My Date is a Quiet One, page 1
The most terrifying weapon of the century is called on to pay the price of her actions, but once her origin and training are explained, a compromise is reached. She has to hand herself over and hope she survives.
Nelith has been trying to atone for what the Uraddan government made her do to the citizens of other countries and her own. Her skills in slicing through anything for as long as she wanted the molecular blade to go made her well-known, feared, and despised in equal measure. When she had been extracted from Uradda, years of work and therapy made her independent and got her into a useful position at Z Tech.
She had tried to socialize herself, but the BDC rejected her when she took offense to a simulation and sliced the machine into several pieces. All subsequent applicants were tested in a different manner.
Called to meet with foreign representatives, Nelith looks at their outrage and is surprised when the head of the lab brings up the compilation file of how Nelith was trained.
Dmitri watches the video of the making of the Blade of Uradda, and he can’t reconcile the woman in front of him with the creature on the vids. She survived, and when she meets his gaze, the beasts that occupy him send searing recognition that she was his mate. They just had to convince him.
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
My Date is a Quiet One
Copyright © 2024 by Viola Grace
ISBN: 978-1-990635-44-1
©Cover art by Angela Waters
All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.
Published by Viola Grace
Smashwords Edition
Look for me online at violagrace.com.
My Date is a Quiet One
Blind Date Corporation Book 14
By
Viola Grace
Chapter One
Nelith had her arms full as she waited in the lift. It was her ninth trip of the day, and she had company. Two agents were standing with a pale-haired man and his glossy female assistant. Nelith stood still and ignored the group on her right. They had scanned into the secure floor she was headed to.
The slow descent was silent, and when the doors opened, the assistant strode out with her employer smirking slightly. The agents nodded to Nelith, she nodded in return as they left, and the doors closed. She sighed and looked up at the ocular scanner, sighing again as the doors opened.
She held her pass between two fingers and went through a second ocular scan, walking past the group waiting near the receptionist and heading into the secure part of the facility. She held the bulk of her parcels in front of her.
She passed through the checkpoints and took the sample to the lab, locking it in the reinforced housing that would protect the building if it exploded. Every time there was an incident, the building was reinforced and protocols updated. Nelith enjoyed following protocols.
She left the sample and made her way out of the lab. She passed the two escorted foreigners. They both looked at her as she exited. Nelith scanned her way out through a security door and then blocked it as it closed so that Arcady could let them in.
Arcady smiled. “You just love the rules, Nelith.”
Nelith gave a small smile and nodded as she passed them and continued through the security locks.
She walked back to the elevator and returned to the loading dock, where she was going through requisitions for supplies and getting ready to make another slow delivery through Z Tech. She had to deliver one department at a time, one requisition at a time. Nelith knew it was a make-work job for her, but it was relaxing. After what she had done for Uradda, she really needed some peace and quiet. Zera saw the need, and Aksalla let her stay.
She carried files, documents, toner, and even printers. One trip in the elevators at a time and all in relative silence. It was a pity that when the sound around her was low, she heard the screams and sudden silence. She had ear buds for when she needed them, but she listened to the screams until she couldn’t stand it. She had earned the shrieks and panic in the voices. She needed to hear them forever.
* * * *
Dmitri watched the petite woman stare them down as the security doors closed behind her. The doctor’s assistant merely waited. Katya huffed and fidgeted as the little mouse didn’t move until the lock confirmed its closure. Arcady’s posture indicated that she was giving the mouse respect.
As the tiny creature resumed her course, Katya hissed, “Why did you let her do that? So disrespectful. I would have shown her her place.”
Dmitri frowned. Katya became more aggressive with women around, but this was extremely hostile, even for her.
Arcady spoke softly. “She was doing her job. These doors are keyed to our survival in case of an incursion. Being able to trap an assassin between these doors saved lives. You can’t do that if you let folks in unchecked. She is very good at following protocols.”
Dmitri asked, “She is an intern?”
Arcady shook her head. “Definitely not.”
They were scanned and invited into a boardroom near one of the labs. What they were discussing was not for public consumption, and this was the most secure part of the facility.
The walls were crystal-clear plexi, and Dmitri kept looking back down the hallway to see if that small form was there.
Katya growled. “Looking for the mouse?”
“Don’t call her that.” Arcady snapped. “You have no right to talk about her. Not. One. Fucking. Word.”
Katya blinked. “You honour weakness?”
Zera came in and caught on to what was mentioned. “The mouse? Oh, she’s not weak. She’s holding herself together. But Arcady is right. She is not your concern.”
Dmitri asked, “She’s a child?”
Zera shook her head. “Just small. She is one of the Uraddan refugees. They starved her during development.” She took a seat and smiled. “So, shall we begin negotiations?”
Dmitri nodded. “Please. Dr. Kritz, what do you have to offer us in exchange for volunteer test subjects?”
The blue demon with silver horns brought up a display featuring internal reinforcement for lost limbs. Dmitri nodded and watched the demonstrations of healing nanites.
Katya snorted. “No weapons?”
Arcady smirked.
Zera smiled. “If you can keep your actives alive, you can breed your own weapons over time. Recycling an experienced warrior is a lot more cost-effective than training a new one.”
Dmitri nodded. “Sensible. My people are more known for savagery than sensibility, but it is not a bad idea.”
Katya hissed. “We came for weapons.”
“We came for many reasons. We are also here to see if the agents have made any headway on our list of war criminals.” Dmitri scowled. “I recall our intel notifying us of two.”
Zera looked at him. “Well, aren’t you just well-informed? Yes, I have heard that the Aksallan government has located two of the actives on your list. One has taken their own life.”
Dmitri nodded. “What of the other one?”
“They are accessible, but they are protected.”
“We want them. They need to answer for their crimes against our people.”
Kritz cocked his head. “What if we can assure you they already have answered for crimes? Not precisely your people, but others have taken their revenge.”
Dmitri frowned. “We need to bring them to the tribunal.”
Zera paused. “I will just be a few minutes. Excuse me.”
Dmitri watched the woman leave the room, go through the locks, and then enter the elevator.
Dmitri asked, “Where did she go?”
Arcady grimaced. “To ask the subject if they will submit to a tribunal.”
Katya gasped. “They are here?”
Arcady curled her lip as she sat there. She really didn’t like Katya. That much was certain.
* * * *
Nelith watched Zera approach. “Hello, boss.”
“Nelith. How are you doing today?”
“Same as ever. The screams echo.”
“You can wear the headset.”
“I know. I deserve the screams and the silence.”
Zera sighed. “You don’t. They conditioned your responses and your attacks.”
Nelith looked at her. “Why are you mentioning it today?”
“There are folk here from the Errabian Wastes. You are on their most wanted list. They wish you tried for war crimes.”
Nelith thought about it. “When do I leave?”
Zera sighed. “Nelith, you don’t need to keep atoning. The Sethir did a job on you already.”
Nelith flexed her hands. She had had no idea that they would grow back. “Yes, but while not cordial, they are satisfied with the revenge.”
“You really want to do this? They like torture.”
“I don’t feel much anyway. I don’t like hiding.” Nelith shrugged. “Will they take me with them?”
“I will try to arrange it to be a tribunal here. If there is a death sentence, you may need to travel there.”
“That’s fine. So, where do I turn myself in?”
Zera stepped forward and hugged her. “It’s going to be okay, Nelith.”
Zera smelled nice, and Nelith took the comfort before sh e straightened. “I know, boss. Good or bad, I am making my own choices.”
“Right. Well, let’s go. They are down in the lab boardroom.”
“Oh. Them. That lady is a real bitch.”
Zera chuckled. “Yeah, she is. She was turned down for a BDC travel account.”
Nelith laughed as they entered the elevator. “Ah, we have something in common.”
Zera winced. “You are too dangerous, Nelith. You know that.”
“Yes, I know. I can’t touch or be touched, or my partner’s life will be at risk.” She chuckled as they scanned and got out of the elevator. “Makes the thought of torture rather interesting. At least there would be some kind of contact.”
Zera snorted, and they went through lock after lock. Zera led her into the boardroom, and Arcady looked horrified while Kritz looked concerned.
Nelith stood next to Zera’s chair as the stunned expressions on the pale-haired male and his female companion cleared into confusion.
Zera brought up a file that showed Nelith standing on a hill, her eyes blazing crimson. “Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Blade of Uradda.”
Nelith ignored the image of her power wave cutting men, trees, and equipment in half without pausing. She had a collar and thick belt designed to deliver a tremendous shock. What wasn’t visible was her handler, who was watching her for any signs of independent thought.
Nelith looked at the horrified guests. “Hiya.”
Zera kept the clips of Nelith massacring opposition forces going. “Nelith has agreed to face a tribunal, but as there is a risk of premature assassination, I am going to push for her remaining here under guard until there is a decision.”
The assistant sneered. “This is a joke. She cannot be... We would have heard it was a tiny girl.”
“Survivors are needed for telling tales.” Nelith shrugged. “My handler rarely left any.”
The male frowned. “Handler?”
Zera snorted and paused the display. “Notice the collar and the belt? The eyes? Her eyes are a very pretty soft blue.”
The man asked, “Where is your handler?”
Nelith chuckled. “He couldn’t stand the thought of being brought up on charges after the Sethir threw me back to Aksalla after my sentence. He killed himself before they found him. I suppose the Errabians can take a crack at seeing what it takes to kill me.”
Zera took her hand. “If they are going to kill you, they can’t have you.”
The male said, “I believe that it is the goal to destroy the war criminals.”
Zera snorted. “The war criminal is dead. She was a weapon, just like a gun, cannon, or knife. No one destroys a working weapon.”
The male frowned. “You have proof of this?”
Zera nodded. “Nelith stole the book of drugs they used on her. The chemical compositions have proved very useful.”
Dr. Kritz nodded. “They provide an excellent waking coma for working on subjects who are squeamish.”
The assistant sneered. “She’s lying.”
Zera frowned. “You are an idiot.”
A slow smile spread over Arcady’s features. “I am sure if she’s lying, she can demonstrate, and you can be the target. Thanks for volunteering.”
Kritz snorted.
Nelith kept her expression calm.
The male got up. “I will be able to tell. I have to take on one of my other forms though. Please alert the agents outside the room.”
Zera nodded, and Arcady got up to speak with the agents guarding the boardroom. She came back a moment later and sat next to Kritz. “They won’t freak out. They promise.”
Nelith looked at the man as he stood there in his silvery tunic, loose trousers, and boots. It was military but comfortable.
He walked over to her, and his golden complexion began to blur. He got taller and broader. And fuzzier?
Huge tusks jutted from his lower jaw, and his nose snouted up. He was a beast, but his grey-blue eyes remained the same.
She wasn’t sure what he was going to do when he started to sniff her. The assistant laughed.
He picked her up and sniffed around her neck and breasts, lifted her higher, and sniffed at her navel and groin. She scowled. “Hey. Nothing happens there.”
Zera laughed.
He lowered her and said, “Power,” in a deep and gravelly voice.
Nelith nodded and said, “Just the power, not the blade.”
He grunted and looked into her eyes as she gathered the energy to destroy armies.
His eyes widened. “Power.”
She looked at him, turned toward the cup in front of his assistant, and exhaled. The cup split into two neat pieces, and the water inside slid out.
He slowly lowered her to the floor, and she pulled the energy back in. He resumed his more normal appearance of a large, burly active. “You used the blade.”
“I hit the cup with the lightest of efforts.” She shrugged. “All that power needed a slight exit somehow. It’s been a while.”
Zera snorted. “Well, do you confirm that she has enough power possibly to be the Blade of Uradda?”
“She does. I will report to the tribunal that she is as she says she is.” He frowned. “She must remain in my custody.”
“Of course.”
Nelith sighed. “Boss, will you have my apartment shut down and cleared out?”
“You are coming back, Nelith. In fact, you aren’t leaving. We can keep you here.”
The male shook his head. “I prefer to keep her under guard where I am. She is too valuable to lose.”
Nelith frowned. “I am worth more dead than alive. You could get just as much recognition with my carcass.”
Zera muttered, “Shut up, Nelith.”
She couldn’t help her smile. Normally, folks were begging her to speak.
The man said, “It isn’t much of a carcass. How tall are you?”
Arcady answered, “She’s four foot eleven.”
The assistant snorted. “She looks like a child.”
Nelith looked at her. “You look like a practice target.”
The woman suddenly looked nervous.
The man said, “Will you keep her in custody until I can get agreement for the tribunal?”
Zera nodded. “We will keep her nearby, under guard.”
The man nodded. “We will go there now, and I will verify the security.”
Nelith snorted. “I am not running. Just put me somewhere and send me eight hundred calories a day. I will be there when you return.”
Kritz nodded. “Arcady will take you to a secure medical suite, and we can do better than eight hundred calories.”
Arcady nodded. “Right. Nelith, come with me.”
The man said, “Wait.”
He moved toward her again, his skin darkening to a matte midnight, and then he pressed his lips to her neck, and she felt an impact. She jumped slightly.
“That contact linked us, so if someone tries to take you from us before your sentence is passed, I will know.”
“Congratulations.” Her tone was wry as Arcady took her hand and led her out of the boardroom.
They were on the way to the medical area when Arcady said, “I knew you had done stuff for Uradda, but I didn’t know you had done that.”
“It isn’t something that I can work into casual conversation.” She swallowed as she kept focus. She could hear the screaming and the silence over and over on a loop. If she weren’t already driven insane, she would be soon.
Chapter Two
Dmitri sat with his eyes half closed while Zera spoke with the tribunal of generals who were waiting to destroy the woman who had massacred an entire battalion of soldiers. Zera explained the nature of Nelith’s involvement, and the generals agreed to discuss it before deciding on how they wanted Nelith to atone. A public execution was on the table, but the optics would be horrible. Nelith looked very young and completely harmless.
Her mind was a revelation. The screams of her victims suddenly being cut off were playing on a loop. The repetition was endless.
