Operation Rebel Dragon Phase Two: Day 16
Ming P.O.V.
"Miss Xiu Ming, grandniece of Ambassador Xiu Ling, accompanied by Miss Madison Victory, daughter of Alexander Victory, Chief Operations Officer of RobCo industries."
Madison gently elbowed Ming, "The Calverts really like pretending it's still the 1700's, don't they?"
Ming stifled a giggle as they stepped through the main entryway into the ballroom. "Miss Emma Delano, Daughter of Senator Michael Delano, accompanied by her date, Nicholas Valentine, Roving Detective of the Federal Bureau of Investigation." The announcer, or herald, or whatever he was called yelled as their other companions followed them in.
Ming had grown up hearing about the decadence and debauchery of America. Eventually, of course, she realized this was hypocritical bullshit. Her own family lived in wealth and splendor, in a gated compound, guarded by an elite military unit. She'd believed all of the lies about how they served roles as guides and leaders to the people when she was told growing up, then she saw the slums and the people who worked themselves to death in the worst possible conditions. Then she'd come to America and realized that communism was no different than capitalism, just different methods of measuring prestige.
It was easier to believe all of the decadence and debauchery looking out on the ballroom. Twelve senators, sixteen House Representatives, three governors, the Secretary of State, Twenty high ranking party members from China, the CEOs of two major corporations, their wives, and other less distinguished guests. If someone were to add up the net worth of all of the dresses, suits, and jewelry in the room, it would be enough to feed the entire continent of Africa for a week. They mingled for a little bit, a few senators tried to talk to Madison about various issues they wanted RobCo support on, but they were all easily beaten back by Ming. As it turned out, a right wing conservative could rather easily be cowed by a nineteen year old, six foot two inch, Wing Chun trained, Chinese girl.
"I'll have to remember to keep you close at these sort of things. Usually they last at least twenty minutes, you make a good guard dog." Madison handed her a glass of sparkling cider.
Ming grinned, "I'm not the one in this relationship who wears a collar."
Madison punched her in the arm, and then they hit the rough seas.
"Xiaomao, it is good to see you again." Ming turned to see her great uncle striding towards them, entourage in tow.
She bowed, "Great uncle."
The ambassador laid a hand on Ming's shoulder and laughed. "Xiaomao my dear, we are in America, surrounded by Americans. What is their saying, when in Athens, do as the Athenians do?" He laughed again.
Ming knew her great uncle, he had been her etiquette teacher when she was a child. He'd doted on Ming while she was growing up, but she'd been an excellent pupil, he had been as harsh in dealing punishments to his less gifted students as he was liberal with giving rewards to her. She knew he wasn't evil, but beneath his kind grandfatherly demeanor lay a cunning and ruthless political mastermind. He would do anything to preserve the family and you didn't make it as far as he had in the Party without slitting a few throats.
"It's Romans, when in Rome, do as the Romans do." Ming wanted to grab Madison and flee the room. She knew it was about to come up, and once it was brought up… this whole thing was going to hell.
Then it didn't. Her great uncle turned to Madison and said, "And you must be Madison Victory, please pass on my regards to your father." He extended his hand.
Madison accepted, "You know, Mister Ambassador, most politicians follow that up with some cause that they want me to pitch to my father."
Xiu Ling smiled, it went to his eyes, but Ming knew it was a façade. That was one of his best assets when it came to manipulation, he had a charming and disarming smile that always seemed perfectly genuine. "I've served as ambassador to your wonderful nation for over a decade and your ways still confound me. In China, if you wish to discuss business with a man, you sit down with him face to face and discuss things like civilized men. You don't pester his daughter in her private life."
Madison smiled back, "It seems like America could learn a thing or two from China in that regard."
Ming watched all this like a spectator watching a lion circle a Christian in the Roman coliseum. She knew Madison to be intelligent, competent, and witty, but she was sure her great uncle would eat her alive if he so chose.
"Miss Victory, Madison, may I call you Madison?" she nodded, and the ambassador continued, "Madison, you must come to China someday, it is the most beautiful country you will ever see."
"I would love to someday, but I'm afraid college doesn't leave a lot of time for international travel." Ming knew what she really meant was, I'm not stupid enough to let myself be taken hostage by the Chinese government.
The ambassador knew it as well, but he didn't show it. "Yes, I still remember my time at University. Someday though, you must visit, perhaps when you and Ming go on your… what is it you Americans call it, ah yes, honeymoon."
"Uncle!" Ming couldn't contain her shock.
The ambassador chuckled as he turned to his niece. "Come now Xiaomao, my sight may be leaving me, but I still hear things. Some of my staff are ardent followers of certain magazines, I believe you call them… gossip rags. They show me these things, and according to them, you and Madison make quite the young couple."
Madison recovered her composure before Ming. "Ming and I are together, but we're not currently engaged."
"Of course not, of course not," the ambassador said, his smile growing wider. "I apologize if I have embarrassed you, allow an old man his delusions, I have looked forward to my Xiaomao finding someone since she was a child."
"I was under the impression that relationships such as the one Ming and I have aren't exactly approved of in China."
Xiu Ling brushed the comment away with a wave of his hand. "Archaic traditionalists who refuse to accept that the world is moving forward. Idiots who cling to the very principles our War of Liberation sought to overturn. You Americans have similar people in your government, I believe you call them Evangelical republicans. But just as in America, the radicals' obstructive influence diminishes by the day."
One of the ambassador's entourage, a young man in a well tailored suit, slid into place next to Xiu Ling with the fluidity of a practiced aid and leaned in to whisper in his ear. The ambassador appeared to listen for a moment then nodded. He returned his gaze to Madison, "I apologize Madison, but we will have to continue our conversation some other time, it appears that two of the senators Calvert need to speak with me about agricultural imports."
All lies, of course, even the aide was part of the illusion. Xiu Ling was a classically trained composer in his spare time, and that style bled into every aspect of his life. He had the entire ball planned like a concerto, down to the last note. And the bullshit about China, he was playing Madison like a well tuned violin. Madison was smart, but right now, she was a novice in a game she didn't understand, going up against a grand master
Then before Madison could respond, he turned to Ming, "I almost forgot to mention, your cousin Yang is visiting as an observer with the delegation, I'm sure she'd love to speak with you. I believe she's in the next room." He looked back, "You don't mind if we steal her for a moment, do you Madison?"
Madison looked at Ming, an excuse probably ready on her lips, but Ming shook her head. This wasn't the kind of meeting you turned down. "No problem at all, I'll just go find Emma and we can find each other after you talk to your cousin."
Ming lost sight of her in the crowd. Her great uncle split away with most of his entourage as well, but one of his aides remained. He silently led her out of the main ballroom through a few hallways until they reached what could best be described as the main dining room, but didn't come in with her. It was going unused tonight, this wasn't a dinner party, just drinks and dancing and canapes, but it still had one occupant.
She wasn't her cousin, but they'd known each other since they were children. She was dressed in an attempt at a stylized garment that was halfway between a traditional kimono and a prom dress. Ming could read the vanity in Her eyes, all the frills and puffs mixed with the golden embroidery, it was probably the most expensive thing She'd ever worn. And She probably didn't even realize how hideous it looked.
It was gaudy and ostentatious, not tailored at all to her figure, the materials also looked cheap. It seemed even worse in comparison to the simple elegance of the Audrey Hepburn style outfit Emma had come up with for Ming, a little black dress with a diamond necklace and matching hairpin. Ming knew she was being vein and catty, but something about Her always brought that out that part of Ming.
Wan Yang looked upon her with equal disdain, "I see you've been appropriately corrupted by the decadence and debauchery of the west. I hope those baubles haven't made you completely lose sight of your loyalty to your homeland."
Ming maintained a neutral expression, years of training and etiquette lessons coming into play. She kept her voice level as she replied in mandarin "Operatives in the field have to fit in, not all of us have someone to rescue them after their cover is blown like you did."
Yang's sneer turned into a scowl, "That operation was a masterstroke of brilliance, I devised every step to perfection. If you had simply planted an actual bomb in the elementary school instead of calling in a threat, then the police would have distracted long enough for a clean extraction."
Ming held her ground, she knew Yang was trying to rattle her. "The Department certainly seemed to find my version more palatable, yours would have started a war."
Yang bared gritted teeth, "You speak as if bringing the western dogs to heel would be a bad thing, it's those like you who weaken our glorious republic, filthy, indecisive, western dog loving… moderates. Or is it merely that you have forgotten your loyalty, in your early retirement?" She spoke the last words like she was spewing cobra venom.
Ming's tolerance for this meeting was growing shorter by the minute. "I have said it before, and the Department agrees, it is too dangerous now that I am in college, the Americans keep a much stronger eye on their college students than their boarding school students. And perhaps if you were more moderate, you would be able to perform successful operations. Now if this meeting has no point, then I have far more important matters to attend to." She put a subtle emphasis on the word successful, knowing her colleague's track record was a sore spot.
To Ming's surprise, Yang grinned. A savage grin that would have been predatory if Ming felt any fear for Yang. "It is those matters that we must discuss. For once, your disgusting perversions can be put to use for the service of the Republic. You have been fucking the bitch daughter of the de facto leader of RobCo."
It took every ounce of self control Ming had not to murder Yang where she stood, a feat made harder by the knowledge that if she so chose, it wouldn't be that difficult of a task. Somehow, she found the will power to contain her anger keep her neutral mask.
"The Department wishes me to turn her into an asset."
Yang shook her head. "No, our superiors have decided that would be too risky, watch her, listen to her, try to pry as much information from her as possible without letting her know your intent. You are no longer to return to China when your time at the Institute is over, you are to stay as long as your relationship with the girl continues."
So they wanted her to spy on Madison, "and Ji?"
Yang seemed to particularly relish telling her this bit of information. "I'm afraid he did not wish to play his part. When the Department informed his family that marrying you was no longer an option, he refused the new wife his family chose for him and threatened to press the issue. Our only option was to have him eliminated."
In that second, the entire affair played through Ming's head. She would start with a hard strike to Yang's jaw to disorient her, follow it up with a hard sidekick into the side of her knee to incapacitate her, then a knee to the face, an axe kick to bring her to the floor, then it would merely be a matter of pressing her stiletto heel on Yang's carotid artery until there was no longer a heartbeat.
Ji was dead. Ji, sweet, innocent Ji was dead. Ji, who insisted on putting milk out for the stray cats in the neighborhood. Ji, who would catch and release rather than kill a spider. Ji, who had been her only real friend for so many years. Ji, who'd been the only one who had truly understood the way she felt. Ji, who had no part in the world that Yang and Ming had volunteered for.
Ji was dead.
And they'd killed him.
In that moment, Ming made a decision. China was no longer worthy of her service or of her loyalty, if it had ever been. She would not spy on Madison for them. She would not do their bidding. She wanted to scream it in her face as she watched the life leave Yang's eyes, but she knew that wasn't the best way to hurt them. The best way she could hurt them would be to act without them knowing.
So she hid her fury behind her placid mask, "Alright, if that's all, then I believe we have nothing else to discuss, goodbye Yang."
And with that, she turned and headed back to the ballroom, a plan for Ji's vengeance forming with every step.
The first thing she needed to do was tell Madison everything.
She just hoped that telling the truth wouldn't cost her the love of her life.
This is the first half of a pretty important chapter. A few big things revealed about Ming this chapter, but the big reveal is still a chapter away.
So tell me what you think? Good? Bad? In between? Give me your opinions people.
