Page 2 of Aria's Ascension

This may not be real, but it was probably the only chance she’d ever get to say goodbye. She shouldn’t squander it. She should stay long enough to go see them, to tell them the things she should’ve. Of course, there was time. Her men were fine.

Aria blew out a quiet breath. She felt better now that she had a plan. She hated not having a plan.

Glancing up at Foster, she held his gaze and voiced the words she should’ve said years ago.

“I know I haven’t been the easiest partner. I was… closed off for a long time after Irman died, and I was an asshole to you when we were assigned to each other. I’m glad you stuck with me. Regardless of how much was actually real, you’ve taught me a hell of a lot in the last five years, and I’m grateful.” Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she finished, “You’re my best friend, and I love you.”

The worry on his face morphed to full-on alarm. Leaning forward, he darted a look around then focused back on her. “Taylor, what the hell are you… ”

She cut him off. “Tell Elise… tell her to keep on kicking ass and to never let anyone tell her she can’t do something. She’s an amazing kid. She’s going to do great things.”

“Taylor, seriously, you’re freaking me the fuck out.”

Seeing his genuine distress, doubts began flickering in the back of her mind.

He seems so real.

His reactions and facial expressions mimicked her partner’s so well she began to worry she’d been wrong and this was actually happening.

Had Zhrovni lied? Did they actually steal people’s minds, and he’d only told her otherwise to make her think she couldn’t escape the arena?

Maybe… maybe he only used the fabricated version of home in between consecutive tournaments instead of going through the trouble of sending the gladiators’ minds back every time.

There was a feeling of pressure on the back of her head. It grew until it almost hurt before it released suddenly when she decided that made sense.

Had Zhrovni sent her back in truth this time because she was no longer under his control? He’d said something about Federation-approved technology. She remembered that. That implied there was a governing body on that world with laws even a slimy fucker like him obeyed. Maybe he wasn’t allowed to kill her outright and sending her consciousness back to Earth was his only means of being rid of her.

If that were true, the possibility that she’d lost her men just became a reality.

Her breathing picked up speed and panic sank its claws into her, but she fought against it and tried to think rationally.

The sky this morning. I’m sure that was wrong. Skies don’t change like flicking on a light switch. I know that. And I don’t remember the drive to work or getting to my desk.

Didn’t she know this wasn’t real? She’d been so certain of that moments ago. Aria lowered her hand to stroke the grip of her gun and startled. For just a second, she thought she felt bare skin but, glancing down, saw her sidearm right where it was supposed to be.

No, I remember the lab. This has to be some kind of virtual reality implanted into my brain. It’s… glitching. Yes. Because I’m not under the suppression any longer.

This wasn’t real. She was almost sure of it. Even if Zhrovni didn’t steal bodies, only minds, this had to be fake, just some fancy alien virtual reality shit.

It’s not real. It’s not real…

She repeated that over and over again in her mind until the mantra began to change.

I will know I am dreaming, I will know I am dreaming…

With sudden realization, Aria raised her hands. Did they look strange? A little blurry? She got the distinct feeling they weren’t quite the right shape, but neither could she pinpoint what was off about them.

Glancing under the desk at her feet, she thought she was wearing her usual work shoes, but the longer she stared, the more they looked bare. Lifting her head, she stared at people walking past before shifting her gaze to the wall of windows beyond them. Little by little, the more she focused on her surroundings, the more the edges of the room began to blur.

The breath whooshed out of her, and her shoulders relaxed.

“Taylor, what the hell is going on with you today? Do I need to be worried, here?”

Foster’s question brought her attention back to him. Everything else in this construct may be falling apart under scrutiny, but he was still clear. For some reason, that made her smile.

Aria nodded reassuringly. “It’s going to be okay, Foster. I have to go, now. I won’t be coming back, not if I succeed. You’ve been a hell of a friend. I’ll miss you.”

With that, she pushed out of her chair and turned to leave before she could get confused again. Foster called out to her, demanding to know where she was going, telling her to come back, that they would deal with whatever she was going through together.

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