NOTE - "/Speech bracketed like this signifies Japanese./"

CHAPTER 52

"I hope you enjoyed our Italian cooking, Mr. Lee," Dino Golzine said.

"Of course. It was a marvelous experience. You have an excellent restaurant here, Monsieur Golzine."

"I'm greatly flattered. After all, the Chinese are the greatest cooks in the world."

"You embarrass me. I couldn't even make soup if my life depended on it."

"Now then Mr. Lee," Golzine said, moving onto business. "I asked for the pleasure of your company today in the hope that we might use this opportunity to clear up the unfortunate misunderstanding that has arisen between us."

"Oh? And by that you mean?"

"It's about Ash Lynx. I believe you are aware that I had high hopes for that boy but he stole a certain thing from me and ran away."

Not quite the story Shorter Wong had given him but that was to be expected. "A certain thing?"

"A poison. Intended for assassination."

Mr. Lee said nothing. Golzine continued, "This is the misunderstanding I refer to. What I want to make clear is that the drug was developed expressly for that purpose and is certainly not intended to threaten your market. I hope you will understand. We have a code name for this chemical…"

"Banana Fish, isn't it?" Mr. Lee returned.

"So you know. I shouldn't be surprised," Golzine said. "Yes, that's what we call it. I suppose you have some idea of the nature of Banana Fish."

"Some idea, yes. As far as I can tell, it is not something that would be of much use to my own people at this juncture. As you know, we have in our cabinet, as it were, several thousand years' worth of our own substances for such a purpose." Ash Lynx, however, Lee added to himself, could be of use.

"Oh, I'm certainly aware of that, Mr. Lee," Golzine agreed. "The point I want to make is that your path and ours are different. There should be no conflict of interest between us."

"So you're asking me to turn a blind eye."

"It was Ash Lynx that brought this to your streets, Mr. Lee. My people were perhaps … overly enthusiastic in their pursuit of him," Golzine said. "Now I know you aren't called 'Daai Yan' for nothing. I don't expect you to take my word at face value. That's why I would like to request your … cooperation. We're prepared to turn over a portion of the European heroin market to you in the upcoming fiscal year."

That caught his attention. Golzine smiled when he saw this, said, "Are you interested?"

Lee didn't say anything for a moment. "But why? Why go to such lengths to catch one boy? You have already retrieved the substance from him."

"You can be sure that it is not simply a matter or pride or spite. Ash is not alone. He has friends, among them is a journalist. We would prefer to avoid any leaks of information at this stage."

"So it is the journalist you are truly interested in, Monsieur Golzine?"

"His companions will be silenced and Ash brought to heel."

"I don't give a damn about what's going on between you and Golzine. If your help comes with strings attached, I don't want it," Ash had said, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. Mr. Lee smiled to himself. I somehow doubt you will find it so easy to bring that boy to heel.

"I believe I understand the situation," Mr. Lee said. "I'm well aware of the strength of the Union Corse in Europe. Indeed, it seems there was a misunderstanding between us. We would be happy to do anything in our power to assist you, Monsieur Golzine." Once we control the market, you would not be able to take it back from us. As far as Ash Lynx is concerned, I remain undecided. I might prefer to keep him, even though he is white. "Do you have a general idea of where they might have gone?"

"They went to Ash's hometown on Cape Cod," Golzine said. "Unfortunately, we were unable to pin them down there. We believe they're now headed for Los Angeles." I'm sure Ash will find Tom while he is there, Golzine thought to himself. He never believed when I said Tom was dead. Even blocking the papers from printing that inane add of theirs didn't effect his belief. I will finally be able to reclaim both my little wildcats.

"I see."

"You have a base of operations there."

"Chinatown, yes." LA was a good destination, as far as Lee was concerned. "Please allow me to lend you the services of Yut Lung. I'm certain you will find him to be useful." And he should be capable of assessing Ash Lynx's possible uses.

888

Silence descended over the Youth Center as the Power Rangers entered. The six teens ignored everyone and made their way passed their usual booth to one large enough for eleven people. The others hadn't told Tommy yet about his brother, they kept glancing his way hoping he'd appear to notice the change but he simply followed them and sat down when they did.

"What can I get you guys today?" Ernie said, more cheerful than he'd felt in awhile. He'd been at the funeral, he'd heard Tommy's speech. While he agreed with every word spoke, he was surprised anyone would stand up and say it like that. Mostly though he was just happy to hear Tommy's voice once again.

The five original Rangers ordered. When it came to Tommy's turn, he didn't say anything, didn't react. They all turned to him with worried expressions. Ash and his friends entered during this and, rather than interrupting, they simply sat down, waiting for Ernie to leave.

"Tommy? Bro?" Jason said in a gentle and comforting tone. He didn't try to touch him. "Hey bro. Tommy. Greenman, are you here?"

Tommy slowly lifted his head until their eyes met, his face an emotionless mask, though his green eyes shone with an unbearable pain. "I'm here."

"Okay," Jason said, his tone suggesting he didn't quite believe that. Now that Tommy did seem aware of them again though, Jason reached over and squeezed his hand. He was careful to never break eye contact. "We're ordering lunch, what do you want?"

Tommy just shook his head no.

"No what? You are eating, right? You need to eat something. Please bro?"

When Tommy just continued to stare at Jason, Ernie tried, "Tommy?" Tommy turned to Ernie, still not really seeing anything around him. "Are you hungry? When's the last time you ate?" he tried when Tommy didn't answer the first question. Tommy tried to think back but drew a blank. Ernie smile and said, "If you can't remember, the answer's 'too long ago'. What do you want?"

Tommy thought a moment then just shrugged. Ernie smiled, said, "I take it that's one order of 'food' then?" His words were greeted by a slight grin on Tommy's lips which made Ernie feel like he'd won the lottery. "Want me to just surprise you?"

"Anything's fine," Tommy finally said, and Ernie and the other Rangers felt like cheering.

"One order of anything coming up," Ernie said, grinning. He turned to Ash.

"We're fine," Ash said before Ernie could speak. Tommy's head jerked around at the sound of his voice, he stared across the table.

"Aslan?" Tommy softly said in a strange mixture of hope and fear.

"It's me, little brother," Ash assured. Tommy was out of his seat and in Ash's arms before anyone could realize he was moving. Tommy's arms wrapped around Ash like he'd never let go, he laid his head on Ash's should and started sobbing. Ash held him tightly, murmuring comforting words for along while until the sobbing died down.

Tommy pulled back, looked into eyes so much like his own. "Three years, Aslan."

"I know," Ash said. His fingers ghosted over a scar on Tommy's cheek, down his neck, that hadn't been there three years before. Though barely visible, to Ash it screamed condemnations at him for leaving his little brother alone so long. Tommy caught his hand and moved it away from the scar. A slight tilt of his head caused his hair to fall around his face, hiding the mark.

Neither one moved or spoke for a long moment as they simply looked upon each other. If anyone else was speaking, they didn't notice. Ash had so many questions he wanted to ask his little brother, especially about recent events, but the haunted look in his eyes held him back.

"What happened on your fourteenth birthday?" Ash finally asked. Tommy pulled back, his expression suddenly guarded. The other Rangers grew tense as well, looking upon Ash warily.

"Why?" Tommy demanded.

"Something changed that day. I always felt you, you know that," Ash stated. "That day, it just … intensified. I knew what you felt all the time after that. And for awhile there, you felt some rather odd things. It stayed like that, until something else changed recently."

"Something changed," Tommy agreed softly but said nothing else.

"Tommy?"

He sighed. "Aslan, there are fifty four people in this place besides those at this table."

"Alright," Ash agreed. "After you eat, we go somewhere private to talk."

"Okay." Tommy turned his attention to Ash's companions. He smiled at the Japanese boy sitting on the other side of Ash. "Eiji, nice to meet you."

Eiji looked shocked. "How do you know my name?"

Tommy grinned. "You could say I was hanging around Ash 'bout the time he met Max. It's part of the 'recent changes'. You're good for my brother."

"I cannot see how that is possible but I am glad to meet you too," Eiji said.

Tommy greeted the others, "Ibe. Max. You must be Shorter?"

"Yeah," Shorter said, unsure what to think of this boy.

Ash asked, "So who is 'Jas'?"

"That would be me," Jason stated flatly. Ernie came over with their order, the table fell silent.

Tommy glanced at the plate Ernie sat in front of him and grinned. "Since when is shrimp scampi on your menu?"

"It's not," Ernie said. "Most teenagers actually like hamburgers." He left before Tommy could think of a response to that.

"He's your Jas?" Ash questioned of Tommy, not liking that idea at all.

"He's my best friend," Tommy stated. "Worth living for."

Ash met his eyes for a moment then nodded, accepting that. Tommy introduced the others, started eating when both Jason and Ash reminded him. After a moment, Ash reached over and stole a shrimp from Tommy's plate.

"Thought you didn't want anything?" Jason commented.

"Why would I want anything from his menu of over processed dead cow?" Ash returned.

888

Continued - Let me know what you think. Review