lines that have developed around the eyes. Yes, decades younger in appearance than age, Kali Valentine is still a lovely woman... whose face turns into an ugly, smug and uncharacteristic sneer.
"Retrograde" is the term the Stellae use for members who lose their way, turning their back on the organization and betraying its principles. You can't help but to be amused at the thought. After all, Kali Valentine is no stranger to members having gone retrograde. In fact, it's a matter she happens to take very personally.
Yes, it's all darkly comic and you let out a soft, light laugh. "Goodness," you say to yourself, "but those stupid fucks will never see it coming."
* * * * *
You barely have time to ready yourself the next morning. Sure, Kali's gifts mean that you look great even with little preparation but she's a woman who still likes to put in the effort regardless. But your meeting is early and so you're forced to content yourself with just enough makeup to (mostly) hide the lines, dark colored slacks, a light blouse, dark coat to match and an elaborately patterned silk scarf to at least add a bit of flair.
You head out and take the elevator up a few floors, head down the hallway and, arriving at the room, knock on the door. It opens to reveal the smiling, aged face of the professor who invites you in. "Please, have a seat," he says gesturing towards a small table with expensive chairs on either side. "I have to say, you certainly look quite different today Mr. Prescott... or perhaps Miss Valentine would be more appropriate," he states with a chuckle.
"Either one is good for me," you reply.
"I must say, for a woman of her age, Miss Valentine certainly--"
"Yes," you cut him off firmly though politely. "It is a gift from Perelandra."
"Perelandra?"
"What you refer to as P2," you begin to explain. "For the Stellae, a term so sterile would never do. We, instead, prefer to use ousiarchs."
"We?" notes the professor with some amusement.
"A slip up," you reply defensively.
Hyde-White lets loose another chuckle. "No, that is quite alright. You have been Miss Valentine for around close to a week now and to already think of yourself like that..." He trails off but recollects himself. "I'm sorry, please continue."
You nod. "The cosmology the Stellae employ is quite complex," you tell him, being more careful with your words. "But to think of it in simple terms, the ousiarchs are the planets with which all members are affiliated. The planets guide them, determine and influence their personality and bestow upon them gifts."
"Planets?" he asks. "As in Jupiter or Mars?"
"Yes, although not by those names. The Stellae would, for instance, refer to Jupiter as Glundandra or Mars as Malacandra."
"Lewis?"
"You know your literature," you reply. "But yes, where do you think he acquired those names from?"
"Was he--"
"Oh heavens, no," you laugh. "He was merely close friends with one of the Stellae's most senior, well, former members. She passed on a few years back."
"An interesting tangent, I suppose, but about these planets..."
"Ousiarchs," you correct him. "The belief amongst the Stellae is that all have two and its these confluence of ousiarchs that make a person. Kali, for instance, is associated with Arbol and Perelandra; the sun and Venus as you know them. Arbol is associated with knowledge, Perelandra with creativity."
"I see," responds the professor with a nod. "Given her role in the Stellae and her more public career I can quite see why they could believe the planets influence such things."
"More than that," you state. "For when you think of Venus you think of beauty, correct? Perelandra is also associated with growth and life. A side effect tends to be that we Perelandrans age incredibly..."
"Gracefully?" says the professor. "To be completely honest, Will, I was excited when you'd told me of your change of plans. I knew an experienced teacher would be knowledegable and thus a valuable asset but from just these past few minutes..." He stops to catch his breath. "I don't think I've felt such excitement in a long time."
"Unfortunately we will have to talk more at a later time."
"Ah yes, your meeting with one Joe Durras for an investigation into IMS."
"I am sorry for what I'll have to be doing," you apologize.
"Don't be," Hyde-White says with a shake of the head. "Small sacrifices must, at times, be made. I know that it is much more invaluable to us that you are able to pass as who you appear to be." He then gives a rictus-like smile. "Besides, Pendleton has been well informed in advance. Anything of true value has been transferred to safety."
"Your greatest value will be jumping right into the fire," you joke.
"Indeed, which is why I will be quite frankly relieved when you're back in Los Angeles where the P3 of your compatriots will be able to be safely inserted into Kali's students." The professor shifts a bit. "It will be a long play but a safe one. Three Stellae under our control and living together."
"Why wait to see results?" you ask to the professor's surprise. "Should I pull this off I may be able to get us Durras. Hell, with nobody the wiser and Kali's position, I might be able to bag us Rosalie Stewart or Malaika Mbulu. The Glundandrans. The truly big guns."
Hyde-White looks at you with genuine shock. "That enthusiasm is commendable but that confidence may be suicidal, Will," he says gravely. "Do you truly believe you could take large risks?"  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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