The Lives of Tao (24 page)

Roen nodded again.

“Another reason to celebrate.” The bottles clinked again. Antonio was hammered; his voice slurred and he leaned on Roen more for support than friendship.

“So, get this,” Antonio continued. “While you were pulling one of your disappearing acts the past few days, Sonya stopped by to drop off some books she wanted you to read. I made my move and asked her out, and guess what? She said I was sweet and she liked being friends, but she likes you! You! Over me! Actually, she didn’t say she liked you, she said she was, and I’ll quote, ‘totally in love with you.’ Imagine that! My boy here doesn’t get a date for like ten years and now, not one, but two hot chicks are madly in love with you. I have no idea what self-help book she’s having you read, but I want it.”

Roen was speechless. “Wait, what?!” The words came tumbling out of his mouth as he stood there in shock. “Sonya’s in love with me? Are you kidding?” Suddenly, he felt conflicted. She liked him? A flood of questions poured through his mind as he struggled with this new dilemma. Who was the better match for him? Who had the better personality? Who had a better figure? Who would his parents like more?

Do not get ahead of yourself.
 

Antonio laughed at the expression on his face. “You mean you didn’t know? The way she gushed about you, I thought your morning workout sessions were more like make-out sessions. Oh, here’s your money for the bet. You deserve it.” Antonio handed him a wad of cash. “You better be buying the drinks tonight, you sly dog.”

Roen held the wad in his hands and stared at it. “Wait, what bet? What is this money for?”

Put the money away and nod. Trust me on this one.
 

“Don’t rub it in, man,” Antonio grinned. “But seriously, what’s your secret?”

“Um... it’s my personal alien I was telling you about. He’s been giving me dating tips.” Roen smiled weakly.

I pat myself on my metaphorical back.
 

Before Roen could say another word, Antonio was off again, mingling with the crowd. Roen just watched as his roommate glided from group to group, talking to friends and strangers alike. He always admired how easily Antonio got along with just about everyone. Even strangers treated him like they were best friends after only a few minutes.

“So what’s this money for? What bet is he talking about?”

You do not remember that bet you two made?
 

“No, what bet?”

You have a rotten memory.
 

“I’d remember if I made a hundred-dollar bet. Heck, I get nervous making twenty-dollar bets.”

Well, stop thinking about it and use your newfound earnings to buy another drink.
 

Having finished his beer, Roen braved the packed crowd on the dance floor and worked his way back toward the bar. He waited another twenty minutes before the bartender noticed him. Not wanting to make the journey again, he ordered two scotches and double-fisted them back to the booth. There, he spent the rest of the evening drinking alone and watching the crowd.

Like ants over cake at a picnic.
 

“And you want to use us to take the Quasing home? Good luck.”

It was either you or the Neanderthals. There is still debate whether or not we made the right choice. Good thing dolphins do not have hands or you would all be extinct by now.
 

Roen raised his cup in the air to no one in particular. “Here’s to dolphins and their flippers.”

Indeed.
 

“I always heard dolphins were smart.”

They make humans look like chimps in any pattern recognition test.
 

“Pattern recognition test?”

Fundamentals of logical deduction, my friend.
 

“Good thing we have thumbs to offset our lack of intellect.” He raised the cup again. “Here’s to thumbs.”

The party was still in full swing when Antonio staggered back to the booth a while later. Under each arm was an attractive girl. “Ladies,” he said with a thick slur, “this is my buddy. Say hi.” The two smiled and waved. Antonio moved his arms away from their waists and patted Roen on the back. “This over here,” he gestured to his right, “is Laura. And this,” he gestured to his left, “is... what’s your name again?”

The pretty blond frowned and slapped Antonio on the chest. “Jerk,” she berated him playfully. The blond leaned forward and stuck her hand out, and said, “Hi, I’m Amber, you must be Roen.” Roen leaned forward and shook her hand.

“Tao,” she hissed.

Roen! Genjix!
 

Suddenly, Amber leaned forward and punched him in the face. Roen’s head snapped back and he fell back into the booth. Antonio looked bewildered. Before Antonio could say another word, Laura chopped him at the base of his neck and he fell forward.

Roen was used to being beaten in the face and quickly recovered from the blow. He focused on Laura while she was busy with Antonio. Still lying on his back, Roen kicked out and caught her on the side, sending her tumbling into the crowd.

Immediately, Amber lifted her leg and hammered it down on his stomach. Her stiletto heel dug into his midsection. He howled in pain and sat up. Grabbing her ankle, Roen pulled her leg and swung a hard right hook that caught her squarely in the face, knocking Amber over to the adjacent booth.

Get out of here. There might be more.
 

Roen climbed out of the booth, clutching his stomach. He turned toward the stairs just as Laura crashed into his back, slamming him against the wall. Roen fell forward, cutting his face on the hard brick surface. His arm banged against a large hanging mirror, causing it to crash to the floor. Glass shattered and spilled across the floor.

The crowd around them stopped dancing and stared at the chaos unfolding. Roen turned around just in time to catch another blow to the face. He reeled backward and hit his head on the wall again. Stunned, Roen fell to one knee as a rain of punches and kicks landed on him. While none of the strikes were particularly hard, the sheer intensity of the attack was overwhelming.

Roen, they are going to kill you. Laura is close by; stop covering up and take her out!
 

Peering through his spread fingers, he saw that Laura was standing just a foot away, launching kick after kick at his head. Ignoring the blows, he wrapped his arms around both her knees and squeezed. She gawked in surprise as he lifted her up and slammed her to the floor. The crowd collectively gasped until Amber jumped over the booth and elbowed him in the side of the head. A burly older man joined in the melee. Roen blocked a punch and ducked another – before a hard kick to the chest sent him stumbling back.

They are closing off your escape. Get upstairs!
 

Roen glanced at the stairs and took off. His chest burned and he had trouble catching his breath; that last blow had knocked the wind out of him. The burly man moved to intercept him but was a second too late as Roen reached the stairs first.

By this time, the music had stopped and the bouncers were converging on the fight. One bouncer grabbed one of the girls by the waist and tried to restrain her until she kicked his shins and elbowed him in the face. Another bouncer suddenly collapsed face first, dropped by an unknown attacker. Several others were barreling through the crowds, knocking people over as they tried to reach Roen.

There must be at least a dozen of them.
 

Roen continued climbing up the stairs. When he reached the top, he bumped into the chest of a large man blocking his path. The man was bald and very muscular – and he had several scars on his face. He gripped his massive hand around Roen’s throat and pinned him against the railing.

Marc! Be wary of him. Watch out for his elbow strikes. He is also very strong.
 

“My God! His grip... is like steel. He’s... choking me.”

“Hello, Tao,” Marc growled. “Where do you think you’re going?” He pulled a fist back, ready to pummel Roen. Suddenly two bouncers from the club jumped on top of Marc, trying to wrestle him down. With a snarl, Marc grabbed one bouncer with his free hand and threw him over the railing. The man screamed as he flipped over to the floor below. Marc turned his attention to the other bouncer and head-butted him. The bouncer staggered backward, and Marc finished him off with a kick that sent the bouncer tumbling down the stairs.

Roen took advantage of the distraction, slipped out of Marc’s grip, and threw several punch combinations. It felt like striking thick slabs of meat. Roen retreated, holding his wrist.

“Ow, my hand! What is this guy made of?”

Tougher stuff than you. Feint high, strike low.
An image of Sonya performing one of her attacks popped into his mind.

Marc turned to him and snarled. Roen threw a left jab and a right hook, followed by a low kick, hoping to take the man’s legs from under him.

“A man who cannot stand cannot fight,” Sifu Lin often quoted.

Marc moved surprisingly quickly for such a large man, blocking the jab and dodging the right hook. The kick struck his shin though with a satisfying crunch. The only effect, however, was a barely noticeable stumble in Marc’s step. He retaliated. Roen dodged the first few, but subsequently collapsed under the barrage of punches. The man hit like a tank.

“I had expected more from you, Tao,” Marc said, standing over him. “Your new host is no Blair.” He raised his fist to finish Roen off just as a beer bottle flew through the air and struck Marc in the face, exploding into small fragments. He snarled in pain and staggered backward, blood dripping down the side of his face.

“Roen! Get out of here!” Antonio yelled, struggling with the crowds trying to escape the riot.

The room downstairs had degenerated into a full-blown riot. The Genjix were busy fighting several bouncers and club patrons at the same time – and winning. Bodies lay all over the floor as the dozen or so Genjix laid a path of destruction through the packed room.

Roen saw Laura strike one of the bouncers in the neck. The man collapsed, holding his throat and gasping for air. One of the Genjix swung a barstool in wide arcs, hitting anyone unfortunate enough to be in his way. Then he caught sight of Amber making a beeline toward him.

That was when Roen decided that enough was enough. He hated leaving Antonio down there, but he had to escape. He ran up the stairs as fast as he could. Most of the club patrons on the main floor were unaware of the riot below. Roen made his way toward the main door, pushing people out of his way as he approached the exit.

At the door, a bouncer with a headset stopped him. “Hey, you’re not going anywhere. We have the cops coming right now.”

Take him down!
 

Without hesitation, Roen threw a punch at the bouncer’s face. When the man tried to block the punch, Roen grabbed his forearm, pulling him off balance just enough for Roen to connect with a left hook into the bouncer’s ribs, followed by an uppercut that connected to his chin. The man dropped like a rock.

G
ood work. I see Lin’s training did not go to waste.
 

“He wasn’t an agent, just an average Joe.”

That had a size and reach advantage over you.
 

“I’m not that short.”

You are not that tall.
 

Roen burst out the door and scanned the streets. People milled around, some in line waiting to go into the club, while others waited for the valet. The cool night air was a shocking contrast to the humidity inside. Several people nearby pointed at his cuts and bloodstained clothing. In the distance, the sound of sirens became louder.

Time to make yourself scarce.
 

“Don’t have to tell me twice.”

Roen took off running, ignoring the people yelling at him to stop. He presumed that they were bouncers or worse, the Genjix. He rounded the corner on West Superior Street and headed east toward his car. As he turned, he glanced back at the club – just in time to see a small group of people run out. One of them saw him in the distance and they took off after him.

“Crap, they saw me.”

All that running and you cannot run any faster?
 

Roen ran faster than he had ever run in his life. Sheer panic gave him an unexpected rush of adrenaline, so that he no longer felt the aches and pains from the melee. It was impossible to get into the car and drive away before they reached him. He sped past it to the State Street intersection with the Genjix closing fast. He’d have to find a place to hide.

Ignoring the red light, Roen ran through the busy intersection and turned south onto the densely populated main street. While it was late, Chicago still teemed with night life. Patrons were streaming out of bars and clubs, trying to make their way home or elsewhere. This time, he did not bother looking back and instead tried to blend in with the crowds.