Dez

 

The lab was eerily alike to the one at the TLO foundry in Bear Valley. Scrawls of equations and formulas on the boards, lines of test tubes on the shelves. But it wasn’t hundreds of feet underground and covered in dust. It was in Cambridge and I was waiting for a graduate student to finish cleaning up. He was yawning as he wiped down the counters.

Finally, he moved out of the room, shrugging on a winter coat and I dropped down out of the ceiling as soon as his footsteps faded away. Working quickly, I went through the test tubes, until I found what I was looking for. Carefully, I placed a small metal case on the counter.

Inside were rows of dummy test tubes, all filled with various hues and innocuous as the day was long. Grinning a little, I swapped them out, one by one, snatching the ones I knew to be dangerous. It was a feint at this point, something to buy time while I figured out how to end the TLO operation in Cambridge. And figure out exactly what they were up to.

Beyond the obvious of course; this lab was partnered with MIT and some of the best minds in the country worked here.

Going over to the boards, I carefully snapped picture after picture. Turning, I was about to sneak a peek at the computer in the corner to see if it would yield any clues when I paused.

Then I leaped back up into the ceiling, taking care to replace the vent cover as I did so. Peering through, I saw a silent shadow enter the room.

Taking care to remain perfectly still, I didn’t even frown, only watched.

This wasn’t security or a custodian. No, this figure moved with a feminine, catlike grace and I took in every step. Every detail. Down the outfit hugging her body.

A curious outfit, all black, made of a tough fibrous cloth that was both flexible and durable. Thick bullet and claw proof pieces of armor were sewn into it – from the chest to the groin, back and front, as well as the elbows and knees. She was also wearing gauntlets, an overlapping series of matte metal pieces across her arms.

Anubis.

I'd recognize that gear anywhere, as I was wearing something similar. Only mine hadn't been issued, but stolen.

So, the Order had gotten wind of either myself or the TLO after all. Beni had warned me this might happen. I had to admit, I hadn’t expected them to get here so soon.

From the chatter I’d picked up on, the Order was in somewhat of dire straits. Why would they send in a top-level agent, as it was clear from her straight spine alone, for something like this? Was something else going on? And why just her? Didn’t Anubis shifters work in teams?

I stayed a second longer than I should and I saw a flash of silver as her eyes lit upon the vent. Moving to the side, I rolled away and silently dropped through another, hitting the ground as her feet disappeared into the ceiling. And I couldn’t help but grin to myself.

I was getting better at this.

Weighing my options, I almost waited, curious to see how she’d react. But that was asking for trouble and I was doing better at avoiding that. Sneaking through the door, I was out of the room and down the hall by the time she’d realized what had happened.

I wasn’t sure if I was my imagination, but I thought I heard a light, rueful laugh.

Moving faster now, I slipped from shadow to shadow, making my way up to the roof and my escape route. First, my eyes went to the skyline, a blur of lights through the swirling snow. Then I turned, biting my lower lip to keep from laughing.

She stood behind me, a cat-like shadow, her chin tilted up as she took me in. Her hands were on her hips and I thought I saw her eyes narrow. Unable to help myself, I gave a small wave.

“You almost had me there,” she said lightly, as she moved into a fighting stance. Even through the mask, her voice was melodic and low. One of sharp wit and redolent warmth. “Nice gear.” I inclined my head and she tilted hers. “Ten years out of date – what, going for a vintage look?”

“Maybe,” I teased, my voice gruff and muffled by the mask. “Got a problem with old school?”

“No,” she replied evenly. “Only with thieves.”

“Who said it’s stolen?” I rejoined. “This was given to me. Sorry for the mix-up.”

“Well, don’t you have bad manners for a wanted man,” she said, her tone becoming more official.

“What could you want with me?” I asked, feigning puzzlement. “Wouldn’t the Order of Anubis be more vested in the TLO machinations going on below our feet?”

Her posture changed subtly, shoulders loosening and hands dropping a few inches. Part of me knew I should take advantage of her moment of surprise to overwhelm her and get away, but I couldn’t bring myself to indulge in an unfair fight.

I could tell she had questions and I folded my arms, waiting.

“Vigilantism by a shifter is not the way we handle things,” she finally said, but there was a slight wavering of uncertainty. “You’ve gone after inanis civilians. Bad guys, yes, but you can’t take the law into your own hands.”

“Ah. Not even in these times?” I parried. “When you find yourself beginning to doubt the Order and what it can accomplish. I mean, pray tell, why is a top-level Anubis field agent in Boston going after a vigilante when there are wars breaking out? How is it going with keeping a lid on the TLO situation? How many hybrids has she created? How many shifters?”

“How do you–” She caught herself. “Listen, I appreciate what you’re doing, but you are untrained. And in way over your head. Turn yourself in, now, and punishment will be minimal.”

“I’m afraid I cannot do that,” I said remorsefully. “I hate to cause you trouble, miss, but–”

Her eyes flashed, and in another second, she was across the roof, swinging at my face. I blocked her, but the force of her blow had me skidding back. Knowing I was outmatched, I went on the defensive and kept out of her reach, moving and darting quickly.

She was throwing out punch after punch but she couldn’t land one. “What the hell?” she muttered. “How are you so damn fast?”

“King Cheetah,” I said, to throw her off and keep out of her reach.

The woman stumbled and stared. “That-that is impossible. Hey–!”

I was at the edge of the roof and I waved again. “You could always help me if you’re gonna follow me around like a shadow.” Her shoulders went up around her ears and she began to run towards me with everything she had. “Don’t believe me? Why don’t you ask and find out why Dr. Crane still hasn’t been interrogated?”

With that, I turned and leaped, shifting as I did so. My paws lightly hit the opposite roof and I darted away, gone in the span of a breath, the snow coming down harder and covering my tracks.

 

It was funny how easy it was to hide things within the layers of bureaucracy.

Beni was the person who had opened my eyes to that. Back then, of course, he’d been Professor Torres and I was a lanky undergrad, a little uncertain about taking my first class about shifters.

I’d glanced around, wondering how many of my peers were shifters and how many were like me, an inanis born into a shifter family. Endlessly curious about a world they could only seem to catch a glimpse of even though they more or less existed in it.

How does this work? I wondered. What if someone did manage to sneak in? Would we all be compromised? How was it handled?

Of course, this was long before I knew about the Order, too, so I’d no idea there were actual shifters assigned to protecting those very boundaries. Some of whom worked part-time at universities as administrators and assistants, screening students.

After the last student filed in, Beni had raised an eyebrow and glanced around. "Anybody in here who is unaware there is a good chunk of the human population that can shift into animals at will?" The silence was electric as we looked around and Beni had cracked an evil grin, chuckling at us. "Relax, freshmen, you're safe. We've got protocols upon protocols in place. Like everywhere else we remain hidden in plain sight. Now, why is that the case?"

I'd been the only one to venture a guess, trying to speak to both the spiritual and political aspect of the world of shifters. But Beni hadn't been satisfied. He'd pressed and gone after answers like the wolf shifter he was. Relentless in his pursuit.

At the end of the class, I remembered marveling at the simplicity and elegance of using the system to shield us. For instance, sometimes students were told there were requirements for this course they hadn’t met if they weren’t shifters. Or there was a script that delineated only specific students could see the classes for and about shifters.

I’d been so fascinated, it had led to a graduate thesis of examining how shifters have cleverly layered their mythology and stories within the histories of the lands they lived in. Once you learned how to spot their secrets and codes, you could see them everywhere.

Sitting back, I watched as my own students filed in and smiled. Now I taught a seminar on that very subject matter, one that was almost instantly filled up at any university it was offered at.

I’d taken advantage of that in order to get this class at Boston University. They’d been so grateful, I’d even gotten a coveted top-floor lecture hall. It overlooked the windy Charles River, the students sitting in a semi-raised stadium around the front of the room.

It was one of my favorite setups, barring a more traditional lecture where we sat a round-table and could get into a lively discussion.

I was dressed in my favorite start of school outfit. A crisp, tailored dark gray shirt and pants, along with a pair of waterproof Tims because the slush-laden sidewalks outside were no joke.

Standing up, I went over and closed the door, the chatter abetting somewhat as curious glances came my way. It was strange to think in the world of academia I had name recognition now. Or as my friend, Kesari would say, I’m “an even bigger nerd than before.”

Smiling easily, I leaned against the front table as I went into my class intro spiel. The first time I’d done this as a TA, I’d been soaked through by the end of it. Now, I was used to it. Teaching was one of my greatest passions and pleasures, something that even the laziest and hard-assed of students found difficult to ignore. Enthusiasm stoked enthusiasm, I’d always found.

By the end of it, even the half-awake kid in the back had sat up and had an intrigued look on his face. Most of the students were sitting up straighter, eager for more.

“We’re gonna have fun this semester, I promise. But there’ll be hell to pay, too. And by the way, this should go without saying. You’re all adults. Don’t be late.”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I heard a squeak. Turning, I saw a student had snuck in and was in the process of closing the door, only to be clearly caught out.

“At least you got here in time for the warning,” I said dryly. “Come on in and take a seat.”