23. Third Recruit
China – Two Months Later
Deep in the heart of China's PeepPeep Jungle, Miguel and Justine slowly made their way up a steep cliff side. For the last two months, give or take a day or two, they had been searching for the last of the 'second mutation' mutants while staying off the grid as much as possible. With the knowledge of the Executioners being worldwide, they couldn't risk doing anything that would attract attention to themselves. Back roads and condemned buildings became their best friends as were any abandoned vehicles they ran into. They couldn't risk contacting the mansion or Justine's girlfriend should they still be hacked in any way, which had both mutants worrying about what the others would think.
For the past hour and a half, the world traveling duo made their way up the steep mountain on their way to a shrine sitting on top. Had the stone steps not have been destroyed; they would be farther up than where they were. As it was, they were around a hundred feet from the top and desperately needed a rest.
"Wait, stop here," Justine said as she collapsed on a rock within a shallow alcove. "My legs are killing me."
Reaching where she was, Miguel took a seat on the ledge with his left leg hanging over the side. "Yeah, mah arms feel like they wanna fall off."
"Any water left?"
Reaching into his pack, Miguel pulled out a plastic two liter bottle and handed it to her. It only held a third of what it had but it would have to be enough for the time being.
"I really hope this mutant's up there. I'll be super pissed if we did this for nothing," Justine said in between gulps.
"Villagers said a girl matching what we told them was living up there. Hopefully we can get her to join us and rest for a day or two." Reaching back in his pack, Miguel pulled out a bag of beef jerky and ate several strips. "Hungry?"
Trading the bottle for the dried meat, Justine shoved three strips in her mouth and gnawed on them noisily. "If they're wrong, I'm going to shove your ass off the top of this damn mountain."
"Go ahead, just means I won't have to climb down."
After a few minutes resting and regaining their breath back, Justine looked over at Miguel who had his head and back against the stone wall with a picture in his hand. "Miss her, don't you?"
Letting out a tired sigh, he put the photograph of him and Megan sitting on the bank of the lake behind the mansion down and stared at the jungle they had trekked through. "Yeah."
"Your little pink fairy princess?" He turned and gave her a glare to which she only chuckled. "Loosen up, Miguel. Or your face will stay like that."
He turned back and leaned his head on the wall again.
"Mind if I see it again?" She took the photo when he handed it to her. "She's pretty. You look happy with her…well, happier. And you really need a shave."
"Yeah, but you took all the razors." Scratching his black beard, Miguel wished he could have saved at least one of the disposable grooming tools.
"Either you have a clean face and I have hairy legs and pits, or I stay smooth and you become scruffy. Now what's more pleasant to look at?"
"You have a point," he admitted. "Ready to continue?"
"I guess. And I really hope there's water and a tub up there. I'm tired of being grimy and stinking of sweat."
"Told you to bathe in the river," Miguel reminded her as he slung his backpack on, put his picture away, and began to climb to the top.
"I did, but I would prefer to have soap while I bathe." She followed him to where he began climbing as she too slung her pack on.
The final stretch of cliff took them around an hour to traverse. What saved them time was a large section of stone stairs that were still intact had cut their time by at least twenty minutes. Once on top of the mountain, the two were met with a view they wouldn't have ever believed existed.
Grass, greener than they had ever seen, stretched over the ground as tall trees reached for the bluer than blue sky. Trails lead to and around a large temple as men dressed in orange garb with black sashes around their waists performed chores around the ancient building. Several of the bald men carried poles across their shoulders with a bucket of water on each end as others tended to the foliage with wood and steel garden tools. Others cared for livestock with several more working in nearby gardens. Across from the workers was a large group of even more monks moving in sync with each other as they practiced their martial arts.
"This place is…wow," Justine said as the two made their way forward. Miguel had to agree but was unable to do so as he took everything in.
It wasn't long until they were approached by one of the monks. Wearing the same orange clothing as the others, he also carried with him a pair of hooked swords known as Fu Tao. The two mutants didn't know what to make of him as he had a blank expression on his face. Miguel, as well as Justine, were ready in case he tried anything with his weapons.
"Americans?" the monk asked.
"English or Spanish," Miguel responded, "don't know Chinese."
The monk held up a finger, telling them 'one moment' then turned back to the others. "Anyone know American?"
Another of the monks made his way to the three with a staff in hand and bowed to the other monk who was there. The first bowed in return before taking his leave.
"You two from America?" the new monk asked.
"Ah'm from America, she's from South America," Miguel pointed out. "Mah name's Miguel Cortez and hers is Justine Maloi." Justine gave a nod but didn't let her guard down.
"What brings you here to our temple?"
"Certainly not the stairs," Justine muttered.
"We're here looking for a woman we believe is a mutant." At the sound of Miguel's words, the large assemblage of monks grew silent and surrounded the two, making them grow slightly nervous and go back to back to keep an eye on those around them.
"Are they with the purple soldiers?" one monk asked.
"Be ready for a fight," said another one.
"Don't let them in the temple," ordered another.
"Think this was a mistake?" Justine asked Miguel as she slid her pack off.
"Just be ready for anything." Shedding his pack as well, Miguel popped his knuckles and addressed the English speaking monk. "Ah don't know what your stance is on mutants, but we just need to see the woman. We're like her."
To demonstrate what he meant, Miguel ignited his claws, forcing the monks to take a few steps back. The orange covered men began to whisper to each other as Justine formed her red whips.
"You…you glow like Noi does," the English speaking monk stated. "You're like our Shadow."
"Again, my sincerest apologies for what happened earlier." The monk, who introduced himself as Bao, said for what must have been the fifth time since entering the temple. They were on their way to the quarters of the mutant Miguel and Justine were there to see after explaining what their intentions were.
"It's alright," Miguel told him yet again.
"Yeah," Justine said as she looked around the interior of the building. "We're used to being hated for no reason."
"It's not that," Bao replied. "It's just…we found Noi when she was a young girl when a group of those soldiers in purple armor attacked her. They killed her parents and brother. If it was not for Brother Angg finding her when he did, she would have been killed as well. He gave his life for her."
"Sorry to hear that," Justine expressed. "How long ago was this?"
"About three years ago."
"Three years?" Miguel asked. "You said she was young when you found her. How old is she?"
Opening a large wooden door, Bao ushered the two into a large circular room filled with the scent of incense with two semi covered windows providing the room with a dim light. In the middle sat a large golden blanket with elaborate embroidery stitched throughout. Golden pillows were piled in a sort of mountain where a veil covered person sat in a cross legged position as they meditated. The monk headed over to the person and knelt beside them.
"Noi, we have guests who wish to see you. They are like you with similar abilities." Bao said quietly in his native dialect.
"Visitors? Where from?"
Both mutants looked at each other as the voice of the woman seemed a little too high pitched.
"They are from South America and North America." Bao told her.
"North America?" the woman said, She lifted her veil and surprised both Miguel and Justine at just how old she was. She couldn't be any more than eight or nine.
The girl climbed down from the pile of pillows and made her way over to the two newcomers. She was hesitant as she looked them over and careful not to get too close. Walking around the two, Noi came to a quick conclusion then headed back to Bao.
"The man's scary." She told the monk.
"I know but he's here to take you back to America with him."
"I don't want to go to America. This is my home."
"But Noi…" She looked up at the bald headed man and widned her eyes into the puppy pout. He knelt down beside her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Noi, those people, the bad ones, they will find you here. We hid you this long and now these two will protect you."
As the two continued speaking, Miguel shifted uncomfortably. Justine saw his behavior and leaned in close to his ear. "Are you thinking the same thing I am in that he's telling her something completely different than what you told him?"
"Don't know. Maybe it takes longer to explain in Chinese."
"I don't want to go with him." Noi said. "He's mean and he's died before."
"How do you know that?" Bao asked.
"I can read him. Hate flows off him like a river."
Bao turned to face Miguel and stomped up to him. "Is what she says true?"
"What?" A look of confusion crossed Miguel's face.
"Is what she said true?"
"I don't know…I don't speak Chinese."
"Oh, right." A flash of embarrassment crossed the monk's face. "She says you're full of hate and you have died before."
Miguel looked at the young girl for a moment then back at Bao. "Ah…Ah…died when Ah was young, and a few more times after that. But Ah wouldn't say Ah hate people."
"You do swear more than a calm person does," Justine pointed out. "And you do drop the F-bomb frequently when you say you hate people, which is constantly."
"Not helping. And Ah think Ah have a legitimate reason to hate people who want to kill meh."
"But not everyone wants to kill you and you still hate them."
"Fine, Ah hate and want to kill almost everyone Ah see. Happy? Ah'm only human."
"I think I made my point." Justine grinned at how she got him to break so quickly.
"But it can kill you too," Noi said in almost perfect English. "Our powers, they eat…feed off of our emotions. If we hate, we die. The monks taught me not to hate and in turn, I became stronger. I've developed my abilities in the last three years I've been here."
"You speak English?" Justine asked. "Then why-"
"I…I don't like being around new people too much."
"And she's actually frightened of you, Miguel," Bao pointed out.
"Like Ah said before," Miguel took a step forward, "Ah'm justified in what Ah feel."
"But it can kill you." Noi said as she partly hid behind Bao. "We can show you how to fully control your hatred. We can teach you both how to become stronger and fight the purple men that want us dead."
"Kid," Miguel said. He could feel his patience wearing thin with all this. "We don't have the time for some Yoda, use the force, shi…crap. Come with us and you'll be protected."
"I don't want to go with you! You're mean and full of hate!"
"Kid, Ah got someone Ah'm trying to get back to and Ah'll drag your sorry ass back to the states if Ah have to-"
"Then do it for her!"
Miguel stopped and looked at her with a cocked eyebrow.
"Megan. Stop hating for her."
"How do you know…"
"I can read people," the girl explained as she gripped Bao's pants tightly in her little fist. "I can't help it. Every one I'm close to, I can read and know stuff about them. You're gonna die if you don't stop and she'll be sad like you were when Isabella died."
Miguel took a step back and stared at Justine who didn't know what to say.
"If you continue hating, you'll die and the purple men will win."
He looked at Bao who had a sympathetic look on his face. He couldn't help but remember the words his abuela told him so long ago.