Serving The Country?
“Is that them?” Fabiola looked at a corner of another street before pointing out. Fox casually followed her gaze, having heard footsteps beforehand, and nodded without her noticing. He voiced, “They will take turns, but we will bother about that later. Let's go in and see what you should do to attract your previous customers, satisfied or not, and more.”
“Mhm,” Fabiola nodded in earnest approval. Seeing there were many more who would take care of the boutique, she felt at ease. The worst thing would be to have to still work at it when she was supposed not to. She did have a few doubts, though.
“Will they behave? My parents bought this for me, and my father worked hard to let me keep it. Yesterday, they were a little down because of my sale. They support me, but… you know.”
“They will.” Fox said as casually as he could, but his words still sounded a bit intent. She looked at him with upturned eyes, having just felt a tremor in her heart that drove her a need to act with caution. She just nodded and said nothing more before welcoming the youngsters.
“Hello, I’m Fabiola, thank you for coming.” Fabiola greeted the group. They responded in kind, not too polite, and slightly casual. Afterward, she brought them to Fox, giving him a light smile to indicate she was contented with the lot.
Giving them a look, the youngsters ranging from being in their 16s to mid 20s lowered their heads, pressured and… well, knowing what he was capable of. None would dare take him lightly, but if they did, his polycoria eyes would remind them who they were messing with.
“Let’s go in,” Fox declared. With that, he opened the double glass doors and turned the lights on. A smooth voice welcomed him and Fabiola as a warming feature made the interiors cozy but still fresh. “Welcome back, boss Fox and miss Fabi.”
“Hehe,” Fabiola smiled at the new form of address the system had before taking her jacket off, a scarf, her cap, and 2 layers of thin sweaters. Fox looked at her, disapproving. She stuck her tongue out, shutting her eyes tight before saying, “I don’t like cold. Too meh.”
‘How can there be people like this?’ Fox unceremoniously nodded before checking the counter at the side. Meanwhile, the youngsters got to tour the small boutique. They could see each other from each extreme of the boutique, even amidst the piles of clothes. The public space had an irregular shape, and about 9 corners.
After the new employees checked the place, and were given a tour of the backroom and the wide storage at the side, which was the second-largest room in the boutique, they were briefed by Fox. While Fox didn’t need Fabiola’s advice, nor did she have the right, he listened to her.
She was also conscious of their status, so she didn’t meddle too much. But while everyone had learned what to do, they still had to go through some practice before the boutique could open. Fox asked Fabiola to stay. Since it was the last week’s day, she didn’t have to worry about attending her academy. It would only be an hour at most, so she could still study after he returned.
Thus, without further ado, Fox took a bus to the presidential precinct.
… He didn’t enter the main entrance by himself like before, instead using a series of codes from the outside, he went inside it with a random car that parked in a nearby precinct to the presidential building. It would also take him back out, all so he wouldn’t draw attention.
Fox headed to the president’s office. A few hours had already passed. If he calculated from what Butler told him, and what he heard from other conferences the president had spoken about his meetings, then he should be in his office still.
With the first few rays of light falling from the sun rising into the sky, the civil workers kept shut but looked at him with criticizing, and even begrudging stares. That might be due to some things some people Fox never knew about but carried weight in politics talked bad rumors of him.
Knowing well what being in a political ‘side’ meant from now on, Fox only wondered if he’ll have to perform a face off any time soon, hoping not to. He couldn’t be bothered with those things…
Knock, knock. Fox stood before the office’s gates. They clicked and opened on their own, allowing Fox inside. He didn’t wait nor feel he needed to be told to get in. There, he saw Luis at his desktop again, this time with a tall, white bald man in front of his desk.
Fox looked and stopped, not sure if to continue, when Luis looked at him with his right eyebrow lifted. “Fox, this is Roam. Meet one another. He’s my presidential secretary. Now, tell me why you are here, alone, without me calling you.”
“I can come here unless I can’t, right?” Fox nodded and casually commented as he looked at the bald man, Roam. Luis rolled his eyes suggestively, saying nothing. Then, after nodding at Roam, Fox looked at Luis and went straight at it, “I want to ask for a favor.”
“You want?” Luis pressed his lips together. To Fox, it felt more like he wanted to exchange ‘dare’ for ‘want’. He ignored it and continued, “I need help finding my colleague. She was Pheli and I’s ‘little sister’. Her name is Teon.”
“Teon?” Luis spouted questioningly. Fox nodded, while Roam looked at Luis with changed eyes. Luis briefly stared at Roam’s eyes, pressing his chin with his right thumb and index finger before addressing Fox, “Now what. Why? Can she be of an-”
“She’s a proof of Riverlye’s happenings. She was sent out by Pheli to save her, should anything happen to her.” Fox interrupted, bringing an uncomfortable silence between the three. He added after a bit, “Clearing my image will be easier with her, and she is a formidable agent.”
“Even then-” Luis clasped her fingers and lazily shrugged. But Fox went at it again, “If I’m not mistaken, in any political situation, ignoring the rest of the world’s issues, having an easier way will be better than achieving the same through hardship.”
“Teon will make that happen.” Fox placed his palms on the edges of the president’s desktop, Roam almost stepped forth, but didn’t go further than that. Instead, Roam walked a bit away after receiving a glance from Luis.
“I understand that,” Luis commenced. Roam stood behind Fox, stepping a few meters behind. Then, Luis continued, “But this Teon killed people from the national guard and police.”
“Self-defense.” Fox declared. Luis shook his head, closing his eyes as if in comfort. “That’s not it. At the beginning, she struck and instantly murdered 5 elements before grabbing their guns and ‘defending’ herself. It’s not an excuse with these, is it?”
“Self-defense as well,” Fox repeated. Luis was just looking to the sides, moving in his chair, when Fox repeated those words, adding a few more. He looked up at Fox with a snap, staring at the young man in deep silence.
Gaining advantage, despite Luis’s stare growing deadly, but not scared, not yet; Fox pressed his weight on the desk, with his palms moving towards the center of the table. His polycoria looked down on Luis, “She did so to survive, president. I am also capable of doing that, especially for survival. But as she can do it to save her life, which I care about, I can do the same just if I want to.”
Fox’s eyes and voice were impassive, and as he spoke, shaking his head out of emotion here and there, he saw some trembling in the president’s eyes. It was there, a human emotion, a most useful primitive truth.
“If I were in danger, I would do that too. If I felt like I had to, I will massacre everything I see before me. And now, Mr. President, if I have to, under the orders to achieve both my and Lýmoca’s objective, I will do the same.” Fox slowly stood straight.
He looked at the president with impassive eyes, accommodating his sleeves, “Just as you don’t feel fear before me, Luis. Maybe because Butler or others told you I won’t do something like assassinating you right here and now. I want things, or rather, some’s safety.”
“It’s not much to ask, and I am a lot. President, I need help finding Teon, safe and sound. I will be responsible for the crimes she committed. Am I not?” Fox stared deeply into Luis’s eyes. But then, he furrowed his brows a bit before relaxing them. In Luis’s eyes, he saw a new emotion, at least towards him. He couldn’t tell what it was from, but the sensation was a calmer and understanding, hearing notion unlike anything before.
“It seems you really want this,” Luis commented, reclining his back on his chair. Fox nodded. Gesturing with his fingers spread in the air, Luis looked at Roam and nodded. As Fox’s ears tingled a bit, hearing some ruffling, Luis sat up and asked him with his face upturned.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Why didn’t you ask me before? Were you too busy a few days ago?”
‘Busy railing your sister.’ Fox spoke with his eyes. Whether Luis could see that in his 7 irises-pupils, it wasn’t known, they just stared at each other. Then, Fox breathed in, filling his lungs before speaking. “I had things to consider, and… I felt it wouldn’t be so easy to ask you this immediately.”
“Is this about you choosing a Blood?” Luis asked, a bit calmed down from the previous atmosphere. Fox shrugged. Luis sighed and stood up, patting Fox’s left arm before gesturing behind him. Fox looked back, only to see Roam with a window recording him.
“I’m terribly sorry for the previous misunderstandings. We will find her. She deserves that much for helping save Lesly’s life, and much more. The corrupt, vile lagjs arming against the Lys will be stopped because of this… I’m counting on you, Fox.” Luis said with a sincere expression and a hearty tone.
‘Damn, he’s a bit smooth.’ Fox looked at Roam with a baffled expression, which he quickly hid. As for becoming lagjs’ number 1 enemy, wasn’t he already? Fox just stared at the camera, taking advantage to place his right hand on the president’s back, just at the vertebral column.
Fox felt a slight tremble from Luis, making him grin. He hooked the left corner of his mouth, while Luis had a weird expression before and even sweated. Then, Roam nodded, turning off the recording feature and storing the window in a box from his jacket inner pockets.
“Teon, right? She will be found. But why did you come to me?” Luis sat back on his seat, maintaining a neutral expression. Fox turned around with a swag, slightly smiling, half in derision. “Because the District chose to bind to you. Butler talks to you subserviently, although not as much as ‘this’ fella. He is being pretty serious about you. I haven’t yet gained respect for neither, but I will respect the respect Butler has for you, President.”
“…” Luis stared at the young man yet again. Fox didn’t return the glare for too long, instead, he looked at Roam. Roam pressed his lips and nodded at him, but Fox kept looking at him before giving Luis an innocent expression and a superficial blink.
“You may leave,” Luis said after considering things. What needed to be said was said. Fox acted no more and walked out, passing by Roam, who opened the doors for him, and lightly voiced before walking away, “Excuse me.”
“…” - “…” Left in the office, the president and his presidential secretary stared at each other. Luis cleaned his sweat, smiling ruefully before Roam helped him with another handkerchief. Luis stared into the emptiness of nothing before saying, “He’s a tough stone to kick, mm?”
“I recommend not going against him, sir.” Roam said with a worried expression. Luis nodded, feeling much better after getting out of the situation in ‘good’ graces. “Yes, I believe that’s the best course. Who wants a maddened grown cub with fangs out near their necks?”
“Heheh. Sir, the reform is about to be debated. When will you send the kid to check the waters?” Roam chuckled before remembering something. Luis mulled for a bit, turning to Roam after standing up. “It’ll do just when it happens.”
Roam frowned a bit, not understanding. But then again, Luis is the president, so he just nodded and offered a cup of coffee. Luis untied his tie and felt the sweat on his body grow cold and off his skin.
Checking his phone out, he looked at a few contacts, but he only stared. After a minute, with Roam waiting at the side with a mug of coffee, Luis turned and took it, turning his phone off.
… After Fox exited the presidential precinct, rising no commotion for his appearance, and in the presidential precinct, no less, he headed back to the boutique. There were only about 20 minutes before it opened, and Fox had to be there, although not so out in the open.
Fabiola told him her nice customers were aware who owned the boutique now, and that she remained, but Fox didn’t want to remain in the public like a one-animal zoo. Although, maybe for the sake of publicity, he may show up in the store.
Returning there, Fabiola was already gone, probably growing inspired to study. Fox met with the youngsters and checked with a quick practice with each of them before growing satisfied. As Mena said, these kids were rather good.
When the time to open came, Fox didn’t offer a ceremony or anything. He simply opened the glass doors and let anyone interested come inside. When it had just started, an unexpected visitor came first.
“Hello, miss. If there’s anything you’re curious for, let us know.” A young girl walked to a beautiful woman with dull orange and long, thick curly hair. Her creamy bronze skin ‘shone’ under the lights, and her deep dark brown eyes consumed anyone curious enough to dare look at them.
“Morena,” Fox came out of the storage backroom, realizing who those familiar steps and breathing were from. Mona smiled when he came for her and hugged him briefly. Then, she grinned from the left corner of her mouth, “You didn’t invite me to the opening ceremony. You really thought I wouldn’t want to congratulate you? It’s a good, progressing step.”
“I know, I just didn’t care that much.” Fox innocently said. Mona was wordless. She couldn’t help but comment, “Mhm, that’s what I thought. Come, why don’t you help me a bit.”
Mona said as if Fox was supposed to bring her around, but it was her who led. Mona picked a few long shirt-coats and some bundles, using 3,000 good credits to start the business. After paying for them, she threatened Fox, “Don’t forget our date, hm?”
After seeing his therapist out, Fox returned to his cave. The youngsters had gossipy glares exchanged, but they didn’t bother with it. The day continued.
During the first day, Fox showed up a few times, helping some old grandmas and a few elderly gentlemen who were curious and ended up buying a couple of things. It was a good start.
Although the youngsters made Fox cringe a bit with some of their ways, and taking maybe too long to chat up some customers to convince them, they seemed aware of their inconveniences, too. They could grow in the job, which further satisfied Fox.
The time to close arrived, nearing 7 PM, to which Fox let everyone out and stayed in the boutique alone. He waited until 10 PM and sold more than a dozen other pieces, including bundles, maybe from people who now knew who he was, and what he was doing. But, by then, a video of him being formally ‘accepted’ by the president himself, who now had a reputation of defending the Lys to the bone at least once, had long been spread on the internet.
Closing the boutique, Fox watched the lights dim to pure blackness from the outside. Fox looked at the new sign telling ‘Blackflower Boutique’ for a few seconds before turning around. It was time to go back to the HQ. He didn’t feel like sleeping tonight. Besides, he had a ‘mental quota’ of bions to fill, all of good quality.
. . .
2 days later. Fox was just returning from another day in the boutique, letting the kids spend the morning alone, as he was early morning to noon in the workshop. He was just walking to the Plastics Recycler Factory, when a shadow fell from a building just a few main streets from the factory. Fox stopped, surprised not a little, and looked at the agent.
The agent had a hood covering his face, which he uncovered and showed white painting on his skin before present a small notebook to him. Fox grabbed it, and when he did, the agent rushed back up. Fox saw the agent disappear like a shadow, not shown by the streetlights.
‘Neat.’ Fox was amazed by the tool. He took notes and already wanted to make some himself. Then, with his factory uniform on, he walked to the HQ.
The reception was taken by someone else this time. When Fox walked over, a bald brown young man voiced, “Mena’s in a surveillance task. She will soon return, maybe in a few days.”
“Is it fine to say or know that?” Fox questioned after nodding at the man, stopping for a moment. The young man shook his head, easygoing, “Nah. It will only if it’s an operation. She’s just working on something. Mn, most Captains would know their peoples’ tasks, not just those from the same team.”
“I see, thank you.” Fox nodded again before walking through the double doors. Before going into the workshop, he went to a bathroom booth and read the notebook. His eyebrows were raised. After engraving everything in his mind, Fox relaxingly walked to a workshop booth.
… The next morning, after showering in the HQ, Fox headed to the armory. He borrowed a ‘few’ firearms, none top-notch, and brought some of his bions with him in a case. Then, he went to his suite in the mega hotel, packing a few suits and wearing one before taking a taxi to a slightly farther district from the center.
Fox spent 3 hours in the taxi, with traffic catching him and the taxi in the latter half of the journey, before arriving near a neighborhood. The location he neared was close to another district, where more large buildings stood tall and lots of people still walked to and fro.
Coming out of the car, which left with an annoyed face for being made to come all the way here, but for a good price, Fox checked the neighborhood before turning around. With his suit and case, Fox walked to the other district. It was already too late to meet his client in his house.
Another 40 minutes later, Fox entered this part of the city’s most bustling zone. He headed to one of the tallest buildings, which had several companies and other businesses hoarding inside.
None of the expenses would be accounted to him, but PSD. Besides, he was firster, so the District might even ‘waste’ a hundred thousand credits without batting an eye, but only if it was ultimately necessary.
The taxi only costed a bit more than 1,000 credits, barely something, and mostly because of the extra time spent.
Regardless, Fox wore glasses, and even without changing his appearance, few seemed to notice who he might be. Fox wasn’t a beauty, a handsome fella, or a buffed guy. Many guys ‘could look’ like him, just another guy. Who knew how many fellas were nearly arrested after being beaten down when he was still fleeing?
“Good morning,” a beautiful young woman with a wedding ring and traditional hairstyle with a single strand of her long hair at the tip tied to a small stalk, said to him with a smile. Fox smiled, showing his ravishing smile that looked better covered with liquid…
Leaving an obviously fast-beating heart behind, Fox took an elevator after enduring having to walk through where more than 200 people walked around nonstop. He took his glasses off and looked around, shocking some of the employees in the elevator with him. But he said nothing.
After reaching the second-highest floor, Fox stepped out. Because of the building’s strict rules, nobody dared record him, but they still messaged their groups and who knew who; lover, couple, children, or just their gossipy friendsies, about what they just saw.
Fox entered the ‘one-room’ floor only. He welcomed the sight of a wide hallway, going around the entire floor, with only a glass wall separating the hallway from the room. What’s more, the wall leading to the outside of the building were also all glass, although these were all armored, and thick.
Inside the single room in the floor was a brown man with honey-like, smooth hair, talking to a phone with exasperation, sweating a bit, and a heart beating unlike that woman downstairs. He was agitated, constantly gesturing with fierce motions. There was fear and hatred in it.
…