Chapter 304: Chapter 304 - Everything ’Wants’ To Be Self Sufficient Nowadays
"Transportation, that’s easy enough. Yep. Got it covered."
"Claire. Let me be clear. I do not need you to necessarily tell me everything, but I would at least like to feel like I have input in whatever you are doing - or I am *going* to find a way to hide her while leaving the city on my own."
She is a little big to stuff in that suitcase of hers, but something like that ’flight case’... well, I would figure something out! Once again she was quiet. I don’t even hear the tap of keys on the other end that had started up a few moments ago.
"...It’s kind of cute that you don’t trust me, either. Almost makes me want to ask who hurt you and hug you to my chest. But your complaint is fair."
It feels like almost everything she said except the last part was needless. A short growl escapes my throat, before I cover my mouth and look back toward the bedroom. I shouldn’t be making aggressive sounds that she might react to.
"Easy, I’m only kidding. I definitely want to, but that doesn’t feel like my role and I’d rather not die young. Mine is getting one of our shell companies’ self-driving service vehicles out to your apartment building while making it all look as routine as possible."
Blinking rapidly at the section of her response I actually cared about right now, I quickly review what Helene knows about the technology. Which turns out to be very little.
"Self... driving? So it moves on its own."
"If you program the destination. I’ll load the app and credentials on your phone and link a tutorial after we hang up. Since you’re so untrusting, you probably don’t want to tell me where you are going."
"Can you make sure no one tracks the destination?"
"Already intend to corrupt the logs. You can calm down, you don’t have to think of everything. I know you are worried, but-"
"How long? Until it arrives."
Interrupting her before she can go on about how much it sounds like I care, I hear her chuckle. A noise that calms something inside but frays even more. That sense of kindness despite her quirks, while I am just barely holding together under my own.
> Yeah, I’ll admit it. I also put the furniture in front of the door so it takes me longer than a second to bolt out of it in case I panic about how involved I am getting... <
Whimpers as response and blue eyes that look away from me. It’s not like I expect anything the wolf could ’say’ or do would be very effective for therapy.
However, I am also used to this - to holding back my predisposition to retreat toward negativity. It is most definitely something you have to learn to do, to remain a functioning individual... well, to varying success.
"You can track it on the app in a little bit. Assuming I don’t crash the thing getting it there, shouldn’t be all too long."
"What do you mean you? Don’t tell me you intend-"
"No, no. Not going out on my own. Truth is that there is *supposed* to be a bunch of hardware and software level restraints to prevent the auto-pilot from working without a human at the wheel."
I could feel the ’but...’ coming from a mile away. And her response and admissions over ’tweaking a few vehicles’ makes it clear that she is definitely a criminal when she is not a respected assistant.
More to the point, I am surely now an accomplice for not reporting her to the federal authorities.
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Kyrie had managed to pull herself more upright against the pillows after I read all of the documentation I was sent. Though that effort clearly cost her, appearing even more fragile as she leaned there than she did in the forest when she had sealed away her wolf.
"How are you feeling?"
"Still... unsteady. But I can manage sitting upright for a drive."
The difference of course, is that she did not seal anything intentionally this time. The silver is just inhibiting her strength.
> But apparently not the power of her ears. <
Normally, I might say something about the rudeness of eavesdropping. However... the matter involved her personal safety. I would have done the same thing.
She started to push the blankets aside, then paused when I didn’t move from the doorway to help. I’m not sure what sort of face I’m making, exactly, but she gives me a look like she doesn’t like it.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Citra."
"Just... watching you try to stand on your own. It’s... annoying."
The notification chimed on my phone, from that app, letting me know the car had arrived. It did take me a little while to read, but still... did that woman speed here like she was playing a video game?
> Well, she did say her crime was controlled through camera and ’joystick’ sort of like a real life one... <
A sudden coughing fit makes me turn my head. I couldn’t exactly look up what happens to a werewolf who breathes in silver particles, but I could look up things like breathing in various dusts. It did not paint the best picture for humans.
But at least I know now that coughing is good. It means her body is trying to expel it through mucus. And the lung scarring if the coughs cause tears... hopefully can be regenerated by her wolf.
"Why?"
Glancing back at the skin of the interrogator, as pale as the hair on top of it, I squint in displeasure once more. To see her skin - normally nearly as flawless as my own - in such a state makes me irrationally angry.
"I’m afraid I don’t know what you are asking."
"Why is it annoying? Please, save me some of my breath and use context..."
Raising my chin and sneering just a bit at her for that nurture manipulating comeback, I shake my head side to side. If she has the energy to snark, then maybe she is right and she will be fine.
> Vrika, you are spot on this evening. Yes, I am in fact going to use that as a solid excuse to not activate | Matron’s Monitor |. I would also rather not think about ever regretting avoiding it, so if you could kindly stop minding my reasoning patterns... <
In my mindscape, the wolf paces circles around the slab’s edges. Like it is patrolling for the bad thoughts that keep the forest around us rumbling, like thunder rolling through.
"Because you are not even asking for help. Do not take away my ability to refuse. You are sick, Kyrie. Do not act... like you are sparing me. It is harder to see you struggle at a distance than it is to feel you tremble in my arms."
Slinging everything back into her suitcase as I ranted, I stalked over to her next and glared for a solid six seconds. The contrite look on her face was even more infuriating!
Huffing and going for my own backpack... I realize most everything of importance is in my Stash, but there are a few small things I could take from the apartment and bring to it, so I do.
When I finish, I silently helped her to her feet... noting how she leaned into my support without pride or overthinking getting in the way. Which, believe it or not, also makes me angry.
> Why should it not?! If she did not have the willingness to remain so fiercely independent, she never should have posed as such! <
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The vehicle that waited outside was kind of conspicuous, but kind of not. Black paint. Some sort of ’truck’. With a large letter logo. Also, a large solid box shape on the back end of the ’bed’.
I guess she did say service vehicle... I am not sure what I am expecting, but I suppose I have seen lots of similar things making their way along the city roadways. It’s best feature were the dark tinted windows that I could not see through.
> At least, I thought they were great, until I became unsure if anyone was waiting inside to ambush us... <
My wolf and I opened the door in fear, in secret - and on the cusp of a full transformation. But settled into the driver’s seat quickly like I never had a doubt. Kyrie carefully lowered herself into the passenger side on her own, immediately leaning against the headrest and closing her eyes.
She did let me put her baggage up in the ’specialty tool’ filled storage area in the back - which I admit made me curious about the company this was appropriated from, as it seems to mostly be electrical related things.
Yet, the Alpha had regained some of her rebellious streak a bit ago and had demanded that being carried from the apartment, down the hallway, on the elevator, and into this alley had been ’far enough’.
"Are you comfortable now?"
"Just drive. Wherever it is you are taking me."
Notably, her behavior only started when I told her I would not tell her that. I guess she is upset that I would not trust her with that information. But how could I?
> Even this automobile is going to be abandoned by the road partway. Because laying false trails can require a bit of sacrifice. <