.
Jin didn’t waste their time getting back to the RSF headquarters after leaving Nelu’s apartment. They’d had to borrow a spare bag to carry things on the train. Between the dirtied remains of yesterday’s costume, and a detached prosthetic arm, it wasn’t worth getting stared at by afternoon traffic. Once back in their small private barracks, they carefully folded away Nelu’s borrowed clothes and changed. The dress and camera were dutifully shipped off to Doc Li, and with that, the greater mission was done. Jin wasn’t sure what footage had survived the danger last night, if any. A small part of them wanted it to be useless. A final middle finger from the Underground that had chewed them up and spit them back out. There was nothing to do but wait, so they moved onto the next task.
Another train ride took them back out to the Lower Ring. Just stepping onto the grungy, graffiti marked platform made them relax just a bit. They walked the busy streets toward their destination, idly absorbing the atmosphere of home. Scents of food, the pulse of neon marking the overcast sky, snippets of street hawkers and fellow roaches conversation.
“Auchi says was there, last night, he says they rolled up on the club with a whole army! He snuck out just in time before the fire broke out!”
“Yeah sure, he was there. You, me and everybody’s cousin Li was at the damn Core last night. Bullshit!”
“Cabbage Corp Caff, Stickball Special, 75% off! Everything must go! Get your CCC-”
“Aww baby, you look exhausted. You look like you need a massa- Jin?”
“Hey, Yisha.” Jin grinned wearily up at the buxom courtesan caller. “How’s tricks?” They were immediately engulfed in a warm, perfume scented hug. One they accepted with silent gratitude. While life was very slowly returning to normal, many of the girls still were unaccounted for. Too many. No one knew if they’d been injured or killed in the chaos. Or worse, become benders and added to the wanton destruction. It was good to see a familiar face.
“I’m glad you’re okay! Spirits, things have been so crazy around here.” Yisha pulled a worn vape out of her top and took a drag before offering it to Jin. Jin waved it off, but held up some money in response.
“I’ll buy an hour. Catch me up on the way?”
-
Staggeringly handsome male masseuses in sheer silk robes, displaying well oiled muscles, greeted the pair as they walked up. The Zen Stallion Massage Parlor was the distaff counterpart of the Honeybees, a few blocks down from the former Honeybee hive. A few girls they knew also greeted them as well, and Jin exchanged greetings and hugs, subtly palming a few spare bills to those they knew.
The two groups of pleasure professionals had come together under one roof after the disaster. It was busy and a bit crowded, but manageable. With some areas of the Lower Ring still without power, business was a little shaky. But there were many ways to make a yuan. Skills that had been picked up on the side were starting to turn unexpected profits. Teas to ease muscle aches, pills to prevent pregnancy, perfumes and colognes and makeup to try and add a little beauty to a gray life. Even patching robes and yes, actual massages had come back into play. Some of the less popular bedmates still knew how to serve snacks and listen, and found themselves comforting worn-out workers who were still dealing with the aftermath of disaster.
Everything was now run by Lady Cho’s brother, Lord Phun. No one working the beds knew if they were actually siblings or if they just called themselves that. They did look very much alike, though. Raven black hair, sharp amber eyes, effortlessly elegant posture – looking at “Uncle” Phun caused a little ache to well up in Jin’s heart.
“Jin-Jin! Welcome home, honey! It’s been far too long.” Phun nearly dropped his silk fan, before depositing a familial kiss on top of Jin’s head. He nodded his thanks to Yisha before giving orders. “Tell Han to mark off Jin’s name. One more accounted for.”
“Sure, Lord Phun. Take care, Jin.” Yisha exited to do his bidding. Jin settled on Uncle Phun’s couch, glad to be off their feet a moment. Phun sat with practiced grace on a puffed cushion beside them.
“It really is good to see you, honey. We all figured you had made it out somehow. What have you been up to?” Phun fanned himself idly, attention soft but present in a way that made it impossible for Jin not to talk.
“I picked up a lotta work in the aftermath. There’s a lot of stuff that needs fixing, you know? I’m making decent bank these days, so I figure I’d come spread it around some. I need some lemon aloe tea, and milk sop salve. Do you got any to spare?”
“Of course, we have plenty, see Padma in the back hall later. But…” Phun’s fan snapped to the side of a teasing, lacquered smirk. “Why do you need UTI prevention tea and chafe cream specifically, Jin-Jin? Something to tell me, hm?”
Jin felt their face lighting red under Phun’s knowing gaze. “Well… there’s a guy…”
“Oooh! I knew it! I told them yours would be a man first. Dish! Who is he?”
“He’s someone I… know from work. Handsome, charming, and so smart, in ways I can’t even explain. We had an incredible time together last night and this morning, and I’d like to have more of them. Being with him is...” A blissful memory bubbled up. Nelu’s warm fingers on Jin’s bare skin, tracing the multicolored wings of the flying frog tattoo that graced their back and shoulders. His other hand looped lazily around their hip. The two of them simply basked in the morning light and delayed getting out of bed. 5 more minutes. Just a moment longer. “He makes me feel… safe.”
Phun looked at Jin with soft fondness. “Aww, Jin-Jin. I wish you could see the smile on your face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so happy. That’s good, honey, I’m gla-” He stopped and frowned suddenly. The fan snapped shut with a snap that made Jin startle, and Phun pushed down the collar of Jin’s shirt. “Jin.” All the warmth had fled his voice. His eyes had gone serious and sharp, and Jin knew he was examining the damage from the fight at the Core. “Your new boyfriend didn’t do this to you, did he?”
“What? No! Of course not!” Jin met Phun’s eyes, waving hastily. “The guy who did this is rat food now. Trust me. Nelu would never hurt me like this.”
Phun examined them a moment more before relaxing somewhat. “Alright. I was about to call some favors and have his neck broken. No one hurts anyone of mine.” Jin was honestly touched at the protectiveness in his expression. It reminded them too much of Lady Cho. “If you ever need anything, you come to us. Don’t forget about your family, honey. We haven’t forgotten about you.”
“Thanks, Uncle Phun.” Jin had to take a moment to fight the sudden lump in their throat. “You know anyone who’s got a room to spare? Nothing big, I just need somewhere to sleep and work.”
“I’ll make some calls. Now let’s have some tea, and you tell me more about this Nelu...”
-
Hours later, Jin stifled a yawn while adding another line to the diagram of Shao’s arm. The plating lay categorized and stacked on the table. A masterwork of wire was on display in the middle, and Jin had spent the afternoon slowly working out its secrets. Unfortunately, it was a complex tool. Too bad that Jin couldn’t ask him where it came from.
An odd, trickling sense of guilt flared up in their gut at the thought. Not guilt over having killed Shao. That was just how things went. When it was you versus someone else for the last scraps of life, you did what had to be done. Shao knew that. If Jin had to put words to it, it was the fact their effort not to end up killing hadn’t panned out. They really had tried, and that made the failure worse. But maybe things would have gone to hell anyway.
[Yesterday, at the Core]
”No doubt you’ve already noticed that the air down here is thicker than up top.” Sonam began, stopping to kneel in front of Jin and Nelu. ”It can be a little hard to breathe and the toxins, if you’re not used to it, can have an effect. We have a stockpile of these.” She held up a small gray cylindrical device that looked like an oversized pill with a button on the side and a hole on one of the ends. ”Not tampered with. Clean. Direct from the surface.” She placed two on the ground in front of them. ”How is she doing?”
”Better but… it’s been a long day.”
Jin picked up the oxygen mask, hands working automatically to check the canister seal, adjust the strap and then slide it on. The press of a button and deliciously clean air soothed their senses. "It has been the longest day I've ever had. And I just realized that I need-" They looked at Nelu as if embarrassed. Then they lowered their voice to a conspiratorial whisper."I need to... ah... use the powder room, if you wouldn't mind."
Sonam regarded them with a searching, sharp look before a half smile lightened the expression. "Oh. You need to pee."
"Yes, please." Another, more mortified look, as if a lady shouldn't mention such nasty things in the presence of male company. "Where do I go?"
Sonam nodded. "I'll take you. If you take the wrong tunnel down here, you'll never come back."
Was it concern? Or a buried threat? Jin didn't know, but there was no way to turn back now. They rose and followed Sonam, eyeing the groups of tired adults and scared kids as the two left. Two tunnels later and Jin had almost lost count of the turns. With Sonam close behind them, there was no way to stray off the path. The clear air was waking their senses and pushing their mind to overclock.
"This is such an expansive place. How could something so grand be hidden beneath our city's walls?" Maybe they could come back with some intel. "How big is this place?"
Sonam's response was swift and unhelpful. "Bigger than you and I will ever know." It was also an answer that effectively cut off more detailed questions. "Bathroom is up there. Don't take too long." She gestured Jin toward a door.
Jin's gaze flicked toward the approaching door. Time was up.
Once inside, they fidgeted with the tiny camera at their neck. A flick of a fingernail, and the camera was off. After doing their business, Jin washed their hands. They breathed, slow and deep, lost in a moment of thought. Let the fresh air work and get their thoughts in order.
They stepped out.
"Can you truly get all of those people out safely? Is there really hope?" That second line had been a bit more raw than they'd expected. But they had to know for sure, that this wasn't just another stupid dream, that escape could be made real.
Sonam walked to stand in front of them, eyeing them with a sympathy that Jin hadn't seem directed at them in years. "We have everything we need, miss. Supplies, a route out of the city, plenty of hands along the way. Don't worry." She leaned over and gently patted Jin's shoulder.
"Out of the city. Sounds like a long walk, and I left my favorite running shoes at home." The two locked eyes.
There were so many things that people didn't understand about life in the Lower Ring. It wasn't just being poor, though it was plenty of that. They had their own way of being. Clothing, music, food… and language. "Jasmine" had just said something no Upper Ring girl could know. Words from one roach hissing to another, calling in the night. Leaving their running shoes meant it was time to go. But no call came without an answer.
Sonam's hand on their shoulder went completely still. She stepped back and stared at Jin, looking, really digging into their appearance. Her eyes widened as everything that'd been bothering her since "Jasmine" appeared slid into place. "Jin! I knew no Upper Girl could work an oxygen mask that fast. How are you alive?"
"Hey Sonam." A weak smile staggered across their cheeks."Wish we had time to catch up."
"...you gonna go get your shoes?" How much time left to run?
There, the answer. Another call. "I needed 'em earlier, but the rats dug a hole in the nest already." No time left to retreat - RSF was already here. "One's wearing a roach shell." Someone had ratted them out.
Sonam's face held disbelief, as what Jin said took hold. Jin answered the silent question of who'd been the betrayer, with a nod. But Sonam shook her head. "They bought you out. You? Our Flying Frog? I don't buy it. What did they do to you, Jin?"
This was taking too long. "They let me live." Jin's voice lit with cutting anger. "These people don't deserve what's about to happen. Especially the kids. They'll stay to fight, and they'll probably kill us, but they'll die too. But… if they run…" If they ran, maybe they and Nelu could get out in one piece.
Sonam had clearly made up their mind. "...you remember the way back?"
"Yeah." They nodded. "Don't wait for luck." See you on the other side of trouble.
"Make your own." Sonam took off down the hall at a jog, pressing a hand to her ear as she rounded the corner out of sight. Jin walked back to the main room, startled to find Nelu sitting without his mask, with a glassy expression. At least a fourth of the platforms were empty. Quickly, they secured the mask around his face and started to pat his cheek.
"Wake up. Time to go." Jin smiled as Nelu started to rouse. They could do this. They could get him out. This plan was going to work. A spark of hope lit in their chest.
And then, Hunang walked back into the room with Katakuri Soran. |
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