CHAPTER ELEVEN
Harlem Girl
"So, you're the project I've heard so much about. Roxanne. Pleasure." The being opens fire, and Roxie plants a shield made of plasma into the ground, defending them. "When the death toll comes, I do not want you or I on that line. Please listen here."
"Unless you tell me what the hell's going on, I'll put you there myself," the person says. She has arms made of iron, a long dress, and aims right at Roxie. "Rah, rah, rah. Another cop to kill."
"Will you not listen to reason?"
"You heartless scum let them torture me and Marie! You let the slave ring continue for years! YOU ruined my life!"
"Your anger is very misplaced!"
"Project: Peacock! Emergency shutdown!" Julia commands.
"Not like that, tranny! I won't stop and you can't stop me from finding answers! I don't think so!"
Big Band drives a brass fist into Peacock's head, knocking her out. "And that was for the last time," he says, letting steam rush out of his arm. "She was always this feisty, Roxanne. She has had problems with Medici and Renoirs for years at this point. Do not blame her for acting on instinct when she thinks about such things."
"Trust me, it isn't personal. I hardly ever take anything personal. Do me the favor and get her a muzzle. It'll help us in the long run."
"Noted. But you can do repairs on my armor, right? It was compromised in the last mission I was on."
"I'll see what I can do, Benjamin. But for now, I have a spot we can lay low." Retreating to a cavern in the hot dry lands of Mexico, Roxie hits a button on her watch. A house was made out of the cavern, and she says, "Make yourselves at home. Lights out in 20." She disappears into a bedroom. Feng follows her inside. "So, Roxie, why us and not the Zaibatsu? They coulda taken you just like Christopher had done so with you. Care to do a little storytelling?"
"I'll tell you about it. Shocked that he didn't already do so." She lit a cigar, turns the air conditioner on and takes a smoke. "So, I was born in Harlem, one of the poorest neighborhoods in the United States. Mother and I, after a business trip, I was left in Maplecrest. My work had started for Parasoul before the bombing, picking out scraps in the New Meridian county dump."
"Waitaminute, you were one of those inner city girls who lit the Maplecrest Bonfire each week? 'Cause, if so, I lived right by there," she answers.
"Well, then that's a coincidence, because I had a home there. Mother had left me because the business trip she had went on had one requirement; she couldn't bring her daughters with her. Her work mattered more to her than I did that day, and I lived there up until Parasoul caught me mechanizing some garbage and she decided to give me room in the Canopy Castle as long as I worked my ass off in the mechanization wing of the castle."
"How did you meet Christopher, Roxanne? Lemme guess. He picked you out from a hand-picked group of women chosen by Vitale?"
"Not at all. For fifteen years, I had earned my keep and respect for the Princess. Christopher, on a visit to a ruined Harlem, gave me a home as his sister when his family walked away from the slaughter. We grew to like each other a lot. Parasoul inadvertedly came to town a week after Christopher's 19th birthday. And when my mother visited, his brother, Daichi, had lost it. He annihilated whomever was left of the survivors and as he was gunning for me, Christopher saved me. He bought me time to run. And that was the last I ever saw of him."
"Up until a few hours ago."
"Exactly. He did keep in touch for a while, and then a few weeks ago, he called saying that he would need my help."
"Which led into this?"
"Yep. End of story."
"Mind if I crash here?"
"If you don't mind a hell of a lot of noise."
"Okay, then."
The next morning, Roxie and Chris go to New York City, and they continue on. "So, Parasoul rebuilt this place?" Christopher asks.
"Yep. I helped her do so during your little song and dance where you faded away. We're standing in Penn Station. And she wanted this city to be a military retreat. I wouldn't let it happen. Not for my life," Roxie answers. "Got anywhere you want to go?"
"Strictly business. But I have a spot I wanted to take you for a long time now."
At a small house in Central Park, Christopher rings the bell. At the door, stood a woman. "Took you long enough. Where the hell have you been?" she says to Roxie.
"Mainly Maplecrest. And you should be one to talk. Disappearing when I needed help the most. So don't get me started."
"Such drive and anger. What the hell happened while you were gone? 'Cause I know I don't have anything to do with it."
"Do you have what I need?"
"One all-access kit to the Zaibatsu, G Corp. and Iron Fist right here." Roxie takes the briefcase and they leave. On a train, Chris asks, "So, what is it that you want with that?"
"Allows me to eavesdrop on their system when needed. Fair answer?"
"Sounds good."
"Where did you want to take me?"
"Times Square."
"Way up there?"
"There's something I want to show you."
In the center of the city, Christopher and Roxie look at the city from the top of the building. "It's beautiful, Christopher."
"The best place to see the city from. I took Cerebella up here once. She enjoyed it as much as I did. Though, I want to let you know. I will give my life, my sanity, and my general well-being if it comes to that in terms of protecting you and the others. You have another who will help you, so you don't have all the pain on your shoulders."
Roxie looks Christopher in the eyes. "Thank you. Nobody has ever said that, let alone are willing to do that for me."
"I'm different. You have my full support. Now, let's head back and try to create something new in the lab, okay?"
"Yep. Last one there orders the food!" And Roxie bolts down the stairs, Chris following her there.
