To the edge of the sky (short storys)

The Masquerade (Halloween Special) pt. 3

I'm nervous.

Because I'm supposed to capture a queen.

Well, she's not a queen exactly, but she looks like one.

I rub my hands nervously as I look down at the woman in white and blue. She looks...not angelic, but divine in her elaborate clothing.

Too good to be touched by me and my uncertain, grasping hands.

I sigh.

What am I thinking? Focus, Zero.

Yet, I'm supposed to. I'm supposed to capture her. The leader of KAIROS.

I can't see her face behind her intricate silver and blue mask, but I'm curious as to what she looks like.

I squint harder from my vantage point at her as she watches Eight sing, as if I could see behind the mask if I try hard enough.

Maybe I could...

"Zero. How are you doing?" Six's cheerful voice comes in clear through my augs.

I know he's trying to calm my nerves, and I'm grateful.

"I'm fine."

"Good. Four just notified me he's in position, if you need him."

That's part of why I'm so nervous. If things somehow go wrong on my end...Four will kill her.

Nine's voice comes in this time. "Let's not need him. I'd like to avoid any bloodshed."

"Aah, seriously try not to get her killed. I want her data," Three chimes in.

"Focus on your mission, Zero," Four says.

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes and shaking my head.

No pressure, right...

"...Understood," I whisper.

The comms finally go silent and the sound of Eight's aria comes back in.

It's beautiful, but I've heard him practice enough times that I find myself softly humming along to it.

I focus back in on High Priestess from the pillar I'm standing beside. I note that none of her normal entourage seem to be with her.

There's no one matching the descriptions of Temperance or the Magician sitting next to her, and no sign of Icarus, either.

And Artemis...

I shift my gaze to where my map says Five is. I can see him speaking with a woman with long black curly hair, dressed in black and gold.

They both have wine glasses and she's leaning in towards Five.

Lucky...

It seems like all Five has to do is play around with women.

I suppress a sigh and look around for Six instead.

As expected, I can't see him, but I know he's watching the exits. I don't even know where Seven is...Somewhere mixed in with the crowd, maybe.

I focus and turn on my augs to tell everyone what I've seen.

"High Priestess seems to be alone...At least Magician and Temperance aren't with her."

It's Three who replies first. "My info says they're here, so they're here. They should be sitting with her."

"Obviously they aren't. Could they be onto us?" Four asks.

"Six," Nine's calm voice cuts in through the chatter. "Can you try to find them?"