Page 61 of The Cerulean Sister
It is evident 99's intention is to keep me from having to go back to the priestess order when he suggests going straight to Leema, of somehow getting around the wards and sneaking into the Temple Of Divine Mothers and speaking to my sister directly.
Convincing her to leave with me . . . somehow.
August and 99 strategize and even bring up previous extraction missions they are familiar with from Viathan’s history.
Calliape holds up a hand to interject before they get carried away. “All of those were done without the presence of protection wards and with no priestess order. You are both thinking too much like Viathans. I could get her inandout without notice. I've carried Ferren across a field and out of danger’s way," Calliape says, almost offended that her gift is not being utilized.
She still feels guilty for not being fast enough before Crixa attacked us in the grand hall. And now I can tell she believes she is in some way responsible for what is happening. She keeps volunteering to make up for it, but she has nothing to be guilty for.
Why can't I find the right words to make her believe she is not to blame? If it was not for her, I would still be thinking Thea's message was only startling enough to send Leema a letter.
"Even if the ward was set off, Calliape could take Ferren into the temple quickly and then get out with Leema." August makes a motion with his hand, a strange, little way of showing Calliape's speed.
I have no doubt that she could quickly get me into that temple and then bring me back to the ship. But how would Leema respond if I showed up demanding she come with me after so many years apart?
Calliape is gifted, but she cannot fold the type of distance between my sister and me.
"There is a Cosima dockworker who has kept a Viathan safe house for our government in the past." August crosses over in front of us, almost excited to build onto their forming plan, one that needs to be halted before it grows too big.
"I am familiar; he is still loyal to Viathan," 99 confirms.
"I can bring them there or back to the ship," Calliape adds.
99 crosses his arms like he is considering, then nods. "But if something goes wrong, we will need a map for Ferren to memorize."
Calliape looks a little sad at that comment but doesn't disagree.
"I have the map of the city here," August says, tapping on a data pad with purpose.
He sets it flat on the desk as it lights up, bringing the floating hologram of Cosima to life. August zooms in until I can see the building peaks of the Estate and the boundless wall surrounding the city.
I'm surprised by my own reaction to seeing the structures three dimensional in front of me, the bell tower and the Estatewing where the library is in the distance. It all looks so real, even if the buildings are bright blue outlines of light.
"We dock here. The safe house is here," August informs with a jabby, pointed finger.
I stand from my chair and pace across the room, trying to put distance between myself and the strange map of my old home illuminating the space of my new one.
I listen as they flesh out the details of Calliape bringing me back and forth. Of what could go wrong, of what I will say to Leema, of how I could show her the memories and convince her to come with me.
But they have no idea that even if I could convince Leema that the temple was doing something horrible, the state of our relationship leads to complications they are not considering. I know without a doubt it would be easier to bring down a temple than to count on Leema to put her trust in me.
I watch as they form a coordinated and beautiful way forward, and their voices go from frustrated to heightened with the possibility of it truly working. They are thinking like strategic Viathans and utilizing a Frithian’s gifts, but I am from Cosima.
When I sigh and turn back, the three of them are looking at me.
"Is there a way to play messages on that?" I point to the data pad with a red line through the map, where they are tracking a path.
99 slowly shakes his head. "But I archived them in my records before we left the beacon room."
His forearm falls to his side, as if the messages are a heavy burden on it and not stored in the armor there that doubles as a data pad.
"I would like you to play the one from the temple the lord general was referencing," I say.
"Why?" August's face is creased with confusion.
"I cannot remember every word that was said, and I want to hear how it was phrased."
"But we are . . ." He points his palms in a darting motion, as if they are closing in on a single target. "If you would just come look."
