Project Management Part I
"I'm going to take Sylia home."
Linna had left her distraught friend and searched Daley out to make the announcement. The worry on his face mirrored her own and he just nodded, didn't speak. Linna nodded back and returned to where Sylia sat at the back of an ambulance. The usually strong and self-assured woman was staring at the dirty road without blinking. Colour had returned to her cheeks, the adrenaline boosted shaking had stopped and her cuts and abrasions tended to (square and triangle bandages covered her arms and legs), but she was still silent, the dark streaks of dried tears down her cheeks testament to the pain that had not subsided.
Putting an arm around her friend, Linna helped Sylia up and exited the cordoned off area. The crowd of spectators parted letting them through. The media were on the other side of the police area and struggled their way through; they only got footage of the pair getting into a sportscar and leaving.
Daley watched them go. He was both saddened and surprised at Sylia. Alone, she had managed to escape the brazen assassination attempt and to kill some of the assassins.
"I'm glad I don't have to live with that kind of stress," Leon said from beside his long time police partner.
"What do you mean?" Daley asked.
"Knowing that someone is out to kill you."
"Leon, you really are an insensitive idiot."
Daley walked off. He had a lot of thinking to do.
***
Candace toweled her blonde curls and turned on the television with her big toe. The plasma screen crackled to life and up came an image of her very own CEO sitting by the back of an ambulance. The reporter was speaking fast - too fast for her to translate well enough - and she couldn't read the ticker at all. Yet the situation looked clear.
And so was the action she had to take.
Briskly the PR specialist went into her room and pulled out the clothes that would suit her intention. She flung the towel onto the bed and before the full length mirror, dressed as rapidly as she could, casual yet quality, made sure everything was right, then picking up her keys headed out and took the elevator down to the garage where her Lexus waited.
***
Linna, with Sylia wrapped around her, were on their way up the scores of floors to Sylia's one hundred and sixth floor suite. During the drive, the reinstated Green Sabre had constantly been on high alert and looking out the windows in all directions. The trip had been uneventful, thankfully, but now Sylia's door waited. She hadn't even thought of calling security to sweep the place before their arrival.
Nor did she have a gun.
It made her feel naked. Impotent. Frightened.
The elevator doors opened and she walked Sylia through. It was a straight line to the door. Half way she stopped and leaned Sylia up against a wall. She tried to move away but Sylia clung on to her. Gently she pried the fingers from her arm.
"I'm going to take a look at your place first, Sylia. Wait here." She squeezed a shoulder and confronted the ominous door, wondering if death waited behind it. It wasn't too late to call security. Yes it was.
Having got the key from Sylia's purse (that somehow had come out intact), she approached the door. She tested for heat first, putting her palm up against the door. It was cool. No smoke around the edges. Tensing, trying not to hold her breath she unlocked the door and opened it slowly.
Before she entered, Linna looked back at Sylia; her face was hidden by her drooping hair. The scene comforted her somewhat, steeling a wavering resolve, and she stepped inside.
The suite was dark. The lights of the city provided the only illumination, casting electric blue and red hues over the windows and furniture by them, leaving the interior in impenetrable shadow. The wall on her left and facing her opposite were all glass. In another time, she would have found the sight mesmerizing; dozens of tall buildings and thousands of points of light.
The key shifted in her palm, sticking out between two knuckles like a stiletto. "Stay relaxed, girl" she told herself and walked further into the open suite.
In the darkness her feet stumbled a few times, knee crashing into the corner of a coffee table. Nothing stirred. The layout of the suite confused her, there were hardly any dividing walls. It was like a studio. Despite the large size the lounge, kitchen and bedroom were all open. Only the bathroom was fully enclosed. Tracing her path around Sylia's large bed, the sheets still twisted and glowing pearl-like, she could see all the way out to the city. And someone could see in, too. Where was the privacy? After the tour, finding nothing, she turned on the lights.
Then she heard the elevator chime.
The burst of energy coming from her Sabre training speed her back to the door in time to see the elevator doors open and a woman step out.
"Candace?"
The PR Director was equally surprised to see Linna at the opposite end of the corridor, halting her. Between them was Sylia. Refocusing on the silver haired women she regained her momentum.
"I thought she would come back here." Candace said.
"What are you doing here?" Linna asked, heading for Sylia as well.
"I saw the news. God, Sylia, you look frightful. I should get you inside," Candace put an arm around Sylia.
A sudden and intense stab of jealously caused Linna to tense. "I was just about to do that. I wanted to make sure her room was clear first," she said angrily.
"Considerate of you." Candace smirked and led Sylia to the door.
Linna blocked the way. "I appreciate your concern, Ms LeCourviere, but as Sylia's Special Assistant I will take care of her. She needs someone she can trust right now. I've known her for a long time," and I don't trust you, Linna didn't add. The vibe Candace was giving off was rubbing her the wrong way. The way she was dressed, how she held Sylia. something, the air about her. it set Linna on edge.
"I know exactly what Sylia needs. Standing here in a corridor with you blocking the way to her comfort is not it."
The accusation made Linna flush. She backed up and the trio of women entered. Candace took the interior in quickly. Nice.
"If you're trying to protect her, then I suggest turning off the lights or finding a way to block the windows," the French woman suggested tersely. "Wouldn't want a sniper."
Chastised, Linna went to the lights she had oned and flicked them off. "There aren't any blinds."
Candace entered the 'bedroom' part of the suite, a half-foot raised platform behind the lounge and its view outside. She lay Sylia on the bed, brushing locks of hair away. "Find the controls, then."
In the returned darkness Candace didn't see the angry scowl that came over Linna's face. She wandered around the walls until finding a set of LEDs by one window wall. Fiddling about she adjusted the reading and saw that the windows polarized. "That'll do it." She returned to Sylia and gasped a little too loudly at the sight of Candace leaning over Sylia's Snow White posture like a Prince Charming.
Candace straightened up. "Did you think I was going to kiss her?" her unusually plain lips smiled.
"No." Linna stammered.
Candace stood up. "I'm going to get a wash cloth." She walked by Linna too close for the other woman.
Linna sat down by Sylia and took a hand into her own and patted it. "It's going to be alright Sylia. We're going to find out who did this and they'll pay. You rest."
Sylia blinked and looked up at her and offered a weak smile. Linna smiled back. Candace returned with a wet towel and started to wipe the smeared makeup from Sylia's face.
"It's my fault," Sylia whispered.
"No it isn't," Linna said shocked. "Nothing's your fault."
"He's dead. I saw him die."
"Don't talk, Sylia. Don't dream." Candace cooed.
Linna's phone rang. Loudly.
Embarrassed, she took the call quickly. "Hello?"
"Linna, it's Daley. Where are you?"
"I'm at Sylia's. With Ms LeCourviere." Linna answered.
"Good. That means you're free -"
"Hold on, Sylia need me here with her."
"Something's come up, Linna. Candace can look after Sylia. I need you right now."
Linna looked back at Candace. The pang of jealousy was still there. She should be looking after Sylia, not a foreigner who didn't know Sylia at all.
"Yes, I can take care of her. She will be fine with me," Candace said.
"There's not much time, Linna." Daley said.
"Alright," Linna conceded reluctantly. "How do I get -"
"Borrow a company car. You should be able to do that."
"Or Sylia's. Its fast." Linna imaged herself demon-driving through the streets in Sylia's sportscar. It would have to be as good as flying in a hardsuit.
"Whatever," Daley dumped water on her dream, "Time's limited."
"Okay." Linna sighed. "Bye, Sylia, I'm sorry I can't stay. I'll come back as soon as I can." She brushed Sylia's forehead. Then left without a glance or word to Candace.
***
As soon as Linna was off the line, Daley dialed in another number. He was standing over the body of one of the assassins Sylia had killed. What he saw disturbed him. He hoped that he was wrong, if he wasn't then the enemy after Sylia was very powerful indeed. Much more than what his little team could cope with.
"Okay, you can take him away now." Daley said to the waiting police. They covered the dead man with a sheet and lifted him onto a stretcher and carried him away. Daley watched them go, staring at the tattooed hand that hung out beneath the sheet.
Big trouble indeed.
***
Sylia swallowed the mouthful of chilled water. The glass was offered to her again. She shook her head, declining. Above, over her, Candace looked down with deep concern. Even then she still looked beautiful.
"I'm sorry, Sylia. It must have been awful."
Sylia looked away. Outside. The buildings just shadows behind the windows now.
"I really thought that it would have been fine. I didn't expect,"
"You couldn't have. No one could have."
Sylia tried to scowl but there was no energy. Her muscles refused to move. "He died because he was with me. Because I wanted to have dinner with him. If it was just going to be an interview. then he wouldn't be dead. But I wanted more."
"You shouldn't be talking, Sylia. Rest. Sleep, if you can. I'll be here." Candace said. Her unspoken words were of the opposite however. Here Sylia was opening up to her intimately. She wanted to know everything.
"I didn't want to be alone any more. Do you understand? Ever since my father died.no before then, I was alone even then. After my mother. I have been alone. Do you know how it feels, to be alone?"
"Not the way you have," Candace said softly.
"I just wanted someone to share with. Some moments of happiness, to be with someone. A small wish. Not even allowed it. His head. his head vanished."
Candace closed her eyes. This she didn't want to hear. She stroked Sylia's brow. "Don't talk. Don't say anything." When tears starting falling from Sylia's eyes again, pain struck her own heart. Despite her reasons for being at Genom, what her orders and plans were, she was still a feminist at the sight of another woman hurting from the machinations of men hurt her in empathy. Despite it being her intention and without quite knowing what was going on, she leant down and put her lips onto Sylia's to silence her.
Together their mouths opened, surprising both, and the kiss deepened.
Contact broke. Candace sat up, dazzled.
Sylia stared in awe and short of breath. Around her the world dissolved, leaving only herself and Candace. Her hand moved and touched a knee, ran up the smooth skin to the edge of the skirt. "I don't want to be alone," she said.
The words were like a magnet. Candace crushed down and their mouths joined again with unrestrained passion. Sylia's hands pulled her skirt up to her waist and stroked bar skin immediately. Candace shuddered involuntarily. Her mind was gone, spiraling down the rainbow hues and lightning flashes that scorched sensitive senses. Without knowing how it had happened or the time that had passed, she looked down at a naked Sylia beckoning. Then it was fire and ice, everything a blur, prolonged, delocalised. Of that night, all she, all both of them could remember was that they had become one and were no longer alone.
***
Linna did take Sylia's car. She howled as the engine howled, racing down the near deserted nighttime streets and ignoring all the red lights. She'd only received her license a fortnight before Sierra Leone. The power and responsiveness of the car exhilarated her. The wind raced through her hair, stole her yelling breath away.
Too early the journey was over and she pulled into the alley that lead to the new Knight Sabre headquarters. She parked, noting that the van was back, meaning so was Daley. Still on a high she nearly leapt out of the car and jogged up the stairs.
"Don't be too flashy," Daley said from the window, closing the blind as he spoke.
"A girl needs a bit of fun," Linna retorted.
"How's Sylia?"
Linna deflated. "Fine I guess, considering. I should be there."
"You said Candace was there. She can handle it. She can't handle what we're going to do."
"And what's that?" Linna asked curious.
Daley sat on the top of a table. "As you can probably tell from my last name I'm Chinese. Half-Chinese, really."
"I never would have guessed." Linna couldn't avoid the jab. She sat down too.
"Overall, there aren't a lot of Chinese in Japan. Most were around Yokohama and Tokyo, but with the TQZ and relocation of refugees, many consolidated on Kobe. During Chinese New Year I visited Little China for the day. I wanted to get back in touch with my heritage."
"Are you going anywhere?" Linna prompted politely.
"Ah, yes. Being a half-caste keeps me out of the society but I know enough about how it operates and who operates it to recognize that Sylia, or Genom, or both, are in extreme danger."
"I don't understand, Daley."
"Like Japan, the Chinese are a bonded community. Family, honour, is paramount. Family is more than parents and siblings. It includes who you work with, your boss, the organization you belong to. These organizations are very powerful in their communities and have loyal members."
"I'm still not following, are the Chinese responsible?" Linna said.
"The short answer: I think so. I hope that it is not the case. On one of the assassins I saw a tattoo."
Linna started to feel that she did now understand. "The Yakuza have tattoos too."
"Yes, but different. They're like uniforms. The Yakuza have their style, and the Tong have theirs."
"Why would they want Sylia dead?" Linna asked.
"I don't know. That worries me, but what really worries me is that I recognized the clan that the tattoo belongs to. It was the 1000 Spears Wind clan. I didn't even know they were in Japan. Linna, these guys are the largest and most dangerous Tong in China. They practically run Shanghai and Beijing won't dare to crack down on them. If it is them - and I dearly hope that it isn't - Sylia is in more danger than we could possibly imagine."
***
Dr Shan was the Wind Master; the leader of the vast 1000 Spears Wind clan that had its tentacle influence buried deep in mainland China and spreading far and wide into Europe, American and Japan. Once he had worked along side a man who had experimented on his own daughter to create a new form of life. Once he had helped that grown daughter to destroy the life her father had created. A short time ago he had sent men to die to kill her. And they had died. She had lived.
Old and wizened, he carefully put the photo down back onto the black lacquer table. He turned away from the image of two men and a young girl with amazingly blueish-silver hair smiling at the camera.
"I'm tired," he said to the recycled air.
The air did not respond. He felt it swirl around him on unseen currents. With adroitness betraying his progressing years the Doctor drew a character in the air, fiery lines marking the passage of his finger. The character meant Life. He watched it fade, as all life does under the irresistible law of entropy.
***
Midnight had just passed.
Time didn't mean anything to Little China. The streets were chocked with cars and delivery vans and heavy beats on subwoofers. Pedestrians threaded through the gaps, able to move faster than the heavier congestion that slowed motion along the sidewalks to a crawl.
"I'm glad we parked away from here," Linna yelled above the sound of car horns, music, and bartering. "Man, this doesn't feel like Japan at all." The streets were lined with shops and stalls for cheap electronics, noodle bars, kara-oke bars, snake-soup stalls (with skinned snakes), and worse displays of live caged animals and dead hanging carcasses.
Daley laughed into her ear. "And this is a weekday."
The pair pushed their way through the crowd, deeper into the heart of the Chinese microcosm. Linna could feel dozens of eyes penetrating her, a Japanese in China, and she felt reassured that Daley was with her. She didn't know that Daley was getting the same response from the gazes they could not return. He hid his feelings behind the mask Chinese could wear, with an extra layer that being a policeman required. His height and authoritive presence helped to clear the way. Despite the hate directed at him, they knew he was either a cop or gangster and wouldn't trouble him. That's what he hoped, anyway. "Watch your wallet." He said to Linna anyway, just to be sure.
"I've a death grip on it." Linna replied seriously.
Congestion cleared a little as they reached the next block. Family units and children were gone. It was teenagers and adults and all of them from boy to man, girl to woman, looked like they were out of a Hong Kong bullet ballet flick. Cigarette smoke hung in clouds beneath stall awnings. This time they could see the eyes staring at them, swiveling.
Daley put a hand at the small of Linna's back and guided her into an open noodle bar. They sat on cheap plastic chairs and rested arms on an as cheap laminate checkered table covering.
"This place looks dangerous," Linna said. Next time I'm here, it'll be in a hardsuit! Fighting boomers had been completely different.
"Not what you can see. They're just punk kids trying to look tough and maintain a little turf. If you knew what you couldn't see, well, you wouldn't want to be here."
"Great. Reassure me. I don't want to be here now."
Daley laughed. "Don't worry. We're interesting, but won't be hassled. Fukien okay for you?"
"What?"
"Fukien noodles?"
"Sure."
Linna watched Daley head to the counter. As always he was well groomed, dressed in a light brown suit and had his spectacles sitting at that point just far enough down the nose to be offensive if recognized. She was glad he was a cop. The only other person she could think of coming here with and not being a shaking wreck would have been Priss. The biker girl would have fitted in like duck to water. Finding herself staring at Daley she shook her head and looked away. It wasn't polite. No, it wasn't discrete.
Daley came back with two plastic tubs of steaming noodles.
"Don't they have plates?"
"If they had plates then they would have to wash them and that would mean having to hire someone to do it or buying a dish-washer and that wouldn't be economical when cheap disposable plastic is available."
"Huh?"
"Chinese do everything to maximize profit."
Linna noticed a bin full of the tubs. "Not very environmental though."
"That's for the next generation to solve. They'll be dead and surrounded by riches then."
"What a horrible way of looking at life. You're kidding aren't you?"
Daley shrugged. "Its probably hot."
"The steam making my nose wet told me that, genius." Linna said drolly.
"Ah. That's what I miss."
"Insults?"
"Exactly."
"You're weird, Daley. Do you know that?"
He laughed. "Maybe. I miss helpless Leon getting angry at Nene's wise- cracks. She could make my day."
"Yeah. She's like that." Nene was weird too.
They ate, glad to put something warm and filling into their stomachs. As everyone else they ended cleansing their throats with tea. It was then that events started to happen.
Half a dozen almost-twentysomethings with rock band inspired hairdos occupied the tables surrounding the Genom employees and glared at them with open intent.
"Time to leave?" Linna asked.
Daley took his time to respond. He leaned back in his chair, letting his jacket fall open and reveal enough of the shoulder holster he wore. The youth gang exchanged looks and that was the cue. "Let's go."
Daley followed Linna out. His trained gaze took in the gang. Two girls and four boys, none of them looked hard enough to belong to a proper gang that the 1000 Spear Wind clan might employ on the streets. Finding presence of the Tong was the goal for the two of them this night. If the Tong were in town then it would be visible in Little China. Confirmation would allow the investigation to be properly targeted. He had thought about the tattoo being a deceptive tactic, and then discounted it. If it were a ruse and the real Tong found out, Daley wouldn't have to worry about them at all. The Tong would destroy the fakers more thoroughly than he could ever imagine.
The gang fell in behind them, remaining five metres behind. Out of pure chauvinistic motivation, Daley kept them between him and Linna. He knew she could fight, had seen boomers destroyed at her hands, but she wasn't in a hardsuit now and was green to the nature of the streets he had patrol and investigated for many years.
"What are we looking for then?" Linna said from ahead. They walked past more stalls and shops, and adult entertainment centers.
"Dangerous looking people."
"Shit, I could've pointed out a few ages ago."
Which was true enough. A lot of older and meaning looking men were in bars or stood out the front of such. They weren't what he was after however. Not big enough fish. "You'll see what I mean when we get to the gambling rooms."
"Pachinko, eh? I haven't had a go at that in years."
They moved through another block, deeper into Little China. Small alleyways branched off and moving shadows could be seen in their depths. Daley knew that Opium dens would be down there, or muggers, out of the light cast by neon signs.
They came upon the gambling area when the quality of dress vastly improved. Denim, leathers and tee shirts were replaced with business suits and brill cream swept hair. Limousines were parked along the curb.
"Swanky," Linna said. "Hey, the goons have gone." She'd looked over her shoulder.
"Not allowed here." Daley replied.
"And we are?"
"We're just about to find out."
Because a pair of suited thugs were coming towards them. Daley recognized one of them from a time before in Tokyo. He stepped up beside Linna.
"I didn't know you had gotten out, Chu." Daley said to the man on the right.
Chu meet the greeting with silence, looking the pair over. "No cops here. Beat it." He pointed back the way they had come.
"Can't a guy take his gal for a walk anymore?"
Linna's eyes widened. Gal?
Chu grunted what Linna took for a dismissive laugh at her. That made her annoyed. While her 'guy' and the Chinese jawed she looked around some more. Traffic in and out of the gambling entrances was constant. A lot of the men were old. Some were Japanese. Hirlings loitered around the outside smoking and telling bad jokes. A few looked her way. One winked at her. She looked away.
And saw a very dangerous man.
The man had the look of a predator. Shark, lion, it didn't matter. He moved with grace and a steely face and was the only person not in a suit in the area - that being what caught her attention. She nudged Daley.
"Take a look."
Daley diverted his attention from the criminal reunion and inspected the man closely. He looked for tattoos visible at the wrists and neck before the man vanished into a building.
"We're not wanted here, let's go." He said to Linna.
"Agreed."
They headed back the way they'd come.
"He what we're after?" Linna asked.
"Looked the part. I'll have to see if I can ID him through a database search."
"For some reason, I don't think he'll be in any database." Linna warned.
"You may be right." Daley conceded. The man did fit the profile he was looking out for.
They exited the posh gambling area and entered back into the in-between place of dens and brothels. The gang that had followed them were waiting on both sides of the street, along with another man who didn't fit in with them. That man was talking to the gang's leader and tried to vanish when he saw their arrival.
"I think we're going to have trouble." Daley informed.
One of the group jogged over to her compatriots on the other side of the road and the larger grouped headed towards them, orders given.
"What do we do, then?" Linna asked.
"See if they've - no, run!" Daley pushed. He'd caught the flash of gun metal in one of the gangers hands. The seventh man had given them a job.
The gang ran for them. Onlookers shouted and cheered but didn't interfere. They just wanted to watch.
Which meant that they didn't get out of the way as Linna and Daley barreled towards them. They had to push their way through jeering and laughing faces. Daley tripped and fell hard onto the concrete. Linna heard and spun around. She smacked the closest face, who fell back with blood pouring out of nose, and the crowd scattered back. Helping Daley up she saw that the gang was getting close.
"This way!" she urged and they headed down an alleyway. It was littered with refuse and homeless or dead bodies in rags, and a lot of needles. Poorly lit they struggled to keep their feet. They heard the gang coming after them.
The alleyway branched out in a warren of thin lanes. The back streets were the realm of illegal operations, smuggling, car body shops, hardcore sex bars. Sprukers encouraged them in with stories of amazing acts and willing boomer slaves. Pedestrians were a mix of bums and sleaze who hardly paid them any attention. Through many turns they aimed to shake the pursuit, consequently getting lost at the same time. The lane widened out into an empty car park bordered by concrete walls. Panting for breath they hid in an area of shadow.
"Did we loose them?" Linna asked.
"Don't know. Hope so. Best if we don't find out."
Linna nodded her agreement.
They recovered their breath and found another exit on the other side of the car park. Half way down it two of the gang appeared at the other end and turned in. By reflex Daley shoved Linna into a recessed doorway and pressed up against her to fit in. He then made Linna's eyes widen as far as they could possibly go by leaning in that last distance and kissing her. Strongly.
Shock raced through the country girl. Her body already on edge went tense and her jaw locked together. Unblinking she stared over Daley's shoulder for what had to be many minutes. The gangers didn't pass. She couldn't hear anything above the blood pounding in her ears.
Daley let go and checked that it was clear. Linna sagged against the doorway. She couldn't believe it. Her first real kiss and she had frozen! Anger welled up inside. Anger self-directed. On many nights she'd dreamt of the moment, born of the weeks she and Daley had spent working close together in Sierra Leone.
"Think we can -" Daley started to say before Linna grabbed and pulled him back against her. This time she led the kiss, forcing Daley's head back with pressure and he moaned in wonder into her mouth. To stop from falling out of the doorway he pressed up harder against her, melding into the curves of her athletic frame. Linna let him, her hands clutching his back. Making sure that this kiss was memorable as she could make it.
The encounter rapidly gained extra degrees of memorability for Linna when she felt two hands sliding up her stomach, lifting her shirt, reaching her ribs on route to her breasts. In response her left hand ran around to Daley's front and down, making him moan again, when her hand wrapped over just as his reached the underwire of her bra. She squeezed.
Hard.
Daley leapt away from her like a stung cat, crashing into the wall on the other side of the lane. Linna stifled her laughter and huge grin behind the hand that had caused the pain. She stepped out of the doorway and looked around; it was clear.
"Why did you do that?" Daley asked, face pained.
"You were getting too fresh."
"Could have said,"
"Would have been hard to speak and kiss at the same time," she said with a wry smile. Crazy considering their situation.
Daley reached out and put a hand at the back of her head. "You're a good kisser, too."
Linna's smile broadened. "I think I need more practice, though." Then with a glare, "But just kissing. I grew up in a conservative family remember."
"I'll happily be your practice partner. I suggest a recess from the lesson first, until we get out of here." Daley smiled back.
Linna nodded. Getting back would be quick and easy, no matter the danger. She didn't want the lesson to wait.
"I'm going to take Sylia home."
Linna had left her distraught friend and searched Daley out to make the announcement. The worry on his face mirrored her own and he just nodded, didn't speak. Linna nodded back and returned to where Sylia sat at the back of an ambulance. The usually strong and self-assured woman was staring at the dirty road without blinking. Colour had returned to her cheeks, the adrenaline boosted shaking had stopped and her cuts and abrasions tended to (square and triangle bandages covered her arms and legs), but she was still silent, the dark streaks of dried tears down her cheeks testament to the pain that had not subsided.
Putting an arm around her friend, Linna helped Sylia up and exited the cordoned off area. The crowd of spectators parted letting them through. The media were on the other side of the police area and struggled their way through; they only got footage of the pair getting into a sportscar and leaving.
Daley watched them go. He was both saddened and surprised at Sylia. Alone, she had managed to escape the brazen assassination attempt and to kill some of the assassins.
"I'm glad I don't have to live with that kind of stress," Leon said from beside his long time police partner.
"What do you mean?" Daley asked.
"Knowing that someone is out to kill you."
"Leon, you really are an insensitive idiot."
Daley walked off. He had a lot of thinking to do.
***
Candace toweled her blonde curls and turned on the television with her big toe. The plasma screen crackled to life and up came an image of her very own CEO sitting by the back of an ambulance. The reporter was speaking fast - too fast for her to translate well enough - and she couldn't read the ticker at all. Yet the situation looked clear.
And so was the action she had to take.
Briskly the PR specialist went into her room and pulled out the clothes that would suit her intention. She flung the towel onto the bed and before the full length mirror, dressed as rapidly as she could, casual yet quality, made sure everything was right, then picking up her keys headed out and took the elevator down to the garage where her Lexus waited.
***
Linna, with Sylia wrapped around her, were on their way up the scores of floors to Sylia's one hundred and sixth floor suite. During the drive, the reinstated Green Sabre had constantly been on high alert and looking out the windows in all directions. The trip had been uneventful, thankfully, but now Sylia's door waited. She hadn't even thought of calling security to sweep the place before their arrival.
Nor did she have a gun.
It made her feel naked. Impotent. Frightened.
The elevator doors opened and she walked Sylia through. It was a straight line to the door. Half way she stopped and leaned Sylia up against a wall. She tried to move away but Sylia clung on to her. Gently she pried the fingers from her arm.
"I'm going to take a look at your place first, Sylia. Wait here." She squeezed a shoulder and confronted the ominous door, wondering if death waited behind it. It wasn't too late to call security. Yes it was.
Having got the key from Sylia's purse (that somehow had come out intact), she approached the door. She tested for heat first, putting her palm up against the door. It was cool. No smoke around the edges. Tensing, trying not to hold her breath she unlocked the door and opened it slowly.
Before she entered, Linna looked back at Sylia; her face was hidden by her drooping hair. The scene comforted her somewhat, steeling a wavering resolve, and she stepped inside.
The suite was dark. The lights of the city provided the only illumination, casting electric blue and red hues over the windows and furniture by them, leaving the interior in impenetrable shadow. The wall on her left and facing her opposite were all glass. In another time, she would have found the sight mesmerizing; dozens of tall buildings and thousands of points of light.
The key shifted in her palm, sticking out between two knuckles like a stiletto. "Stay relaxed, girl" she told herself and walked further into the open suite.
In the darkness her feet stumbled a few times, knee crashing into the corner of a coffee table. Nothing stirred. The layout of the suite confused her, there were hardly any dividing walls. It was like a studio. Despite the large size the lounge, kitchen and bedroom were all open. Only the bathroom was fully enclosed. Tracing her path around Sylia's large bed, the sheets still twisted and glowing pearl-like, she could see all the way out to the city. And someone could see in, too. Where was the privacy? After the tour, finding nothing, she turned on the lights.
Then she heard the elevator chime.
The burst of energy coming from her Sabre training speed her back to the door in time to see the elevator doors open and a woman step out.
"Candace?"
The PR Director was equally surprised to see Linna at the opposite end of the corridor, halting her. Between them was Sylia. Refocusing on the silver haired women she regained her momentum.
"I thought she would come back here." Candace said.
"What are you doing here?" Linna asked, heading for Sylia as well.
"I saw the news. God, Sylia, you look frightful. I should get you inside," Candace put an arm around Sylia.
A sudden and intense stab of jealously caused Linna to tense. "I was just about to do that. I wanted to make sure her room was clear first," she said angrily.
"Considerate of you." Candace smirked and led Sylia to the door.
Linna blocked the way. "I appreciate your concern, Ms LeCourviere, but as Sylia's Special Assistant I will take care of her. She needs someone she can trust right now. I've known her for a long time," and I don't trust you, Linna didn't add. The vibe Candace was giving off was rubbing her the wrong way. The way she was dressed, how she held Sylia. something, the air about her. it set Linna on edge.
"I know exactly what Sylia needs. Standing here in a corridor with you blocking the way to her comfort is not it."
The accusation made Linna flush. She backed up and the trio of women entered. Candace took the interior in quickly. Nice.
"If you're trying to protect her, then I suggest turning off the lights or finding a way to block the windows," the French woman suggested tersely. "Wouldn't want a sniper."
Chastised, Linna went to the lights she had oned and flicked them off. "There aren't any blinds."
Candace entered the 'bedroom' part of the suite, a half-foot raised platform behind the lounge and its view outside. She lay Sylia on the bed, brushing locks of hair away. "Find the controls, then."
In the returned darkness Candace didn't see the angry scowl that came over Linna's face. She wandered around the walls until finding a set of LEDs by one window wall. Fiddling about she adjusted the reading and saw that the windows polarized. "That'll do it." She returned to Sylia and gasped a little too loudly at the sight of Candace leaning over Sylia's Snow White posture like a Prince Charming.
Candace straightened up. "Did you think I was going to kiss her?" her unusually plain lips smiled.
"No." Linna stammered.
Candace stood up. "I'm going to get a wash cloth." She walked by Linna too close for the other woman.
Linna sat down by Sylia and took a hand into her own and patted it. "It's going to be alright Sylia. We're going to find out who did this and they'll pay. You rest."
Sylia blinked and looked up at her and offered a weak smile. Linna smiled back. Candace returned with a wet towel and started to wipe the smeared makeup from Sylia's face.
"It's my fault," Sylia whispered.
"No it isn't," Linna said shocked. "Nothing's your fault."
"He's dead. I saw him die."
"Don't talk, Sylia. Don't dream." Candace cooed.
Linna's phone rang. Loudly.
Embarrassed, she took the call quickly. "Hello?"
"Linna, it's Daley. Where are you?"
"I'm at Sylia's. With Ms LeCourviere." Linna answered.
"Good. That means you're free -"
"Hold on, Sylia need me here with her."
"Something's come up, Linna. Candace can look after Sylia. I need you right now."
Linna looked back at Candace. The pang of jealousy was still there. She should be looking after Sylia, not a foreigner who didn't know Sylia at all.
"Yes, I can take care of her. She will be fine with me," Candace said.
"There's not much time, Linna." Daley said.
"Alright," Linna conceded reluctantly. "How do I get -"
"Borrow a company car. You should be able to do that."
"Or Sylia's. Its fast." Linna imaged herself demon-driving through the streets in Sylia's sportscar. It would have to be as good as flying in a hardsuit.
"Whatever," Daley dumped water on her dream, "Time's limited."
"Okay." Linna sighed. "Bye, Sylia, I'm sorry I can't stay. I'll come back as soon as I can." She brushed Sylia's forehead. Then left without a glance or word to Candace.
***
As soon as Linna was off the line, Daley dialed in another number. He was standing over the body of one of the assassins Sylia had killed. What he saw disturbed him. He hoped that he was wrong, if he wasn't then the enemy after Sylia was very powerful indeed. Much more than what his little team could cope with.
"Okay, you can take him away now." Daley said to the waiting police. They covered the dead man with a sheet and lifted him onto a stretcher and carried him away. Daley watched them go, staring at the tattooed hand that hung out beneath the sheet.
Big trouble indeed.
***
Sylia swallowed the mouthful of chilled water. The glass was offered to her again. She shook her head, declining. Above, over her, Candace looked down with deep concern. Even then she still looked beautiful.
"I'm sorry, Sylia. It must have been awful."
Sylia looked away. Outside. The buildings just shadows behind the windows now.
"I really thought that it would have been fine. I didn't expect,"
"You couldn't have. No one could have."
Sylia tried to scowl but there was no energy. Her muscles refused to move. "He died because he was with me. Because I wanted to have dinner with him. If it was just going to be an interview. then he wouldn't be dead. But I wanted more."
"You shouldn't be talking, Sylia. Rest. Sleep, if you can. I'll be here." Candace said. Her unspoken words were of the opposite however. Here Sylia was opening up to her intimately. She wanted to know everything.
"I didn't want to be alone any more. Do you understand? Ever since my father died.no before then, I was alone even then. After my mother. I have been alone. Do you know how it feels, to be alone?"
"Not the way you have," Candace said softly.
"I just wanted someone to share with. Some moments of happiness, to be with someone. A small wish. Not even allowed it. His head. his head vanished."
Candace closed her eyes. This she didn't want to hear. She stroked Sylia's brow. "Don't talk. Don't say anything." When tears starting falling from Sylia's eyes again, pain struck her own heart. Despite her reasons for being at Genom, what her orders and plans were, she was still a feminist at the sight of another woman hurting from the machinations of men hurt her in empathy. Despite it being her intention and without quite knowing what was going on, she leant down and put her lips onto Sylia's to silence her.
Together their mouths opened, surprising both, and the kiss deepened.
Contact broke. Candace sat up, dazzled.
Sylia stared in awe and short of breath. Around her the world dissolved, leaving only herself and Candace. Her hand moved and touched a knee, ran up the smooth skin to the edge of the skirt. "I don't want to be alone," she said.
The words were like a magnet. Candace crushed down and their mouths joined again with unrestrained passion. Sylia's hands pulled her skirt up to her waist and stroked bar skin immediately. Candace shuddered involuntarily. Her mind was gone, spiraling down the rainbow hues and lightning flashes that scorched sensitive senses. Without knowing how it had happened or the time that had passed, she looked down at a naked Sylia beckoning. Then it was fire and ice, everything a blur, prolonged, delocalised. Of that night, all she, all both of them could remember was that they had become one and were no longer alone.
***
Linna did take Sylia's car. She howled as the engine howled, racing down the near deserted nighttime streets and ignoring all the red lights. She'd only received her license a fortnight before Sierra Leone. The power and responsiveness of the car exhilarated her. The wind raced through her hair, stole her yelling breath away.
Too early the journey was over and she pulled into the alley that lead to the new Knight Sabre headquarters. She parked, noting that the van was back, meaning so was Daley. Still on a high she nearly leapt out of the car and jogged up the stairs.
"Don't be too flashy," Daley said from the window, closing the blind as he spoke.
"A girl needs a bit of fun," Linna retorted.
"How's Sylia?"
Linna deflated. "Fine I guess, considering. I should be there."
"You said Candace was there. She can handle it. She can't handle what we're going to do."
"And what's that?" Linna asked curious.
Daley sat on the top of a table. "As you can probably tell from my last name I'm Chinese. Half-Chinese, really."
"I never would have guessed." Linna couldn't avoid the jab. She sat down too.
"Overall, there aren't a lot of Chinese in Japan. Most were around Yokohama and Tokyo, but with the TQZ and relocation of refugees, many consolidated on Kobe. During Chinese New Year I visited Little China for the day. I wanted to get back in touch with my heritage."
"Are you going anywhere?" Linna prompted politely.
"Ah, yes. Being a half-caste keeps me out of the society but I know enough about how it operates and who operates it to recognize that Sylia, or Genom, or both, are in extreme danger."
"I don't understand, Daley."
"Like Japan, the Chinese are a bonded community. Family, honour, is paramount. Family is more than parents and siblings. It includes who you work with, your boss, the organization you belong to. These organizations are very powerful in their communities and have loyal members."
"I'm still not following, are the Chinese responsible?" Linna said.
"The short answer: I think so. I hope that it is not the case. On one of the assassins I saw a tattoo."
Linna started to feel that she did now understand. "The Yakuza have tattoos too."
"Yes, but different. They're like uniforms. The Yakuza have their style, and the Tong have theirs."
"Why would they want Sylia dead?" Linna asked.
"I don't know. That worries me, but what really worries me is that I recognized the clan that the tattoo belongs to. It was the 1000 Spears Wind clan. I didn't even know they were in Japan. Linna, these guys are the largest and most dangerous Tong in China. They practically run Shanghai and Beijing won't dare to crack down on them. If it is them - and I dearly hope that it isn't - Sylia is in more danger than we could possibly imagine."
***
Dr Shan was the Wind Master; the leader of the vast 1000 Spears Wind clan that had its tentacle influence buried deep in mainland China and spreading far and wide into Europe, American and Japan. Once he had worked along side a man who had experimented on his own daughter to create a new form of life. Once he had helped that grown daughter to destroy the life her father had created. A short time ago he had sent men to die to kill her. And they had died. She had lived.
Old and wizened, he carefully put the photo down back onto the black lacquer table. He turned away from the image of two men and a young girl with amazingly blueish-silver hair smiling at the camera.
"I'm tired," he said to the recycled air.
The air did not respond. He felt it swirl around him on unseen currents. With adroitness betraying his progressing years the Doctor drew a character in the air, fiery lines marking the passage of his finger. The character meant Life. He watched it fade, as all life does under the irresistible law of entropy.
***
Midnight had just passed.
Time didn't mean anything to Little China. The streets were chocked with cars and delivery vans and heavy beats on subwoofers. Pedestrians threaded through the gaps, able to move faster than the heavier congestion that slowed motion along the sidewalks to a crawl.
"I'm glad we parked away from here," Linna yelled above the sound of car horns, music, and bartering. "Man, this doesn't feel like Japan at all." The streets were lined with shops and stalls for cheap electronics, noodle bars, kara-oke bars, snake-soup stalls (with skinned snakes), and worse displays of live caged animals and dead hanging carcasses.
Daley laughed into her ear. "And this is a weekday."
The pair pushed their way through the crowd, deeper into the heart of the Chinese microcosm. Linna could feel dozens of eyes penetrating her, a Japanese in China, and she felt reassured that Daley was with her. She didn't know that Daley was getting the same response from the gazes they could not return. He hid his feelings behind the mask Chinese could wear, with an extra layer that being a policeman required. His height and authoritive presence helped to clear the way. Despite the hate directed at him, they knew he was either a cop or gangster and wouldn't trouble him. That's what he hoped, anyway. "Watch your wallet." He said to Linna anyway, just to be sure.
"I've a death grip on it." Linna replied seriously.
Congestion cleared a little as they reached the next block. Family units and children were gone. It was teenagers and adults and all of them from boy to man, girl to woman, looked like they were out of a Hong Kong bullet ballet flick. Cigarette smoke hung in clouds beneath stall awnings. This time they could see the eyes staring at them, swiveling.
Daley put a hand at the small of Linna's back and guided her into an open noodle bar. They sat on cheap plastic chairs and rested arms on an as cheap laminate checkered table covering.
"This place looks dangerous," Linna said. Next time I'm here, it'll be in a hardsuit! Fighting boomers had been completely different.
"Not what you can see. They're just punk kids trying to look tough and maintain a little turf. If you knew what you couldn't see, well, you wouldn't want to be here."
"Great. Reassure me. I don't want to be here now."
Daley laughed. "Don't worry. We're interesting, but won't be hassled. Fukien okay for you?"
"What?"
"Fukien noodles?"
"Sure."
Linna watched Daley head to the counter. As always he was well groomed, dressed in a light brown suit and had his spectacles sitting at that point just far enough down the nose to be offensive if recognized. She was glad he was a cop. The only other person she could think of coming here with and not being a shaking wreck would have been Priss. The biker girl would have fitted in like duck to water. Finding herself staring at Daley she shook her head and looked away. It wasn't polite. No, it wasn't discrete.
Daley came back with two plastic tubs of steaming noodles.
"Don't they have plates?"
"If they had plates then they would have to wash them and that would mean having to hire someone to do it or buying a dish-washer and that wouldn't be economical when cheap disposable plastic is available."
"Huh?"
"Chinese do everything to maximize profit."
Linna noticed a bin full of the tubs. "Not very environmental though."
"That's for the next generation to solve. They'll be dead and surrounded by riches then."
"What a horrible way of looking at life. You're kidding aren't you?"
Daley shrugged. "Its probably hot."
"The steam making my nose wet told me that, genius." Linna said drolly.
"Ah. That's what I miss."
"Insults?"
"Exactly."
"You're weird, Daley. Do you know that?"
He laughed. "Maybe. I miss helpless Leon getting angry at Nene's wise- cracks. She could make my day."
"Yeah. She's like that." Nene was weird too.
They ate, glad to put something warm and filling into their stomachs. As everyone else they ended cleansing their throats with tea. It was then that events started to happen.
Half a dozen almost-twentysomethings with rock band inspired hairdos occupied the tables surrounding the Genom employees and glared at them with open intent.
"Time to leave?" Linna asked.
Daley took his time to respond. He leaned back in his chair, letting his jacket fall open and reveal enough of the shoulder holster he wore. The youth gang exchanged looks and that was the cue. "Let's go."
Daley followed Linna out. His trained gaze took in the gang. Two girls and four boys, none of them looked hard enough to belong to a proper gang that the 1000 Spear Wind clan might employ on the streets. Finding presence of the Tong was the goal for the two of them this night. If the Tong were in town then it would be visible in Little China. Confirmation would allow the investigation to be properly targeted. He had thought about the tattoo being a deceptive tactic, and then discounted it. If it were a ruse and the real Tong found out, Daley wouldn't have to worry about them at all. The Tong would destroy the fakers more thoroughly than he could ever imagine.
The gang fell in behind them, remaining five metres behind. Out of pure chauvinistic motivation, Daley kept them between him and Linna. He knew she could fight, had seen boomers destroyed at her hands, but she wasn't in a hardsuit now and was green to the nature of the streets he had patrol and investigated for many years.
"What are we looking for then?" Linna said from ahead. They walked past more stalls and shops, and adult entertainment centers.
"Dangerous looking people."
"Shit, I could've pointed out a few ages ago."
Which was true enough. A lot of older and meaning looking men were in bars or stood out the front of such. They weren't what he was after however. Not big enough fish. "You'll see what I mean when we get to the gambling rooms."
"Pachinko, eh? I haven't had a go at that in years."
They moved through another block, deeper into Little China. Small alleyways branched off and moving shadows could be seen in their depths. Daley knew that Opium dens would be down there, or muggers, out of the light cast by neon signs.
They came upon the gambling area when the quality of dress vastly improved. Denim, leathers and tee shirts were replaced with business suits and brill cream swept hair. Limousines were parked along the curb.
"Swanky," Linna said. "Hey, the goons have gone." She'd looked over her shoulder.
"Not allowed here." Daley replied.
"And we are?"
"We're just about to find out."
Because a pair of suited thugs were coming towards them. Daley recognized one of them from a time before in Tokyo. He stepped up beside Linna.
"I didn't know you had gotten out, Chu." Daley said to the man on the right.
Chu meet the greeting with silence, looking the pair over. "No cops here. Beat it." He pointed back the way they had come.
"Can't a guy take his gal for a walk anymore?"
Linna's eyes widened. Gal?
Chu grunted what Linna took for a dismissive laugh at her. That made her annoyed. While her 'guy' and the Chinese jawed she looked around some more. Traffic in and out of the gambling entrances was constant. A lot of the men were old. Some were Japanese. Hirlings loitered around the outside smoking and telling bad jokes. A few looked her way. One winked at her. She looked away.
And saw a very dangerous man.
The man had the look of a predator. Shark, lion, it didn't matter. He moved with grace and a steely face and was the only person not in a suit in the area - that being what caught her attention. She nudged Daley.
"Take a look."
Daley diverted his attention from the criminal reunion and inspected the man closely. He looked for tattoos visible at the wrists and neck before the man vanished into a building.
"We're not wanted here, let's go." He said to Linna.
"Agreed."
They headed back the way they'd come.
"He what we're after?" Linna asked.
"Looked the part. I'll have to see if I can ID him through a database search."
"For some reason, I don't think he'll be in any database." Linna warned.
"You may be right." Daley conceded. The man did fit the profile he was looking out for.
They exited the posh gambling area and entered back into the in-between place of dens and brothels. The gang that had followed them were waiting on both sides of the street, along with another man who didn't fit in with them. That man was talking to the gang's leader and tried to vanish when he saw their arrival.
"I think we're going to have trouble." Daley informed.
One of the group jogged over to her compatriots on the other side of the road and the larger grouped headed towards them, orders given.
"What do we do, then?" Linna asked.
"See if they've - no, run!" Daley pushed. He'd caught the flash of gun metal in one of the gangers hands. The seventh man had given them a job.
The gang ran for them. Onlookers shouted and cheered but didn't interfere. They just wanted to watch.
Which meant that they didn't get out of the way as Linna and Daley barreled towards them. They had to push their way through jeering and laughing faces. Daley tripped and fell hard onto the concrete. Linna heard and spun around. She smacked the closest face, who fell back with blood pouring out of nose, and the crowd scattered back. Helping Daley up she saw that the gang was getting close.
"This way!" she urged and they headed down an alleyway. It was littered with refuse and homeless or dead bodies in rags, and a lot of needles. Poorly lit they struggled to keep their feet. They heard the gang coming after them.
The alleyway branched out in a warren of thin lanes. The back streets were the realm of illegal operations, smuggling, car body shops, hardcore sex bars. Sprukers encouraged them in with stories of amazing acts and willing boomer slaves. Pedestrians were a mix of bums and sleaze who hardly paid them any attention. Through many turns they aimed to shake the pursuit, consequently getting lost at the same time. The lane widened out into an empty car park bordered by concrete walls. Panting for breath they hid in an area of shadow.
"Did we loose them?" Linna asked.
"Don't know. Hope so. Best if we don't find out."
Linna nodded her agreement.
They recovered their breath and found another exit on the other side of the car park. Half way down it two of the gang appeared at the other end and turned in. By reflex Daley shoved Linna into a recessed doorway and pressed up against her to fit in. He then made Linna's eyes widen as far as they could possibly go by leaning in that last distance and kissing her. Strongly.
Shock raced through the country girl. Her body already on edge went tense and her jaw locked together. Unblinking she stared over Daley's shoulder for what had to be many minutes. The gangers didn't pass. She couldn't hear anything above the blood pounding in her ears.
Daley let go and checked that it was clear. Linna sagged against the doorway. She couldn't believe it. Her first real kiss and she had frozen! Anger welled up inside. Anger self-directed. On many nights she'd dreamt of the moment, born of the weeks she and Daley had spent working close together in Sierra Leone.
"Think we can -" Daley started to say before Linna grabbed and pulled him back against her. This time she led the kiss, forcing Daley's head back with pressure and he moaned in wonder into her mouth. To stop from falling out of the doorway he pressed up harder against her, melding into the curves of her athletic frame. Linna let him, her hands clutching his back. Making sure that this kiss was memorable as she could make it.
The encounter rapidly gained extra degrees of memorability for Linna when she felt two hands sliding up her stomach, lifting her shirt, reaching her ribs on route to her breasts. In response her left hand ran around to Daley's front and down, making him moan again, when her hand wrapped over just as his reached the underwire of her bra. She squeezed.
Hard.
Daley leapt away from her like a stung cat, crashing into the wall on the other side of the lane. Linna stifled her laughter and huge grin behind the hand that had caused the pain. She stepped out of the doorway and looked around; it was clear.
"Why did you do that?" Daley asked, face pained.
"You were getting too fresh."
"Could have said,"
"Would have been hard to speak and kiss at the same time," she said with a wry smile. Crazy considering their situation.
Daley reached out and put a hand at the back of her head. "You're a good kisser, too."
Linna's smile broadened. "I think I need more practice, though." Then with a glare, "But just kissing. I grew up in a conservative family remember."
"I'll happily be your practice partner. I suggest a recess from the lesson first, until we get out of here." Daley smiled back.
Linna nodded. Getting back would be quick and easy, no matter the danger. She didn't want the lesson to wait.