Zen arrived home earlier than expected. She took out a piece of paper and the pencil she had stolen from Suzanna and began to draw her goddess of freedom. A woman wearing a gauzy gown and holding a flag with a brownie. Despite its silliness, it was beautifully drawn. The details of the battlefield were so real and the gown was exquisite. Zen erased the woman’s fly-away hair and gazed at her creation. All it needs now is some watercolor. Mostly brown to represent the class.
Zen passed the time until cooking time came, and she got up stashing her pencil and paper in her material dimension pocket and headed to make onion soup. Mmm, my favorite!
She detested it. You never know what you have until it's gone. What I wouldn’t do for one slice of pizza or a hamburger!
She put the soup to a boil. Her mother would be home early tonight. She didn’t want cold crap soup again...or ever. Two Rollers stopped in front of the house intriguing Zen. What could the Enforcers want with us?
There was a pounding on the door and Zen went to answer it. Two Enforcers wearing the customary white uniform were standing there. One had a palm book and was noting down things while the other Enforcer was grinning nastily at her.
“May I help you?” She asked not liking the Enforcer’s smirk.
“Mayo is that her?” He asked his partner who nodded.
“Yup. That’s Zen Amargarita,” he said tapping the palm screen and showing a picture of her to the Enforcer. A whip of light encased her wrists and she was suddenly dragged to the ground like a common criminal.
“What! Hey! What is this? I deserve an answer!” She cried halting the men from dragging her and standing up. Her smock dress was torn and it was the only one she was allowed to have.
“A kidnapping, drug wielding, thief doesn’t get any say! Mayo! Drag her to the Roller! We have a schedule to keep!”
“Who did I kidnap? What did I steal? Wait a minute!” She screamed as she was knocked onto her rear and was once more dragged to a Roller.
“What is going on here?”
Zen once more stood wiping the mud from her face. She turned to meet the cold black eyes of Don Rodriguez who was holding her hysterical mother.
“Don Rodriguez. We are simply taking another criminal to the converter sir,” the Enforcer said tugging Zen forward with the whip. Zen dug her heels into the muddy streets and held her place. No way was she moving til this was resolved.
“What are her charges,” Carmelo asked running his hands down Rosa’s arms soothingly.
“Mayo! What are the charges,” yelled the Enforcer.
Mayo flashed to her file and read the charges. “Abetting kidnapping. Giving Android Fluid to a student and robbing a necklace from the Arrio treasury.”
“I can assure you this girl has not abated in a kidnapping, she has not coerced anyone into drinking such a horrible influence and she has not stolen anything from the Arrio treasury,” Carmelo said walking over to Zen and unbinding her wrists.
“But Don Carmelo sir! It says in the report she knew who kidnapped Edline Marquis and that she had been drugging one Suzanna Constantine with android fluid and she is wearing a necklace, sir.”
“I only recognized the symbol of a local gang in a picture!” Zen screamed, wiping and squeezing mud from her hair.
“And how would you know about gang signs if you’re not in one yourself,” the Enforcer sneered ready to wrap her wrists again.
“My uncle is the reining Don. He has shown me the local gang signs to protect myself since I was young,” she replied glaring. “Suzanna Constantine is a drug addict of Android Fluid. She and her friends drink it like water. I merely observe, as a Brownie is not meant to react and the necklace was given to me by Don Arrio himself!”
‘A likely story. It is Don Arrio who wants the necklace back!”
“She speaks the truth. I was there when the necklace was placed upon her by Don Arrio. I will take this up with him. Perhaps he’s forgotten,” said Carmelo, narrowing his eyes and leading Zen back to her mother who hugged her tight and tilted Zen’s head to inspect the blooming bruise left by a rock on her cheek. Zen hissed and rubbed at her sore wrists. They were red from dealing with the Enforcer's electric whip. Carmelo signed off on the arrest warrant and freed Zen then walked over to them as the two Rollers drove away. He tapped his ear gently not letting the rage he felt show.
Click
“Carmelo? What is it I’m busy.”
“Bernado, what were you thinking of labeling Zen a thief? She was almost dragged to the converter because of your allegations.”
“Hey, I told the girl to keep her nose clean or the necklace would be rescinded.”
“And you believed some brat’s allegations against your niece? Bernado you know who she is, how she is and she has never been a drug peddler!”
“It’s an Elite against a Brownie’s word.”
“And you chose a stranger’s over blood? Where is your sense of honor!”
“Hey! Not my problem she is a Brownie! The law is clear on that!”
“One day your sense of superiority will be your downfall Bernado. She is your niece! The only one who works for you and you treat her like scum! I’ve signed off on her warrant. The necklace stays with her! You picked her, it stays with her. Suffer the consequences of your actions and be grateful I’m not Rosa.”
Click.
Carmelo faced Rosa who had heard the entire conversation. She was beyond angry at her brother. “He better not forget who would have been Doña if I had not married,” she said calmly. Deadly for anyone that really knew her. Carmelo nodded, petting her hair which she had let down from its usual bun. She let him and pressed closer, raising her eyes to gaze at his.
“Thank you for what you did for Zen. She would have been dragged off to the farming plant if not for your intervention.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“It was luck that I arrived in time, or she would have been. What in blazes was Bernado thinking?”
Rosa sighed. “He has let his station get to his head and has forgotten stronger ties. He wasn’t like this before.”
“Hmmm, he was always cocky,” Carmelo said as he slowly ran his fingers through her hair.
“But he protected me like a jewel,” Rosa sighed leaning against him more. Both thought about the past while Zen watched their closeness and smirked. They’re not bad for each other. He grounds mama’s temper and she brings out emotions in him. A perfect match!
Zen looked away from the private moment and made her way back to the kitchen groaning. Nothing tasted worse than burnt onion soup. Not even cold onion soup measured to it and that was what was on the menu tonight. She inspected the pot and sighed. At least it isn’t charred.
Carmelo and Rosa walked in and smelled the revolting smell of rotten eggs and ham that was the burnt soup.
“You are dining with me,” was all Carmelo said and hurried both to his car.
Zen smiled as she piled into the back. Yes, having her mom with a Don might not be so bad.
In a room full of men and women, Isaias and Marco were next in line to charge their guns. They were given the prerequisite thirty bullets and then sent off to charge their guns on the Bunny. Isaias didn’t know why it was named such a ridiculous name but it was. All recruits were to show their guns for inspection and the weekly charge. It was a large machine and Isaias supposed it looked a little like a bunny. Well,l it has long ears at least.
He looked over at his roommate who shrugged smirking.[ I can’t see it, Marco.] He signed in their made-up language. It had taken them a while to make it. It was to hide Marco’s abilities from others but it served as extra communication as well.
[Maybe you are not looking at it from the right angle?] Marco signaled back but spoke in his mind. He chuckled shaking his head and handing his gun to the officer in charge. She leered at him and Isaias felt...nothing. It confused him. Wasn’t he supposed to feel something like a thrill when a woman looked at him that way? He focused instead on the way his gun was prepped. It was simply wiped down and stuck nuzzle-first into the machined hole from there he waited thirty seconds for the gun to load. He could feel an odd buzzing in his head.
This process was repeated across the room a hundred times at once. He was handed his gun and left a very sulky woman behind. As Marco got his gun reloaded he noticed Isaias standoffish nature with the pretty brunette. Marco’s childhood had given him a fear of men but he couldn’t deny he also noticed them and he had noticed Isaias. Despite being taller, Isaias was broader and very fit. He was among the better-looking males at the barracks and the females had noticed. So had he. Being his roommate had its advantages and seeing him without a shirt certainly was one. Still, his past didn’t allow him to form any lasting relationships only admire from afar and Isaias was worth noticing.
Isaias waited for Marco to reload his gun. He noticed that Marco’s blue hair was in a ponytail like the first day they met. He also noticed Marco’s height towering over nearly everyone else but that he was more lith than himself. He blushed remembering catching Marco without a shirt the other day. That was normal, right? He should be used to it by now right? So why am I blushing like a schoolgirl for God’s sake? I can’t even meet his eyes!
Marco had walked right beside him and asked him a question.
“What was that?” Isaias asked managing to answer him.
“Do you want to search the library some more tonight or would you rather do some simulation practice?” Marco repeated.
Isaias smirked and cocked his gun. “Did you have to ask knowing me? Of course the simulations. Zen says they are starting the trails soon and I want to be ready for them.”
Marco chuckled. “I had to ask. We are going through the archives later though. That piece of info can’t be the only thing there.”
“Yeah I know but where could the rest be?”
“We’ll find out. At least you know your father wasn’t a nobody.”
“It would have been better if he was,” Isaias muttered remembering his father’s warm hands wrapped around his neck, squeezing.
You’ll protect a killer! Zen killed Yuresa!
“Isaias?”
He mentally shook his head and faced Marco smiling. “Don’t worry about it. It’s in the past.”
Marco’s eyes narrowed. He more than anyone knew that the past held monsters.
“Let’s head to the tower before it fills up.”
Isaias simply nodded worrying Marco even more.
Zen programmed the code that had reached her and sat on the couch drinking warm water. She watched as a reflection of her brother came on before her eyes. She could see the bathroom reflected behind him. Why is Isaias sending me a reflector image when he has a messaging unit in his room?
“Heh, sorry for this Zen but I got a personal question that I would rather not have anyone hear.” He sighed raking his hands through his slightly longer hair. “Here goes. You’re a woman right so can you tell me how you know if someone is attracted to you? A-And what you should do? Or how to find out if you’re attracted to someone? I’m really worried over here and before you ask it’s not a girl which is why I’m worried.”
A knock sounded. “Isaias, are you ok in there?”
“That’ll be the roomie. Gotta go!”
Zen sat motionlessly. The glass of water was nearly forgotten in her hands.
Isaias is having romance issues and he asked me about this. What am I? The Love Guru? I have no experience of this! This is mama’s expertise but...did he say not a girl? Ok, maybe not mama. Who?
She thought for a few minutes and only came up with one possible person free enough with such a topic. Marie Elena. Looks like our shopping trip will be a lot sooner than I expected. Joy! Isaias, You so owe me for this!
Zen commed her cousin who was thrilled with Zen’s invitation.
The mall was buzzing with color and noise. Everywhere you looked Elites were laughing and cajoling. Music played from the sound system above their heads. Lights danced in every color falling from the prism just below the ceiling. Bags wooshed and crinkled as Brownies raced after the Elites with their purchases.
“So you see Zen, attraction is not that complicated in either gender,” Marie Elena explained while she ate her parfait.
Zen looked on in jealousy. “That conversation went over my head, Marie.”
Her cousin rolled her eyes and took out a piece of cherry and a piece of strawberry.
“The first thing someone notices is how someone looks. It's inevitable. From looks which do you pick the strawberry or cherry?”
Zen hummed then picked the cherry. It was a bright juicy red. Delectable.
“Good. Now what attracted you to it?” asked Marie Elena as she dunked her strawberry back in her parfait.
“The color and the size I guess. Why?”
“You prefer shiny and big fruit?”
“I guess! Are you going somewhere with this?”
“Yes! I would have picked the strawberry for its uniqueness. Our outer tastes vary. We are attracted to different things. As humans, we are attracted to different things in others. Sometimes their smile, or the way they laugh, or maybe something with their physique or whatever. Your brother will know if he’s attracted to this guy if he can take apart what attracted him first ok?”
Zen blinked and looked at the cherry. “Oh.”
“Now for tastes.”
She pulled out the succulent strawberry and handed it to Zen.
“Strawberry wins hands down. It is such a sweet fruit. Succulent. You can say the strawberry is the personality. It counts in attraction. What about this guy calls most to your brother? Is it his honor? His compassion? His strength? All of the above?”
Zen looked between the strawberry and cherry nodding.
“See? Not that hard. Now eat those before someone sees you holding them.”
Zen smirked and popped both in her mouth chewing the delectable cherry and the succulent strawberry and mixing their juices together for a satisfying taste.
“Better together right,” said Marie Elena as she stood from her chair and threw away her parfait. There was nothing but watermelon left and she hated watermelon. She straightened her flirty halter dress and made for her chair again. Zen had already picked everything up and she sighed.
“Honestly Zen I can do that. I bought all those dresses,” she said pushing her chair into the table.
“It’s my duty, Marie. It's expected of me. Besides, it’s no real bother. You helped me out of a bind with Isaias as well so it's also a thank you,” Zen replied smiling. She knew her cousin was not like the other Elites who flaunted their power over Brownies despite what her father might act otherwise. The two made their way out of Plaza Las Puerto Nuevo and over to a convertible as red as the cherry she ate. She still had time before the end of the mailing hour for Brownies. Hopefully, she could respond to Isaias now. Where am I going to find a cherry and strawberry though?