Disclaimer: If you recognize the characters, they aren't mine. Just playing in the sandbox so graciously provided by JMS and the Wachowskis.
Reminder: I'm also on Twitter as "avidbeader" if you're reading here as a guest and would still like a way to get story updates.
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Nomi Marks considered herself a pretty smart person. But once in a while she had a really great idea. A genius-level, perfect idea.
Tracking the audits of the embezzlement that Sun had confessed to was proving tricky, because a huge chunk of the evidence was actually on paper or had been moved to off-network storage. But then it occurred to her: if Sun's brother was so desperate to steal money that he would not only accept his sister taking the fall for him but kill their father to prevent him testifying, he might be stupid enough to keep stealing.
She had set up new alerts on the back of the system the auditors had begun using in their investigations and the first one had tripped. She flagged it so the auditors would be notified of the new fraudulent activity. And since she was in the Korean networks anyway, she got into the police record of Sun's father's suicide and changed its status to "questionable", fabricating a report from the prison, using Sun's memories, which documented Kang-Dae's visit, the lawyer bringing papers, and Sun's attack on Joong-Ki, accusing him of murder.
Either way, she hoped to get Sun out of prison inside of a week.
"How are things going?" Will stood beside her, sipping from a bottle.
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"Pretty well." She shared the steps she had taken for Sun, pacing his room while he lay on the bed. "What's that?"
He held up the unmarked bottle. "Protein shake. If I wolf down the double cheeseburger I'm currently craving, I'd probably throw it up again. At least that's what Kala says."
"Good to know if we have to go the Sleeping Beauty route again. Did you need something?"
"I want to get in touch with my dad or Diego. Find out whether they're going to be able to keep Whispers in jail or not."
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She picked up a cell phone from the table next to her monitors and handed it to him. "I hope to get one of these to everyone soon. It's one of the prepaid disposable mobiles that people sometimes use for international travel. If it starts getting tracked, I can wipe it and start it over clean."
"Nice. What do I do?"
"Put in the numbers you want and call as needed. There's plenty of minutes on it. I'd recommend adding the numbers of the rest of us, both old and new phones, but under code names."
"I'll be Javier."
They looked over at Lito.
"What brings you here?" Nomi asked.
Lito shrugged. "I heard you say everyone. I thought there might be a meeting."
Nomi grabbed her own phone and handed it to him. "Here, put in your current number. And why Javier?"
"That was the name of the character in the first role I ever played." Lito added the number to her contact list.
"Have you got your phone? Here, let me put our numbers in." Nomi took his phone and began creating an entry for herself. "Does 'Laura' for me and 'María' for Amanita work for you?"
"Sure, sure. Where's Amanita?"
"Taking a much-needed nap."
Will pulled his own phone out to get the numbers he needed. He automatically opened the text message from Diego and snorted. "Nice."
"What?" Nomi looked and grinned at the picture of Whispers behind bars. "Yes, very nice."
Lito glanced up to see the texted photo and threw up a hand. "Careful! What if they do the finding your phone thing?"
Will's smile faded. "Oh, shit."
"Give it here." Nomi held out a hand.
Both men relaxed at her calm tone and watched, ready to be dazzled by her technological prowess once again.
She put the phone into airplane mode and handed it back to Will. Realizing the two were staring at her, she shrugged. "Most phone trackers only work if the phone is connected to a network. Either stay in airplane mode or turn it off and you're fine."
"You're kidding me." Will looked from the phone to Nomi and back.
"As they used to say, RTFM." When they both looked at her, lost, she continued. "Read the Fucking Manual."
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Lito laughed out loud at that. It took a moment for him to register that he was the only one. He glanced around his penthouse, seeing Will and Nomi as they studied their new surroundings…
And Daniela, who had just emerged from the shower, wrapped only in a towel.
"What's so funny, Lito?"
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Wolfgang heard movement in the bedroom across from his and found Riley putting away the few clothes she had picked up as they traveled. She jumped slightly at seeing him.
"I just…I thought your friend ought to have the bedroom on the main floor."
"Yes, that's true, but why aren't you staying with Will?"
She shook her head. "It's quite possible I'll sleep in his bed tonight, just to make sure he's all right. But I don't want to presume anything."
"Why the fuck not? I mean, even among the eight of us the connection you two have is incredibly strong."
"And I don't want that connection to push us too fast in one direction. That's what you're doing with Kala—"
"What I am or am not doing with Kala is none of your business!"
Riley looked at him with pity and stepped forward. "Wolfgang, what you two decide to do is up to you. But you can't say it's none of our business. You're feeling just as much as the rest of us are. Your pain is our pain. Your happiness is our happiness. We're all here for one another. I understand that now."
She reached out and put her arms around him. "And I'm here if you want to talk about it."
She pressed her cheek against his and suddenly they were clutching one another, trying to stay upright as their minds seized up in a maelstrom of each other's memories…
Riley is cracking a safe, listening for each tiny click of a tumbler through the stethoscope as Felix hovers near the window.
Wolfgang is flipping through the music on his iPod with one hand and taking a hit of hash with the other.
Riley is standing in front of the crowd, next to the karaoke machine, while Felix and the girls cheer her on…
…and then is standing in front of the audience in the auditorium, frozen and unable to begin as her father laughs mockingly from the door.
Wolfgang is walking across the dark sand and rock that covers the beach, as he sings a haunting lullaby in a sweet voice.
Riley stands over her uncle, watching him as he realizes that he's about to die for his crime of doing nothing to help free her from years of torment, then starts pulling the trigger.
Wolfgang collapses in the snow, clutching his baby to him, knowing that it's too late, that she is dead and he is about to die as well.
They finally managed to break apart, holding onto one another and gasping for air.
"What the fuck was that?"
"It was…I think I felt something like that before with Will. But it was stronger with him."
"I don't understand! Why you and Will? Why us? That's never happened before!"
Riley looked up at him, concentrating fiercely. "We're the only ones who are together. Perhaps, perhaps it has to do with touching for real."
"I didn't feel it when I carried Will from the car."
"He was unconscious…but no, I was drugged in the hospital." Riley frowned, reenacting picking up someone and slinging them across the shoulders. "He was wearing his jacket…did you touch his skin?"
Wolfgang considered that. "I don't think so. I was holding onto his arm and legs."
"Then perhaps that's it. Skin-to-skin contact, creating an even stronger connection. We should test it—"
"After I get back with Felix. If Will knows I'm really here, then he knows where we're likely to be."
"True." Riley was reluctant to let it go, but Wolfgang took her by one shoulder and jostled her encouragingly.
"We'll find a better opportunity. Now, go back and take care of Will. I need to call the hospital and let them know I'm picking Felix up in a few days."
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Capheus rolled off the sofa that doubled as his bed and groaned. The Spirit of Jean-Claude Korean Lady might be able to take down a dozen men without blinking, but it was his body that had done the fighting and he was still one solid ache. He had jumped at the chance to help Riley drive not only because it was a beautiful car on a glorious road, but also because she had mostly recovered from her ordeal and it felt healthy to be one with her.
Shiro thrust a cup of water in his hand and a pair of pills.
"What is this?"
"A couple of my morphine pills. Take them."
"No…no, mother. Paracetamol is fine." He tried to give them back.
"Paracetamol is not fine. Neither is Brufen. I can attest to that. You must go talk to Jela about how to repair the bus and you must be ready for anything. You don't know how many of that gang are left to try and attack you. Take the pills."
Reluctantly, Capheus swallowed the pills and accepted the breakfast Shiro had prepared. The medication worked and by the time he was done, he could move freely, though the soreness lingered. He accepted the freshly-ironed shirt she gave him.
He was gathering his things when he realized that the usual commotion out in the street had fallen off. Warily he looked out the window. When he saw the limousine and who was getting out of it, he stiffened.
He moved to the door to meet them. "Mr. Kabaka. Amondi."
Amondi ran forward and hugged Capheus. He smiled at the girl and moved aside a little. "Miss Amondi, may I present my mother, Shiro? Mother, this is Mr. Kabaka's daughter, Amondi."
Amondi bobbed a curtsey and Shiro came forward. She raised her hands and cupped Amondi's face. "You are one of the most beautiful young ladies I have ever seen."
"Thank you."
"May Amondi stay inside with you for a few minutes? I have something I need to discuss with Capheus here."
"Of course. Would you like something to drink, Amondi?"
His mother's voice faded as Kabaka led him back to the limousine and turned to face him. Capheus noted that the man's face was mostly back to its normal shape, but blotched with shiny bruises and scabs.
"I know you said you did not want my money. And I am not here to try and persuade you to come back to my service. But I wish to offer two things as my thanks, because you did save my life and my daughter's."
"Mr. Kabaka—"
"Please? Hear me out?"
Capheus sighed and nodded.
Kabaka smiled and waved one hand in the air. One of his men, positioned several meters away, waved back. A loud motor sounded and suddenly a large black bus turned the corner and started down their road. It was half again as large as the Van Damn and brand new. Faces began appearing at windows to see what was happening.
Kabaka turned back to Capheus, whose mouth had dropped open. "All that's left is the paint job, which I will pay for."
"I…Mr. Kabaka, this is unnecessary!"
"Is your current matatu not sitting in the yard of the cheapest mechanic in town, awaiting an estimate to repair the engine, replace the glass and tires, and fill dozens of bullet holes to make it street legal again?"
"Well, yes, but—"
"But nothing. I know you won't be able to pay for repairs for weeks, possibly months. And your source of income was destroyed because you used it in defense of my child and myself. Let me return your livelihood to you."
Capheus bowed his head, considering. "No strings attached?"
"No strings. I meant what I said. While I would consider you one of the best men to ever work for me, I will respect your choice."
Capheus immediately added for now mentally.
"Very well, but I give my thanks in return. But what about Amondi? Her treatments?"
Kabaka smiled. "That leads us to the second part of what I wish to offer you. May we go inside to discuss it?"
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Lito whirled to face Daniela and stammered, "I didn't know you were there! I was…I was practicing a laugh. There's a scene in the movie where I have to pretend to find something funny and laugh."
Daniela raised one eyebrow at him and adjusted her towel. "Well, that sounded more like a genuine laugh to me."
"Thank you. I will keep practicing."
She reached over and touched his nose, which no longer bled but was still swollen and bruised. "I think you'll have time for it. It's going to be another day or two before you're at the makeup stage."
He nodded and lifted her chin with his fingers. "You, however, are almost ready for your closeup."
The rattle of keys in a lock and a door opening interrupted them, followed by Hernando's voice singing out, "Honeys, I'm home!"
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Author's Note: Thank you for reading!