MaBrown would have preferred to drag out the story a little, build some suspense for dramatic affect. But his editor would have none of it. Taylin was as no-nonsense as they come — a straight face that bespoke little of the emotion behind it. Her looks could cut steel, and rarely betrayed her emotions, though MaBrown had learned to pick up on a few subtle clues over the years.
"That's just it. No one knows. I asked around. No one even seen him enter the building. I only found out because it was in the Administrator’s log."
"The one you're not supposed to know about?"
"That's the one." MaBrown’s grin grew wider at this. Knowing the comings and goings of Farven Point’s top official was one of the things MaBrown was most proud of. The knowledge allowed him to force Malvers into revealing some stories he would have rather kept under wraps, because he knew MaBrown would go to another source instead. This way, at least Malvers could try to shape the story. And Malvers could never resist micromanaging.
Taylin lifted her chin up slightly in a “please continue” gesture.
"Anyway, no one officially saw him. But I do know someone a little... less official, who saw him..."
"Who saw ... ?"
“Leed Rocheau.”
Taylin groaned. “Leed. Less official is right.”
"I know how Leed is — total crackpot, someone who comes in here spouting all kinds of theories about city hall. But he's usually spot on. His approach, on the other hand..."
"Yeah, well. We need to substantiate this unseen visitor somehow."
"I know, but..."
"Get it done. I want 20 graphs before you go today. We need to get it in tomorrow's edition."
"Well..." MaBrown said as Taylin turned to go back in her office. She stopped and turned toward him.
"Something else?"
He held out a document. “Got a new contract the city is working on. My source inside the clerk’s office got it for me. Looks pretty standard, but it’s for the old Slumberslide site. Says Liquid LLC. Heard of it?”
“Nope. Obviously a holding company for something.”
“That’s what I thought, too. That whole sector was declared contaminated a month ago. No one could figure out what the hurry was to get it cleaned up — it hadn't been touched in years."
"I remember."
"This seems to indicate an attempt to develop. Well, it mostly asks the land to be set aside, but seriously, who else would want it?"
“It’s in an incentive zone, isn’t it?” Taylin asked, grabbing the document from him.
“Yep,” he said. “Big incentives for a developer, but the clean-up costs would be enormous. Who would have coffers big enough to front the money? Especially when the actual costs wouldn’t be known until after the clean-up starts?”
Taylin was silent for a moment.
"OK, new plan. Find out everything you can about this site. I want history. Facts. Names. Businesses. Anything associated with it. Weekend edition. Front page. Just brief the visit for tomorrow but keep looking into it. Get to it."
Taylin gave him one of her trademark amorphous grins, and then she disappeared into her office. MaBrown grinned a little himself; he loved to dig into a story when he had no idea where it was going to go. Despite what people often thing, Taylin knows that MaBrown is good at what he does. Even if he does come off as a bumbling, clumsy buffoon sometimes.
Chapter 23
Administrator Malvers’s face glowed the red of blood rushing to one’s face, as if he were being choked. The others didn’t know him well enough to suspect a reddish face was anything out of the ordinary. But underneath his neatly trimmed goatee, his designer, rectangular glasses, his twice-per-week haircut at one of Farven Point’s top salons, he couldn’t hide his tell from Kenpur.
Malvers was nervous.
"What do you mean my land is unavailable?" Kenpur looked calm, but his arms were folded in front of him. His voice was that of a grandfather questioning a child.
"Well, you see, I have found a wonderful opportunity for you on the east side," Malvers said, ignoring his question. "I think this would be tremendously reciprocal to both our economic interests in this matter. When I pursued my second term as administrator, one of the tenets I ran on was—"
“Save the rhetoric. Administrator Malvers, you told me this land was available when we spoke on the network," Kenpur said. “We had an agreement. Please tell me why you wish to alter our agreement.”
The others looked at Kenpur with surprise. The old hermit was on the network? From his mountain cave?
Malvers tugged at his shirt lapels nervously, straightening them without thought — another tell Kenpur recognized. He cleared his throat. "Well, it just so happens that this tremendous real estate opportunity became available on the east side—"
"You're avoiding the question young man,” Kenpur said in that grandfatherly voice. It embarrassed Malvers, who felt like he was being treated like a child. Kenpur wasn’t taking the east side bait as he’d hoped.
"We're planning to move forward with a condemnation opportunity," Malvers said flatly.
"'Condemnation opportunity,'" Isellia repeated, finally unable to contain herself amid all of the terminology she didn’t understand. "What does that even mean?"
"Why is that property being condemned?" Kenpur asked, as if Isellia hadn't spoken — to Malvers’s relief. "I already told you what I plan to do, and it will completely change the value of the property. It will add a mountain of credit to your tax rolls."
"Not mountains, exactly...” Malvers said, looking at a paper on the table.
"Those were your words when we last spoke,” Kenpur said. He stood, and Malvers’s shade of red grew deeper and his breath shorter. "Out with it. Someone else offered mountains of money, did they? How many? And from whom?”
Joey noticed Malvers' leg trembling. He was really nervous. Has he seen what Kenpur can do?
"There is another buyer interested in that property." Malvers folded his hands on the desk and attempted to appear calm, as if he was ready to share this information all along, if only someone would ask. “It was the recommendation of our community development office that this opportunity presented a more amicable relationship for our city’s best interests. Surely you can—“
"Another buyer?” Kenpur interjected. “But it's been vacant for years."
“Well, our new development plan is for more than just that piece of land you for which you made inquiry — this new buyer wants to include the entire sector into their offer to purchase.”
"The whole—" Kenpur’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed into concentration. "Who does?"
"A company called Liquid. They’re a marvelous little startup with exponential growth plans for revitalization efforts in that sector. If they can accomplish the initiatives they've set forth, I'm 100 percent confident that this will be a revenue-positive opportunity that will bring the kind of success this city requires in the central district for our continued growth. And while we partner with this start-up, we certainly can assure you that our partnership opportunities can also come to a fruitful climax. These are the kind of initiatives that I—"
“Liquid,” Kenpur muttered to himself. A hint of recognition crossed his face, then disappeared. “Thank you, Administrator. The council is tomorrow night, is it not?"
Malvers stopped, confused. "Well, yes, but —"
"Very good. Oh, and one other matter —” Kenpur motioned toward Isellia, “— this young lady is interested in the XR race in two weeks. Could you see to it that she gets added to the entry list?"
Malvers smiled at her, a smile that didn't quite sit well with Isellia. Outwardly, it was friendly enough, but behind it hid something unsettling.
Malvers sighed with a small amount of relief. Perhaps this would pacify the old man, and it was a simple enough request.
“Oh, well, I will certainly see what I can do. Supporting the opportunities of young people in our community, as you know, is one of the many initiative
s I've undertaken during my administration. Of course, I can make no guarantees, but I certainly can recommend with my limited influence as administrator that she be added to the roster. As you know, XR racing presents one of the finest sports entertainment opportunities at our disposal in Farven Point."
Kenpur sighed. He noticed the look of frustration on the others, and even he became strained listening to Malvers’s political speak. “I’m sure you underestimate your influence, administrator. Thank you and please send my best to Gellian."
"Oh, why certainly, I very much appreciate it. Now you folks have yourselves a fine day, alrighty?” Malvers said, moving toward the doorway, which puffed open with the release of pneumatic pressure.
Kenpur nodded as he passed him, and the others followed his lead as they exited the office into the waiting room. They walked out of the building and stood on the steps, the street busy with activity as people hustled in and out of city hall.
Isellia stood in front of them suddenly, taking on a very officious expression and stiffening herself.
"Well, I think this is a tremendous opportunity for us to pursue some lunch initiatives," she said, tugging at the corners of her flight suit and scrunching her face into a mock authoritative expression. The others burst out laughing as she went on.
“Why I believe this will exponentially fill my central stomach quadrant,” she said, sparking further laughing. It was clear none of them had laughed in some time.
“I know a place to eat,” Kenpur said, smiling at Isellia’s impression. Joey thought for a second he saw a shadow cross Kenpur’s face, but just like that, it disappeared.
***
Kenpur looked over the scrawny, lanky youth who stood before him, arms folded in front of him and a look of scorn etched on his face. The boy was barely old enough to have the scruffy start of facial hair growing awkwardly on his chin.
“Ah, I see. You’re a tough guy, huh?” Kenpur grinned, which only strengthened the scowl on Rex’s face.
"Tough enough," Rex answered. He looked the man straight in the eyes with the defiance of youth, unblinking.
He hadn’t let anyone talk that way about him for long — most wouldn’t have gotten away with the Kenpur’s scoff. Really, most wouldn’t have been able to get enough words out to even try. But he’d heard the man’s reputation, and his desire to learn kept his temperament in check.
After a lifetime of seeking out fights, in spaceports, taverns, fights official and not so official, Kenpur’s name tended to come up. They spoke of him like a legend. Rex didn’t know whether it were true or not, but he figured either Kenpur was legit, and he’d learn and become stronger, or the old man was a fraud, and he’d kick his ass. In other words, he’d either learn from a legend or be the guy who defeated a legend — neither sounded bad to Rex.
Kenpur only smiled to himself. “Well, you need an invitation?” They stood near the platform Rex had landed on, barely. The mountains of Yo stood in the background behind them, sentinels to all the training that happened there. The platform didn’t appear to have been used for some time - cracks formed in the base and grass obscured the faded concrete and its white markings. Rex hadn’t expected Kenpur himself to greet him. It’s like the old man knew he was coming.
The edge of Rex's brow only dipped slightly, his eyes narrowed only a touch, before he sprung; his form a silhouette against the setting white sun.
He was fast, Kenpur thought as Rex rushed toward him. He'll have a good start. But he's not nearly as fast as he'll need to be, the old man thought.
Kenpur didn't dodge, didn't move it seemed, but held his ground. Rex's fist swung out at the old man, with the full force of his body behind it. Kenpur felt it touch his skin, he felt the force of the blow that Rex had learned out of necessity to load with every bit of his meager frame.
Rex was no stranger to fighting by now. He’d learned a few things, like how to put the weight of his body into a blow, how to stay balanced and not over-extend himself. He never lost a fight, though a few of them he might as well have; some of them he left in nearly as beaten as his opponent. But in all of the ports and bars he went to, no one bested him in the end. They might both leave a bloody mess, but he always came out the victor.
But that wasn’t going to happen here. He was an ant before Kenpur; not only weaker, but not even strong enough to comprehend the difference between the two. He thought when the blow landed, for a split second he allowed himself to believe that maybe he was tougher than this guy, that maybe Kenpur’s reputation was only a farce.
He had no idea he was merely following the path Kenpur laid out for him, controlling Rex’s movement without him even knowing it.
In an instant, the force of his punch seemed to reverse direction, seemed to betray him, to turn on him, and force him back. He felt a wave flow into his body, for an instant feeling as though he were being sucked into the old man’s sphere before being blown out.
His butt hit the ground hard, shattering the illusion that he could even touch this weak-looking old man. Rex sat on the ground, looking at the old man in disbelief. Every time he tried to form a thought, he abandoned it, his head swimming too hard to think straight.
“Not bad,” Kenpur said, scratching his white beard.
"Strong..." was all Rex could mutter, staring at the ground in defeat.
"Oh, you think so?" Kenpur pulled up his cloak and flexed his arm, like a weightlifter showing off. He wiggled the arm to show his lack of muscle. "Where?"
"But..."
"You don't need to learn to become strong. You need to learn to be weak."
Rex looked at the old man again with disbelief and doubt. “What kind of cryptic bullshit is that?”
Kenpur shrugged. “Well, you’re paying for the mysterious master on the hill experience, I thought I’d played the part. Not bad, huh?” He put his hands into a prayer-like position, balancing on one foot.
Rex shook his head. Is this guy some kind of nut-job? he thought. But there was no denying what had just happened.
Rex got to his feet, brushed off the dust from his slacks, and looked up at the old man. “Learn to be weak, huh?” Rex asked. “Show me.”
Kenpur’s expression grew serious as he turned to the young man in front of him. He nodded once. “Again.”
***
The stack of papers made a loud thud as it dropped onto the grey counter in front of Isellia. She stood with the robot and Stephen in a registration office in city hall, after having taken a number and waiting for what seemed like hours to register for the XR race. The administrator had come through on his promise; but there was still the matter of paperwork to take care.
"What's this?" she asked. She looked down in awe as she thumbed through enough pages to fill a multi-volume Russian novel from Old Earth.
"This is the short form," the short woman with pulled-back dark hair and orange, horn-rimmed glasses said absently.
"You've got to be kidding me," Isellia looked wide-eyed at the monstrous XR race registration form.
"Mostly legal forms. Liability waivers, etc. Bigger racers usually have people to fill them out. Pen?"
Isellia pushed her pink bangs back as she took the pen. She sighed, starting on the first page.
***
"Attack me."
Joey stood staring at the lanky man. Rex stood differently from his usual posture; his hands weren't folded in front of his chest, but hung at his sides, relaxed but somehow poised. They were in the docking bay, in an empty space behind some crates, free from view.
"Um, what?" Joey looked around. There were no other crew members around — everyone else had gone with Isellia to register her ship in the XR race. Rex had asked him to hang back, with a simple word. “Stay.” Joey had no idea what he wanted but felt compelled to do what he said.
"Come at me, like you are going to kill me."
At first Joey thought he was joking, but his expression remained deadpan. And Rex never really seemed to joke. He stood perfectly calm, st
illed.
"But, I don't want to kill you. Why would I —?"
"You won't."
Joey stared at him, unsure what to do.
"Come on, attack."
"But what if you kill me?"
Rex sighed. “Stop worrying and come at me!”
Rex scratched his stubbly chin a moment, and then was still. He didn't seem mad, despite the outburst. Joey wondered why this was happening.
"If you can touch me once, I'll clean out the plasma overflow for a week."
That was Joey's least favorite job. Suddenly, motivation washed over him like a hot shower on a winter's day. “Just once?” Joey started to grow confidence. Surely he could get him once. Rex nodded.
Joey sprang forward, lunging awkwardly at Rex. His balance shifted as he walked, his weak points were obvious and he lumbered toward Rex with a speed that was blindingly slow. Rex sighed, seeing his work cut out for him. He waited until the last moment — a long wait at that — and shifted his weight enough to clear Joey’s clumsily thrown punch. As it sailed past his chest, Rex shifted his weight again, giving Joey only the slightest of nudges. It added to his momentum, altering his already shaky balance, sending Joey tumbling to the floor.
"Again," Rex commanded.
Joey looked up at Rex, who stood perfectly still and calm. Rex looked as if he hadn't moved at all, as if Joey had gone right through him.
Rex didn't bother to turn around, and stood with his back facing him. Joey thought Rex might expect him to wait until Rex turned around. Now was his chance. He leapt up, and just as clumsily, and swung at Rex’s neck. His fist again caught nothing but air, as Rex ducked his head and seemed to roll Joey’s fist toward the ground. Joey rolled sideways a few times before coming to a stop.
"I can't do it," Joey said finally, panting to catch his breath as he set himself up. Rex looked like he had been meditating.
"One more time," Rex said. "Everything you've got."
Joey caught his breath and came at Rex again. His fist leapt out, faster than before. He put everything into his attack.
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