Page 24 of The Cerulean Sister
"Is this . . . ?" I turn to him, utterly shocked at the accuracy.
"It's a simulation of Frith."
"It looks almost identical to the field we parked the ship in."
He nods, looking around for himself.
"Do you have Cosima too?" I say before thinking.
"Yes."
"The Estate?"
He nods again. "Would you like to see? Interiors are less exact; those trees will be stone pillars and a staircase on that wall. The colors will be off, but close."
It sounds exactly like the grand hall in the Estate.
"No. No, I don't want to see it, at least not right now. Is that ok?" I focus back on the wide-open space of Frith.
"Of course." He stops typing to look at me for a moment, assessing if the topic was too much for me. "Would you like to continue?"
When I nod, he steps off the podium and walks to where I assume the entrance is, now completely camouflaged.
"We can start slow." He double taps the wall and a locker opens, lights flicking to life inside.
I can't help but laugh when he extracts an enormous gun from the compartment where several are illuminated by the cold interior light.
"Yes, that seems very slow," I tease, which grants me a helmet shake as he joins me on the platform again.
"This is for me. I am joining you," he says dryly.
With another bright flicker, the room once again changes to an entirely different atmosphere. It's cold and grey, almost like the cargo hull of August’s ship, and the trees that flourished throughout the chamber are now large metal pillars with sharp edges.
"Is this more target practice?" I ask.
"Yes, first the targets will be like the ones before, then they will move around the walls." He calibrates his gun.
"You are shooting that in here?" I inspect the sheer size of it.
"It is not like the ones you have seen before. No damage will be done." He stands with his back to me, lifting it and readying himself. "The last round of targets will be different. The simulation will project figures that will run toward you, but they will not cause harm. Do you understand?"
"Figures?"
"Human figures, but just the outline. They will advance, hide behind the columns, and fire at us. If at any point you want to stop, say the word." His weapon makes a high-pitched whine as it activates. "Face the other way, Priestess, and do not hold back."
There is an upbeat edge to his voice, like he is eager to do this with me. I am not sure why, but for some reason, I am excited too as I press myself against his strong, armored back.
A countdown begins in a strangely monotone voice. When it gets to one, a target appears on the wall in front of me.
I rub my palms together to warm them and prepare for use. The tingly feeling right before my light comes forth flares as I lock in on the target, and without a second thought, my light streaks out with enthusiasm.
The projection of the target breaks apart and another stationary one appears farther down the wall. I can hear 99 behind me shooting in quick succession, and I realize the faster I eliminate one, the more will appear to replace it.
I shoot the targets again and again as each new one appears, until my pattern of pause and fire is as swift as 99's.
But then the wall changes and we are in a different building, with more detail and depth. Targets move and pop out from around the metal columns. I jump as one appears at my feet and I quickly disarm it with my light.
"Remember, if you want to stop, tell me. Are you ready for more?"
