Somali Tales

After Fahima and Arshad went to sleep, Deen showed her around the first floor, and registered Rune as a new member of the connected house. Fingers-prints, pupils and facial parameters were put in the system. Like most buildings, the whole technology worked on identifying these personal traits.

At around 12 o’clock, they ended up in the living room to set up the emergency processes. Rune chose Fahima as her guardian in case of emergency, believing she was the least susceptible to kill her in her sleep. A bit aware of the thoughts behind her choice, Deen made all the adaptation in front of her so she could learn how to adjust it herself.

“You’re part of the household now. In a couple of months, you’ll know this place better than me,” joked Deen.

“Thank you for your help, Deen. I’m so glad to start this new life here,” said Rune.

“Yeah, Hades is a great place to live. Now that we are done with the settings, tell me more about you. I feel like we should break the ice early if we are going to live together. I heard you’re from Geneva?” said Deen, pretending to be impressed.

“Yeah, but I’m born in Malia though,” corrected Rune. She was peculiar about reminding people of this fact. Generally, it impressed them even more.

“Right. I thought it was impossible to access the city-state from many countries. I guess Malia is not one of them. When did you immigrate?” said Deen, with curiosity.

“You’re right, it’s not easy. But my father is originally from Geneva. He met my mother in Malia during a diplomatic mission. You see, he was in the military.”

“Really? What branch?” inquired Deen.

“I think he was originally in the international security department, but you know, after a certain grade, there are no branches. He was regularly sent on mission depending on the need of the Organization. Sometimes it is related to a given situation, other times it is to strengthen relations,” told Rune having prepared her speech.

“The military… interested in diplomacy?” asked Deen, surprised by the statement.

“Only when it concerns certain “events,” which can reactivate old tensions,” said Rune truthfully.

“I see,” said Deen. Why does she call the military “the organization” anyway?”

“What about you? What branch are you in?” asked Rune. She was waiting for the best moment to take the lead in the conversation.

“National security. I investigate disturbance within the military or any threat which poses a risk to Mehreen,” answered Deen. “Well, that’s exactly what I came to do,” thought Rune. It was not personal, though.

“Interesting. You know I have been engaged in the army myself,” said Rune. She always hated lying, and she was strangely at ease with him in this living-room. Maybe it was due to the familiarity of his direct way of speaking and a certain way of commanding. Just like her father used to talk to her.

“You seem too young to talk in the past tense. Which army were you in? The Continental or City-state military?”

“Neither. It is not a well-known fact, but Malia has a “youth” military category. From 8 to 12-years old, family can enroll their sons and daughters in the military program. Then from 12 to 15 years old, they can be engaged in the army, trained to serve their respective State,” Rune was talkative. But she understood the threat, and double down on it. She was a threat, and she will not hide it for long.

While the ceiling watched over them, the gentle lights from the precious amethyst she brought, Deen’s face became illuminated. He looked amused, if not puzzled.

“Incredible. You were in the “youth” military? Mehreen would never allow something like this. Children are king here.”

“Children are king in Malia too. Fierce and strong, that is. Since my father was a soldier, I was enrolled as soon as five years old,” said Rune, hiding her bitterness.

“And how did you end up being a chemist who sells crystals and tarot cards?” asked Deen. Rune laughed at his remark. They were all selling whatever people were buying.

“After 15 you get to choose whether to take on a civilian life or keep on working for the military. Science and engineering have always been a passion of mine, and I wanted a simpler life. The crystals and the rest are truly a marvel once you get to understand their intricacies and power,” the lie did not went undetected.   

“Fascinating.” answered Deen. “In Mehreen, everyone has a second profession, but once you get into the military, you remain the “property” of the army. Anyway, you must be tired. Let’s go to sleep.” Again, with his directions.

“Sure. Lead on,” pretending to not have heard what he just said. What does it mean to be the “property” of the army, anyway?

“Good night,” she said, opening her room with a facial recognition, including her bones and teeth structures.

“Night’” he said, smiling, all teeth out to enter his own room. They were just on the opposite of each other, each room as big as a 5 stars suit, with a stair leading to the personal bathroom, cooking area and an additional resting place. The first floor only had her spacious room with the desk, separated by a living room where she could entertain guests. It clearly changed from her military life, only made of rough edges and sharp objects. Even the resting areas were full of feeding tubes and wireless nano-patches to keep training body muscles.

Rune took clear note that she was not well prepared for this mission. Surprised by everything, she expected a much rougher environment. But Deen confirmed something was strange about Mehreen, when he mentioned people being the “property” of the army. That is her first lead. But first, she must observe her soul-tracking device.

While configuring it, she kept gently singing to hear any echo of a microphone hidden somewhere. Not that she would remove it but simply to know where it was hidden. This population used old technology, it seemed.

Earlier, while controlling the chip within the crystals, she may have destructed the fragile fibers, compromising her whole set up. The device works on satellite, but the chip gave her even clearer information: the name and physical attributes of the people, as well as their trajectories and the place they have been for the past 24 hours. Worried about the effect of her mistake, she looked at the device to observe the green souls.

The tracker indicated the presence of 15 people in and around the house. Strange, she thought. There were Arshad and Fahima, her and Deen. Where and who were the others? Other employees? Due to the half-destructed chip, it kept being disturbed and directing toward the soil, without properly showing any passages. The device could not give full details on the bunker that must have been under the house.

***

Deen woke up for the fourth time that night, turning around aimlessly. Lying on his back, he picked his house monitor to look at the first floor. Only the sleepwalking cat was moving from left to right, running after imaginary mouses. When will his parents get rid of them?

Rune did not try to leave her room, and the micro in the guest room did not record any noise, except some light breathing. “At last, she stopped singing” thought Deen, release from the pain of hearing the hymns again. Not that Rune’s voice was terrible, it just that the state’s radio kept playing them, without any interruption since three days.

Stretching his leg, he got up in a single move, feet touching the ground. After putting his shirt on, he got closer to the window to drink water and observe his parents’ domain. Should he act now?

On the far end, he could see the tip of one crystal, aware it was all fake and recorded their every move. A unique piece. He will have to study it further and convinced him once for all; Rune was still a soldier. And a special one at that.

***

At 6 in the morning, Deen opened the door, to find her fully clothed and ready, next to a broken vase, roses and water scattered everywhere. “It does not look like an accident,” he thought to himself. “I’m sorry to intrude. Is everything alright?” asked Deen, half-surprised. He was already wandering in front of her door, when he heard the noise.

“I… thought only Fahima could enter? Anyway, it’s nothing. I knocked on the vase while pacing the room. I am a bit nervous, you see,” lied Rune. She was looking for a to repair the chip and find a way to access the basement, and hopefully the bunker. The vase was a mistake. She thought it contained air-poisoner.

They were scrutinizing each other.

“I thought it was an emergency. I have access to most locked room in this house and all Hades, I should have been clearer on that. Do you need help?” asked Deen, getting closer to help collect the broken glass.

“Ok,” she said, accepting his excuse. “I was wondering, Deen, are there any other people living here? It’s such a big house. I can not believe there are only the three of you,” inquired Rune.

“There is only grandma, Umm Jenna. She stays in her room, practically in the basement. I’ll introduce you when she comes out,” said Deen, while making eye contact with the bag he had not inspected.

For Rune, at least, one mystery was solved, but not the other 10. Meanwhile, Deen was getting closer to uncover the device, without her awareness. He just missed it for this time, but his doubts were confirmed. She possessed a new technology.

***

During the day, Rune had installed the virtual shop in a smaller building on the edge of the garden. People in Hades loved “natural” creams, and she could have all the ingredients she needed delivered once a week, as Arshad explained. They had a small lab only she “could enter,” a blatant lie, but she pretended to believe it. It will give her more access to the ground.

After the first day, then the second, and finally two weeks have passed, she had made some progress on every front.

***

“I can’t believe I have fallen again, thought Umm Jenna. And in the same corner of the room, too!”

Seeing her sprawled on her back, on the same spot, Arshad and Rune took a minute to register they were not having flashbacks of yesterday and ran to her…

“Are you Okay, Madame?” Asked Rune, while they helped her get up.

“Be careful… did you hurt yourself, mom?” asked Arshad. Examining his mother’s arms and legs, while new green and blue taints appeared on her skin. “Look, you’re even more bruised now,” said Arshad, caressing her hand gently.

“I’m OK… this spot must have something against me,” answered Umm Jenna. “And you, stop calling my madame, or I’ll throw myself on the ground. Willingly, this time,” she told Rune, trying to lighten the mood.

“Sorry,” said Rune, not knowing what else to say. “Umm Jenna, we must get rid of this rug, it is too dangerous. It is the second time this week, and it is just not worth to keep it,” insisted Rune.

“Not again,” said Umm Jenna, rubbing her knees, to reassure herself, gently mumbling some strange world in an ancient language, getting a strange look from Rune.

“What is it you said?” Asked the young woman.

Rune did not get what this old woman was doing, repeating words no one understood, in an almost dead language. At least she identified some form of Arabic.

“Nothing, my dear. You would not understand,” answered Umm Jenna. Rune knew about her ancestry, her name giving away her relation to the ancient people but did not realize she spoke Arabic, spontaneously.

“I did not know there were people still speaking Arabic, Umm Jenna,” said Rune, getting interested, and slightly forgetting about the reason the poor woman was mumbling those words.

“I don’t. You must have misheard me,” retorted Umm Jenna, wishing to keep her from investigating more. The girl was getting closer to uncovering their secrets, but they needed a little more time to really ambush her.