I of the Storm (Chapters 8 & 9)
A serialized book for SubStack
Link to first installment: https://chrisprophet.substack.com/p/i-of-the-storm
Chapter 8
>>Akiya house, Okutama Mountains, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan, East Asia<<
Systematically Naem swept the sleeping household. Finding nothing awry, he woke Trinity and invited her to the Kitchen. Minute later she appeared, wrapped in a duvet, still blurry eyed. Naem dumped the Dragon armor vest on the kitchen table and lay the automatic pistol alongside it.
“Did we get a delivery?” Trinity said groggily.
“Huh, narrowly avoided one,” Naem said, checking the sidearm. “I found a coupla fans of yours on the neighboring hill – with a high powered rifle. Don’t worry I took care of them.”
“Fans with rifles...did you explain that I don’t need any protection?”
“Huh, protection was the last thing on their mind,” he replied grimly. “No IDs and the names they gave were J-Bob and Jade. She claimed to be a US vet...oh and there’s a bounty on your head – a big one.”
Trinity gulped “Ulp, that kinda makes sense. Sorry to be so mysterious.”
“If there’s some threat you know of, I need to hear it,” he countered, “I can’t keep you safe otherwise.”
“Ah-OK then. I’ll tell you what I know, which isn’t much,” Trinity said, as she poured hot water into a pair of mugs. “I think the US military are trying to kill me.”
Naem smiled wryly, “That seems unlikely to me. This house would be half way to orbit from drone dropped munitions if that was the case.”
Her eyes diverted, “Wer-ell, that’s kinda what happened at my father’s place...”
Naem stared in the distance, “It says your father died when his house fell into a sinkhole. There’s nothing about the military, except their tribute and condolences.”
Careful to avoid the combat gear, she set a mug of black coffee by his elbow, “Well they can say that, but I was there. The house was blown to pieces, trust me.”
Naem’s eyes tightened, “O-K but why do you think it’s the US military. Your father was a chaplain right. So why kill one of their own?”
She sat opposite, and said tiredly: “I don’t know, maybe something to do with the ambassador he was helping.”
Naem nodded, “Well stranger things have happened. Any idea why you inherited their enmity?”
She shook her head, ponytail flailing, “Who knows how the military think, it’s beyond me.”
“Maybe they think you’re involved…” he coaxed.
She smiled sadly. “I’m sorry to land you in all this. You must think I’m a horrible person.” wiping the corner of her eye.
He snorted, “You’re a saint compared to most my clients, trust me.”
“Thanks it’s appreciated.” she said, idly stirring her coffee. “So what now?”
Hands moving reflexively he started to strip the automatic. “Sorry, it helps me think. This location is toast...first step is not be here. In fact we should probably leave the country…but if you’re right about the US military, they can track us anywhere in the west.”
“Ah – how about Hong Kong then?” she said hopefully. “We could see Chen’s friend and maybe visit a few places.”
Naem smiled despite himself, “You really want to see Hong Kong… Suppose that’s one place the Chinese won’t look for you. Facial recognition will be tough, and a veil would look suspicious in China.”
“Pity...Oh I know, I can alter my appearance!” she burst out loud.
“Really, show me,” he replied without conviction.
“OK,” she said eagerly, “do you have a holo of someone I can copy?”
Naem searched his memory, paused, then reluctantly sent it over.
“She’s lovely and the dress is so traditional. Where’s she from?” Trinity said admiringly.
“Thanks - she was Mongolian.” he said, voice cracked, “closest I have to Chinese…”
Shockingly Trinity’s features softened and her cheekbones lifted. “How about this, any good?”
Naem swallowed hard, and managed: “OK...” at higher pitch than he’d hoped.
Chapter 9
>>Thai shipping container, Kwai Tsing Container Terminal,Hong Kong, China<<
“It’s been full dark for an hour, should be safe to egress,” Naem observed.
“Thank God! Don’t know how I survived,” Trinity said, adding, “I mean, this junk reeks…” delivering a clangorous kick to the scrap heap by the door.
“Yeh but it’s great scent camouflage. Our Thai smuggler friend was right about that.”
Chen strained to release the side hatch, rigged for their escape, and Naem moved to assist. Together they managed to bulldog the lever, which succumbed with a screech of protest. The corrugated hatch fell into the open with a clang. Smoothly Naem angled the hatch sideways and pulled it into the container. Pausing to listen, clanks and whirs continued unabated from the dockside.
“Looks like we’re parked in the middle of a bunch of containers,” Naem observed, “best filter through the stacks ‘til we see the gate.”
Trinity’s eyes brightened, “Then we can find a lovely hotel, where I can recharge.”
“And then we see my daughter,” Chen reminded.
“Deal’s a deal,” Naem stated. “If she can hook us up with this Min character, it’s worth the risk.” He stared at Trinity, chewing his lower lip. “That skin glow maybe hard to explain to locals.”
“I can put my hoodie up!” she said brightly.
“Well that helps,” he replied, “but still too glowy. Any way you can dial it down?”
“Sorry, this aura is part of who I am. So I can’t just switch it off.”
He sighed “Huh, maybe stay close behind me – and look away if we meet anyone.”
“OK...” she said, a trifle crestfallen, “if you insist.”
Naem pulled up his hood with a flourish, signaling Chen to do likewise. “I’m sure you can talk us through the gate,” handing him a 20g gold bar.
“Wow this is exciting!” Trinity declared.
“I hope not,” Naem murmured.
–
>>Peak Tram, Central Terminus, Hong Kong<<
Navigating the central aisle of the sparsely lit tramcar, Chen and Naem settled on the rearmost bench seat. As they sat viewing the empty carriage, Chen’s expression was uncomfortable, Naem’s alert.
“No one else boarded, which is good, but no sign of your friend,” Naem commented.
“Min is my daughter’s friend. She has good reason to be cautious,” Chen replied reflexively, with little enthusiasm.
“Stand clear tram is departing,” warned the P.A. system.
As the carriage door slid shut, a tall Asian woman with electric blue hair slipped through the gap. Coolly she glanced at Chen then approached down the aisle. Ignoring them, she stretched out on the seat in front, back to the window.
Chen opened with: “My daughter seems troubled is she well?”
“She’s overcome by the burden of worry and disgrace but I try to support her,” the woman replied. One eyebrow raised as she appraised Naem, “I thought you’d be alone.”
“He’s a bodyguard, Naem Sargent this is Min the Maker.”
Naem nodded cordially “Thanks for meeting us at short notice, we have urgent business.”
“Business implies payment, that’s not why I’m here,” she replied, stony eyed.
“However you look at it we require your help,” Naem said brusquely. “I’ll get straight to the point as we don’t have much time. I’m told you translate technical documents, right?”
Min shook her head in disbelief.
Naem continued: “Have you heard anything about a superweapon? Anything you can tell us would be helpful.”
“Why would I help a gwailou? Especially one with such bad manners,” she rattled-off at machine gun pace.
Smiling slightly, Naem reached for the back of his waistband. Abruptly the carriage jolted forward and slowly picked up pace. Then the door at the front of the carriage whooshed open, framing Trinity in the doorway. She took down her hood and swirled her hair. The carriage darkened as it entered a tunnel, accentuating Trinity’s argent aura.
She strode confidently towards them: “I’m Trinity Lieght, do you mind if I join you?”
Min seemed transfixed, mouth agape. She gasped: “Ah, it’s true you’re a celestial!”
Smiling serenely Trinity sat opposite her across the aisle. “Naem comes on strong but he’s well meaning,” adding, “I understand your distrust but prejudice darkens the soul…”
The funicular carriage canted up as it ascended the slope to Hong Kong heaven.
Min sat up straight and eased toward her as if drawn by magnetism, “You’re right, I’m sorry, why am I still talking?”
“Talking is good – and preferable to the alternative,” Trinity replied, eyebrows raised.
Naem exhaled and replaced the automatic in his waistband. “I apologize for my poor manners… This business has got me spooked.”
Min’s lips compressed as she looked over her shoulder at Naem and Chen.
Trinity encouraged: “I would really appreciate your help.”
Min tried to look down, “So sorry, I can’t discuss this with anyone, it’s too secret.”
Trinity lifted her chin with a forefinger. “Secrets are a burden, bigger the secret heavier the burden. They twist us until we don’t recognize ourself. Is this secret worth keeping, considering the end result?”
Nothing but the whir and rattle of the carriage on its ascent. Finally Min conceded: “Alright, I’ll tell you what I know – if you answer one question to my satisfaction. Is it wrong to love Chen’s daughter?”
Trinity sighed, “Hur, love is love, how can it be wrong?”
Min wiped her eyes and said hoarsely: “Thank you, thank you…”
Chen handed her a hankie, adding: “Remember you’re Chinese,” making her laugh.
Composing herself she said softly: “I translated an American text about a judgment weapon, although much of it was redacted. It uses rings of EMP devices to direct energy from the sun. Powerful enough to destroy the People’s Fleet in a flash.”
“I hoped it was just rumors…” Chen murmured, head bowed.
“Do you have any idea where it’s being built or who’s behind it?” Naem said softly.
Min’s head shook, “The work order bore no name but I believe it originated in Chengdu, a city in western Sichuan. Sorry that’s all I know.”
“You have been more help than you know,” Chen commended. “Please tell my daughter: whatever happens to me, or whatever people say, I tried to do the right thing. I will always love her.”
– To be continued –