Sylvie

“I was happy to do it.”  Casey paused, “Besides, you returned the favor a few hours after.  If not for you and your visions, Brian would have won…turned me into a puppet to him and Denise.”

Wanting desperately to change the subject, Sylvie pulled onto the new stretch of road and headed to the US Army base and thought to ask her tiny computer a new question. “Code, If my memory is right, there’s a campground close by.  I want to say it’s part of the battleground called ‘The Crater’.  Tents and lots of parking for tourists.”

“Indeed, the campground is three-fourths of a mile in the direction you are heading.  Not gated, open to the public all hours.”  Code affirmed and went quiet.

Forming a small hopeful plan in her head, Sylvie pulled into the dark campsite and shut off the engine. “The bike will be safe here for a little bit.  Thankfully there are lots of people touring this time of year.”  She pointed in the direction of the base, “We do exactly like you said, we fly in and get that skull.”  

“I love shape changing.”  Casey clapped and pulled off her helmet. “I suspect you have more to this plan?  I am used to Vivienne and Faye planning out nearly every detail.”

Looking around at the open sky, Sylvie admitted to herself that she didn’t have a real plan.  In the past, it was just her and the visions that guided her through her random actions. “It should be easy enough to land on the warehouse as a pair of birds, I suspect the guards won’t care.” Sliding off the bike, Sylvie began walking to the entrance of the park. “When a cool breeze passed over her face, triggering a thought. “Nice.”

“What?”  Casey inquired and looked puzzled at her lover. “You were just saying birds?”

Comforted by the fact that she got a little help from her third eye, Sylvie smiled and winked at Casey. “The breeze did it, pear-drop.”  Sylvie snickered, “You get to have a little fun.  Because you are going to be so hungry when we get out of there.”

“What breeze…Oh. Gotcha.”  Casey fluffed out her matted strawberry-blonde hair, “Little vision..you still promised to tell me, pretty-plum.”

Sylvie squatted down and plucked a stick from the ground and drew a crude square denoting the warehouse. “Okay, we fly up, and go ghostform then go into the venting.”  She drew little squiggles in the dirt. “The ducts have to go all over the place, right?”

“I suppose.”  Casey frowned and nervously bit her lip. “I am not sure how long I can be in that form, Sylvie.  Isn’t it a very blood-intensive thing?”  She patted her big chest, “About two days old.  I might last ten seconds.”

Pondering the last few days, Sylvie shook her head. “You’ve been a different kind of vampire from the start.  Nothing about you, other than your love for blood and durability is the same.”  Sylvie tossed the stick into the woods. “I mean you don’t even have a beast.  Just maybe this will work better for you.”

Nodding in agreement, Casey stretched and looked towards the base. “You’ve been right so far…”  She grabbed Sylvie in a loving hug, “...You did make me this way, who am I to fight a soothsayer.”  She winked. “What’s the plan after the ducts?  I assume you know the location of said crate?”  Casey laughed, “What are the odds that we could find Kody’s chip in there as well?”

“Not very good, if you are a betting woman.”  A deep voice came from the woods and a set of power button eyes glowing green appeared a moment later. “I took care of the chip, Sylvie.”  Kody stepped out and into the parking lot. “Humm, vampirism fits you, Miss Rivers.”  They turned to Sylvie, “One less thing for you to worry about.”

Quickly hugging her friend, Sylvie stepped back and put her hands on her hips. “Where have you been?  You flew off and we haven’t heard anything since.”  She looked at Casey intent on conquering two things at one time. “Yes, I have the contacts showing me exactly where the box should be.  We come out of ghostform, tag a couple of guards that aren’t in camera view and get the box.”

Kody raised one of their eyebrows while keeping their expression neutral. “You know, those can control the cameras.  Just ask them to tap into the system and put the feed on a loop.”  They frowned for a second, “Then again, you’d need a little more prep work for the contacts to be a hundred percent accurate.”  Kody circled around to Sylvie’s first question. “I left, I went to Ohio to get some things worked out and..” They closed their eyes, shivering for a brief moment. “...to get The Raven out of my head.  I only came back because Mister Alan Brown will not leave me alone.  Insists that I have something to do with the quirky things going on here.”

Sylvie backed away from her cyberpunk-looking friend and smiled. “You are still working things out…with Lucy?”  She winked and walked over to Casey. “I will tell you more later, dear-heart.  Right now, we get to have a little fun just like you asked on the bridge and in the bar.”

Casey slipped her arm around Sylvie, “How did you find us, Kody?”

Rolling their white power button eyes, Kody simply pointed at their own eyes. “I can track every set I have ever made, just in case they fall into the wrong hands.”  They paused, “Don’t worry about the chip, Sylvie.  I have it safe and sound.”  They paused, “I have an invitation to stay at the Swift Creek Mill until the council meeting is concluded.”  Kody walked up to Casey and stared at her golden eyes, “Humm…you will need a form of heat resistant ones.  I will have them ready for you by council time, alright Miss Casey?”

“I get to have cool contacts too?”  She grabbed Kody and hugged him while jumping with excitement. “Soooo cool.  Thank you sooooo much…”  She danced with Kody for a few seconds until she could tell they were uncomfortable. “Sorry, Kody.  I got a little overzealous.  SO…much adventure..”  She stuck her tongue out at Sylvie. “Mine will be newer.”

Kody, devoid of any real emotion simply added, “I have a software update for yours, Sylvie.  Now that I know you both are together, I will link them.  Bond by blood and technology.”  They bowed once and waved, “See you tomorrow, Sylvie.  Miss Casey.”  They shape changed into their mechanical flight form and disappeared into the night.

“One less thing to worry about, Casey.”  Sylvie raised one eyebrow, “A kiss for good luck?”

Casey licked her lips teasingly, “I thought you’d never ask.”