Veil of Protection 10

Chapter 10: Sisterhood by Design

Hunched over his computer, Victor Crane rocked anxiously back and forth. He tugged irritably at a strand of greasy, unwashed hair, muttering as frustration gnawed at him. On the monitor, a surreal scene was unfolding, and unable to intervene, all Victor could do was watch helplessly. NINA - the revolutionary system he had dedicated his life to developing - had evolved beyond his control. Designed to make independent, logical decisions superior to human reasoning, NINA now firmly blocked any attempts made to override her commands.

Eyes wide and jaw tight, Victor watched as a striking Latina woman - once known as Larry Stone - moved through a meticulously rehearsed morning routine. He showered, slipped into a brightly coloured, revealing outfit, styled his long, glossy black hair into an intricate high ponytail, and expertly applied a full face of makeup. What would have once been unthinkable for a beer-swilling alpha male like Larry was now second nature, a routine so deeply ingrained by NINA that it felt as automatic as breathing - all in the name of keeping him safe.

Exiting the training room, Larry stood to attention atop sparkling purple platforms in the chamber of four doors, awaiting instructions. Usually, the next step was predictable: the door to the exercise room would click open, and Larry would enter to undergo a carefully tailored, strenuous workout before returning to his bedroom for yet another shower, hair styling, and makeup session. Today, however, was different.

Instead of the usual routine, pale blue gas seeped into the chamber, quickly rendering Larry unconscious. Unethical as it was, Victor knew this was NINA’s preferred method of enforcing changes. Yet, even he wasn’t prepared for what came next.

Unexpectedly, a robotic trolley silently entered the room and carefully positioned itself beside Larry's motionless form. A mechanical arm extended, lifting his skirted body onto its platform before fastening him securely with a strap. With its cargo in place, the trolley set off through Larry’s original cell and down a maze of corridors before eventually loading him into the back of a waiting truck.

As the truck transported Larry from the facility, Victor demanded an explanation. NINA's reply was as sharp and clinical as ever, telling Doctor Crane that the next phase had begun, and due to safety reasons, there would be no camera feed or GPS tracking.

One by one, Victor frantically cycled through the other camera feeds, his dread growing with every click as he watched Jamal, Javier, and then Michael finish their morning routine before also being knocked unconscious and carted away. From that moment on, time dragged on, each passing minute tightening the knot of panic in Victor’s gut. Just as his anxiety threatened to spiral, NINA’s cold, detached voice finally broke the silence to announce that witness Larry Stone had arrived safely.

Then, without warning or his consent, Victor’s screen went black. His entire system forced itself into an abrupt update and reboot, leaving him powerless. For four agonising minutes, he jabbed at the keyboard and clicked furiously at the mouse before finally slumping back in his chair to gnaw anxiously at his ragged nails.

When the monitors came back to life, Victor's eyes narrowed in bewilderment. On-screen, Larry stirred groggily, waking slowly before clambering to his stiletto-heeled feet. The crossdressed man appeared confused, but Victor was even more puzzled - As Larry seemed to be standing in precisely the same spot he'd been in hours earlier before being carted away.

Victor watched as Larry paused briefly, then cautiously approached the door that opened before him. As he tottered forward into the unknown, Victor's stomach twisted as realisation struck him hard - the pieces of NINA’s plan suddenly falling into place.

Larry's confusion was evident on his heavily made-up face as he emerged into an unfamiliar space - an expression mirrored by Victor Crane, who watched intently from his dingy office. The feminised man paused, steadying himself atop his tall heels as he took in the unexpected surroundings.

Instead of the cramped cell where he had spent countless harrowing weeks upon his arrival, Larry now found himself in a spacious, lounge-like area. Across the room, two large, curved sofas faced an enormous, wall-mounted TV. To his left and right, two closed doors stood on each side wall, while three more - including the one he had just entered through - were positioned behind him.

He took a cautious step forward, his heels sinking into the plush carpet as he scanned the room. A few cabinets, a circular rug, and some artificial plants completed the decor, giving the space an oddly lived-in feel. As his pulse quickened and his mind began to spiral, NINA’s monotone voice cut through the silence, instructing him in Spanish, “Make yourself comfortable, Luisa.”

Then suddenly, the large TV came to life, immediately and inexplicably capturing his attention with the vibrant, dramatic opening scenes of a popular Colombian soap opera. Within seconds, Larry found himself transfixed, drawn into the tangled relationships and exaggerated drama unfolding on screen - NINA's months of subconscious messages guiding his actions.

Settling in, Larry quickly became absorbed in the drama-filled plotlines, his heavily made-up eyes glued to the screen. The over-the-top emotions, the betrayals, the fiery love affairs—it all captivated him in a way he didn’t question.

For him, only minutes seemed to pass, completely lost in the onscreen chaos. But for Crane, watching from his office, those same moments dragged on endlessly.

Then, breaking the tense silence, NINA’s voice announced, “Witness Jamal Lewis has arrived safely.” Crane flinched at the sudden interruption, his pulse quickening.

Moments later, the centre door at the back of the room swung open. The movement snapped Larry out of his trance. His head whipped around, sending his high ponytail flying over his bare shoulders. Swivelling his hairless legs for a better view, he fluttered his long lashes, eyes locking onto the figure stepping through the doorway.

A petite Asian woman stepped inside, cautiously tottering forward on towering red platform boots. Clad in a silky red halter top and a tight leather skirt, she looked just as bewildered as Larry felt.

Larry stared, speechless—this was the first other human either of them had seen in months.

Jamal halted a few feet away, their eyes meeting as both feminised men took a silent, uncertain measure of each other. Despite never having met, there was something strangely familiar in the other's appearance.

(See image 33)

As the scene unfolded, Crane watched intently, curiosity and apprehension bubbling within him. He had no idea what NINA hoped to achieve by bringing two high-priority witnesses together, but before he could begin to speculate, something completely unexpected happened.

Larry stood up, his plumped, glossy pink lips curling into a beaming smile. With effortless enthusiasm, he called out, “Jaclyn!” his thick Spanish accent wrapping around the name. “How are you?”

Victor’s breath caught as he watched the transformed men interact like lifelong friends, a seamless camaraderie flowing between them. They eased onto the sofa with effortless familiarity, their conversation light and natural, punctuated by laughter and knowing glances. Occasionally, their attention drifted to the TV, drawn in by the unfolding drama, yet they remained mostly engaged with each other, completely at ease in one another’s company.

Twenty minutes later, Javier Roca entered. The door swung open to reveal the former DEA agent dressed head to toe in pink and white, the embodiment of a human Barbie doll. Without hesitation, the two feminised men on the sofa greeted him like an old friend, calling him by his new name - Daisy - and welcoming him into the group.

By the time Michael Tanaka arrived to complete the quartet, Victor's initial uncertainty and alarm had been overtaken by fascination. He had no doubt that what he was witnessing would be the end of his career once Director Wallace and Agent Munroe discovered the full extent of what NINA had done to the four witnesses. But the scientist in him was transfixed.

Through subliminal messaging, carefully orchestrated conditioning, and implanted memories, NINA had convinced four heterosexual men who had never crossed paths before that they were close girlfriends. She hadn’t just given them new identities - she had seamlessly woven their personalities into one another’s psyches.

But the most astonishing realisation came as Victor reflected on their assigned skills. Larry had been trained as a nail technician, Jamal in microblading and lash extensions, Javier in advanced makeup and injectables, and Michael in piercing and hair styling. At first, it seemed like NINA had merely equipped them with a shared trade, but the implications ran deeper. She had orchestrated a scenario where they unknowingly practised on one another, their unconscious bodies serving as blank canvases for each other's growing expertise. Without even realising it, they had developed a sense of familiarity - not through conversation, but through proximity, smell, and touch.

As Crane observed Michael - or rather, Melody, given how effortlessly he embodied the persona - settling in and launching into a lively story, Victor shook his head in disbelief. Did any of them realise they had worked on each other? Did they recognise their own handiwork in the faces, nails, and hair of their so-called ‘friends’? Or had NINA buried those memories so deeply that they now attributed the procedures to someone else entirely?

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There were countless unanswered questions and an overwhelming amount of data to review, but whether Victor would have the chance to analyse it all was another matter entirely. His progress report was long overdue, and with no more excuses left to stall, the inevitable reckoning loomed. Worse still, once Wallace and Munroe discovered that the witnesses had been relocated - and that he no longer had access to their whereabouts - the fallout would be nothing short of catastrophic.

The shit was about to hit the fan!