Garnet’s pointed ears twitched. Economic statistics. Maps of the city. Crime statistics. Job comparisons.
“Slate … what have you been up to …”
October 5, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar.
HuanJen stepped out of his shower to find Jade, in her gray nightrobe, looking at him.
It wasn’t a lustful look, which a small part of him found annoying - he did prefer having positive reactions to his nudity, especially from a woman who usually seemed to enjoy getting him into a nude state.
“We have to talk, HuanJen.” Jade’s voice was serious. She usually had an edge of humor or sarcasm in her voice, but now her voice was merely a blunt instrument.
“I assume something happened at the apprentice meeting? Sorry I got home late, I had that report on Obsidians to work on.”
“Yes. Something went wrong.” Jade’s voice was still the impact of a hammer on flesh. “I . .. well I was asleep when you came in. I didn’t even notice you. But we have to talk.”
“May I get dressed?” HuanJen asked calmly. Normally Jade could ignore things due to her temper, but this was an odd, slow burn compared to the normal nuclear conflagrations of anger she displayed.
Jade shrugged. “Eh, go ahead, I’ll rant.”
HuanJen nodded as the answer seemed reasonable, and began drying himself off. He knew Jade’s mouth would quickly engage now that it had been freed. All he had to do was listen.
“I … well I did that talk in front of the Apprentice’s meeting about the Historian and what happened since.”
“Yes?”
Jade leaned against the bathroom door. “I was talking to Loreli, you know, Harkness’ apprentice? The one dating that girl from the Technologists?”
“Brenda, yes. I met her at that party at Schwartz’s”
Jade nodded. “She and I talked. A few people asked some questions, but … I didn’t feel taken seriously. She … well, face it, I’m boffing my boss. That’s not exactly usual for a master-apprentice relationship in the Guild. Or at least not supposed to be as obvious.”
“Bad?” HuanJen tossed aside a towel. He located his boxers next to his usual dark work coverall and began dressing.
“I’m not a piece of ass, I’m not here because I suck you off, I’m here because I want to learn, because I will learn, and … damn it because there is something bigger out there and I can’t not look for it. But if even some people do not take me seriously, it spreads. It impacts an important job.”
Jade slumped against the bathroom counter. She looked down and shook her head.
“Stupid. It better not impact what we do. People have to trust us. After all the crap we went through now I am not taken seriously. What a change from the shit you went through …”
HuanJen lifted Jade’s chin tenderly. She looked up. He was dressed, and she hadn’t even noticed him slipping into his clothes. He was smiling slightly.
“If there’s a punchline, spill it fortune cookie,” Jade mock-commanded.
“What’s your plan?” His voice echoed with unknown volumes.
The Vulpine looked at HuanJen, cocking her head. “You knew I had a plan?”
“This is you. Others may not trust you, but I know you all too well.”
Jade grinned. “OK, fine, fine love. You explained to me you’ll consider me a full cleric when I know I am. I get that. No initiations like the natives do or other crap. But … I need to prove myself. Something to show I know what I’m doing … and if it turns out I’m full of crap, that’ll teach me where to go.”
“A challenge?” HuanJen’s eyes looked several seconds outside of reality. “We may have some coming on the job, according to the Cardinal …”
“Nah, not on the job. I’ll just be Helpful Fox Booty. Something I have to face.” Jade stated firmly. “Something to show people what I can do. Kind of a test of skill after one year”
The cleric looked at his apprentice, his lover. Something gleamed deep in Jade’s eyes, a sunfire-fragment core of something bright and powerful.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“I don’t want to be a piece of ass.” Jade shrugged, “I …”
HuanJen’s right hand moved swiftly. Jade yelped and grabbed her buttocks. “Hey!”
“Not a piece, dear. It seems quite full and definitely attached to the rest of you …”
October 6, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar
Guild Esoteric was one of those Guilds that didn’t need to recruit. You joined it because you had an interest in the supernatural, the ethical, or the incredibly strange.
Many people therefore assumed belonging to the Guild was a rather casual affair. Do your job, pray, investigate, whatever.
They were tragically wrong, and if they asked the right people, they would get detailed information as to why they were incorrect. One of those people was HuanJen, who being a person inclined by nature and upbringing to not trusting large-scale organization, had to work within it constantly at the Guild.
” … so we can expect a cycling fall-off and reassertment of Obsidian appearances for at least three months.”
HuanJen looked at the three Councilmembers of Guild Esoteric who had requested his report. Cardinal Byrd, tall, muscular, dressed in his red and white robes. Crone Harkness, a handsome older woman dressed in native shaman’s motley. Finally, there was M, a dark-robed figure who barely seemed to be there.
A year ago he’d never expect to be addressing any members of the Guild Esoteric Council in their own meeting room, but many things had changed. He’d experienced too much time in the public eye due to his recent work, and the Guild had kindly changed some of his non-Zone Cleric duties around - having him as a consultant since it was what people expected him to do. When you acted as people expected you too, they could forget you.
“That does sound appropriate,” Harkness said, her voice a kind of brandy-and-silk husk that didn’t fit her age, “I had my doubts, HuanJen, but I’m glad Byrd suggested the change. I’m very happy with the research.”
HuanJen nodded respectfully. “Thank you. Is there anything else?”
“Last report on the docket,” Byrd said thoughtfully, looking over a printout, “I think we can depart for the day?”
“Yes,” Harkness answered, “I …”
“Councilman M, may I have some time, then?”
The three looked at HuanJen. Few people wanted to spend time with M - most did it unwillingly. M tended to put people off merely by entering a room until you got used to him. It was one of the traits that made him an effective representative for the Guild.
“Of course.” M’s voice was neutral. “Good day, Cardinal, Lady.”
Byrd and Harkness left, both with bemused expressions on their faces. They had been in their business long enough to develop senses of humor about it.
“Jade?” M asked after the door had closed. The black figure had not moved since his fellows had departed.
HuanJen nodded. “You can tell?”
M tapped what would have been his forehead, if anyone could see the details of his black-wrapped face. “An idea. When they burn bright.”
“Jade feels she’s not taken seriously, and she was looking for a way to prove herself.” HuanJen said simply. “She’s quite committed, but she is concerned about her image.”
“And I can help?”
“When she thinks about it more, I think you could provide an excellent test.”
“Yes.” M nodded with a rustle of cloth. “When she thinks about it, meaning …”
“I leave Jade to her own devices. Soon, she will ask whether it’s important to worry over what people think, or deeper issues. Then she will be ready.”
“You know her well.”
HuanJen nodded. “Better than you can. I trust her.”
“I know.” M answered. “With your life. I do know you HuanJen. You too burn bright.”
October 8, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar
Jade knocked on the door of Slate an
d Garnet’s apartment. There was no response.
She thought for a moment. Garnet had asked - virtually demanded - she come by. She hadn’t sounded happy, and Jade guessed it had something to do with Slate or the house hunt. She’d seen Garnet very angry only once or twice, and this was the same cold burn that marked her being upset.
Still, Garnet had asked. The best thing to do was forge ahead.
Jade knocked again. A “come in” called from inside. Carefully, the Vulpine apprentice mystic opened the door.
“Hey.”
Garnet sat on the apartment couch, staring down at nothing. Jade sensed something in the air. Swirls of thought and emotion circling like a slow, inexorable vortex.
“What happened with Slate?”
Garnet looked up, opening her mouth. Jade silenced her with a gesture.
“I can tell. It’s Slate, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Garnet nodded. She picked up a small cigarette case, then decided against it. “Yeah. Guess what he told me?”
Jade felt her intuitions vanish like ice in front of a flamethrower. “I have no idea. This is me and my brother …”
“He wants to be a Gendarme.”
Jade realized Garnet had made what she thought was a revelation. Having encountered possessed Historians and transsexual shamans, Jade found most people’s revelations weren’t that revelatory. Slate would still be the same gender, same mind, and same physical form as a Gendarme, so she couldn’t get upset.
“And?” Jade asked. She was waiting for something shocking and earth shattering.
Garnet threw up her hands. “He wants to change jobs. He said a lot of things, but I think … well you know beat cops get a break on housing. I … first thought he did it for that.”
Jade shook her head. “That’s not Slate’s way, Garnet. He changes only for good reasons. What are his?”
“I …” the diminutive Vulpine sighed. “He feels like he doesn’t do enough.”
“Say what? Hell, he’s damn hard working, you know that. I know that.”
“Not … look, Jade, his best friend is Lorne. HuanJen and Rake are involved in people’s lives, like you. Clairice is a nurse. Slate … he’s felt if he’s going to live here, he ought to do something. Put something back.”
“Yes.” Jade’s green eyes penetrated into the past. Slate was always trying to do the right thing, even if he didn’t know what it was. “Yes, that’s Slate. Big doofus. What did you say to him?”
Garnet’s eyes narrowed - there was an accusatory air to her voice that set Garnet’s nerves on edge. “Nothing. Said I’d think it over. I was stunned. I … knew he’d been up to something, but …”
“Sorry,” Jade said suddenly, “just a bit protective. Honestly.”
“That’s how I’m feeling.” Garnet acknowledged. “Look, grab a chair out of the kitchen and sit, OK?”
Jade did as she was offered and sat near Garnet, but not too near. She felt Garnet had some barriers up and she didn’t want to overwhelm them.
“Anyway,” Garnet sighed, “I’m worried. OK, yes its good money and regular hours and guaranteed employment. Hell, he gets that house bonus which is great but … a cop? Slate? I mean, maybe he is … I don’t know.”
Jade lapsed into a thoughtful silence, Garnet looking at her, trying to probe the depths of her mind. Finally the obsidian-furred vulpine spoke.
“Garnet … have you ever needed to make a change? Like you couldn’t be you if you didn’t?”
“I’m … well I came here. Like that?”
“In a way. Sometimes … to be us we have to do things. Like when you and Slate get married. It’s a ritual, but it’s a way of expressing you.”
“Yeah … where is this going?” Garnet inquired. Jade was a bit odd right now - it was not a bad odd, merely unexpected. Garnet felt like she was seeing a few facets of Jade she hadn’t appreciated.
“Look, I think my brother can be a complete overprotective jackass. But …he doesn’t do dumb in the big picture, only in the small. Remember how he finally enjoyed becoming part of the gang? How enthused he was to get married? This is like that. He’s … giving himself form instead of being just big silent and strong.”
Garnet nodded, and dabbed away at a few tears. “It’s dangerous.”
“You never worry about me and HuanJen. Hell, Huan tossed himself off of a building and what did you say at the Nax? Something about not surprising?”
“I …” Garnet went silent. “Yeah. I want to rip Lorne a new one. Sort of. Then again …”
“Garnet, the only person that can talk Slate into something he doesn’t want to do is you. If he wants to do this, it’s his choice. Trust me.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna … he and I are still going to talk.”
It’s OK.” Jade moved awkwardly, then hugged Garnet tightly. She remembered every time HuanJen had been in danger, no matter how much he’d taught her to understand the cycles of life. “It’s OK, hon, it’s OK. I’ve been there. I know. But some things … they are.”
“Yeah.” Garnet returned the hug, leaning against Jade. “You sound like you understand.”
“Oh, yes.” Jade sat on the couch so Garnet could lean against her. “Thinking of a lot of things. Thinking about letting people know who I am . Heh, there was a story HuanJen told me about this guy who taught Confucius ancient rituals, then there was a sunset …”
” … and he said that was a ritual too. Read that. I did stay with him for awhile.”
“Yeah,” Jade said, “Garnet? Slate’ll be fine. I … trust him. If I can do that, then you definitely can …”
Something shined in Jade’s eyes as she said the words, thoughts moving with a kind of deliberate slowness.
October 10, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar
Rain fell gently outside of the Nax. The gray skies, the rain, and the slight chill in the air led to a kind of relaxed malaise among the patrons. It wasn’t exciting, it wasn’t depressing, it just, in a way, was.
Richard Nax looked over his patrons. He tried twiddling the handlebar mustache that he wore as part of his image as the plump happy bartender. It didn’t help.
Well, he couldn’t make everyone happy all the time. It was one of those cheerless gray days. At least it was calm …
The door to the Nax swung open in a way that suggested to fans of bad action movies that there was about to be a shoot-out. However, this was Metris, and shoot-outs tended to be exceedingly rare due to a very civil, very open-minded, and reasonably well-armed populace.
Depending on your perspective, something far worse that gunfire happened. Solomon Dell stalked into the Nax. A well-aimed gun was fearsome, but few people wanted to stare down a cocked and loaded Solomon Dell.
Dell walked forward. A dark raincoat covered his Rancelman armor, the only spot of color being two blond braids swinging beneath his hood.
“Sir?” one of the patrons stood respectfully, easily identifying himself as one of those under Dell’s command. The Head Rancelman waved a hand, saying nothing, and continued to the back of the bar.
Several patrons looked at Mr. Nax. Nax looked at the back, where some of his odder clients went, and shook his head. He wasn’t particularly fond of the Rancelmen, even if they did an important job of providing security for the Portals and the Travelers. Things just went wrong around them.
“Where is HuanJen.”
Dell stood before a group of unusual patrons - or at least unusual for most earths. At the Nax, they were normal - just another group that met by the back tables regularly to socialize and relax.
Brandon Thylar the Technologist. Rake the Minister of Guild Esoteric. Lorne Thompson the Gendarme. Clairice Bell, Nurse. Slate, a hulking Vulpine who worked for Corona Security.
And Jade.
You didn’t demand things of Jade.
Jade stood up, eyes glaring, focusing at Dell’s dripping form.
“What?” Jade asked, in a way that suggested she wasn’t going to even try to be remotely helpful.
“Where is HuanJen?” Dell repeated the question hoarsely.
Jade looked at her friends. They looked back at her with various forms of blank stares. Jade reluctantly accepted the fact they were as confused as she is.
“He’s at a Guild Esoteric meeting. I …” Jade thought, “I speak for him.”
The leader of the Rancelmen seemed to stare through Jade and into something else. Then he turned and left.
“Have him contact me.”
Jade stared at the man for a moment, then stuck out a hand in the general area of Lorne, who being a large person, was his own general area. Jade nearly struck him in the face by accident.
“Umbrella.” Jade snapped, and quickly found
Lorne quickly handed Jade his umbrella, taking it off of the back of his chair. In a determined manner, Jade followed Dell’s retreat, giving the impression that, if it were not chilly out, she’d be rolling up her sleeves.
“I feel sorry for Solomon Dell,” Brandon commented, his dusky face split by a strange grin, one that wasn’t entirely born of humor.
Lorne nodded. “Well, at least he caught Jade in a good mood.”
“And, ah, destroyed it utterly.” Rake finished. “I, ah, wish I could, ah, see what is going on.”
“No you don’t,” Clairice stated flatly, “We’ve all seen enough bloodshed.”
Solomon Dell heard the door to the Nax slam behind him. He turned to find Jade glaring at him. She managed to be an impressive presence despite having opened an umbrella that turned out to have the logo of the Xaian Wrestling federation on it - one of the latest ventures by the Communicants Guild in the realm of merchandising.
“May I …” Dell began, using his polite voice.
“Look, if HuanJen’s not here, you talk to me, got it?”
Dell blinked. He was not used to people giving him orders. He gave the orders, other people listened. It was the way his job went, since in the Rancelmen not being organized meant you couldn’t do your job, and terrible things might happen.
“I’m afraid, you can’t help me.” Dell drew himself up to his full height, which wasn’t noteworthy.
“How do I know that?” Jade asked forcefully, though it was more a natural force. Hints of her ego came through, but there was something else.
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