The Lives of Tao (26 page)

“He loves you too.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

AFTERMATH

After driving back the Yuan, the Ming were the dominant power in the region and had few enemies. So without an outside enemy, the Council ordered that I oppress the people, to drive them into rebellion in order to create more conflict. At that time, I was on the cusp of a cultural revolution. I was close to fulfilling my dream. So again, I tried to refuse. And again, I was weak and failed my host.
 

“So how’s t’ai chi with Lin going?” Sonya asked as the two stood in the elevator at his apartment building, watching the numbers climb.

“Great,” Roen replied. “It’s working well for me. Why didn’t you ever study with him?”

Sonya shook her head. “I tried a few years back. T’ai chi isn’t my thing. It’s too slow-paced and I couldn’t grasp all that internal stuff. I’m more suited to Savate and Krav Maga.”

There were a few more moments of awkward silence as they stood on opposite sides of the elevator. She had let him sleep in until noon. Roen was grateful for that, considering the previous night’s events. The two had had a quick lunch in silence and then headed toward his place shortly afterward. Sonya’s question to him just now was the first words they’d spoken all day.

Roen was equipped with a pistol, a machete, and a pair of knives. He wore a thin Kevlar suit underneath the rest of his clothing and had the gun cleverly hidden in his thin leather jacket. The machete sheath was strapped to his back – and the knives were inside his boots – in case the fighting got close and ugly.

Sonya, on the other hand, was armed to the teeth. Besides a small rack of throwing knives strapped to her back, she carried three pistols hidden somewhere within her bodice. Her Kevlar outfit covered her torso, and the weapons were neatly concealed so that she looked like she was wearing a business suit.

Roen desperately wanted to talk about last night with her, but was actually relieved that she didn’t bring it up. He didn’t know how she felt about him. In fact, Roen perceived a subtle coldness that wasn’t there before. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. Should he tell her how he felt? How did he feel? Was he being impulsive or did he really have feelings for her?

Maybe Tao was right; maybe it was all in his head. Roen just didn’t know. And then there was Jill. What about her? He cursed himself for putting himself in such an awkward situation. For years he’d had no love interest. Now he had two.

A little focus, please?
 

Tao was right. None of this would matter if he didn’t get through the next ten minutes alive. Roen pushed those thoughts into the back of his mind and concentrated on their plan. They could be walking into a trap.

“Why do they want me so bad?” he sighed.

“Tao’s a valuable capture,” Sonya answered. “According to Baji, he’s upset many in the Genjix hierarchy and is considered a top-twenty target. He must be on someone’s grudge list, because I don’t think Baji even makes the top hundred.”

That is because Baji is a slacker.
 

“What a dubious honor to be proud of,” Roen muttered.

Hey, it took a lot of work to make that list.
 

“I’m sure you’re very proud of yourself.”

Quite, thank you very much.
 

The elevator doors opened with a soft hiss. The two stepped out and crept toward his apartment. As they neared it, they heard a click and froze. It was all Roen could do to keep his gun in its holster and not fire at the first thing that moved. Mrs Fitzgerald, his elderly next door neighbor, came out with her little dog Mocha.

“Good morning, Mrs Fitzgerald.” He waved with a plastic grin.

“Hi, Roen. I see you have a friend.” She smiled at them both. “She’s so pretty. My, did you lose weight?” Mocha jumped and barked at them. Roen bent down to pet the dog and moved aside to let her pass.

“What are you two up to?” the elderly lady asked.

“We’re pretending to be secret agents,” Sonya said, and winked.

Mrs Fitzgerald laughed. “You kids have fun. Come on, Mocha. Let’s go for a walk.”

The two waited until she walked into the elevator before they moved again. Standing on both sides of his front door, Sonya drew her gun and waited for Roen to unlock it. As soon as he opened the door, she moved inside to sweep the entranceway.

“Clear,” she whispered.

Roen drew his gun and went in after her. They searched the apartment, one in front of the other, positioning themselves against walls and behind furniture as they swept each room. Both the bedroom doors were closed. The living room and kitchen were exactly as he had left them the night before. There was no one in the hall bathroom either.

“Your room,” she whispered and pointed. Sonya turned the doorknob and moved in. Roen stayed by the door until she waved him in. She waved her gun toward his bathroom. It was clear as well. It seemed the Genjix didn’t know about his place after all. Then they heard a loud thump coming from Antonio’s room. The two immediately raised their guns again and moved to his door.

“On three,” she whispered as she kicked the door open. Antonio was sprawled on the floor in his boxers. Sonya holstered her gun and put a finger under Antonio’s nose.

“He’s breathing,” she said, “and he smells like a wino.”

“He’s snoring too.” Roen added, “I think he just fell off the bed.”

“Antonio, you all right?” She patted him on the cheek. “Wake up. You alive and kicking?”

It took a few seconds before Antonio opened his eyes. He looked at them standing over him and yawned. “Water,” he croaked. “I have a horrible hangover.”

Roen went to the kitchen and took a couple bottles of water from the fridge. He brought one to Antonio, who sat up and winced. He downed the bottle and looked back and forth at them. “Why are you guys so dressed up? Damn, your face, Roen. Who were those chicks that wanted to kick your ass?”

Roen shrugged. “Um... Beats me. Just some girls that thought I was someone else.”

Antonio stood up and stretched, a little unsteady on his feet. “Well, they tore the place up. By the time the cops came, they had bolted out of the club. Most of the bouncers had to go to the hospital. The cops are writing it down as gang violence. Ha, ha. They think you’re in a gang. Anyway, that was an eventful night. I think it was the first time I ever got beat up by a girl.”

“It’s all right.” Sonya smiled. “Roen’s used to that.”

Antonio grinned and checked himself in the mirror. “God, I look like Frankenstein.” He made a face. “So what do you two lovebirds have planned for today?”

Roen almost choked on his water, but Sonya took it in her stride and shrugged. She said, “Not much, holding hands at the beach, seeing a movie, making out, lifting weights together, you know... the usual stuff.”

“Wearing all black leather? Not sure what sorts of workout you two have in mind.” Antonio snickered. “Unless you’re off saving the world with your aliens.”

Sonya threw Roen a sharp look. He felt his face turn hot and shrugged apologetically.

“Oh, didn’t Roen tell you about his alien-saving-the-world story?” Antonio chuckled.

She laughed it off. “Well, he does have quite the imagination. I’m going to have to hear about it sometime. Come on, Roen, we’re going to be late.” She turned abruptly and left the room.

“You all right there, buddy?” Roen asked, patting him on the shoulder.

Antonio nodded. “Not the first bar fight I’ve ever been in. If anything, I should be asking you that. You look like a hot mess. How does it feel, getting into your first riot?”

Roen grunted. “It’s an experience I can do without.”

Antonio laughed, winced, and rubbed his head. “I need a shower,” he sniffed. “Well, don’t tell her you got your rear handed to you by two girls half your size. Last night was crazy!”

“Roen, you coming?” Sonya’s voice came from the front door.

“I have to go. I’ll see you later?” Roen said solemnly. In truth, he’d been afraid he’d find his roommate hurt or dead. The relief of finding Antonio all right nearly brought him to tears.

That is why for the good of both of you, it is best to keep what we do quiet.
 

“I understand now. I’m sorry, Tao.”

“No problem.” Antonio grinned. “You’ll be back in time for dinner? We’ll go grab some pizza or something. You’ve been hanging out with Sonya so much I’m starting to get jealous.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Roen smiled and left the room. Sonya was waiting for him outside. He could tell she was furious. He felt his stomach twist into a knot as he walked into the elevator.

“Is something the matter?” he asked innocently as the door closed.

She grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him hard against the wall. “What the hell were you thinking telling him about us? You’re going to blow our cover!”

“What?” he stammered. “Antonio thinks it’s a stupid joke! He doesn’t take it seriously!”

Her nostrils flared as her face came very close to his. “If the Genjix ever catch wind of you, don’t think for a moment they won’t torture the information out of him. And don’t think for a moment he won’t tell them everything he knows. If they ask the right questions, Antonio will lead them to me as well! How could you be so stupid?”

“I didn’t realize at the time,” he stammered. “I felt like I had to tell someone.”

“Don’t you realize that our lives require utmost secrecy? This isn’t a game we’re playing. Your friend’s life depends on what you don’t tell him.”

“I’m... I’m sorry.”

“Who else did you tell?”

He shook his head. “No one. I swear.”

Sonya’s face stayed hard for several seconds before it finally softened and she let go of his shirt. “Did you tell Antonio about the safe house or where I live?”

Roen shook his head. “I don’t know where you live. You never invited me over.”

“Good, and it’s going to stay that way, big mouth.” She added, “If I have to move out of my loft because you’ve compromised me, I’m going to kill you, Roen!”

And she means it too. Her mother was wealthy. Sonya probably has a very nice place.
 

Marc walked into Sean’s office and bowed. “Forgive me; I have failed.”

Sean didn’t bother looking up from the deposition he was reading. He had been notified within minutes of the boy’s escape. The basement had only one main exit. They had laid the perfect trap and the fool had let him escape. Still, after looking at Heefa’s report, Marc made all the right calls. Sean himself would have planned the attack the exact same way, except that he would not have failed. Marc stood at attention, awaiting the consequences of his failure.

“That’s twice now,” Sean finally remarked. “Has our prey suddenly developed skills, or are you that incompetent?”

Marc replied, eyes downcast. “His physical appearance is different from Omer’s original report as well. The Prophus have trained him well.”

“Of course he has been trained,” Sean snarled. “It took you almost six months to find him. Did you think he was just sitting idle this entire time? On your knees!”

Punishing every subordinate who had ever failed him would leave him with no subordinates. However, allowing such a golden opportunity to go to waste was inexcusable. Who knows if the Genjix would ever get the chance to capture another highly sought Prophus again? Marc was lucky the two enforcers had vouched that the failed capture was due to incompetence and not the work of a double agent.

Sean considered suitable punishments for the failure. Marc was not a man without usefulness. To incarcerate him only weakened the Genjix, and a physical punishment was barbaric and ineffectual. However, strict discipline must be maintained even among those counted as blessed. A lack of consequence for failures only encouraged complacency.

Sean stood up purposefully and towered over the cowering Marc. “Your standing has been lowered. You will learn that the Genjix are neither as soft nor as forgiving as your old comrades. Any more failures and you will be ordered to release Jeo to a vessel more deserving of a Holy One.”

Marc’s body stiffened and he involuntarily looked up at Sean, his face turning pale. Jeo wouldn’t be pleased if that order was given, though it didn’t matter to Chiyva what Jeo thought. Any decree from a Genjix of his rank was as good as law. Sean was sure the man had already learned his lesson and knew that Marc would be haunted until the day he could reclaim his place.

Tao is a great prize. Redouble your efforts.
 

Chiyva’s remarks puzzled Sean. Apparently, this went deeper than he thought. “He’s just one Prophus, Chiyva. I know you have history with him, but why is he so important?”

Your only concern is to execute my command.
 

Sean could feel the Genjix seething, which was unusual. Chiyva was always in control, but Genjix grudges always ran deep, tempered over the years of war. Well, if his Holy One wished it so, it was Sean’s sacred duty to see it done. He looked Marc in the eyes. “Do you believe your team can pick up his tracks again?”