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No screams had met her ears after she had told the biggest truth of her life. No accusations. No threats to go tell someone. As far as she could tell, there had been no mistrust in his eyes. He had simply listened, and processed.

As he spoke after her revelation, Lenna wondered why she had worried at all. In her experience, people could be mean. People could make hasty decisions. They could be paranoid. They could be monsters. They could be kind. They could... not care at all. The world had all sorts. It needed them.

She had not pulled any punches with him. And... his first response had been a clarifying question. Just to make sure he fully understood. Oh, and also a kiss. To show he was still her boyfriend, and not some stranger gathering ammunition for later.

Lenna nodded, and set the photograph on the coffee table in front of them. ”I was trained to be an assassin. And a soldier. I trained with around 99 other girls of various ages. Part of Cortez’s personal army. I do not know why he only wanted girls.” She did not blush or bat an eye at the thought. There were only so many reasons.

”I have never killed anyone. My first solo mission was supposed to have been a little over a week ago for me... but from my perspective, I appeared in the bar in the middle of the mission, while I was fighting several men.” She held up her fists, and faked a few jabs.”So I fought.”

What else did he need to know? ”That picture was taken before my first mission, with Eliana. We assassinated a rival drug cartel leader. Cortez desired power and influence. If he is dead, I am not— I do not— I did not hate him. But time and distance has gotten me thinking that what happened to me was not normal... and might be a bit sad. He did not train us to be normal people. I do not know a lot about living in the real world... I know a lot about organizing missions and where people are weakest. Anatomy, psychology... I know first aid. That sort of stuff. I know Krav Maga. But I really do not know much about history... or the world we live in. How things work. The science of things. Unless they bang or boom.”

She sighed. ”I think he might have meant to isolate us... no modern media. Controlling who and what we knew.”

There. That was all she could think of at that moment. Except—

”I really like you... I did not want to start this out by lying to you... or hiding who I am. I feel like that would have been pretty sh****y. Making you think I am just some cutesy normal girl. I felt like you needed to know... why I am like I am.” She blushed. Because she was weird. She did not think like other girls... as far as she knew. Further research would be required, to simply fit in.

”If I think of anything else, I will bring it up.” She finished lamely.

There. She had told him all the things that she had worried would be difficult to share. They had been. But it had been far easier than she had feared. Then, it was his turn to tell her a tale.

Lenna listened with rapt attention. He said he was not interesting... but to her, he was very interesting. He, also, lacked a mother. He, too, had been a murderer. To someone else, that admission might have caused concern. But to Lenna, it gave her solid ground to stand on. He was a murderer. She had worked with killers before. She could understand many of the things that might have motivated such an act... and he had not lied about it to make himself look good. She could trust a murderer. Except he WAS NOT THAT.

Dios mio, this was confusing. She momentarily felt bad for thinking the thought. If she was not, he was not. Any other thing would make her a hypocrite. He had been speaking of memories of another self... so complicated. His secondhand past versus her firsthand past and secondhand past, present, and future. And they could change their future.

He mirrored her sentiments, exactly. She squeezed back.

”Free. Yes.” She nodded the affirmative. Smiled. Then, quirked an eyebrow at him. ”That was cathartic, but... do you always do this on the second date with a cute girl? I got to say, Cowboy. You sure know how to show a girl a good time! I have a headache now. Pills, please!” She held out one hand.

It was funny how he had said he had started to get lost in her eyes. Funny, to her, at least. Because she had been giving him no thing to get lost in. As far as she had been concerned, her poker face was good. It was a road that lead nowhere. She had watched him placidly, face a cool mask.

Lenna had not rolled her eyes when Sam had said he would gladly watch her. Lenna had not gone all a flutter like she figured many weaker women might have done, from a Sam smolder.

Yes, the man was handsome. But this was an unimportant detail. And she was still uncertain of him and his swagger.

Her poker face was so good, Lenna did not even snort derisively at the comment about his potential requirement to interrupt someone’s day, in order to beg directions from an inconvenienced stranger within her eyes. Mostly because that was a weird way to think about handling the problem of getting lost in someone’s eyes. And more so, because she was not all fluttering, so she did not dwell on Sam or his honeyed words. They did not even annoy her. Only amuse. It was a step in the right direction for him, and an improvement over the two women’s staring daggers at him, at least.

Sam iced his hand and checked the girls wound. He did a good job with the whole thing. Lenna left him to it.

It seemed the girl was still hurt. Okay.

“Medic?” She looked to Sam.

Yes, it looked average. Too average. During her time training under Eliana, they had gone on several missions. When a place looked too clean, she had learned, there was something the person cleaning it had been trying to hide. None of this was something she could easily explain to him. Lenna merely bobbed her head in agreement.

If she knew herself... things would not be obvious. Except, her other self had left a few things out which she had missed. It did not even take very long for him to locate them. Perhaps, detective work was outside her purview. She would stick to being an unemployed ex-assassin.

He brought out several things. A katana, a picture, a... television remote... a cellphone charger that had plugged in to the wall... and a couple of other minor objects that had been left laying around.

Lenna had looked at the apartment before, with the eye of someone looking for obvious things. Clues. With his powers, things that had been sitting out with a good view of the area would be more valuable than other, more secluded, objects... they were obvious, sure, but they would have been useless to her without him.

The television remote had been sitting out on the coffee table. Maybe he had not even grabbed it. Maybe she had simply noticed it when he had placed the katana on the coffee table. If she had spent much time in the room, the remote might have seen plenty. The cellphone charger, as well. And the picture... well, that would have been under the end table where he had found it. Maybe not the best object. But before it had fallen, perhaps she had held it. Maybe even spoken to it, narrating some bit of emotionally-charged inner monologue... long shot, yes. But a shot. And maybe the picture itself would be telling, even before he witnessed its contents. As for the other couple of things...

A boring black decorative pillow. A lamp. A meager selection. But, then, she had not expected him to carry the large flatscreen television over to them, or move around any furniture. Would he have brought her a ceiling fan? Laid it down before her at her feet, like an animal vying for attention. He could touch the sofa, or the loveseat. Or the chair. No movement, required.

The chair was not a recliner. She supposed she was not one for reclining. That spoke about who she had been, just like the other choices. One could spend a long time analyzing personality traits from decorating schemes... but that would all be supposition, and take time. He could just touch things, and learn information like that. A snap.

It was too bad she had no books or videos to show him. Perhaps in the future, she would get a rack and some movies, and rack them up? Some Star Wars, Westerns, Casablanca... other films. And books... what did she even like? Past her probably enjoyed more than nonfiction literature. Lenna would have to find some tastes, now that she had more free time, unfilled by training. Fill it with fulfillment.

The first item she approached was the katana. Lenna picked it up daintily, with her finger tips. Carefully, she walked it back from whence it came. Placed it upon the mantle. ”Yeah...” She winced. ”Let us save that one for a, how do you say it? Rainy day? Or, not ever. If I know me... you will not want to see what that blade remembers.”

That blade likely had been used. She did not want to know what it had been used for. It took no real skill to guess. Lenna had never really been in to interior decorating. Hell, her rooms in Colombia had been as ‘bare essentials’ as one could get.

When she returned, Lenna focused on the next object. The one that was most likely to have something of note. It did not even take Cowboy’s power to read the object’s history... she could give him a general idea on her own.

Lenna plopped down on the sofa, picture in her hands. How had she missed this the first time she had looked?

The color had drained from her cheeks. ”Look at this photograph.” Lenna told him. She held it out, then stopped herself, and pulled it back a little. ”With your eyes only, please. At least, for now. I can tell you all about it.” That had been said, so she felt comfortable showing Thai the picture. Once again, Lenna offered him the picture.

The picture contained two women, smiling. Laughing. They were both dressed in heavy combat boots, with dark green berets, and dark pants and black turtleneck sweaters, with strange “holster” vests over the clothing. Tactical attach points were conveniently placed on the camouflage-patterned garment’s “rigging”. In one woman’s shoulder holster, there was a handgun. The other woman had the double-barrel of something... a shotgun, perhaps, poking its nose up over one shoulder. Strapped in. The taller woman stood with a long rifle held at her side, at an angle. Almost like a walking stick. She had the long rifle propped up, for the pose. On the younger girl, there was a black box that looked like a communications device strapped to her chest. Both girls had dark paint underneath their eyes.

The area behind them looked like tropical jungle. On the right side of the photograph, gray stone walls were visible. The securing walls of a compound.

The taller woman was about 6’1”. She had skin the color of caramel, and raven black hair kept cropped short. Close, neck-level, and worn to frame her face in a sort of bob. Her facial features spoke of Latin or Hispanic origin, or maybe Cuban? Colombian? She looked to be about 20, or 21.

The younger woman was Lenna, at age 13. The picture had been taken before their very first partner mission, after she had graduated from basic training at the mansion. Her hair was longer, in the photograph. It hung over her shoulders, and down her back.

She remembered the day. It had been a day filled with excitement. They had posed for the picture, with a big camera one of the girls had obtained. The girl had used her own money to get the thing. It had been a point of pride. Her own money. She had needed to leave the compound, in order to earn it. In order to buy the camera. Cortez had allowed it... or else, he had not known.

Lenna had kept the photograph as a memento. It was sort of a “death of innocence” thing... even though she had not done the deed, it was something in which she had assisted. Their target had been a member of a rival cartel. Eliana had shot him from afar. Lenna had watched her back... and watched.

Before the shot. “This is how it’s done.” Eliana, with the rifle. In her mind, the gunshot resounded. She remembered it all. How the hell was she going to explain it to him?

”Eliana.” Lenna said, then cleared her throat and tried again. Why was this making her all choked up? ”That is her. This is us. In Colombia. I am 13 in this photograph. I think...” She grimaced. ”I tried to contact her, after I first arrived in New York. Her, and my... “father.” She made a face. ”No answer. I think they are dead.”

It had been years since her time. Anything could have happened to them, in the void that was her memories.

”Ask whatever you wish.” She said, voice dead. This was bound to become a topic eventually. Lenna liked him enough not to insult him by hiding it from him, or conniving with the lies.

On the television screen, a man fled from a giant boulder. Lenna took a moment to imagine the man as her boyfriend, fleeing for his life. Not because she was mad at him, or any thing. He had recently dressed up as the main character of the movie, and replacing Harrison Ford with a cute freckle-faced blushing boy with orange hair in all of the dramatic action scenes made her happy. Just an orange-haired boy in an orange hat, running from an orange rock... at least, from a certain point of view. Hers.

Everything was still orange. The sky? Orange. Skye? Orange. Except for her lights. Her history homework pages and text book and notes... take a note here, people. Because they were orange. And if some cute pink person were to walk into the mansion’s communal living room area to interrupt Lenna’s studies within the next several minutes, she would regrettably become orange. Bye bye pink pinkness. We will miss you. Hello, orange.

Orange was a pretty good color, really. After long over a week of her power doing this to her after she had deaged, Lenna was largely used to it. The only complications came when she desperately needed to see colors. Like when she dressed herself.

Some times, she could ask a person when she bought an item “Hi. What color is this item? I am colorblind.” Some times, they might even tell her. But then, she would wear it and wash it and put it away. And forget. Eventually, she would be dressed as she currently was.

Lenna was wearing black jeans and orange and white sneakers, with red socks and a hot pink t-shirt, underneath a lime green hoodie with a swoosh the chest.

She was multitasking, watching her movie and working on American history homework. Cowboy Indy was hopping into a plane.

She had been forced into classes, finally. Not all of the classes. They had tested her. Certain areas were ones in which she excelled. Others, she was horribly behind in.

Lenna was at age-appropriate (or better) levels in maths, reading comprehension, physical education and large amounts of biology coursework pertaining to the various elements of the human body. Her knowledge of sciences was limited to areas in which her field had found merit, such as how a gun operates, or various deadly compounds and their chemical interactions. In other areas of biology and science, Lenna was barely there at all.

She had next to nothing in art, save for the ability to create costumes. She had never really drawn or painted, since early childhood. Not even with crayons. Maybe, she could act a little... but that was an extracurricular activity. As far as physics went, she was was cool. How objects interact with objects? Useful! How the earth is round, and the planets move in space? Worthless. Utterly worthless. Other than knowing in which area of the sky the sun rises and sets, and perhaps a cursory knowledge of star charts for navigational purposes, she knew naught. Her geological knowledge was nil, unless useful. Chemistry... only when useful. English, as far as literature went... haha. She had hardly read any books in her life. Unless they dealt with useful information, such as human anatomy or geometry and the calculation of trajectories. And history? She was as good as an alien when it came to history. Unless it directly involved Columbia... and even then. She had lived a sheltered, highly focused, life.

And do, she read about the founding of America. About old white men who came and took a country from its natives, and thought they were so much better than them. In a few years, a psychological text might intrigue her. Figuring out how these men thought and ticked. But for now, it was dry as could be.

Lenna was hoping they would set her up with an interesting class next, like English literature. At least then, she could smuggle in outside reading materials and start bettering herself with recommendations from people she knew and respected. Maybe they would steer her towards books relevant to her interests? Like old west stuff and Star Wars. Or maybe she would find new interests! Being in what amounted to a militaristic cult really had not helped her with thinking or identity at all.

Lenna’s brow furrowed as she tried to figure out one famous person from another. Washington. Addams. Adams. Franklin. Blah blah. Blah blah!

”Stupid school,” She growled. Why could they not have just left her alone. She had liked the sleeping in and constant training! And the sneaking out to visit Thai. Off in her own little world with him. Off in Thai land. Lenna reminisced, and fell in to a daydream.

She still did not know it was spelled Ty.

This was exciting. She was excited. Her face may not have shown it, but she was excited.

It had been a sudden idea, as far as things had went. A proposal by her boyfriend. They had not prepared and toiled over costumes for a month, like some people. Lenna would not have known what to do, if she had been given that much time. For her, it had been ingrained deeply that any new mission involved a complex planning stage and days of preparation. Two days prior to the engagement had not been nearly enough time! So, she had descended into Research Mode, to learn more about ‘comic conventions’, and their ilk. And as they say in Poker, she had gone all in.

It had probably been a little overwhelming, when Lenna had begun making suggestions. Insisting, with all the seriousness she could muster, that they would need to go in costume if they were to do this correctly! ‘People go in costumes, Cowboy’ she had said. ‘It is known.’

She had heard that phrase on a... ‘message board’? Was that the word? It was from something, but she did not know what. But, she liked the phrase, all the same. It was cute. When someone said it, all said it! It is known. There was another one... another reference she missed... but it was also good. This is the way! It was the same idea, utilized in a similar fashion. Often, interchangeable. Or even, all in the same place. Back and forth, like a chorus. A monk’s chant. Instead of ‘ohm,’ ‘this is the way!’ It is known. Eventually, Lenna would likely learn more new and interesting things such as this. Ty had... created a monster.

After much research into who would be at the convention, and what time of year, as well as what the event celebrated, Lenna created their costumes. Disguises are a classic skill set in the infiltration and assassination biz, kid. It was the way. Lenna knew how to make basic costumes. Her one fandom vice was old movies... and... Star Wars. She would be Return if the Jedi Endor costume Princess Leia, of course. Because it was cold. Too cold for Slave Leia, sorry Cowboy. And she had not wanted to wear a bath robe. Or white. She braided and put her hair into a bun, herself!

Lenna had desired to see Cowboy as Han Solo, in the tight pants. He had had different plans. Cowboy had shown her the movie character he wished to dress as... same actor, different idea. Nazis. An Ark. Lenna had liked the movie. Liked snuggling with him. Really liked the part where Jones had shot the fool who had showed off with his sword skills by flailing around. A battle is not an exhibition. “There is a time and a location, Cowboy.” She has told him. “He deserved what he received. It is known.” She liked the hat too. Indy was accepted. Lenna assisted. His costume came out fantastic.

The day of the opening of the convention came, and they went. After a long line wait, they were within! They passed the food stands and several booths. Lenna had a destination in mind.

She told him she wished to buy a blaster for her cosplay. Surely, there was a small Star Wars booth somewhere. When she found it, it was not small. And, there were several. Her jaw hit the floor.

The largest booth had loads of merchandise. It was a big booth, with shirts and plushies and dvds and other fun stuff. Nearby, were several more with walks of weaponry, from savers to blasters to big sticks. But those booths were not what had throttled her attention. Close by the largest booth, there were several star fighters and displays. There was a TIE surrounded by men clad in black, and an X wing with men in orange... and... a tiny unfamiliar ball robot. The Star Wars theme played in the background. As she gaped, it rolled to stop by her feet. It beeped cutely. Though it was a rare sight, Lenna melted, all the same.

Her face softened into a warm smile as Lenna knelt down before the droid. She reached out one hand to pat it gently.

”Hello there, little one. You are unfamiliar to me. I know not where you are from. I would have expected Artoo, but you?” She shook her head with a light laugh. ”Are you lost? What movie are you from?”

A voice from behind and near by cut in. It had a Southern drawl. “That’s BB-8. He’s from Star Wars, alright. Episode VII.” He was dressed in an orange flight suit with a white chest panel, and a helmet. He had a very 70s mustache. The man stood behind the counter of the large booth, and had a big black box with joysticks in his hands. A control for the droid?

She stood, and looked to Cowboy for confirmation, visibly confused. ”Seven. There are seven movies now?”

“Nine, sugar. There are actually nine.” He said.

Lenna frowned at Thai. ”This is getting out of hand, Indy. Now there are nine of them!”

“And a couple prequels! I got em all here on “dvd!” He grinned, stretching the word until it was deeeveeeedeee.

Lenna surged towards him, and thrust Kyle Tannenbaum’s credit card up in his face. ”Shut up and take my currency, Biggs! I will buy them all!”

Biggs Darklighter grinned at her, and finished their transaction. Light bounced off his gold tooth as he said bagged the last of the DVDs in the big cloth tote bag. “A fine addition to your collection.” He drawled.

Lenna nodded curtly at him. ”I will watch them all. Then I will be caught up sand know every thing Star Wars.” After a moments hesitation, she smiled weakly and added ”This is the way.”

The guy laughed, and repeated the line. As she turned back towards her boyfriend, tote bag full of movies clutched right to her chest, there was a chorus of them from nearby patrons of the Star Wars booth. “This is the way,” and so on and so forth.

There was a twinkle in her eye and a spring in her step. Another rarity. As she came back to him, she was humming something to herself. It sounded like... the Imperial March.

Lenna stopped before him, smiling widely. She held up the bag. ”Date night movies for days, Cowboy.” She said, then laughed. Added ”I bought these. Next stop, blaster. But after that, maybe you can us lunch... and maybe get me one of those tiny Yoda stuffed animals? I keep seeing them everywhere.”


”Did you see the dad in line dressed as Luke Skywalker with his baby on his back dressed as Yoda? So cute!” She practically squealed. ”I will take ten. Huh. Do you think that is what the tiny Yoda actually is? A baby? I really need to catch up on the Star Wars! I miss everything. Like a storm trooper.”

He knew she did. He liked it. He thought she was cute. Well there you go. She. Could be cute.

Cute was a straaaange adjective to describe someone professionally trained as an assassin. But she could live with it. If there was awkward hand holding.

She squeezed his hand as he laced his fingers with hers. Only then, could she continue.

He agreed, Sky was good people. And he had never had anyone like Eliana or Sky. Alone... except for a giant cockroach and the now-dead other her.

Lenna brushed her thumb over his hand. She took no offense in him saying the other her had not been a very good role model. In all probability, she had been a professional killer and a criminal. She had lived much longer than... than her. Her self. Ugh. This multiple selves thing was going to be confusing.

”That is weird.” She agreed. Paused. Added. ”At least you have someone now to talk about it with.” He wasn’t all alone.

Lenna had no idea what to make of the giant cockroach. Mutants. They were kind of amazing. The could be any fskkking thing they wanted to be. Even giant cockroaches. And she was part of that strange community, now.

She told him about the hat. He was amused. And then she kept on talking, and his smug smile faltered and shifted into more orange cheeks for the orange boy.

Him blushing was a lot better than her blushing and stammering about stuff. Even if it was that conversation with mama Sky.

If she were being entirely honest, he liked her giving people nicknames and thought it was cute... and she liked him tripping over his own two feet in embarrassment. She thought it was cute. Did that make her a bad person? For enjoying his being caught flat footed on certain topics that made him stammer and blush? Maybe she was a bad person then, because this pattern would continue.

He leaned in and whispered what he thought Mama Sky thought they might do into her ear, then quickly looked away as if he wanted to avoid seeing potential horror.

Part of her wanted to fake that look of horror. He had flat out said his explanation, and she was proud of him for having the huevos to do that, but it prevented her from playing the fool. So, she played it cool and played an even bigger fool. By quoting something a fellow soldier of hers had once told her.

Lenna did not look away from Cowboy, the entire time she spoke.

”I have used a condom before,” She said mildly. Waited a moment, then clarified. ”When out in the jungles, water is a crucial resource. And as we all know, a condom can hold about a liter of water.” Another pause, then she went for the killing blow. ”Plus, they use it for —“ She released his hand, regrettably. But it was for a good cause! Lenna made a circle with one hand, then held up a finger on the other. She illustrated her point. ”Sex.”

”I know what sex is, Cowboy. I grew up in an all-girls school, not a nunnery. Those girls had to have fun somehow. And when they snuck out to find village boys or sailors, they wanted to be safe. Mama Sky surprised me. But it is nice she wants me to be safe. Now after that. Are you still alive?”

She was not blushing. He was. Also, wait. Had he called her hun? She had been so caught up in embarrassing him, it simply had not registered until after. Hun? She was the one that made up cute nicknames! But it was... acceptable.

All this talk of the twilight zone. She really needed to check that shit out. It was apparently a gigantic American culture thing. This had been the second time she had heard mention of it in about a week. Her favorite movies, for comparison, got mentioned a whopping zero times... unless she brought them up herself.

Thinking of American pop culture... it was better than when she thought about the car conversation with Sky, and the frequent nudity her boyfriend had been witness to, yes?

Yes.

So she’d fought her raging forest fire of a blush, and brought them back on the subject at hand... while her mind had run damage control in the background. Her eyes had tightened as she had reeled in her focus to settle on Thai. And her thought processes... they had gone a little something like this:

The man had thought she had been someone else. He saw you naked. The other me. As the day you were born. The older her had needed to tell the man that she... the other her... had died. Not that there is any thing wrong with nudity, of course. I am perfectly confident in my body. There is no need for shame! And I have been trained to put such weaknesses as modesty aside, for the sake of a fight, and— wait. Died? Had he said died?

He had brushed her hand with his thumb, and mentioned the Twilight Zone. Which had been better than thinking about embarrassing conversations, as already mentioned. He had been wonderful and supportive. How could one guy be so—

Which brought them back to the present, where she was verbalizing things better left as internal monologue.

”How could one guy be so—“ Lenna stopped. Realized she had said what she had been thinking out loud. Wondered what other things she had been thinking had been said out loud. Ran a quick run through of her memories to figure out how recently she had opened her mouth, and come to the conclusion it had just been that moment.

She supposed it would be best to simply finish the thought out loud, now that she had garnered Cowboy’s full and undivided attention. Though she supposed she had maintained that for the last several minutes, huh?

Lenna took a stabilizing breath, and ordered her thoughts into an organization structure that vaguely resembled ‘order’. ”Yes. So when we first met, I was scared. And you were cute and silly and amused me. And you were there when I started to show I was weak... helped me sort things out. You were there.” Comforted me. She thought. Even if the comforts were creature comforts like kisses and pizza. ”So what I was about to say out loud was...” She squeezed his hand. ”I guess, how can one guy be so understanding and amazing? Even when I do not fully understand myself. Oh. And also, do not worry about me being ashamed of all the naked Lenna’s you saw. I am not ashamed of any of my bodies. I will consider it a sort of... ‘finder’s fee’ for knowledge gained.”

She nodded once, to herself. Yes. That was one way to put it. Mildly.

”We will figure out the dead Lenna, the old Lenna, the blonde Lenna, and any other Lenna’s running around. Together. And you and I must watch this Twilight Zone thing. How is it more popular than Casablanca or The Magnificent Seven?”