Mirror Cycle

                            By:

                         Fox Cutter

    Chapter 7

Nervous would not be the best way to describe how I felt
right then. I was ten minutes away from being kidnapped, and
if all things were successful.I would then be able to deal
with Cain. Once I was on his base, we could close in and
take my double out.

Things were ready to go. Ravindar's bio-drone had arrived,
along with the promised tracker. I had fed Adric, and I felt
more comfortable now, my bra feeling a bit loose.

I had a gun as well. I probably wouldn't be keeping it
longer than a few minutes after my capture, but it helped to
keep things in character. Oria would not be caught without a
gun, no pun intended.

I took a deep breath, holding it in for a few seconds before
letting it back out. I brushed a few strands of hair from in
front of my face, and I looked up at Oria and Ravindar. We
were standing in the fold room, and almost ready to start.

"I'm beginning to get scared," I admitted, tucking my paws
under my arms. My ears twitched slightly as I spoke,
betraying my feelings.

Oria chuckled, placing a paw on my shoulder. "I have been
scared for a while. I'm just better at hiding it than you."
She pulled me to her, wrapping her arms around me tightly.
"Come back to me, safe and sound. Please?"

I let out a rough chuckle, kissing her on the cheek. "I
promise you I'll be back, alive and well. I'm just not sure
how long it will take."

She pulled away, a few lines of worry showing around her
eyes. She held herself a few feet away, paws on my shoulder.
There was a light in her eyes, a mixture of worry, dread,
and assurance. I smiled at her as we finally parted, neither
of us relaxing.

Taking another deep breath, I turned my head slightly to
look at Ravindar. "All right, let me see this tracker of
yours." I told him, holding out my paw.

He gave me a wary smile, holding out a flat black box-like
device. It was small; a foot tall and half that wide. Taking
it from him, I flipped it over in my paws. There were four
black buttons, smooth to the touch, that looked like
controls on one side They were almost invisible, there was
just a slight indentation around each one that even showed
they were there.

"How do I use it?" I asked, a little baffled. It could have
been a remote control for all I knew. It wouldn't be kept
with me once I was captured, it seemed too... obvious.

He shook his head, taking it back from me, flipping it so
the controls were placed under his thumb. "You don't use it,
I do. Turn around."

I tilted my head slightly, a bit surprised, but followed his
order, turning my back to him.

Then he grabbed my tail, right down near the base. I jumped,
letting out a slight 'eep' and looking over my shoulder to
glare at him. He smiled, holding the device up, then
lowering it back down, pressed it up against my rear, right
next to the base of my tail.

He then placed his paw onto my shoulder, pressing down
strongly. "Just relax," he said. I felt the device pressing
harder against my rear, then heard a soft click, followed by
a jolt of pain running through my skin. I tried to jump
away, but Ravindar held me as the electrical shock from the
device continued to flow through me.

Thirty very long seconds later it stopped. He relaxed the
paw on my shoulder slightly, then pulled the device away. I
pulled out of his grasp, and turned around to look at him a
bit unstable on my feet. "What the hell did you do?" I
asked, panting softly, one paw rubbing my ass, the other
over my heart.

"Reprogrammed your tracker implant," he answered with a
slight smile. "It will now monitor and send out location
information on a Guild frequency and encryption. It can't be
found, and it can not be removed. In theory, it can not be
jammed either."

I rubbed around the base of my tail, nodding slightly, and
dropped my other paw to my side. "Warn me next time, ok?"

He chuckled, "Maybe next time, but I felt it was better this
way. Don't you think, Oriana?" he glanced over at her.

She just shook her head. One arm was crossed over her chest,
the other was in front of her, her paw bent slightly and
resting under her chin. She had a half-smile, and a glint of
laughter in her eyes, but she remained silent.

I smiled, shaking my head slightly and flicking my tail as I
crossed my arms over my chest. "Thank you for your support,"
I humphed, I then turned to where the fold was, reaching out
to it with my mind. "Is the bio-drone ready?" I asked.

"Yes," Ravindar answered, shuffling around a bit behind me.

"Good," I answered with a slight sigh, I opened the fold to
a location just shy of where one of the teams of kidnapers
was located. All according to plan.

I held my breath as I stepped through onto the street,
brushing some more hair out of my face. Turning around, I
watched as the bio-drone stepped through as well. It looked
like Ravindar, but it was just wrong, the stance, the shape
of his face, the way the tail swished. It just wasn't him,
but only someone who knew him would be able to tell.

Snapping the fold closed, I drew in a long breath, and
shoved my paws in my pockets. I felt my pocket knife, and my
wallet, carrying the CSC ID that Oria had made. I hadn't
even gotten a chance to look at it yet.

"Are you ready?" I asked the 'drone. He nodded stiffly,
flicking his tail.

I hated bio-drones, hated to use them. The damn things just
gave me the creeps. They never actually seem 'right' there
is always something off. It felt stronger now than it did
before, perhaps because this one was going to be destroyed
in a few moments.

I started down the street, undoing my hair in the process,
allowing it to fall down my back with a few stands hanging
over my shoulder. Looking back over my shoulder, I saw the
'drone walking along behind me, a slightly stupid look on
its face.

I chuckled as I walked around the corner, and moved towards
the kidnapers. I was breathing slowly, trying hard not to
show how I was feeling. I suspect that I failed, I didn't
have the same control over my ears and tail that someone who
had them all their life would.

We were halfway down the block when the attack finally came.
First I heard a loud shot behind me. Spinning around I saw
the 'drone falling to the ground, most of its throat gone.

I knew it was fake, I knew it was a type of biological
robot, but it made me ill anyway. Spinning around on the
ball of my foot I tried to keep myself from throwing up.
Then I felt a sharp jab into my shoulder, heavier then a pin
prick, and painful.

My paw went to my shoulder as I looked down to see what had
happened. There was a tranquilizer dart sticking out between
my fingers. I was now drugged. I had taken the serum Elena
had given me, but I was starting to feel dizzy.

I let out a long gasp, falling to my knees. This was normal,
it would pass in a few minutes, but for now it was helpful,
making my act all the more convincing.

There was a weight on my shoulder as someone wrapped a paw
around my arm. I closed my eyes, this was where I was
supposed to be passed out, so I played along with that idea.
I felt myself lifted over someone's shoulder, and carried
along.

I could hear a few voices behind and around me, but no one
seemed to be stopping my captor-- that was good I guessed.
If someone saved me now, this would all be for nought!

Then came the familiar feeling as I went through a fold. I
twitched my tail without thinking about it much. Things were
going well at the moment; I just hoped they would continue
to go well as this adventure went on.

There was a burst of conversation around me; a few people
were arguing in a language I didn't understand at the
moment. Given time my translator would pick it up, but I
wasn't sure how much time I had at the moment.

The arguing continued, getting stronger around me. I felt
something run over my body, and my gun was removed, just as
I had known would happen.

A few more comments were passed around, then I was moved
through another fold. I hoped that Ravindar's tracker was
working, telling everyone where I was going, because if it
didn't... I just didn't want to think about it.

Once I was on the other side, I felt myself set down on my
stomach on a metal surface of some kind. I kept my eyes
closed, flicking my tail as my face pressed against the
metal. I was feeling a bit better; the serum was working off
the final effects of the tranquilizer as I lay there.

I felt two sets of paws frisking over my body, down over my
sides and under me as well. One set paused a moment to cop a
feel, but I let it pass for now.

I heard more conversation in the background, the language
the same as before. Then they started to strip me, pulling
off all my clothing down to my panties and bra. They left me
in those, for now, and seemed to leave.

I continued to lie there, trying hard not to move. My left
paw was pinned under my waist, and was starting to go numb.
My leg had been left slightly hanging off the table and was
starting to hurt as the edge of the table cut into it. I had
to work very hard to keep from moving, and not shift to a
more comfortable position.

After what felt like hours, I heard footsteps approaching
me. Paws wrapped around my stomach, and I was hefted over
another set of shoulders. Feeling rushed back into my paw,
and pins and needles prickled all over my arms, it felt
good, but like I needed to rub it. I prevented myself from
doing so.

I was carried along for another few minutes, then was set
back down again. This time I was on a soft surface that felt
warm, and almost wrapped itself around me. Stinking down
into it, I had to work hard to keep from purring.

There was some whispered conversation in the back ground,
then I heard what sounded like a door being closed. I still
didn't move, holding as still as I could.

Another few minutes passed before I finally felt someone
else sit down next to me. Whatever I was laying down on
shifted as the weight changed on it.

"You can stop the charade," a deathly familiar voice spoke.
My voice, but deeper, rougher. It sounded like he had once
damaged his vocal cords. It was no other than Cain.

I didn't move.

He sighed, placing his hand on my shoulder. "Ms. Cutter, you
have done exactly as I knew you would. We know you're quite
awake, so please stop acting as if you're not."

I sighed... he knew! How the fuck did he know? He wasn't
supposed to know, he shouldn't have known, but he did! Damn!
I lifted my head, cracking open my eyes. "How did you know?"
I asked softly, finding myself looking across a large room.
Heavy tapestries covered the cut rock walls, and the stone
was thickly carpeted.

"That you would try something so foolish? I know you, I know
you both, I knew how you would act and respond. You didn't
think I really am this sloppy do you? I'm sure your
bodyguard easily dealt with the first team you came into
contact with."

I nodded, raising myself into a sitting position, my back
still towards Cain. I was on a massive bed, large enough
that five or six people could comfortably sleep on it. There
was a desk on the far side of the room. Plain and made of
wood, it look slightly used, but not often. A single
bookshelf, cut into the wall behind it, was half full with
books.

"I don't leave anything to chance. I put the proper
information into my men's minds. So that when you took one
to your vampire friend, she found out exactly what she was
supposed to. Now you are here, and things are going
according to plan."

I snorted, shaking my head slightly. "And what plan would
that be?"

He laughed, "Not for you to know, you're just bait. I'm sure
the cavalry is coming, and once your husband is here, then
things will proceed to plan."

Oh shit YES! He didn't know, he still thought I was Oriana!
Yes! This situation could still be saved. It was going to
take a lot more, and damn quick, planning on my part. Time
to start thinking on my feet.

"So it was a trap," I said, turning around to face my
captor. It was still a shock; he had my face, but it wasn't
my face. His hair was cut short, he was clean shaven, and he
didn't wear glasses. The most prominent part of his face was
a scar that ran down from his left ear down to the corner of
his mouth, giving him a slight sneer. It wasn't as large as
it has been the last time I had encountered him, but still
drew the eye.

He gave me an over-exaggerated nod. "Yes, a trap. I knew
once the first attack failed you would allow yourself to be
kidnapped, to lead your husband to me."

I sighed, shaking my head. "What are you going to do to me?"
I asked, a hint of anger in my voice. "I'm almost nude as it
is. Are you going to strip me the rest of the way, then rape
me?" An involuntary shiver slipped down my back as I said
it.

He chuckled. "Hardly my dear, I have no interest in you for
such a release. I stripped you to insure you didn't have any
concealed weapons that you could pull out at the worst
possible time. No, no, your clothing is right there," he
motioned back with his hand. I was surprised, he had both
right now. Last time we had meet, his right hand was just a
stump. He must have gotten a prosthetic, like the one I used
to have.

I looked where he was pointing. There was a table set up at
the side of the room, right next to a wooden slat door that
had a large lock on the front of it. My clothing was folded
neatly on top.

"Thanks," I told him with a snarl in my voice.

He smiled. "As lovely as ever. Now, hand over the Matrix
chip. I don't need you wandering away on me."

I made a show of hesitating for him, acting like I didn't
want to hand it over. As it was, I really did not want to,
but the plans I had made before, which needed the chip, were
worthless now. So after enough show, I eventually opened the
wristband up, and handed him the chip.

He smiled, slipping it into his pocket. "Very good. I thank
you, my lady. Now I'll let you get dressed. This is my room,
so don't make too much of a mess, I assure you there are no
weapons in here." He stood up as he spoke, walking over to
the door out of the room, a large, re-enforced metal door,
made to handle any loss of air pressure.

Flashing me one last smile, he pressed the button on an
intercom that was set by the door. He spoke into it in the
language everyone else was speaking. There was a short
conversation, then he nodded his head, letting go the
button.

He pressed another button that was slightly lower, causing
the door to slide open. Stepping through, he gave me a
little wave. I gave him the finger.

The door closed with a thump, and a few seconds later I
heard a series of snaps and thumps around the door. It was
locked quite well, I was sure.

I sighed, running my paw through my hair. I still had an
advantage, and I suspected that even if he had found the
tracker, he would have left it going. I also suspected he
hadn't actually found it, otherwise he would have mentioned
the implant.

Sliding off the bed, I walked over to where my clothing was.
First I tried the wooden door, but found that it was still
locked. Peeking through the slats, I saw what looked like a
steel door. I wasn't getting out this way.

Sighing, I pulled my shirt and pants back on. Everything had
been removed from my pockets, and set in a neat pile. I took
my belt and put it back on, then returned my wallet and
pocket knife to their rightful places.

"Now," I said to myself, turning to look back at the room.
"How do I get out of here?"

Cain was me, a bit darker perhaps, but me. And one I've
always been, is paranoid, I was sure that carried over, to
Cain, and to a much larger extent than I ever had it. That
good dose of paranoia had saved my life before, and I'm sure
Cain would be using it for the same thing.

If his room could be locked, I was sure there was still a
way out. He would not allow himself to be trapped in here.
If someone decided to turn him in, or take over the base, it
would not do to be locked in his own room.

Walking along the walls, I checked behind each tapestry, to
see if there were any changes in the rock face. When that
came up empty, I tried the bookshelf in the room, fiddling
and pulling out all the books... still nothing.

I went back to the door out of the room. The control panel
next to it had a few devices, including a thermostat
control. I adjusted it higher, setting it to blow hot air
into the room.

The system activated almost immediately, heating the room,
and showing me where the air vents were. Both turned out to
be too small for me to have any hope of getting into. I
pried both covers off, feeling around for any kind of
switch, but found nothing.

Sighing, I sat down at his desk, resting my paws on the
surface. Pulling each drawer out, I found nothing hidden
inside the desk, or under the lip, no buttons, no panels. I
did find a box of matches, which gave me an idea.

With a few in hand, I turned the blower back down, and
started to walk around the room. At any crack or distortion
in the rock wall, I lit a match, hoping to find a leak of
air. Each time, no luck.

Twice I went back to the desk for more matches, before I
noticed the thermometer. It wasn't out of place, sitting on
the corner of the desk, diligently showing the temperature.
It actually was attached to the desk, by it's base, so it
couldn't be knocked off.

What struck me was that it was reporting the temperature at
the equivalent of sixty degrees Fahrenheit, which I knew was
wrong. I double checked with the thermostat at the door, it
was showing seventy five.

I walked back to the desk, sitting down in the chair and
smiling a bit. It could just be broken, a fluke, but I was
starting to doubt it. I notice that the cover of the dial
stood out half an inch from the face of the thermometer. I
ran my finger under it; it came back with a fine layer of
soot.

Pulling a match out of the desk, I lit it, and held the
flame under the thermometer. The needle finally shifted,
rising up to what would be eighty degrees before I heard a
snap behind me.

Turning around, I saw that the bookshelf had slid back into
the wall just an inch. It was clear I had found my way out.

Putting the matches away, I dashed to the bed for a second,
stuffing pillows around to make it look like I was sleeping.
Then through the secret door I went, to who knows where, but
once more with the upper hand.

   To Be Continued...

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This story is copyright 2000 by Fox Cutter, hardcopy
reprints limited to one per person, all other rights
reserved. This story may not be distributed for a fee except
by permission of the author, and this copyright notice may
not be removed.