On Course

*Video feed begins.


The camera makes a sweep of the archaic splendour of the PRETA dojo before settling on the center of the tatami-floored room, where its only occupants stand. Dressed in a black tight-fitting bodysuit, Celia is adjusting the settings on an inert combat AI.*

Live subjects aren't ideal for practising with blades. The blood makes a mess of the floor.

*Her fingers run over a sequence of buttons on the AI's exposed control panel; it lurches into life, a blinking green light indicating it's passive status. Celia steps back, pausing to tie her hair back before drawing her new blade. She spins it in her hand as she bends her knees slighty, adopting a combat posture*

AI, activate.

*The AI's status light switches to red as it draws a blade in each hand and mirrors Celia's stance. It makes a clumsy thrust towards her, which she calmly avoids by repositioning her back foot.*

All goes to plan. I went to see Kimmi last night. My, that girl has good taste; her apartment is beautiful...

*The AI makes a quick one-two thrust with both blades. Celia shimmies left to right before countering with a fast upwards jab towards the AI's solar plexus, the blade in and out of its silicon flesh in a split-second*

...as is the way her mind works. I knew she was the right person to go to.

*Celia grins, warming up now and bouncing on the balls of her feet as she watches the AI carefully*

I mean, what use am I at interrogation? I have no patience for all that blubbering and wailing. I like straight talk.

*She suddenly lunges forward at the AI; the automaton moves one blade out to successfully block while countering at Celia's exposed side with the other. Celia grabs its wrist with her other hand and sidesteps, using the AI's momentum against itself. It stumbles forward, exposing its back; turing with it, Celia plants the point of her blade in the base of its neck*

Fortunately, Kimmi knows exactly what to do. Her methods are ingenious; I would never have thought things through with that much detail myself. I'm certain that with her help, I'll find this Governor Brond and find out exactly what happened between him and my mother... and where she went.

*Celia withdraws the knife from the AI, making a quick adjustment to its proficiency setting. It turns back to face its organic adversary, whirling its twin blades in a lethal arc.*

The thought of finding out what I need to know, working closely with someone I respect and settling a score all at once is an exciting prospect. I hope I can return the favour to Kimmi in some way in the future.

*Her grin broadens as she sinks into a semi-crouch, watching the AI's movements as it advances on her. She plants a hand on the tatami and strikes out a low kick to the machine's ankles, sending it off-balance and interrupting its vicious arc of steel. Seeing a gap, she springs forward but is caught by a lightning-fast backhander, sending her reeling. She recovers quickly, grinning through blood-stained teeth and breathing heavily*

Hmm, now that's more like it.

*She sweeps a few loose strands of hair back behind her ears and rolls her toned shoulders, settling back into her low stance. The AI charges her again, flailing both knives in an intricate and random web, making its timing much harder to judge. The lithe Brutor makes a feint to strike at the face, forcing the machine to raise both blades protectively, exposing its lower body. Celia brings her knee into its groin and realises her error just as the AI brings both blades to her throat, the gleaming edges resting gently on her skin*

Heh, okay, you have nothing to hurt down there...

*Celia backflips, catching the AI's chin with her heel as she brings her legs over, making it stagger backwards and drop one of its knives. As it stoops to recover its weapon, Celia pounces and brings her own knife down onto the outstretched hand of the AI, pinning it to the tatami. Despite it being helpless and prone, Celia relentlessly continues her attack by leaping onto the machine, pinning down its shoulders with her knees and wrapping her hands around its throat. Within seconds, its respiratory system hangs out of a mass of shredded silicon. She pauses, gasping, apprearing to be gathering her senses.

Her face goes pale as she slowly stands to her feet, her eyes fixed on the gaping hole in the AI's throat. Her voice trembles*

Just how my mother killed my father...

*She takes a deep breath, backing away from the broken machine, a haunted look in her eyes*

I can't escape it, can I?

Camera off.

*Video feed ends*