One in Twelve Thousandth Percent

Chapter 20:

Sim Room One - Misjump Battle Attempt Three:

I return to my starting position and take another deep breath. I look up and stare right at the holographic 'Hikari'. Something feels... different this time. I take another deep breath as attempt number three begins.

"What do I mean, Perry?" I tilt my head this time. No wincing? This is optimistic. "It makes sense. Perry 'disappears' and 'Kaylin' shows up. You keep the same job, have the same family and everything. You even look similar in appearance, but change your hair and glasses. I don't know why I didn't realize it sooner. It wasn't until you slipped up and mentioned the whole 15 years bit that tipped me off."

"It wasn't a slip up. I was being honest with you, something that I'm now regretting."

"Why does that matter? She's happier living this life." Misaki says. "You remember how miserable she was before. Her several attempts to harm herself."

"Of course I remember all of that, I instigated most of it. I've never liked you, Perry." This time, I held my hand out at Misaki before she could speak and shake my head.

"You were always the favorite of everyone and you didn't even do anything. Always had the best grades, were given a promotion from supply first. I was going to take care of you if you didn't do it yourself, then maybe I could start getting some of the attention you were hoarding. But then you 'disappeared' and I never saw you again... until you came back looking like this... thing." She gestures at me. I wince again, but just barely. I eyeball the knife strapped to her hip.

^^^

Outside:

"Misaki, did you see that?" Annabelle points out. "Which part?" "The part where Kay doesn't flinch at hearing her deadname?" Misaki gets wide eyed. "Yeah, I did notice that. Wow." Kazumi chuckles. "Kay cut you off this time. Shit, for a girl who don't have them anymore, she's sure growing some big ass balls." The three of them chuckle at the joke. Misaki punches Kazumi's arm. "Just don't tell that joke in front of her, okay?" Kazumi nods, still laughing.

^^^

Inside:

Alright, here we go again. Third time's the charm.

"Well, I'm finally going to finish what I started all those years ago." Hikari pulls the knife. Suddenly the overhead comms go off and we hear Meira's voice. "FTL jump in ten seconds." As Misaki goes to move in front of me, this time I notice that Hikari momentarily shoots her eyes at the ceiling when the speaker goes off. "Like hell you–." Now!

Misaki gets cut off again as I swing around her, stopping both her speech and her motion. I rush in as Hikari is reaching for her power circle. Seeing me coming at her full speed, she puts the knife up and tries to take a defensive position while still going for the power circle. As soon as I'm in melee range, she swings and I snap, that reverberation ringing through the air again, red and green sparks circling my hand.

^^^

Outside:

"Misaki, did you hear that?" Annabelle points out again. "Yeah, that ringing sound? What is it?" Annabelle shrugs. "I'm not sure, but it happens when Kay snaps her fingers. That didn't happen on Mars, did it?" Misaki thinks for a second. "No, it didn't. Good point." "Wait a dadgum second, gals." Kazumi pipes in. "Do you see how confident she is in her abilities now? She wasn't nearly that confident back on Mars. Maybe that there sound is due to this new confidence?"

Annabelle nods. "Yeah, sis. You're right. She's been practicing her power and her martial abilities and that new confidence has brought her power to a new level." Misaki scratches her head, gazing at the screen. "And so quickly too. Wow."