“The bear’s feet go tom ta tom tom, tom ta tom tom, tom ta tom tom, the bear’s feet go tom ta tom tom, as they go marching round!” Issi sang as she danced around the living room. Since I was fully reclined on the couch and had no intention of getting up, I had to watch her bizarre performance.
“Issi… what are you doing?” I finally mumbled after her third rendition of the strange song.
“Singing the Teddy Bear shuffle! Az was singing it in class earlier this week, and he taught it to everyone else! It’s amazing!”
“It’s something alright…” I muttered. “Do you have to sing it right now?”
“Yes,” Issi replied almost immediately.
“Of course you do,” I moaned as I placed a pillow over my face in order to try and muffle the noise, ever so slightly.
I hate to interrupt this family time, but I thought you should know someone from the Family is on their way down to talk to you, Nyx messaged me. Normally he’d use one of the bears, but Jane and I had come to an understanding and bears weren’t allowed in the residence anymore. Honestly, I was fine with that. Spooky could be a little intense, and Bandit a little creepy sometimes. I guess having intense personalities must have been part of the programming.
“If it’s Mirage tell him to go… away,” I muttered. I just barely managed to avoid swearing in front of Issi.
It’s not. I guess word of your last meeting got out, and the Family sent someone to investigate the situation. Someone you know.
“Well, don’t leave me in suspense,” I said, pulling the pillow off my face and sitting up. “Who?”
Hel. Seattle hasn’t recovered, but at least it’s stable now, and the Family is concerned that another schism could occur in another one of the cities they manage, so they sent a specialist.
“Could be worse,” I grumbled.
She’s bringing Humboldt and Helen with her.
“Fuck…” I hissed before slamming a hand over my mouth.
Issi just turned towards me, eyes narrowed and a small smirk on her face. “Bad words! I’m telling Jane!” she declared.
“Yes, yes, and I’m sure you’ll be rewarded for it. How about you go find Jane now, and let her know we’re going to have company…” I told the little girl. When she ran off I tilted my head slightly, “Nyx, how far off are they exactly?”
Give it a second… The doorbell rang. There you go.
“I could have used more of a warning!” I hissed as I slipped off the couch, tripping over the coffee table, and rushing towards the door.
I managed to mostly straighten out my hoodie by the time I cracked the door. Behind the door were three familiar women. Sharron had apparently stopped to get a haircut since the last time I saw her, and she now sported a deep undercut, very similar to how she wore it when we first met. On top of this, she had some comfy clothes that wouldn’t get her jumped in the undercity. Helen was wearing some higher-end undercity apparel, which probably would have attracted attention if she wasn’t using her tech to make sure people didn't notice her. Finally, Hel, whose pure white hair and pale blue skin probably attracted attention wherever she went. The massive, obviously advanced gun on her belt made sure the locals didn’t try anything.
I looked up at the three women and scowled. “You know it's customary to call before you show up at someone’s house,” I hissed.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t get notified we were on the way,” Hel smirked. “Are you going to let us in, or force us to stand here and talk through the door?”
We stood there for a few seconds, staring, before I stepped to the side and let them all in. “So to what do I owe this honor?” I asked as Hel passed. “Last I heard you were still trying to put Seattle back together.”
“It’s still a work in progress,” Hel replied as she inspected the area. “Quaint place you have here.”
“It’s a fucking palace compared to the places I was living half a year ago,” I said as I followed the group into the kitchen. I rummaged around in the fridge and pulled out some of the finest juiceboxes we had before passing them out and joining everyone at the table. “So… what’s this all about? I assume you didn’t just drop by to chat.”
“No, no, I did not,” Hel replied. She picked up her juicebox, took a tiny sip, winced, then put it down again. “Your… disagreement with Mirage at the Family headquarters a few days ago not only got around the building but made it all the way to a few other branches. It raised a few eyebrows.”
“I’m not going to apologize for what I said, nor am I going to participate in Mirage’s crusade,” I declared before violently spearing my juicebox with the straw and sucking out the sweet nectar within.
“And you shouldn’t. The Family was set up to provide support to samurai, to give them access to markets, information, and corps, if they ask for it. The organization itself is supposed to remain separate from politics, and neutral when it comes to individual corporations… Mirage crossed the line when he dedicated the entire branch's resources to maintaining the current balance of power in the city.”
“I’m glad you see it my way,” I said with a small smile.
“Although the organization has a policy of neutrality, our members are free to support whichever cause they choose. So Mirage and his followers are going to continue tracking down these supposed saboteurs,” Hel continued. “Even though the misuse of resources was a concern, the Family was more concerned about a possible rift occurring between the city’s samurai. The city’s defenses have been compromised, and losing even a few could lead to a catastrophe the next time there’s an incursion.”
“So… why are you here?” I asked. “You should be aware that I volunteered some of my forces to fill the gaps.”
Sharron rolled her eyes and leaned forward. “She wants to make sure you’re not planning on leaving. Like it or not, you’re now a cornerstone of the city’s defenses, even though you’re not a member of the Family.” She leaned back and shook her head. “I’m pretty sure you figured that out yourself already and just want to make things difficult.”
“Of course I’m being difficult,” I replied, throwing up my hands. “I live in a massive underground complex with hundreds of troops and vehicles, where I’m slowly providing the means for the locals to provide for themselves and defend my family. Do you know how difficult it would be for me to move? Did you honestly expect me to just leave? If I wanted to do that. I wouldn’t have volunteered the troops.”
Hel visibly relaxed and smiled a little. “I kind of figured, but the truth of the matter is you ARE essential to the city’s defenses now. and I had to be sure. Everyone told me I was worrying too much and that you and Mirage arguing was par for the course, but that recording did get a little heated.”
“Yeah, well, I have my reasons for not joining the Family, and I’ll admit one of the big ones starts with M and rhymes with garage.” I finished my juicebox then stared Hel straight in the eyes. “Is that the only reason you’re here?”
“In your house? Yes. In the city… no. Even though the Family doesn’t interfere in local politics, they are concerned that the local unrest may not just be limited to the corps. If someone goes around sabotaging the local defenses, THAT’s a Family issue.”
I glanced at the other two women at that table. Sharron just raised an eyebrow, while Helen was unreadable. “Did you, by any chance, need help checking the state of all those defenses?” I asked, deadpan.
“We’ve already done a complete network test, and connection to all the automated weapons came back green,” Helen explained. “But many of those emplacements could have been physically damaged, and that wouldn’t show up to the network. So we COULD use someone reliable to check the state of the AA and wall guns.”
“Was this your idea?” I asked Sharron.
“Partially,” she admitted. “Angeline was pretty much exhausted from doing surveillance for the last week, so she can’t help right away, so I suggested using the second-best surveillance expert instead.”
“That sounds like it could take weeks,” I grumbled.
“The essential locations should only take a few days,” Hel clarified. “And young Hoppy volunteered to help you, if you decide to help. So?”
“Fine,” I finally conceded. “I hope I don’t regret this,” I added under my breath.