MSI
"How is Axe?" Bree asked. "I had my own run-in with Mike and was given ample cause to dislike him, but it's a crime how Axe seems determined to let Mike drag him down."
"This was the final straw. He left Mike," Tex replied.
"There's a bit more to it than that. Jon Colenski knew the true reason for Mike's money trouble. He was crippled with debt from a supernatural addiction to vampire blood. Colenski spilled the beans in defense of the punk. He gave us a reason for his constant hustling. We don't have a supernatural jail so crimes fall into fines, service, or death for penalties," Heather explained.
"Mike's service record told us he was more trouble than he was worth," Tex added.
"True. Kashi slugged him for abandoning Willow. Axe slugged him because Ichigo had been ready to turn the truck around to get her. Mike countered that would lead the pursuit back toward Willow. Axe offered to jump out and dash back for her alone. Mike said he'd handle it and did something on his phone," Heather continued
"He called for backup? From who?" Bree asked, perplexed
"No one. That was the last straw. He just pretended to. He lied to Axe. He made him think an innocent life he cared about was protected when it wasn't," Tex explained.
"Our finance wiz Frederick set up Mike and Axes' accounts. He still had access to the bank account. He pulled fines for the damages out of the joint account, then split it down the middle and liquidated it. He sent the money to cancel Mike's debts and then gave him the pocket change that was left. He put Axe's remainder back in an income-generating annuity and gave him a new card," Heather said.
"Alex has always had sympathy for Axe. However, as he's leaving he didn't have the pull to get Axe a place in the Big Easy. Axe and Leo don't get along, actually. He doesn't get along with most of Garou society," Tex added
"Why?" Sayuri asked in confusion.
"Because he's part dog," Bree said quietly.
"Come again?" Banyan asked.
"Axe's mother was a half wolf half Husky mix. It's good old-fashioned racism. They think his non-wolf lineage combined with being of an unknown father and clan make him lesser," Bree said, working to keep her anger out of her voice.
"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Reiko opined.
Sakura made a move as if to say something then stopped, reached for her glass and took a drink.
Bree, Banyan and Sayuri noticed the move and each independently reasoned that being from a family of werewolves she'd likely heard these views before and was going to attempt to explain them and perhaps thought better of it.
"So where is he going?" Bree asked.
"We're going to find him a job and place here somewhere. Alex will pretty much have to start a pack. Like it or not he's too powerful of a Wolf not to, if he didn't every pack nearby would assume he had designs to take over theirs," Tex explained.
Heather started again. "Before we moved, roaming wolves and unsatisfied youth were burrowing out of the woodwork to join him. When we got to New Orleans learning they would have to get along with the other Ferra kept less desirable recruits away. Alex figures he'll make Axe his right hand. Most of the insufferable candidates will also be too racist to deal with that."
"That makes my life easier. I was trying to put together a court to deal with Ming Zhao politically. If Alex is back that will be easy. I hear he's the one who killed her last time," Bree answered.
Heather smiled. "Well him and Keith. She never mentions that part. It feels degrading to admit someone you see as subhuman slime helped send you to hell."
Banyan sighed. "We newcomers are going to have to get a guide to prejudices and feuds of the modern supernatural world."
Terra returned with a boy in tow. He looked eleven or twelve. He was rail thin with fine bones and delicate features that made him look timid. The curves of his face were familiar as was the porcelain pale skin, dark red hair and vivid harlequin green eyes.
"So I take it you had some work done. Hopefully whoever changed your sex fixed your future brain hemorrhage," Bree said.
"Brad," Banyan replied coldly.
"Yeah um- hi," he replied. "The Santa Monica witches used some life magic to Y chromosome up the clone and fix the pending issues."
"Dr. Alani said she was bringing someone who wanted to see me."
"Yeah, umm, so I was looking for you but couldn't find you. The grapevine told me you were here. When I showed up I was shuffled off to wait. So, I've been waiting a few days now. They said you were very busy."
"I see. Well, I've been busy."
Bree looked at Terra's wicked smirk. She was enjoying Brad's discomfort. Her eyes darted to Banyan. There was a tense look on her face. Something occurred to the detective. She decided she'd best head off an issue before it started. "If you don't mind, can you tell us why? Brenda and I came here looking for you as well."
Banyan turned her hard gaze to Bree but it quickly softened at the concern on the other woman's face. She sat back down and released a long breath. "It's been stressful since Christmas. First, I had to send both my children halfway across the country. I know they're supposed to be safer. That didn't stop me from worrying. Now that we all heard how that turned out, my worries were well founded.
"When Nana left, she gave me power of attorney over her property. I'm seeing her things packed and sent to Alabama. I'm organizing all her paperwork because she decided to make me the manager of all of her property including her home which I am living in now as..." Banyan stopped.
"As Vampires and then Kashi killed a bunch of soldiers and tore up your old apartment," Sayuri said sympathetically.
"I love Nana to death and the income is insane. It's the entirety of the profit, less taxes, and a living expenses stipend toward the ownership. But- "
"That's the kind of deal you give a relative. Someone you see as an heir," Sakura interjected.
"She asked me if my estrangement from my father was why I always kept the Kimura name. I told her I'd always thought of it as my children's name, not Jin's name." She teared up a bit before she continued. "She said that if I ever wanted a new name of my own, she'd be proud for me to be either a Johnson or Freeman."
The group sat quietly for a few seconds before Sakura spoke up. "Just so you know, the Kimura have no problem with you using the name. Raising a Kimura son is challenging enough to earn that right."
Banyan smiled softly. "Thanks, that does make me feel a bit better about using it."
"I hate to interrupt but what about the girl? Willow?" Brad asked.
"She's Kashi's half-sister. It's obvious he cares for her. At Aiko's direction, no issue was made out of it. There isn't a problem so long as we pretend there isn't a problem. It's all very Japanese and she and Ichigo watched Sora and me like a hawk in case our Hawaiian-born selves weren't up to it," Sakura answered.
"I don't know how I feel about that," Banyan admitted.
"Honestly neither do I. Many of my family are pretty traditional. I love them but they drive me crazy sometimes."
"Well, I think I know how that feels," Banyan admitted.
"You're still working at the hotel." Brenda said suddenly.
"Umm, yes. I am" Banyan said unsure of why the strange girl knew that with such certainty. "Arjeet has done so much for me and it was my father and son who demolished his hotel. Sure it's ensured but it's a restoration policy he needs added eyes to keep the clearing and eventual reconstruction going.
"I was used to pulling doubles before. This is a different type of work. I've been overdoing it. A week ago tomorrow was the worst."
The Former Home of Edith Johnson
Six Days Previous
It was dark and Banyan had spent a long day at work. First, she sent out orders to Edith's contractors. The Calibration mess had left plenty to be repaired. Then she followed up with the crews dismantling the Sweet Rest before she ran over to Arjeet's new offices to consult with him. Then, she had to file papers with the state and federal disaster relief efforts. She was happy the day was winding down.
She got out of the car with a headache, one spurred on by her mental fugue. As she entered the side door of the house from the garage she caught motion out of the corner of her eye. Something slipped in as the automatic garage door lowered.
She spun, going for her purse, irritated at the lack of places to hide a gun when wearing ladies' business wear. Whatever had slipped in was fast. A hand closed on her own. And a familiar voice spoke.
"Hold it, no need for that now. I'm here to talk."
Banyan flipped the light switch with her other hand and found herself staring into her ex-husband's face.
"Jin! Your ass has twelve seconds to find the garage lift switch and get the hell out," she ordered.
"Just chill with that shit. It's about our boy. We need to talk. He's in danger. That girl of yours too."
"When Kashi and Willow told me you showed up, I was pretty upset that Kashi took your money. I was livid that Willow offered to be your daughter. I might not be perfect but you are the sorriest excuse for a parent that ever walked this Earth."
"Who got the boy to come out of the storm drain when you were panicking? Who always got him to take his bath?"
"You fried bacon and called out that if he didn't come out he wouldn't get any. You tossed enough toys in the tub he barely fit in there. There comes a point where bribery and games don't cut it, Jin"
"That boy loved me until you poisoned him. I thought you were picking up on how it's done, Banny! You don't have to approach everything as a disciplinarian." He paused and shook his head. "Shit, this is not what I'm here for. There's stuff out there. Supernatural fuckery that's aiming to get my boy and everyone like him. I can help. I can protect him and as long as that girl of yours is around him, I'll keep her safe too, but I have to know where they are if I'm going to do that."
"We don't need you! We haven't needed you for ages. This is your last warning. I was willing to cut you some slack because I learned the truth that made your adultery slander burn a bit less. It still hurts that you started rumors I was a literal whore."
"The girl is not mine!"
"I know that! I was raped, Jin! I was taken by a shapechanger who copied your face and shitty personality. Neither of us had any way of knowing that but it doesn't change the fact you thought so little of me!"
"Shapechanger? Hold on, does this have anything to do with the girl having some sort of powers? Rumors among the wolves are that this undead invasion was all about getting her."
"Yes, but I am not going to explain it to you now while standing in the garage. Get out. I'll mail you a letter."
"I'm not going anywhere 'til you tell me where my boy is! I'm his father!" Jin exclaimed while tightening his hand on Banyan's purse.
Not able to go for the gun, Banyan stomped on Jin's foot then brought her knee up into his crotch then planted her foot and shoved Jin as hard as she could with both arms. Then, reversing her movement to try to pull her purse out of Jin's grip. She needed room to go for her gun then she'd shoot Jin in the leg and call the police.
To Banyan's surprise, however, Jin barely moved. The purse strap snapped as she pulled and instead, she went down, landing on the cold concrete floor. The dim light of the garage was further illuminated by an emerald-green glow from a mark on Jin's brow. It was like a starburst of eight rays, but unlike Kashi's, they joined in the middle rather than projecting out from a center circle.
"What the hell?"
"I have power now, Banny, the power to help our son. To protect him! To protect you and your girl too! I know how much the boy cares about you. The kid needs allies, someone to watch his back. Don't be a stubborn fool. Just tell me where he is."
Banyan recoiled slightly. "I've felt Kashi's aura. It was full of hope and life. This feels wrong, evil, and hateful. What did you do Jin? What is this power?"
Jin leaned over to give Banyan a hand up. As he reached out to her, she rolled over onto her knees thinking he was reaching to grab her. She attempted to push herself forward and up so she could sprint away into the house.
Jin saw what she was doing. He turned his offered hand up to a strike, sending Bayan back to the floor. He then fell onto her, putting his knee into the small of her back. Having been subjected to it himself he knew how the cops handcuffed a suspect. He managed to grab both of Bayan's arms. He fought to control them and bring them into place as he kept an eye out for something he could use to tie them. If she wanted to act like a drama queen he'd let her struggle then see if she'd listen to reason once she'd worn herself out.
Banyan had been trained well in how to fight but the lessons focused on keeping just this sort of thing from happening. Keeping range, using hard strikes and speed to limit her opponent's use of weight and reach advantages. The only way out of this was if she could find something environmental to turn the tide. Something unexpected. She thrashed and writhed forcing Jin to focus on holding her while she grasped for anything within reach.
Something skittered out from under her car. It looked like a spider made of liquid silver. She had seen it before, clawing to get out of a glass box. It leapt for her face and she didn't turn away.
Jin saw a flash of silver, then cables started to explode outwards from Banyan's face. Silver braided cords burst from his ex-wife's body. Jin pulled back to avoid being caught in them and stared. The cables enveloped Banyan in a cocoon as he took a step forward determined to rescue her.
"Hold it, boss." a guttural voice thundered through Jet's mind.
"Xeox you know what the fuck that thing is?" Jin asked in such shock he responded aloud.
"Not exactly, but it smacks of Autochthon, the traitor. My boss's weak little pissant brother. He joined the god's rebellion. He made some Exalts who showed up during the final days and annoyed both sides while trying to save their maker from death or something. Best fall back and see what's what before we act."
"Fuck that shit I'm not letting some monster eat Banayn," Jin exclaimed stepping forward.
The cables retracted and revealed a form-fitting suit of liquid silver armor. Jin was familiar enough with the body underneath to know it was Banyan in there. She tilted her body and launched a kick that knocked him back onto his ass.
"Whoa! Hold on! I was trying to..." Jin started.
Banyan extended her arm and the liquid metal flowed into her hand and formed a saber. She lunged at him with the silver blade going for his shoulder.
"Fuck this shit run man!" the demon in Jin's mind advised.
Jin decided his infrequently useful companion was right and rolled over the trunk of Banyan's car to buy space. He lifted the garage door with enough strength to force the automatic to disengage.
Banyan watched her ex flee as her mind came out of panic mode. Shocked, she shoved the garage door back down from where Jin had caused it to jam and she retreated back into the house.
MSI
"So, I called the contact number Kai left for Kashi and the people here were able to parse from my clues that something serious was going on and I needed extraction."
"We had seen this before. The fact that her father showed up with one of those things during Calibration proved what we suspected. The Technocracy was behind the attempted assassination of our lawyer Campeggio. They have more, but they don't control the Exaltations once they are out into the world. The one we captured from the assassin freed itself from containment and found a new host, one that was not averse to working with us. It looks like the Technocracy are only a little better at containing them than we are," Terra explained.
"We'd heard rumors but we thought they were just a new type of HIT mark cyborg," Brad mused.
"Alright, enough beating around the bush. What do you want with me?" Banyan asked the mage in a child's body.
Brad changed his stance a few times, opening his mouth and then closing it. He then reached into his hoodie and handed Banyan a thin stack of papers.
Banyan looked at them carefully, her eyebrows arching slowly upwards as she read.
"What have they done now?" Bree asked.
"It looks like today is quite the day for revelations. I had no idea that I had born not two but three children." Banyan said dryly.
"What?" Sayuri interjected.
"One minute after Yanagi Willow Kimura entered the world, Bradley Rowan Kimura appeared as well. He was in even worse health. Rowan was confined to a clean room environment until a recent medical miracle from the Dragon-Blooded cured his immune deficiency." Banyan shook her head. "You didn't even follow the pattern of Kashi Oak and Yanagi Willow; its plant name in Japanese and then English."
"The Japanese name for the Rowan tree is near unpronounceable, even the Santa Monica coven wasn't cruel enough to inflict that on me. They had to slip me into the web of fate with as little disruption as possible. Being a twin tied up a lot of loose ends. Don't worry, I won't be in your hair for long. Under all that is an emancipation form. Once you sign it I'll be out of here. We never have to see each other again."
"What? Emancipate my little boy when he just got out of the hospital? We have so much catching up to do! You have a whole world you have never had a chance to see! We need to enroll you in school! So much to do!" Banyan said with an evil smile.
"Please tell me you're joking."
"Not one iota. You spied on my family and planned to steal my daughter for close to a decade, what's five more years? You are going to stick around and help me, Willow, and Kashi 'til you can legally leave without my say-so."
Brad looked around the room and saw not one shred of sympathy anywhere.