One in Twelve Thousandth Percent

Chapter 4:

Back in the main corridor, Misaki turns to me. "So birthday girl, what do you want to do?" Before I have the chance to answer, much less muster a thought to respond with, that voice returns. Hikari. Ugh...

"Oh I forgot it was your birthday. So you think that just because you're 18 now means you're some hot shot? Especially now that you have your enhancement?"

I shrug. "No, not really. I'm just me. People will think what they want. Including you, obviously. Besides, of everyone here, I was the last to turn 18 and the last to get my power."

"Yeah, well I think you're full of yourself. Something about you doesn't seem right, hasn't seemed right for a while now, but I'm not sure exactly what."

Quick Draw Misaki, right on her heels. "Well, obviously intelligence wasn't part of your share of the genes. You're quick to look for a fault in Kaylin because you want to make your own faults seem less." Hikari scowls. "I'm not talking to you."

While Misaki and Hikari stare each other down, I get an idea and start looking around this section of the corridor. There aren't very many people here. In fact, this particular section is just the three of us.

"Computer?"

"Yes, Junior Lieutenant Craft."

"How many liquids do not leave a smell when burnt?"

Just like earlier, the computer begins to list them off. Hikari screams and runs off. "I hate you!"

As she runs off, I just wave at her. "Thank you, computer."

"You're welcome, Jr. Lieutenant." Misaki just stands there with her jaw open and her hand over her mouth. "Oh my god, Kaylin."

I turn and shrug. "What?" She just looks at me. "What happened earlier? You never told me all of it."

"Remember that secondary reactor console fault?"

"Yeah. I heard Commander Pocket reaming Hikari for something related."

"Did you pay attention to the list of liquids that don't leave a smell when burnt?"

Misaki frowns, recalling the last few seconds. Then she gets wide eyed. "OH SHIT! That's how the console broke?"

"Yeah, on my way there I passed the guy that helped her make that mess. He was bragging to his buddy."

"Damn."

"But wait, there's more. When I get in the room, she's standing there mopping the floor, so I get to work. Mai walks in and Hikari says that she's tired. That's when I called up the computer. From what I could hear, she said she was going to be sick and ran out of the room."

Misaki couldn't keep her laughter in. We started walking. We didn't even know where we were going.

"Her face when I walked in was priceless." "I bet."

"We made eye contact. But because of the conversation I caught on my way in, I had this 'I know what you did' look on my face. She had to have known that I had an idea that it was her."

"HAHAHA. Yeah, and her running away just solidified the whole thing."

"Yup. Mai came over to the console after she left and asked me about it. I mentioned the guys I passed and when she put two and two together, she got that 'OHH' look on her face. I think I even saw a hint of embarrassment in her face too."

"Yeah, how were you NOT embarrassed?"

I shrug again. "I dunno. Guess that kind of thing just doesn't affect me. Maybe seeing things from both sides of the fence has given me immunity or something. I dunno."