Redemption

Redemption Part 33

We landed on Dusk's roof and got out, each bearing identical precious cargo in our coms. Yarrow was already waiting for us, his arms folded, metal arm glinting in the sun.

"You can end the pretense, you know," said Yarrow, looking at me.

My heart dropped. "What—do you mean?"

"You can take off that holomask. We know who you are."

"I'm—I'm—" I struggled to remember my Mirage name. My mind drew a blank.

"We know you're not an invisible. Merali told us you aren't even a mirage."

Sym looked at me in alarm. Then shook her head. "Essim told Merali. Remember?"

My heart sank. "Just because you know who I'm not doesn't mean you know who I am."

"On the contrary," said Yarrow. "By a process of deduction, we arrived at the likely conclusion. After we went on an investigation of our own when...certain things about you didn't add up."

I didn't know what to say. Could he really know?

"Considering who you are, you're probably smart not to want to reveal yourself in the open. Come." He motioned for us to follow him inside.

It could be a trap. But we had to get the secret about Dazzle. Part of me just wanted to run, not be trapped by the syndicate again. Why would I want to get closer to Dazzle anyway? I had to remind myself it wasn't just for my own freedom. Besides, I had invisible protection that wouldn't let me get seriously injured. Getting roughed up a bit...was apparently just part of the job description.

We followed Yarrow into the elevator, which stopped just a few floors down, and we entered a bright, airy room which looked out onto the western side of Desolation. White faux leather chairs and a couch were arranged in a comfortable layout in the center, accented with potted trees. Yarrow picked one of the lemons from a tree with his metal hand and absently tossed it into the air to catch it. He gestured with his other hand for us to sit and I sat between Sol and Sym on the couch.

"You can take the mask off now," said Yarrow. "Your secret is safe with us."

"I—don't know what you're—"

"We know, Jet," came a voice from the other side of the room. A man walked over to us, the colors on his face melding with those on his suit, changing from the olive green of the walls to an iridescent shimmer.

Merali. He held a wine glass in his hand and a bandage interrupted the smooth equilibrium of colors on his face. He smiled. "I can be almost invisible when I want to be. Except this ruins the effect a bit." He lifted his hand, his fingers nearly brushing the bandage.

I didn't see any reason to keep up the pretense. I doubted Merali had any designs against me—besides, the syndicate wouldn't dare hurt a March. I swiped the program off, and the holomask melted away from my skin.

I breathed a sigh of relief. There was something freeing about not having to hide your face.

"There," said Merali, looking at Yarrow. "Didn't I tell you?" He sat down in the chair on the left, a hint of weariness behind his breezy air.

"Yes," said Yarrow, eyeing me. "We would've figured it out eventually."

"But perhaps not come to the correct conclusion, at least not so quickly."

"It's not as if it matters much. Though it is a rather clever ruse—something we might have come up with. To pretend you're captured by Dazzle to coopt the masses to look for her."

I nodded, still dazed by this turn of events.

"Don't worry, we won't reveal your secret. We don't wish to antagonize the Marches."