A long-time reader reached out to me upon hearing I was writing new stuff for Christmas Calibration and asked about a scene I admitted was coming in this sequel. He's been such a loyal reader I decided what the heck I'll do an early release of Chapter One. It will be a while before the rest comes out but here it is I hope you all enjoy it. I've also been posting these on Ao3 and Spacebattles if anyone wants to get a hold of me there I'm still Avrjoe on those platforms.


MSI


Sakura Kimura stifled a yawn as she sauntered through the nearly deserted halls of MSI. Most of the staff had left for the day. She was glad she hadn't run into too many others. She had just returned from a long, crazy trip through the continental U.S. with her relatives. She put her hand on her flat belly and, deciding she was hungry, changed direction to pay a visit to the MSI cafeteria area before she went back to her room. Opening one of the large double doors, she started slightly. The large common area was occupied; and not with MSI regulars. There were at least seven other people clustered around a table, all of them women. Although she recognized more than a few of them, one stood out to her.

"Hey! You're Reiko Albareda! You're Arashi's sister!"

Reiko, who had glanced up at the sound of the door opening with the others cocked her head suspiciously. "How do you know Arashi?"

Sakura smiled mischievously. "Oh, I just got back from his place in Virginia. He's going to be my baby daddy."

"What?!" Both Reiko and the woman sitting to her left said in unison while the others all murmured in confusion.

Sakura, for her part, seemingly ignored the question. She moved on to pick up a large amount of food from the self-service kitchen. While Reiko seemed rooted to the spot with shock, Bree Madigan, who had been sitting near Reiko, charged after the young Dragon-Blooded.

"Sakura, you can't just walk up and drop a bombshell like that and then run off," the redhead said as she followed the buxom young woman into the kitchen.

"Oh, don't worry 'Inspector Javert,' I'm going back. I just need something to eat while I tell you all about what might be the most Hallmark meets Penthouse week-long trip I've ever had!" Sakura had formed a strong opinion when the two had briefly met after Calibration.

The other girl with Reiko stood and folded her arms. "Are you just trying to be obnoxious or is it a natural gift?"

"We Kimura women pride ourselves on coming from a long and distinguished line. A line that has never failed to gain the attention and even devotion of the very best men to be lovers, husbands, and fathers. Basically, we're all very good at using our talents to ensure the continuation of the Kimura lineage."

A shorter woman behind Bree looked over at the private investigator obviously confused. The answer came from another table with a lone chair. "She means she comes from a long line of sluts," Lucy Poindexter said, offering up a translation.

"Hey!" Sakura said, turning only to stop "Oh! Wow, you look like shit. Are you going to be okay?"

"Against my original wishes, yes. I'm going to make a complete recovery, they tell me."

Terra Alani-Silbern entered the cafeteria from the other end of the room. She had heard voices and couldn't help but overhear. "Sakura! Part of your employment here is learning how not to alienate our allies and clients. Now, will you sit down?"

"Sure! I'll just sit here with my possible future sister-in-law."

Reiko looked like she would rather not as the skimpily but fashionably clad Sakura took a seat next to her.

"I think Introductions are in order. Some of you know each other, some don't. This is Sakura Kimura, a Wood Aspect Dragon-Blooded from a family of Haken werewolves and kinfolk. This is Reiko Albareda, a Fire Aspect Dragon-Blooded from Los Angeles. Taking her seat next to her is Sayuri Sato, a recently exalted Lunar who we are pretty sure resonates with the Waxing Moon.

Bree Madigan is a Zenith Caste Solar Exalt in the corner booth over there is Natalia Evans, a Night Caste Solar. Next to Bree is our new friend Brenda-Lee Moldovan. Lucy here is a Hunter and this is Banyan Kimura," Dr. Alani-Silbern said, waving at the woman approaching from the hall behind her.

"Well, I'll be damned. How did a loser like Jin land someone as hot as you?" Sakura asked as she got her first look at Banyan.

"Far too long of a story. Did Jay arrange this or something? It seems suspicious that all of us ended up here at once," Banyan asked Terra.

"Not this time. He's responsible for Lucy being here, the rest is MSI itself being a magnet to…well…the weird not to put too fine a point on it. But each of you has a story. Instead of us all talking over one another, why don't we all take turns describing what happened to us recently? Why don't we start with…you," she said, pointing at Sayuri.

"Oh. Yeah, sure, I guess. I've been working out how to use my powers. Trying to decide what to do."

"Powers? What do you mean? Like Kashi? When did you get them?" Banyan asked.

Sayuri nodded. "The day after Kashi left town. You see, I was so upset with him and the idiotic proclamation he made before running off to escort Willow and Edith to Alabama. I knew he'd be back and I'd have to straighten him out when he returned. Not being able to immediately give him an earful I tossed myself into the task I had at hand finding a new place for me and Reiko."

Sayuri looked her cousin dead in the eye. "With all Christian love, you and your dad were starting to drive me a bit batty."

"Just because we were in such tight quarters"

"Your house is pretty small for as much as your dad makes," Bree added.

"He's just careful with his money, it's been just him and Reiko for the longest," Sayuri said in defense.

"No, Daddy's just cheap," Reiko countered.

"Anyhow house hunting in L.A. is not easy. Even less so when you've been given a wish list made out by a literal seventeen-year-old who never picked up her father's financial discipline."

Reiko frowned as Sayuri continued the story.


Santa Monica


Sayuri got into her BMW and closed the door. She then looked at her phone.

But it doesn't have a hot tub?

Rereading Reiko's text she screamed in frustration, gripping the wheel while she vented her annoyance. She had been looking for a place for her and Reiko to stay since the day after Calibration ended. Despite Reiko having a starting salary of nearly a quarter million - over four times the median income - finding a house was proving impossible, in no small part to her cousin's laundry list of demands.

Composing herself, Sayuri slowly opened her eyes. For a moment she thought of ditching her plan to move in with Reiko. She could go to see Banyan and just rent one of Edith Johnson's properties. It would require an additional part-time job beyond the occasional tutoring and such she'd been working so far, but at this point, she thought it might be worth it.

Sayuri shook her head, dismissing the idea for now. She would look at one more place: a set of condos and then go pick up something simple to make for dinner. Luis Albareda had a chore rotation Sayuri had him work her into. Something she had insisted to Reiko they should keep once they lived together. She was determined that Reiko pull her weight around the house and not just order out for her turn to provide dinner. Thus Sayuri herself had to do the same so she could maintain the moral high ground.

There was a parking deck near enough to the condo site and a small grocery. Parking the Beemer near the center of the first level, she made her way to the Ocean House Condominium Complex. The tour was short, but that was a plus for Sayuri. It was a good place that seemed to miraculously meet every tick box on Reiko's wish list. It would also be over two-thirds of Reiko's annual income. More than double what she should be spending. Sayuri knew she was going to have to have a sit down with Reiko for another round of trimming to her overly ambitious list.

She pushed the housing hunt out of her mind for a while, she ducked into the small grocery store close to the condo to look for dinner ideas while she gathered up a few toiletries and sundries. She had been thinking about spaghetti but seeing a special on chicken breasts she decided she could do a quick chicken alfredo.

Passing back through the parking garage with her purchases, Sayuri had her keys in her hand. She had only the faintest hint of danger before it was on her. A large square-jawed man in black had her right hand by the wrist

"Hey girly, we need to talk about that boyfriend of yours. Seems he's not around and I need to get a message to him. You might say it's a grave matter," his deep voice intoned as a sneer spread across his face.

Sayuri wasted no time. A quick stamp to the top of the foot over the arch loosened his grip. A follow-up knee to the groin broke the hold completely. As he doubled over the cap came off her pepper spray and she blasted her assailant full in the face.

A back-handed strike caught her in the face while also sending her keys and attached spray flying as her groceries clattered to the ground. The blow sent Sayuri into the side of her car. Looking up she saw the man's face was swollen, his nearly closed eyes were full of rage. His hands came toward her, fingers splayed to grab at her and prevent her from running.

She was not going to run. She dove for him aiming for the throat with a strike that he deflected with his left arm. Sayuri felt the flesh rip and tear under her claws as her attacker pushed himself back to get some room. It was not enough. Her other hand clawed at his chest more deeply. Silver claws cut through pectoral muscle and scraped the bone of the sternum. Silver light flooded the garage.

Claws? Sayuri's mind caught up with what was going on as she stared at the silver talons coming out of her fingers. She saw the blood and viscera drip off them. Instinct told her to keep going to kill this man and her rational mind might have agreed with that, but her instinct also said to dig through his chest, rip out his heart, and feast. She rebelled at that thought, however. Caught between warring impulses, she stood stunned until she heard someone clapping.

"About damn time!"

Turning, Sayuri saw a tall muscular woman who had strong, almost androgynous features and platinum hair in a side-swept pixie cut. She wore biker shorts and a tube top with a leather jacket and running shoes. She was looking Sayuri up and down in a fashion that one might look over a steak before eating it.

"Took you long enough. You were so scared to be violent. Violence is the path to agency, my girl. Violent words or violent actions to effect violent change. Sometimes we need a sudden paradigm shift. Too caught up in peace this world seems to try to make everyone a herd animal. Very dangerous when you're dealing with a predatory species. I think those stasis-loving mages are at fault there."

"Who the hell are you?" Sayuri demanded.

"You still have a ways to go, kid. If you're going to swear to intimidate someone then leave the hells and damns the gosh darn heck at home. Be truly coarse or inventive. Either will give them pause. You should yell who the FUCK are you! Tell me who you are before I start playing skip rope with your entrails!" The woman said, rolling her eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes at me! I want some fucking answers!"

"Better. And you know who I am."

"Luna?" Somehow, she knew. The knowledge was just there. She could feel more was behind that knowledge, hundreds of lives.

For a second, she was on a ship sailing through an ocean of lava. Metallic beasts were climbing out of the ocean to feast on sailors. The same was happening all around. The boat was part of a fleet. A dark-haired man whose confident stance reminded her of Kashi grinned at her. Wait, she wasn't herself. She had tattoos and was dressed like a man or maybe she was a man. The feeling was confusing.

"Hey, little Seagull. Don't worry! We got this. We'll be the last to die," Crashing Wave said with a cocky grin.

"Till death do us part, Crash! Let's make our cenotaph out of their bones," Ivory Gull agreed.

"Like old times lover!"

They both tore into the horde. Ripping and breaking bodies as the world ended. Crashing Wave's form was twisted by his Ascendant Battle Vistage; the same battle rage that she had seen overcome Kashi at Calibration. He was a righteous monster near as fierce-looking as Gull's own war form. But it could not last as the combat dragged on, his essence started to sputter and fail. When Crash finally fell, she saw the light fade from his pretty eyes and white-hot liquid rage bubbled in her veins. She leapt into the heart of the Wyld storm and she learned just how many she could kill before she died.

"Holy shit. Oh holy shit. Damn it."

"First vision? Memories that aren't your own. They get easier to deal with. I like for mine to have their first while I'm still here watching over you," Luna said

"He... She?"

"A Tya. Ivory Gull was called a Tya, a concept in an old culture that was neither male nor female. Pronoun usage would be situational. Not that gender mattered to Crashing Wave too much. He preferred women but would take whoever would get his rocks off before he met Ivory Gull. That was different. That was love."

"They all... All of them loved..."

"All who knew each other, yes, all of my exaltations carry a part of me and yours is one that wields the twin-sided razor. Love only cuts as much as it is willing to be cut. I can be anything anyone desires. I can seduce the un-seducible but becoming other things doesn't change me. I am still myself. I can consume, duplicate, and take into me whatever I desire, but I do not stop being me. You humans have a bit of a harder time mastering that. So take that part slowly and maybe come to know yourself and your core before you go trying to remake yourself. Give yourself some space outside the gravity and orbit of the sun so to speak."

"Hey, he's gone!" Sayuri shouted in a panic as she looked around at the parking garage.

"Yes, he took off a while ago. I think I will also, your anima is fading. I'll be keeping an eye on you girl, don't disappoint me."

"Where are you going!"

She paused. "Nowhere." Then she turned. "Everywhere!" She then turned into motes of silver light that faded away.

Sayuri's mind whirled between her attack, her interaction with Luna, the vision of her previous incarnation, and back again. It repeated several times before she picked out something that made her leap to action.

She recognized that man. She had seen him on Halloween. She hadn't spoken with him, but he had been with the vampires. He was one of their servants. She also recalled one contact with the vampire world that lived out this way. She was going to find out who her attacker was.

After cleaning up she decided upon seeing her hand again as it reached for the car door. Time to see if wet naps would clean blood.

Driving deeper into Santa Monica, Sayuri found a parking spot. She avoided the front entrance to the club known as The Asylum. She made her way through the alley to the back entrance and banged loudly on the door.

"Go away," a rough voice called out, so she banged again.

No answer was forthcoming. She was about to bang a third time when the door opened and a man in a white suit and weird striped hat bowed to her.

"Andy is at your service!" he declared.

"Andy?" Sayuri repeated.

"Yes, moon mistress?"

"Oh, um rise I seek Therese Voerman," Sayuri said, reasoning out the usage of the third person.

"Therese does not shine at this time. Jeanette is in phase this evening I will take you to her," he declared, ushering her in before climbing a short flight of stairs before they made their way to a small waiting room. Andy held up one finger and slipped through a door into the next room." Sayuri looked at the other door and realized it was an elevator. It had to lead down to the dance floor from the muffled sounds.

Andy returned and waved her through the door. "Jeanette awaits."

The infamous Malkavian power player sat framed by a mirrored vanity. Sayuri had to walk past the other partition of the room which was kitted out as an office. She was not in the slutty schoolgirl outfit Willow had told her about. She wore a tee shirt with a children's anime cat face wearing a ball gag and nearly painted-on daisy dukes.

"Sayuri, yes now I recall you. What happened, Icarus? Did your wings finally melt flying so close to the sun?"

Sayuri pulled on the one power she'd used so far now was no time to be experimental. Silver flowed over her skin and formed claws.

"I can fly much closer to the sun now. But let's cut the crap. A ghoul attacked me this evening. I want to know who he worked for. I trust you and your sister not to be stupid enough to have done something like that. So I'm here to give you a chance to clear things up before this misunderstanding leaks to others like my Fire Aspect cousin or friends among the Hunters."

"Pull a chair from Therese's desk," Jeanette replied, straightening up from the lounging posture she'd had.

Sayuri pulled the chair over and sat

"First, are you hurt? Do you need medical aid?"

"No, I'm Exalted now. He left me with one bruise but it healed on the way over here."

"The attack, you just gained your powers then?"

"Yes, but don't think I'm weak or a pushover!"

"No, not at all. The moon rather than the sun I take it? That is interesting. Now, where was this attack?"

The parking garage between Betty's Grocery and the Ocean House Condominium Complex."

"Therese will be furious. She owns that place"

"The parking garage?"

"Well, that too but I mean the condos. No one else should be operating there; it's a major trespass. Would you recognize the man if you saw him again?"

"Definitely."

"Alright then let's boot up the laptop here and connect to my friend Bertie's database."

"Bertram Tung?"

"Yeah. You met at Halloween I take it?"

"Only briefly. Willow was helping him during the attacks on the Sabat."

"I was off leading one of the attacks Therese was soooo set on me staying behind. She wanted the chance to strut and show she could handle command. I convinced her what a poor idea that was. I deal with all the violence running our fief calls for."

"Sort of sheriff to her prince?"

"Oh, you picked up the nomenclature fast. Yes, sort of Therese is almost phobic about messy things. She drinks her blood out of a glass biting someone sucking on their skin is too icky for her. Can you imagine her getting blood splatter on her? Ahh, here we go. The local ghouls, there aren't many of them. These are the known ones we spy on each other but new faces normally are human not empowered with blood. You have to earn that sort of investment. Normally getting your name out there for promotion means getting seen."

"That one. That was the guy."

"Romero? He's supposed to be dead," Jeanette tapped her chin as she thought.

"He seemed pretty alive to me unless he was a vampire who could survive at twilight."

"Possible, but rare enough to scrap thinking about. He worked for Abrams in Hollywood. Look, let me call Bertie. We can get some surveillance on his boss. Then I can get Therese to confront him about an attack on our turf. We'll leave your name out for now. Do you have somewhere safe to stay? I mean safe from us, not just in general."

"I'm staying with my cousin. Would they attack a Dragon-Blooded?"

"I don't think so. No one wants a war with the Manifested or Dragon-Blooded or whatever they're calling themselves now. Tell you what you go call your cousin I'll call my sister and we'll get things rolling I don't want you leaving here alone. You scared off one but others might come back better prepared," Jeanette said pointing into the hall.

Sayuri nodded and headed out. However, once in the hall, she made her claws appear and used them to carefully remove the air registry cover. She put her arm in as far as she could and called up her inner power. She shifted for the first time into the form she could feel inside. This form felt just as right as her human body. It easily, stealthily made it down the air duct and peeped out the other side.

Jeanette never saw the eyes peeping out of the darkness on the other side of the air vent, eyes that watched her make her calls. Nor did she see the ears that listened for betrayal as she talked to Bertram Tung. Ears which noticed both voices came from the same throat when she called her 'sister' Therese.

"Wait, you didn't actually explain what your other form is. You just said you could fit in the vent," Bree said, raising an eyebrow.

In a sudden motion, Sayuri launched herself up like she was going to toss herself onto the table. As she did her body seemed to become a haze of liquid silver. Then she landed on the table in her animal form.

"Holy shit! AN OCELOT!" Sakura exclaimed, snatching the feline into an embrace.

For her part, Sayuri gave Bree an offended look. For a second it seemed like she was about to claw the young Dragon-Blooded girl. That was before Sakura started to expertly rub between her feline ears. The expression on her face smoothed into overwhelmed contentment.

"Hah! I knew you couldn't resist. None of my werewolf cousins can resist a good ear rub either," Sakura said with satisfaction.

"Oh, put her down. She's probably just thinking about how awkward it would be to change back while smooshed up against you," Reiko demanded.

"You're just jealous. These are the most-" Sakura stopped, motioning to her ample chest before her eyes darted to Terra. "...the second most comfortable place to rest in this room."

The ocelot vanished as a sparrow took its place. It flew out of Sakura's grasp and then resumed human form. "I can take care of myself, Reiko. I've been adding to my library of shapes as well."

"Don't let Jay know you've exalted. He'll be peeking in on your reunion with Kashi trying to muffle his girly shrieks of delight," Lucy groused.

"I'm surprised he's not here already," Bree said as she looked around as if to spot him hiding.

"Well, that's not going to happen for a while," Sayuri stated as she retook her seat.

"What? Why?" Natalia asked.

"I've seen Kashi since you have, he isn't in a good place. He misses you with desperate pain," Brenda said quietly.

"Oh, so you do talk!" Sakura said.

"How do you know Kashi? Never mind, I'm sure it's a long story. Look, if he's missing me so badly maybe he shouldn't have broken up with me just as he was leaving town. It was a cowardly thing to do and I have too much on my plate figuring out how I'm going to use this power and who I want to be now. I don't even know if I'm going to continue school. I had wanted so much to be a doctor but these powers are calling me to another path. How much of who I was, do I have to give up."

"You know who is also asking themselves that? Everyone one of us here so grow the hell up," Natalia said standing up

"What?"

"Natalia this really isn't any of your-." Bree started.

"No! Screw that! You want to mope because your life won't turn out how you plan? Meanwhile, that sweet boy thinks he's given up every ounce of happiness to protect you? And your answer is no? No, joyful reunions and let's work things out together with both our strengths. You're just leaving him twisting while you work out your own shit? If that's your plan it sucks," Natalia ranted a bit of her native accent slipping into her English.

"This is none of your business and you had best sit back down," Sayuri said with a dangerous look in her eyes.

Natallia got up and walked to the coffee pot and refilled her cup. She then slowly pulled some cookies from the counter. She sauntered back to her chair. She unhurriedly sat down and then slipped a cookie out of the pack. She pointed the cookie at Sayuri

"Well, if you're going to leave him lying out there then maybe I will make it my business. You can't blame me for picking up what you left lying in the dust," she said, popping the cookie in her mouth as punctuation.

The two coldly stared across the table at each other in silence the others were unwilling to disturb.


A Reader over on Ao3 pointed out I messed up a name on this chapter so I have edited it and reuploaded it.