Crossworld of Xai

by Steven Savage

  “The view is nice, but no, it’s a Gendarme. Get out your Guild card, its time to explain things.”

  Metris is not a simple city.

  There’s a labyrinth of guilds woven throughout live. They provide organization and services, camaraderie and communication. Their origins go back thousands of years, their traditions are respected, their positions unassailable in the culture.

  Relations however, are another matter entirely.

  “Who else is here?” Jade asked in annoyance, trying to arrange her now-soaked hair.

  The Gendarme that had found them looked at the fox-woman cautiously. She knew technically he represented the law, knew she was the assistant to the cleric whatshisname. Still, Jade’s attitude made him feel less-than-in-charge. Jade somehow managed to short-circuit a sense of authority quite easily.

  “The University.” The Gendarme nodded to herself. “They called us. I just hope the Rancelmen don’t make trouble. They just arrived and you know tense they get.”

  The Vulpine and her partner looked at each other, communicating wordlessly. The words left out, however, seemed to be on the order of “oh, shit.”

  “Excuse us.” HuanJen said. The two of them raced around the park.

  “This just gets better and better.” Jade snarled.

  “Its not an evening I’m going to fondly recall.” HuanJen added.

  The Rancelmen, of the organic matrix of guilds, were an unpredictable element, at least more unpredictable than most. The Travelers’ Guild, having been forced to go public, to be owned by the other guilds decades ago, still maintained a private security force for emergencies. Travel was the lifeblood of Xai, and having their own investigators and armed agents had seemed like a good idea to retain.

  That force was known as the Rancelmen. They were, in general, an accepted part of life in Metris - and it was nice to know someone was investigating dangerous shipments and individuals that may cross the Portals.

  Of course, when you had the Gendarmes, the University’s special divisions, Guild Medical’s Crisis Squads, and so on there was a little conflict. The Park had suddenly become a good example that good ideas did not always lead to good results.

  “Ah, shit.” Jade muttered. “This is gonna be a Guild Council argument in minature.”

  Black-clad Gendarmes looked at University Containment Crew personnel and their strange equipment warily. A few techsmugglers were trying to figure out just who had arrested them. Standing in the center of it all were three dark-armored Rancelmen. All of the diverse forces paying more attention to each other than the storm overhead or the rain plunging down.

  “A good assessment.” HuanJen analyzed his partners succinct summary.

  “HuanJen.”

  The shortest of the Rancelman strode forward, extending a hand. Inside his helmet one could make out some blond hair and a determined-looking face. He radiated a presence beyond his stature. You couldn’t help but notice him.

  “Solomon Dell?” HuanJen half-greeted, half-asked. The Rancelman nodded. Jade looked him over - there was a lot less person than you’d expect to find holding the title Head Rancelman.

  “Glad you found these people. Looks dangerous. We’ll take their contraband in once we settle things.” Dell continued politely.

  “Settle things?” Jade asked curiously. She noticed HuanJen was scanning the crowd.

  “A territorial dispute. I wish we didn’t have to find out about these things second hand.” Dell shook his head. “You should have called us, HuanJen, Transcendi technology is an area of concern for us. You recall what happened at portal Quoph.”

  “I recall. However, this was a concern of law and containment in City limits” HuanJen was characteristically calm, but his voice had a knife’s edge to it, the kind that slipped between cracks in ideas.

  “True, but still. You’re Guild Esoteric, you know how to reach me. Now, I have to get back to settling this. Thanks again, I’m sorry they got by us the first time.”

  Jade crossed her arms. It hadn’t struck her that she was carrying a bizarre occult device in front of the Travelers’ head detective. “So now what.”

  “Go home, please, I’m sure you’ll have plenty to do. Excellent job, by the way. We may post a finders fee for you.”

  Jade looked at HuanJen. His expression was unreadable to the casual viewer, but months with him had given her some ability to read the almost-unreadable man. She nodded after a moment.

  “Good night” HuanJen said flatly. Jade made a halfhearted farewell gesture.

  The couple turned into the night and quickly walked into the shelter of a hotel’s doorway. A few wordless moments passed, before Jade finally had to speak. She’d never been good at keeping her mouth shut.

  “Wait until this resolves …” Jade began.

  “… doing anything would make it worse right now.” HuanJen finished the statement. “There was no room for argument.”

  “I figured.” Jade nodded sadly. “They may make it worse themselves.”

  “Yes. If so, we …”

  “… pick up the pieces.” Jade bit her lip.

  Sometimes you had to wait. HuanJen was good at it, she wasn’t. She knew he was thinking the same thing - three guilds in conflict, strange technology. Better to stand back. If nothing bad happened, fine, if it did, they’d be there. As always.

  Being there was part of the job. HuanJen could get more done by waiting than most people could by frenetic activity. Of course, he could get into more trouble as well. Lorne had reassured her once, a few weeks into the job, that Huan didn’t deal with anything he couldn’t handle, much like a good Gendarme. It was mostly reassuring.

  “You know, they’re probably handing off the technology between themselves as they argue and threaten,” HuanJen said sadly.

  Jade nodded, then looked into the storm, hoping that it was clearing …

  A bolt of lighting ripped out of the clouds and straight into Morrison’s Park, leaving Jade with the disturbing afterimage of a desert landscape.

  “Let me guess,” Jade said flatly, “that’s one of the weird effects of Transcendi stuff? Acts like lightning rods for cross-lightning?”

  “Occasionally.” HuanJen nodded sadly. “Lets go pick up the pieces.”

  The storm passed, and Metris returns to what served it as normal. Windows were unbattened. Damage was tallied. Lessons were learned, losses mourned.

  In a day all would be back to normal. It shouldn’t work, but it does.

  Almost like a living thing.

  “That was stupid.” Jade said, squishing into the apartment. The storm and its attendant adventures had utterly soaked her. Much to her irritation, HuanJen somehow was less wet than she, despite having been through the same experiences. He just never seemed to be in the direct path of the rain, even outdoors.

  “At least no one was killed,” HuanJen replied, closing the door behind him. “I doubt the Rancelmen and the University are going to replace that equipment easily. I think they have to import the shielding materials.”

  “Bah.” Jade set the strange staff on the coatrack, then crouched on the floor, trying to get her boots off. “How many times did they transfer whatever the hell it was between the University and the Rancelmen?”

  “Three.” HuanJen took off his coat and placed it in the closet. “At least that’s what that Gendarme said. I suppose it could have gotten ugly, better a natural occurrence then some incident and the later recriminations.”

  “Its still dumb. Hell, I wish I’d at least seen what it was.” Jade tossed her boots in a corner. Her white-furred feet ached terribly. “Can I …”

  “Footrub when I get cleaned up, no problem. Hot chocolate?

  “Thanks. Yes. For both.” Jade, feeling informal, just laid back on the floor. “I see why Dell isn’t popular with some people.”

  “The Rancelmen are necessary, Jade.” She heard HuanJen trapsing around the kitchen. “Dell, however … is rather enthusiastic about his mission.”


  “He’s a dickweed. You remember how Green hated him. He thinks he’s a damned Gendarme and more.”

  The sound of the microwave thrummed. Jade could hear HuanJen sit down at the kitchen table. “Quite. To him, the Travelers’ Guild is everything. There is Travel, then there is the Guild, they are not the same. There are worse people to deal with. Sadly there are better.”

  “That’s deep. Stop it, I’m in no mood to think.”

  “Of course. Jade, are you going to just lay there?”

  Jade shook her head. “I’m debating on changing or waiting until the hot chocolate is done. So far no decision is forthcoming.”

  “Well, you’re the one that does the cleaning. Leave whatever puddles you like.” HuanJen’s voice echoed with concealed humor.

  “OK, fine.”

  Jade unhappily dragged herself into her bedroom, snatched a robe from a pile of clothes, and went into the bathroom to change. Wet clothes were one thing, but having actual fur made the situation of being soaked worse. A few minutes later she emerged toweled off, reluctantly fluffier, but at least somewhat dry.

  The smell of hot chocolate yanked her to the kitchen. HuanJen, also berobed, sat at the table, looking over a large, dog-eared book. He’d already poured her a mug and set out a plate of cookies. Living with Huan was like having your own butler who also happened to do alchemy and exorcisms.

  “Thanks.” Jade dropped into one of the mismatched kitchen chairs. “What’s that?” “A treatise on psi-techology. I’m looking up your new toy.”

  “I’m keeping it.” Jade took a drink from her mug and embraced the holy power of chocolate.

  “I wasn’t going to take it away. I already talked to the University representative and the Gendarmes. Besides, it may prove useful to know more. Ahah! Here it is.”

  Huan spun the book around so Jade could take a look at the pages. The Vulpine’s eyes canned the crabbed script and the pictures.

  “A ‘Lakkom’, huh?” Jade reread the information thoughtfully. “Alternate names … no language of origin … kinetic weapon, ambient recharging. Hmm, I’ve seen some stuff like it in Metris. So that’s it.”

  “Yes.” HuanJen sat the book aside and leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

  Jade glanced over at the device on the coatrack. Not uncommon, but still …

  The Lakkom leapt off of it’s perch and spun through the air like a poorly-thrown baton. Jade felt her hand shoot up and catch it instinctively. HuanJen, despite having its bladelike end a foot from his face, regarded Jade calmly.

  “Since you are keeping it …” the cleric began cautiously.

  “Er, yeah?”

  “I suggest some practice.”

  Jade nodded, setting the weapon down on the table. “I suppose it’ll take some time, but it’ll even the odds the next time we’re up against ignorant techsmugglers or precognitive assassins.”

  “Not that I’d be able talk you out of using a strange and mystical device of destruction?” HuanJen asked innocently.

  “I have an image to keep, stripey. What do you think?”

  “I wasn’t going to even try …”

  FAMILY

  “Godsdamn it!” Jade managed to curse as she was flung into a wall. The Lakkom skittered across the floor and into the kitchen.

  The Vulpine slid to the floor, and sat, holding her head due to both physical pain and embarrassment. It had seemed so easy when she’d first picked it up; the Lakkom seemed to obey her commands as if it were part of her body. However, she was finding out that just as her body and mind ran on their own, the strange psitech weapon followed suit.

  The Lakkom sat by the refrigerator like a black snake with a single green eye. She almost felt like it was hurt by her anger.

  “This is …” Jade managed to get out before a painting, one of the few decorations in the apartment, fell off of its hook above her and hit her on her black-furred forehead.

  HuanJen appeared as Jade cried out for a second time, as if the apartment had suddenly conjured a tall Chinese man with a white streak in his hair. He knelt by her side, sighing.

  “Jade, we’re you …”

  “No! Damn it I just picked it up. I was going to go practice at the Guidhall, just like we agreed. Then … er …”

  “Yes?” HuanJen produced a handkerchief and dabbed at the wound on Jade’s forehead.

  “I remembered I was going to see Slate and Garnet for lunch, and … well, it discharged.”

  “I see. No sign of a concussion or contusion. Look at me …” HuanJen looked into Jade’s eyes, “No, you seem fine. May I recommend that you practice when you are under less stress. Here, let me get some bandages.”

  “I’m not under stress!” Jade spat as HuanJen sped into the bathroom. “Please be careful with anything adhesive. I do have fur damn it.”

  “I did notice.” The cleric raced back to his companions side, a vial in his hand. “Here, lets put a few drops of …”

  “Ow!”

  ” … the balm on. And that’ll also keep this …” HuanJen placed a small patch of gauze on the cut, “…in place. There. It’s the usual mixture, let it sit for a few days.”

  “Great.” Jade leaned back against the wall. “I think I’ll hold off practicing the Lakkom for today.”

  “Good idea. Jade, are you …”

  “No, Slate and I have been getting along pretty well. Well, mostly. You know.”

  HuanJen shifted from kneeling to sitting. “Jade I had no actual family and no real siblings, so the best I can do is guess. Do you want me to go … wait, no …”

  “Yeah, bad idea. Huan, I’ll be fine, at least I won’t be blowing myself across a living room with a magic staff.”

  “Leaving it here?”

  “Hell no! I’m just going to keep it in that back-scabbard Brandon made me.”

  “Ah. Of course.” HuanJen nodded, knowing when discussion was not an option.

  The Lakkom.

  Jade had acquired it from some techsmugglers two weeks ago. It wasn’t an unknown piece of technology; she’d seen devices like it before, as had HuanJen. It was rare, but certainly not unheard on Xai or Metris.

  To her, it was something more, it made her into something beyond a cleric’s assistant. Much like HuanJen himself it was a gateway to something larger, a reminder that the world was larger and stranger than she could think. Yes it was a weapon, but it was the kind of weapon that made you stand out, that said you walked the edge between the usual and the unusual.

  Slate and Garnet seemed a bit taken aback by the Lakkom when she arrived. Jade took great pleasure in describing it - without taking it out for display. The last thing she needed to do was blow out the apartment windows and complicate her relationship with her brother further.

  “You found it?” Slate asked, a bit curious as well as worried. His high, gray-furred brow furrowed as he looked at the device hanging on Jade’s back.

  “Sort of took it away from a smuggler. She was too busy getting arrested to protest. I think it’ll help even the odds on the job.”

  “Ahem. Yes.” Slate nodded. “I …”

  “Lunch is ready!” Garnet announced from the kitchen, a busy blur of red fur and dishes. In a moment, Jade found the tiny kitchen table transformed into a setting for a civilized meal. There was a domestic element to Garnet that Jade found quite enviable - though admittedly where Slate had Garnet, she had Huan. Jade often wished that Huan’s domestic side was something he could manifest herself, instead of having to compensate for her limitations.

  “So,” Jade began, searching for something to talk about as she sat, “How go the plans for a house?”

  “Good,” Garnet said before Slate replied. “I think perhaps a year.”

  “So I’ll be a bridesmaid around then?” Jade asked.

  Slate smiled warmly, a surprising expression for him. “I hope so. Of course, we’re not sure what kind.”

  “True.” Jade took a sip of the soup Garnet had made. “Hey
, Huan could. His ceremonies are pretty broad.”

  Garnet winced, but to her surprise, Slate didn’t take the comment improperly. “That may be an idea. I’d like to do something special. Garnet deserves it.”

  Garnet laughed. “He’s going to get all mushy again. Look out.”

  “Garnet …”

  Jade shook her head. “Hey, it’s … a change. Hell, Slate I think we both talk more than we did at Colony.”

  “Less people listening, less walls with ears.” Slate bit into a sandwich.

  “Tell me about it.” Jade exhaled forcefully. “I mean people listen, but they don’t … listen. Rake came over after the plans to expand the Church fell through and we just went out for dinner and talked about Sister Cynthia and guild things, and life. That kind of listen.”

  “It is different, and I like it.” More of Slate’s sandwich disappeared. “I was going to ask, when are you going to get your own place? Or when we get a house, we might have room.”

  Jade shrugged. “I don’t plan to. I really like living with HuanJen. Hell, he’s the one of the best friends I have here.”

  “Oh.” Slate’s face fell. “Is that … proper? I mean despite all else.”

  “Slate.” Garnet waved a hand. “You worry too much.”

  “Oh, I was just concerned. You know how people talk in Metris, Jade. I thought …”

  “No.” Jade’s voice became a few degrees colder. Garnet blinked in surprise. “This is Huan we’re talking about here.”

  “Ah. Well, I understand.” Slate stared at his food.

  “Slate.” Jade set down her spoon. “Damn it, do you think I’m boffing the guy or something?”

  “Jade …” Garnet began. Her voice was silk-enwrapped iron.

  “No, wait.” Slate held up a hand. “Jade I’m just concerned its improper. After Colony and all.”

  Jade stood up, accidentally bumping the table. Her glass of Spectral juice fell over but she ignored it.

  “My personal life is none of your damn business. Slate, I am an adult, if you would bother to notice.”

  “I am your brother.” The response poured forth, a bit angry, a bit pleading.

  “I do not care!” Jade fumed. “Listen, Slate, I’m trying, I’m really trying. If you’re too stupid to get it through your head that I’m fine, you are welcome to fuck off.”