THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

shoulder-width apart, he lifted his hands, palms facing out.
    A bright, translucent image in the shape of a rectangle came to life, similar to the computer screens that I’d seen in Mr. Suarez’s classroom. But this one had no structure holding the image floating in the air.
    I pointed. “That’s–”
    Callan answered, “–a holographic monitor. Shhh. We have to be quiet while V’ru uses his gift to analyze.”
    V’ru moved his hands back and forth in front of the monitor, tapping in places and pausing images that streamed past faster than I could process. When the kid slowed down, the screen image coalesced into one of a stark, light-filled landscape and a cliff-dwelling abode that brought up the word “home” in my mind. More memories surfacing?
    Could this kid actually tell me who I was? My heart started beating faster. I sucked in a sharp breath, excited. Home!
    V’ru pushed the screen to his left as if it slid on a track and I felt as though something vital to me disappeared.
    I spoke first, aware of half-formed thoughts pushing at me. “I’ve seen a projection like that before. That’s driven by a Cyberprocessor, isn’t it?”
    “Some are,” V’ru allowed, considering me with a curious expression. “MystiKs do not utilize Cyberprocessors, but you are not MystiK.”
    I’d survived deadly beasts, a trip through a computer and spear tips to face this judgment-by-child without trial? I don’t think so . “I’m getting tired of saying this, but I am not TecKnati.”
    “I believe you.” 
    Callan said, “What?” as I said, “Really?”
    Addressing Callan first, V’ru explained, “I must have more time for a complete analysis, but this one–Rayen–has no residue of the K-enzyme, the metallic ink in her system. This ink is what all TecKnatis use to mark their human population.”
    I gave Callan a victorious smirk. “See?”
    “However,” V’ru continued. “As I said, I need more time to study on this. Your physiology is not of the ancient times that you claim.”
    Callan returned the smirk, but added a dose of suspicion. “So you did lie about coming from the year 2013.”
    “No, I didn’t, but if your boy recorder here is so smart what year am I from?”
    Callan and I turned to V’ru who said, “If you know what a Cyberprocessor is then you cannot be from the year 2013 as it was not created until the year 2129, month July, the day 17, time–”
    I cut in, “Okay, I get your point and I don’t know how I know about Cyberprocessors, only that I do. Just like I know I traveled here from 2013.”
    No judgment showed in V’ru’s expression, in fact nothing crossed that blank little face. He said, “What else can you tell me about when you woke up in the desert?”
    “Nothing except that I did recognize the mountains I saw in the desert, but then they took me to the city called Albuquerque.” 
    With a touch of his finger, V’ru slid the floating monitor back in front of his face again, tapping several times before the image returned to the scene with the strange house. “As one of the ten MystiK cities, Albuquerque did exist–”
    Callan’s eyes rounded. “Really? I’ve never heard of that.”
    V’ru paused with a look of strained patience on his face. “That is because you are not a historian. Albuquerque is the city you know as ALB/City 7.”
    “Oh.”
    “As I was saying, Albuquerque existed in a territory once known as the state of New Mexico during the year 2013, established in 1706 by–”
    “That’s all we need on Albuquerque, V’ru,” Callan said with heavy politeness to smooth over his interruption.
    Good thing to know I wasn’t the only one anxiously waiting for some concrete information.
    “I don’t know about it being MystiK or not,” I said, wondering if that would work in our favor or against us. “But since Gabby and Tony are familiar with that area, yet aren’t familiar with MystiKs, I’m not sure we’re talking about the same place.”
    V’ru opened his thin lips to speak, but Etoi raced into the room, announcing, “We caught the TecKnati.”
    I turned to face her. “Tony?”
    Etoi ignored me, only speaking to Callan. “The one who released the scout. Mathias sends for you.”
    “I’ll speak to Mathias about the recaptured prisoner, but we are almost at the time for celebrating his BIRG Day. Go oversee the final preparations.”
    “I should help with guarding the TecKnati.”  Etoi was clearly annoyed at Callan sending her to