A supposedly quite chime thundered in to sajchias over sensitive ears, causing them to splay back against her scalp. The chime was followed by gentle movement that told her the box got removed from the neural transmitter in the wall. As her box left the wall, other muffled sounds became apparent, like footsteps and a hushed conversation.

The movement then stopped just as a sharp hiss let in a rush of fresh air, ending the capsules sub par live support.

Sajchia tried to push the box open, yet her arms refused to cooperate. Probably a side effect of that marathon link. She thought annoyed. Lucky for her, the opening mechanism was automated, thus the lid opened on its own.

A blinding light stung her eyes and the sterile sent of a hospital soon followed. Yet something was different to when she first begun the neural link. At first sajchia had no idea what it might be, except for the different looking ceiling that slowly fazed in to focus. A ceiling type used in space ships. She struggled to comprehend this at first, then opted to lay down for a bit longer.

When a shadow leaned over her saji reopened her eyes, only to look at a exact copy of her face.

“Good morning sleepy head. Glad you decided to join us. We were already planning a emergency disconnect tonight.” The person said in a cheerful jet chiding manner.

“sorry but im not sorry doc. C.o said the op was important so I figured I get as much training as possibly on the ship.” Saji groaned, somehow mustering the strength to drape a arm over her face to block out the headache inducing light.

“ hmm if that doesn’t sound familiar. Anyway, welcome abort the YSLNS sachern. We transferred you here about six weeks ago.” The woman said. And saji got a good look at her, she wore a uniform not unlike the captain of the troop transport. Yet instead of the military black the uniform was white with golden highlights and a blue shawl and the brooch that held it showed a globe symbol. All that combined marked her as a high ranking society researcher who most likely worked directly under either a lord governor's or the overlords command.

“so they send a forerunner ship as support? I thought they would just send a support corvette.” Saji said as her brain identified the uniform.

“The mission is to important for that and this isn’t a forerunner but a vanguard class science ship. Now before we continue the doc needs to do a checkup. “ the woman said and moved away to make space for a doctor in sky blue uniform.

After a short friendly hello the doctor helped saji to sit up and begun his check, ranging from simple sensory checks to blood pressure and lung volume to the state of her fur. All this happened in professional silence. Wen the doc was done he took a look at his data pad and cleared his throat. “so miss Sajchia. Right now im really tempted to withdraw you from the mission. There is a reason the link time is limited to two weeks at a time. For now though this wont be necessary if you keep a rhythm of one cycle in link and half a cycle in recovery. Or since the cycles are shorter here half the link time as recovery starting tonight . Any questions?”

“Not really. Just a glass of water for now.” Saji answered, now more or less awake and aware.

“Shure thing and either me or my assistant will await you after your done for today.” The doctor said and left the room. Just wen saji wondered about the water, the scientist that had initially greeted her returned with the live spending liquid.

“There ya go sajini.” The woman offered and saji accepted it gratefully and froze. “Uhh excuse me but where did you hear that name?” saji asked suspicious.

The women giggled and answered. “I may or may not have given you that nickname shortly before mother adopted us.”

Saji stared in disbelief, she knew her sister was a science buff but to get this far was entirely against the odds. “Sooo your telling me that you are my little sister? For all I know you could be a colonial clone intel officer. Wouldn’t be the first time they send batch mates as agents.” Saji said, concluding that someone had set up a investigation against her for some reason or it was another ‘loyalty' test. She was not looking forward to that.

The women who pretended to be saji's sister, sojchaia looked crestfallen at saji's harsh words. “Damn I should have seen that coming.” Sojchaia sighed in deafeat. “Fine im not going to press this, sad as it is but at least let me introduce myself. I am sojchaia raundan league scientist first class and second in command of the vanguard class military test vessel Sarchern. I will be your civilian contact for this mission.” Sojchaia said in a now professional and composed manner.

“lieutenant commander Sajchia raundan. Im looking forward to your cooperation. Wich I would like to begin with through a briefing since I wasn’t informed of the change in support vessel type.” Sajia countered, now switching back to her decades old military professionalism.

“understandable. First of this mission is no longer lead and funded by gaurans governor renachjer. Instead this mission is now handled as a direct league affair. From now on the original mission to infiltrate the local pre ftl civilization is officially cancelled since any such orders have to be approved by the overlord. Instead a officially approved surveillance mission has now taken its place. Our job is to passively infiltrate the local societies and gather information about their technological and sociological development. All assets previously engaged in the cancelled unauthorized mission will be absorbed as security for the new mission.” Sojchaia said, reading most of the information from her data pad. Once done with the first part she took a breath and recited the next part from memory. “Unofficial, the new mission is a cover for the officially cancelled mission. The overlord acknowledged the danger from this Pirate cell. Thus it is your mission to find them and their local allies and drive a wedge between them. Onece their local support is reduced to a point were local and civilian casualties are in acceptable parameters a platoon of betas will go in and wipe them out. Should they try to escape the planet or conduct a raid during this mission there will be a patrol fleet waiting for them as soon as they leave the system. That is the long and short of it. Our ship will arrive in five local cycles, until then you’re supposed to establish a presence planetside and keep a low profile.” Sojchi finally concluded.

“Okay, basically nothing changes except the fact that I have more time now and need to keep an eye on the eggheads?” Saji clarified.

“That is correct which means that several science teams will be send down with bio sleeves as well. I myself will operate in your area. Further more my Bio sleeve's cover is to be the legal guardian of yours, we arranged this to avoid suspicions if we meet planet side.” Soji corrected.

“okay, anything else?” saji asked.

“No. For now you have according to your A.R.E.S. unit thirty minutes to eat and clean up. Your quarters on board are down the corridor second to the right. A meal has already been prepared….. and saji, if you have some time…. Could you meet me in private? If not for my sake at least for mothers, she has been worried sick ever since you joined the military.” Soji said, breaking her professionalism at the end.

Saji Hesitated for a moment. “maybe. If I have the time. Now if you excuse me? there is a meal and a bath waiting for me.” Saji said and stood up, nearly losing her balance before she found her footing and hastily left the lab her tail flailing widely in agitation, leaving her sister utterly perplexed and concerned.

“What have they done to you sister?” soji asked quietly to herself or so she thought as her friend, the doctor who did saji's examination answered her.
“ Mimics"

“Wha? Mimics? As in the commissary? What do they have to do with it?” soji asked confused.

“I have heard rumors about a controversial loyalty test they do every so often among specil ops. Apparently it involves the simulated death of relatives and their possible active involvement in it. The most common examples are to choose between duty and family in life fire simulations. The best I can geuss is that she has seen you or a bio sleeve copy of you die several times, with her being at fault for it.” The doctor. Sochjira said in a uneasy tone, making soji pale under her fur as he went on.

“So she thinks im a commissar?” she asked equally concerned and appalled at the mere thought of this absurdity.

“Most likely. Sadly I am not Shure if it is better to keep your distance or to confront her. For now though I advise a professional distance and to talk to the board councilor.” Sochjira said calmly and returned to his work, hinting that she should do the same.

-(o)-

Sajchia had meanwhile hurried in to her assigned quarters and straight in to the only ‘nature style' part in the ship. The small pond that served as what others would call a bathroom. In one fluid motion she got rid of the baggy hospital gown and let herself fall in to the water. All the while her thoughts lingered on the person that might be her sister and all the ways she had seen her die in the last thirty odd years. Deep down she knew none of these cases were real yet, she also knew that the one in the lab was the real deal. Non of the fakes had ever used her nickname, nor had any of them the small pale black almost grey patch of fur under the left eye. A rare defect her sister had suffered during her creation. Saji barely acknowledged that her fur had already soaked through despite being fairly water repelling normally, showing just how much she had neglected her own body.

-(o)- Thirty minutes later. -(o)-

Saji opened her eyes, in front of her was the same empty, slightly worn down seat she left as she disconnected from the bio sleeve. A quick glance at her hands reaffirmed their ailien nature to her. Five days and I have to work with my sister. Please let this not be a elaborate test by the mimics. Saji thought. Then again, real or not, it’s my job to protect her and I will be damned if I fail. Another part of her chimed in and strengthened her resolve to accomplish her objective.

“last stop canterlot main station, this train ends here. All passengers please leave the train. Also please check your luggage and make sure to leave your seats as clean as you found them to ensure everyone can travel in a nice environment. Thank you for you cooperation and have a nice day and travel save.” The voice of presumably the conductor came through the speaker, completely shaking saji from her thoughts.

And sure enough, outside the Window was already canterlots cityscape, only partially obscured by the masts of the railways that converged at the station further down the line. In the corridor outside her compartment the first passengers begun to pile up at the doors. Once canterlot station came in to view there was no escaping her compartment as the way out was blocked by an elderly lady with a traveling case half her own size.

Gradually the train slowed down as it pulled its freight under the large roof that covered the station. Then it stopped with a nearly unnoticeable jolt, a sign that the train driver for onece knew what he did.
Shortly after the train stopped the passengers begun to spill out of the cars, while this went on saji noticed just how… colorfull the local humans were. Shure she had seen pictures taken by the few spy satellites in orbit and had even spend at least a dozen hours scouring their so called internet for information. Yet the range of skin color still baffled her. Gradually the train cleared out and after the last one hurried past her compartment saji stood up and left as well. And no, she did not run face first in to her invisible exo suit. Nope not at all.

The platform was already clearing out by the time saji got of the train, only a few stragglers from the back and a recently united family were still there. Much like many of the buildings she had seen thus far the station looked like it had a history, its large glass roof was held by elaborate steel beams and most of the outer walls were brick walls. The electronic cables for the trains and the modern displays evenly distributed along each platform looked like an afterthought and thus a bit out of place.
Canterlot was also a terminal station, thus she saw the large puffer at the end of each rail. Further back were a few shops like a kiosk, and a bakery. Past that was the exit, a giant portal decorated with ornamented glass panels spanning in several meters height inside the arched passages. Saji took it all in strides while casually making her way to the exit.

On her way out to were she presumed the bus station to be Saji noticed a small issue in her planning. No pockets, thus no way to hold her purse, thus her purse was still in the stealth armor Ares was currently piloting. “Darn it" Saji cursed and begun to look for an inconspicuous place were she could retrieve her purse from the backpack.
She quickly found it in form of an out of the way corridor past the subway escalator. From there it was easy to uncloak the armor and retrieve her purse, after triple checking that she was alone and away from cameras of course. She also took the opportunity to retrieve her short range com that had been disguised as what the locals called smart phone complete with ear buds.
This also changed her plans a bit.

“Ares? Could you plan a rout to the closest second hand store? I need some new clothes, preferably something with pockets and a backpack of my own as well. After that I think I shall visit my future employer and this…. School. From there It goes over a grocery run straight to our base of operations. Plan that in to a rout with public transport in mind and give me directions over com. While I do that all I also need you to give me a crime Charta of this city. Feel free to hack anything you need as long as you stay undetected.” She ordered and watched as the armor nodded and vanished again.

With her business being sorted by Ares she went ahead and plugged in the earbuds to cue a song while the ai did its job. She waited with her back on the railings that went around the escalator and observed the people. Right now the escalator was in full use as a thong of people went up or down, most of them looking stressed to reach a connection. Non in the crowd stuck out for a while until she spotted a rainbow haired girl who practically oozed self-confidence, she wore a white t-shirt with sleeves as cyan as her skin. On the shirt was a white cloud with a rainbow colored lightning bolt coming of it. Her pants were simple workout pants and on her military camouflage backpack hung a net with a ball in it. The girl's companion couldn’t be more different though. The other girl constantly hid behind her pink hair that went nicely with her butter yellow skin. She wore a green skirt and a white tank top. For some reason the meek girl suddenly turned towards Saji, making direct eye contact, it lasted barely a second before the girl turned away with a thoughtful expression.

Ares choose that point to pitch in, interrupting any forming though.
“Ma’am, I have completed the route calculation and have synchronized with the local networks.”

“Good, then spill the beans Ares.” Saji said quietly, counting on the microphone on the earbuds to pick up her voice.

“in ten minutes a bus will go from here, we are looking for line 9443 towards downtown, exit the bus at the celestial plaza. From there it is possible to reach both the clothing store and the cover workplace. There is also a place for nourishment that is recommended to be visited.” Ares answered.

“Place of nourishment? Like what kind of nourishment and why?” Saji asked befuddled.

“I have received medical priority instructions to ensure a base level of physical health for this bio sleeve. As of right now minor dehydration and malnourishment can be detected.” Ares said in his monotone voice.

“ookayy. Whatever, I don’t feel hungry anyw-“ saji said but a low grumble of her stomach interrupted her. “Fine lunch it is.” She then yielded to her body’s needs and went towards the bus station.

-(o)-

“that would be two hundred and sixty bits please.” The shopkeeper said after he scanned Saji's clothes which consisted of two khaki colored cargo pants, two t-shirts, one heavy dark brown leather jacket and a sizeable backpack. Saji complied and gave him the money yet stopped him from putting everything in a bag.

“uhm if its okay I would change in these for now and put the rest in the backpack.” She reasoned.

“Alright, just take a changing stall. Have a nice day.” The cashier said and waved her off, already busy with the next customer. She was quick to put word to action and left the shop in her new clothes and her jacket tied around her hip since the backpack was full. Her next stop was the new work place, which she had passed on her way to the store. The shop itself was a electronics shop that was directly at the plaza which according to a history board was canterlots old market area.
The name of the store she aimed for was 'dusted wire's pristine electronics.' And its exterior matched the name with its modern glass display set in a old buildings facade. If she had to be honest she didn’t care for the job initially, figuring it was just busy work between investigations. Now however, with the 'new mission' in mind she would be stuck with it a lot longer.

Ah whatever, no point in stalling. Saji thought and went in. The door bell chimed softly and a rush of cool air brushed against her as she entered. She took her time to observe her new workplace, noting the two shelves on either side wall and the counter in the back. There were also several displays like tables and shelves that housed electrical components of all kind in neat boxes.

“welcome to Dusty's how can I help you young lady?” a old male voice asked from the counter, slightly startling Saji who was busy looking around.

“ oh ahmm hello mister dusted. Im Shizokou the new part time aid. We talked over phone a few days ago.” Saji said and introduced herself under her guises name.

“Ah miss shizokou, I didn’t expect you to be here already. It is nice to finally meet in person.” The old man said and extended a hand for a courtesy.

Saji took it and gave it a good squeeze and a firm shake, apparently it is good to have a firm handshake, a sentient that the old man seemed to share if his smile was any indication. “It is, im looking forward to working here.” Saji answered in a happy tone. But only as long as I have to. She mentally tagged on.

“Im glad to hear that, there aren’t many young people with a work spirit nowadays. Anyway what do you think of the country so far?” dusted asked, and leaned on the counter with a genuine curious expression.

Saji shrugged. “I have yet to figure that out, I just arrived a couple of hours ago at the airport. Thought I do a short tour and get some shopping done before I get to my apartment.”

“ahh getting a feel of the city. Then im glad you came by. Though I don’t want to keep you, I know the jet lack can be nasty.” Dusty said knowingly.

“thanks and was nice meeting you in person, I can tell that it’s going to be fun working here.” Saji said and gave a slight bow from the waist, hoping to imitate Japanese customs.

“Then see ya next week Monday at… let me check.” The old man trailed of.

“Sixteen o'clock sharp sir.” Saji answered for him.

“Right thanks.”

“Have a nice day" she said and left at a polite pace. At least he is as nice in person as he is on phone, hope this is how he is as boss as well. Saji thought as she crossed the celestial plaza.

However just as she reached the large fountain that was in the center, Ares reminded her of something. “Ma'am you wanted to eat something, the café I fond is at ten o’clock, it's called ‘sugercube corner'.”

Saji sighed and looked at the given direction past a rearing horse statue at the base of the fountain. Shure enough at the edge of the plaza was a small cozy and color full café. The sign over the shadow spending canvas blind read shugercube corner and had varios baked goods scattered around the letters. Those were another thing she had to get used to since she was a born carnivore.

Ancestors above I hope this tastes better then this stuff the docs fed me. Saji thought with a grimace and changed course.

Inside the café was a large counter on the back wall that overlooked the tables and booths that were scattered about witch made the layout feel open while giving plenty of privacy if one so desired. The counter itself had lots of different goods on display, ranging from simple bread to sweets and desserts. There were also pre made sandwiches and buns, on the far left was even a small ice counter. Manning the whole thing was a lanky yellow skinned, orange haird guy in a pale blue chef uniform and a white apron who was busy serving another customer. She took the time to search the display for something that looked familiar. In the end she settled on a fish bun.

“Ah hello miss, how can I help you?” the man behind the counter asked after he finished with the previous customer, a blond girl with freckles on her cheeks and a Stetson on her head.

“I would like to have that fish bun and a Apple juice pleas.” She answered and pointed at the bun in question since she didn’t know witch one it was.

“The one with salmon? Okay. That will be two bits fifty. For here or take out?” The baker asked

“For here please.” Saji said while fishing for the requested bits. After going through half her pockets Saji found her purse and paid up.

“Thanks, have a nice day.” The backer said and Saji replied in kind before taking her haul to a more secluded booth on the wall. It took her some time to work up the courage to eat but once she did, she could barely stop. The simple bun had only a bit of greenery a spread she didn’t recognize and the salmon but by her ancestors did it taste good. She was just liking her hands to clear the remains from the savage slaughter of the innocent bun when she noticed someone staring at her.

It was a pink haired girl. No I’ve seen her before but were… right, at the subway entrance. Saji thought, yet as the girl saw that she had been noticed she turned back to her companions wich included the Stetson wearing girl that was before her on the counter and the rainbow haired ego balloon.

She didn’t pay much attention to them while she sipped her juice and contemplated about getting a second bun. The answer was quite obvious to her so she stood up and lined up with the cue that had form while she ate.
Just wen she reached the counter and ordered her second bun, much to the bakers amusement, a shouting match broke out between miss Stetson and miss rainbow ego. Something about a sports event and lying to friends.
The baker shook his head in disbelief. “To think these three were thick as thieves at the beginning of the year…" he paused at Saji's confused look. “never mind, this one will be one bit ninety.”

Saji paid and exchanged pleasantries with the man. While she returned to her booth the two loud girls departed with a loud declaration that their friendship was over. This left the pale yellow girl behind, extremely upset. Saji could see her holding back tears as she left the café as well.

All in all this was way to close to what she learned to be teenage drama, something she hoped to avoid during her second time in school. To her surprise, the second bun she ordered was already gone by the time she withdrew from her thoughts, leaving her with a nice taste on her tongue and the smell of salmon in her nose. She washed it down with the remaining Apple juice and left the café while making a mental note to remember it.

Saji's next stop was the school which was another bus ride away, closer to the middle of canterlot and near the residential district. The bus stop was directly in front of the school’s main entrance and the the small schoolyard. There was also a horse statue in the center of the schoolyard which had a small paved path leading around it in a circle. The school building itself was mostly bricks with white ornaments in the corners, around the Windows and a band going all the way around between the ground and first floor.

Saji took her time to wander around a bit, though she didn’t get inside because the school was supposed to be closed.

After a bit of wandering though she noticed that one classroom had students in it and one of the girl's on the Windows was watching her. It was a bit hard to see but the girl looked at her in a way that just screamed 'im holier than thou.' Saji had seen that dozens of times and there were only two ways to deal with such people. Either ignore them or make them a fool, she went for the later. With a mocking smile she took a regal posture and gave the girl in the Window her best imitation of a jester's bow. The message was quite clear, at least she hoped so. Once her show of mockery was over she walked of as confident as she could, making a mental note to steer clear of the girl and her bacon colored hair….. and now she was hungry again.

Author's Note

Well here goes a new chapter.
It took longer then I would have liked but my muse left me halfway through and I had t rewrite it.
Then to add insult to injury, I had a hard time getting my 'times to write' and my 'inspiration to write' together.

That being said I also did some minor changes in the prologue and chapter two because I had a new idea and needed to keep the continuity in order