Sphinxie by Denis Zubois

Who am I? The name is Merneith of the House of Iry-Hor.

What am I? No longer a Kemet noblewoman - not after my father sold me into slavery for his gambling debts.

Not a slave - not after I started an uprising, the first in the history of modern Ta-Kem.

Not a rebel - even though some still call me the ‘Kemet Spartacus’ on socinet. Some of those I hoped to liberate turned on me when I tried to stop their senseless violence; the rest followed suit when the Per-Oh promised them better masters.

Not a first-worlder – I never needed their pity, was insulted by their condescension, and refused to satisfy their morbid curiosity.

So be it. I’m not bending over backwards or turning myself inside out to fit in. Besides, I don’t have to – here on Hiva, we’re all misfits.

Now, I am a captain in the Void Runners Scout Company of the Custodiaspes Battalion. We do tactical intelligence and unconventional warfare. My friends call me Sphinxie – and I draw a clear, hard line between friend and foe.

Would you want me for an enemy? I’m going on my first mission in open space now. You may follow it – and let me know afterwards.