27

Jay stood looking at his chart board. He had been reading the same line again and again, not seeming to be able to concentrate. It was only yesterday that Ebony had surprised him by kissing him. She had reached up and pushed those red, gorgeous lips of hers gently against the corner of his mouth. A slow smile spread on Jay's face at the thought and his hand moved up automatically to lightly touch his lips.

"What's this?" A voice suddenly said next to him. Jay snapped his head up and saw Ved who was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Daydreaming on the job, are we big brother?"

Jay cleared his throat and straightened up, pushing out his chest, "I was just...thinking - you should try it sometime."

He turned away from Ved's scrutinizing eyes and started walking over the sunny courtyard. Unfortunately, Ved followed.

"Personally," he said, running slightly to keep up with Jay, "I think it's a good look on you. It means you have emotions - I was starting to seriously doubt that."

Jay sighed, "Was there something you wanted, Ved?" He was starting to get on his nerves.

"What? Do I need an excuse to see my older brother?" Ved said, grinning mischievously, "It's been a while since we talked."

Jay stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Ved. He was being waaay too cheery - not his normal sulky self - and Jay found it deeply disturbing. Something was up.

"Okay little brother - let's talk," Jay said, crossing his arms, "Are you gonna tell me what happened the other day?"

"What day?"

"The day I found you and K.C in some kind of primitive state? Like cavemen." He said this with raised eyebrows, to show his utter contempt.

"Oh...that," Ved said hesitantly, looking down.

"Yes that."

"Momentary insanity?" Ved tried, but Jay wasn't appreciating his humor. He just looked at him, eyelids half-closed in a glower.

"Look, there was some stuff going on, that needed sorting out," Ved then said.

"And you decided that using your fists was the best way to do it?"

Ved just shrugged, "What's done is done. I can't undo it." He then saw Jay's unimpressed scowl, "But for what it's worth, I'm not particulary proud of it. And I apologised to K.C. We're okay now."

Jay sighed, "Good. I can't have my men fighting amongst themselves. You know that."

Ved nodded quietly.

"What were you fighting over anyway?"

Ved chewed on his cheek for a few seconds, before answering, "A girl."

"Cloe?" Jay asked. He wasn't intirely blind. He noticed things - even when people thought he didn't. Ved looked down and nodded.

"And?" Jay pressed.

"And it turned out to be a misunderstanding," Ved admitted, "She wanted me the whole time." A wry smile spread on his face.

Jay smiled back at him. The idea of his little brother being in love pleased him. Maybe a girl would have a positive effect on him, lead him in the right direction.

Just then something caught Jay's eye behind Ved. Smith came walking in their direction. He was all beat up, blacked eyed and bandaged around his head. As he walked past them, Jay grabbed his arm.

"What happened to you?"

Smith stopped and but didn't look at him when he mumbled, "Nothing...I was..." Then he suddenly looked up at Jay with wild eyes, "I was attacked!"

Jay was shocked, "By who?"

"Some fella - a virt. I don't know his name. He just attacked me! Completely unprovoked!"

Jay somehow doubted that - Smith was known to attract trouble just by breathing.

"I barely got away. We have to find him and delete him! He's dangerous!"

"Alright, hold on," Jay said, not taking the bait and flying into action right away, "I need some more details."

"Maybe the surveillance cameras caught it?" Ved volunteered. Smith looked uncomfortable by this suggestion, which didn't go unnoticed by Jay.

"I - it doesn't matter," he stuttered, "The guy's probably miles away by now."

Jay frowned at his sudden turnaround, "I thought you said to find him?"

"Nah, don't waste resources on it," Smith said, edging away, "I'll just find him myself and deal with him." Then he hurried on, and disappeared around the corner, leaving both Jay and Ved with furrowed brows.

"That was a little weird," Ved said, looking at the corner which Smith had just fleed around.

"Yeah, tell me about it," Jay agreed.

"Smith - innocent? That's a first," Ved said with a small laugh. Jay shook his head and then shrugged it off. He really hadn't got time for Smith's dramas. He had more important things to worry about.

"There's a wagon with food supplies coming in at any moment. Will you take care of that?" he asked Ved who, for once, agreed without any protests. Jay walked away, both happy with this new change in Ved - and a little worried.

—

Ebony walked into the Techno area with a little apprehension. She was a bit worried to run into Smith, not knowing how he would react - or more important, how she would react herself. She couldn't show her fear - it would be a sign of weakness. But truth was - she was scared of him. This guy meant business. And his business was to kill her.

Slade had insisted on escourting her from the cabin, through the highlands and all the way up to Techno territory, as far as he could go without being seen. He had only reluctantly let her go the last bit of way, afraid too, that Smith would be lurking in the shadows somewhere.

Ebony walked in through the gates of the courtyard and looked around. To her relief she saw Jay standing at the other end. She held her head high as she walked towards him. When she was near, Jay looked up and saw her and a smile appeared on his face.

"Ebony," he said with a small nod, aknowledging her presence. He then looked back at his chart board, writing something down, before flipping all the papers back in place and looking at her.

"What can I do for you today?" But before she had a chance to answer, Jay's gaze lifted to the bruises at the side of her head and the stitched-up gash on her forehead - then down to the strangle marks on her neck where they lingered with a horrified expression.

"What happened?" he asked, "Are you alright?"

"Well, don't ask me - ask your men," Ebony said, crossing her arms and looked disgusted, "I'm sure they can answer your question. Luckily I was able to fight him off."

Jay took a step closer to her, looking appalled, "A Techno did this to you?"

"Don't look so shocked, Jay," Ebony said, "This happens everyday - in the city."

This was true. Ebony heard rumours everday of technos harrassing and assaulting citizens, "Your men - are creeps." Jay looked both horrified and angry.

"If you insist on taking over our city - the least you can do is control your men, and do it peacefully," Ebony continued, pressing all the right bottons, "You told me you weren't the bad guys the first time we met. This proves otherwise."

"I will take care of this - I promise you that," Jay said solemnly. He stood for a few seconds, pondering - then his expression changed into pure rage as realisation hit.

"Smith…" he growled, "He did this to you..."

He turned around slowly - a murderous look on his face - and stalked off into the building, leaving Ebony outside.

"Ebony?" Someone beside her suddenly said. Ebony turned her head and her eyes flew open.

"K.C! Oh my god, is that you?" she asked, not quite able to believe how much he had changed since she last saw him. It hadn't been that long, but he had changed radically.

"I know - I don't look like myself," K.C said with a small smile.

"Cloe told me you were here - Patsy too."

"Yes."

Ebony lowered her voice and leaned in towards K.C, "She also told me why you are here and what you're doing. How's it going?"

"Too slow," K.C said with a sigh, "The security here is really heavy, so it's hard to snoop around too much."

"I know," Ebony agreed, "How about we join forces? Maybe it can speed the process up a little bit."

"Sounds good," K.C said.

"I'm working on Jay, and it's going really well, but I need someone on the inside. I've got Cloe reporting back to me on everything she can find out. But you're sneakier, K.C. I mean, you were able to fool the Guardian, make him believe you. Maybe you could do the same with Ram?"

"Maybe..."

"But be careful," Ebony warned, "Ram's no fool. And he's extremely dangerous."

"I know - believe me," K.C said darkly, "But I'll see what I can do. Next time you're here, come look me up - we'll exchange information."

Ebony nodded, "Take care K.C."

"You too."