“Oh, I understand. The constant encounters with people make you want to avoid company. I won’t even talk about work!”
Jade tried to imagine what to say. He was trying to be friendly. He also made her want to kill him. However, he was supposed to assist them, act as a go-between, she couldn’t avoid him. He had to delivery reports. He called. He sent email.
She didn’t want to dine with him. She was unhappy enough to be on the same planet as him. As soon as he entered a room, he got under her skin. She enjoyed deleting his emails.
Or maybe it wasn’t him. Maybe it was how she was changing, but either way, he annoyed her.
“Fine, fine.” Jape spun around. “Aren’t you almost done?”
“Actually I am,” Jade answered, and immediately regretted it. She’d just given the over-friendly Mock an entrance.
“Well, I …” Jape caught something in Jade’s eyes. “Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. You know, we ought to get together sometime, off duty.”
“I try to be careful about business and my personal life.” Jade lied, feeling immediately ashamed.
“Oh, then I shall depart. I want to get out and see more of the city. Good day and good fortune!”
Jape pranced out of the room. When he was gone, Jade set her head down on the table.
“I’m going to kick him in the nuts someday. Testicles in orbit.”
Jape butted in everywhere. He seemed to know exactly what to do to irritate her. Yes, he was useful, yes he knew the Panoramic League, and yes they’d given them no options to pick a go-between.
Had he been incompetent, hitting on her, or something else, she could have dealt with it - forcefully. But instead she couldn’t very well say “hello, we’re rearranging your lives and could we have a different liaison?” Jape did his job and worst, did it well. Damn it.
“Jade?”
HuanJen stood in the doorway of the conference room, an odd metal box tucked under one arm. Jade felt her heart leap - it wasn’t love, it was relief that it was someone without a life story or someone annoying or confusing. Love would come in a calmer time.
“Hey loverboy, it’s all done. The first rounds of job searches and I provided some of the apartment info. How’d things go with Sunny and Moonie?”
“Well. And the Court of Mirrors finished this.” HuanJen hefted the box under his arm. “A time capsule for Guild Esoteric. A box of memories.”
“How poetic.” Jade scowled, trying to scrub the sensation of Jape from her mind. “I got a present from one of the Leaguers. So how are the heads doing?”
“Fine. Sun is glad we are doing well. Moon dislikes the entire affair but won’t admit it. Tradell missed the meeting as usual. She’s young, she just came to the position a few years ago. It is calm. You?”
Jade stood wearily. “Well the people Rake and his crew found positions for seem to be happy. To be honest … I’m not sure how seriously some of them took the League ending.”
“I have gotten that impression as well. Zero … Zero was talking about how it would be ‘fun’ to join. But from what I’ve seen, the League wasn’t considered so casually a century or two ago.” HuanJen’s infinity-black eyes looked into centuries past, into the reports and musty books of the Esoteric Library and the Lyceum.
“Yeah.” Jade felt an odd, diffuse sadness. “Some of them, they knew it would be over. I mean that girl I just talked to had only been on board for five years - and she used to be a member of Guild Esoteric until something weird happened in her University night class in art.”
“A lot of them don’t take it as seriously.”
“No.” Jade felt some pity creep into her voice. “I don’t think anyone does as much as others think.”
Father Sun and Sister Moon weren’t talking to each other. As they were sitting in the same room, this was very awkward.
The two leaders of the Panoramic League sat surrounded by books hastily arranged on old bookshelves, boxes, and mismatched furniture. The room had the air of a library with a severe organizational problem.
“No comments about our friend?” Moon finally asked through her silver mask.
“HuanJen?” Sun asked absently, leafing through an old book of carefully-arranged photographs.
“Of course.”
Sun closed the book. “He seems a good choice. He seems to like a low profile.”
“He’s not some cuddly Zone Cleric, you know. He … “
The door to the room swung open and Tradell entered, green robes swirling like fallen leaves in a strong wind. He seemed to almost sniff the air.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was commenting on our benefactor, HuanJen,” Moon said before Sun could answer.
“Yes.” Tradell shut the door. “I don’t think everyone is happy. You did read the profile on him I gave you?”
“That’s what I was talking about,” Moon answered bitterly. “Yes, he’s a Zone Cleric fine. I can respect that. My great-grandfather was a Zone Cleric in Piscion. He’s also … let us be frank, a troubleshooter.”
“The exorcism part?” Tradell asked.
“That is not a profession to hold against him.” Sun’s golden mask glinated in the lights as he stood up. “He is working hard as are his coworkers …”
“He takes care of supernatural troubles permanently. Perhaps we should hold that against him. The profile the Court of Mirrors put together was very informative.”
“Don’t start …” Sun warned.
“Some people say he threw Paldayne off of Shard Tower. He takes care of problems. Perhaps the Guild thinks we are a problem.”
“I hardly think Guild Esoteric would act like that.” Sun answered. “Be … Sister Moon, we agreed.”
“I don’t have to like it,” Moon snapped. “You didn’t even want to end the league until the Court voted on it, and that passed, I remind you, by one vote. One.”
“Becka, we agreed.” Sun crossed his arms. His voice was fatherly.
For Sister Moon, that was the wrong tone to choose. Anyone who knew her should have realized that, but everyone made mistakes, and Sun realized as his voice faded that he had just made one.
“No, you agreed and I … I am just the little woman who came along in time to watch you take it all to pieces. We could have gone on, made the League a business …”
“You know what that would mean,” Tradell cautioned, “We decided to end it. We …”
” … are more a collection of people than a tradition anymore, yes, yes, I recall your lecture, Tradell.” Moon snarled. “Better to be remembered than to be distorted. I …”
Moon shuddered.
“Sister?” Tradell asked cautiously.
“Nothing. I am tired. I’m sorry Pytor, Tradell. I didn’t want to make trouble. I just hate to see it end. I wish I had a choice, I wish … that people listened to me, but they did, and the decision was made.”
Tradell paused, then hugged Sister Moon. “I know. But remember when this was considered before, and what it caused. This way … we will be remembered.”
Father Sun looked at the two hugging, then looked down. He shook his head, and took a seat.
December 19, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar
“I thought it would be a good idea,” Jape said dejectedly.
HuanJen nodded sagely. He did many things sagely, but most who knew him had to admit he had the sagely nod down well. It was a kind of intelligent, humble, and reserved gesture, well suited when people needed to feel you actually knew what you were doing.
“It is … a private function.” HuanJen added.
Jade looked out into the cloudy night sky, then behind him. The two of them were slowly walking away from a bar with a large sign reading “The Nax.”
“Sorry. I figured I’d surprise you, buy some drinks … you know, socialize. We do have to work together.” Jape pulled his variegated green coat around him.
“It is appreciated,” HuanJen noted. “There’s a Trolley at the next stop that can get you b
ack to the center. Do you …”
“I have money. I am a master of the unpleasant - it seems wealth always follows the sad things.”
There was no response. Jape’s eyes narrowed.
“Silence? I’d expect philosophy. Words are part of the Holy Man’s repetoire, as ironic as …”
” … words are only partial and we deal in wholes.”
“Yes.” Jape grinned. “I’ve really enjoyed working with you. You and Jade are so different, not stiff, and helpful! I mean I’m a glorified gopher, and … Oh, I’ll have those interviews set up for the next set of people … I got distracted …”
“I see.”
Silence.
“You get the time capsule put away?” Jape asked casually.
“Yes.
The two walked on. The lights of a trolley stop loomed a few blocks away.
“Um, sorry about the jokes. And what I saida bout Rake.” The Mock’s voice was soft.
“Thank you.” HuanJen turned to Jape with a slight smile on his face. “Why were you assigned to assist us?”
“Ah. Well, the Council picked me … and I volunteered.” Jape’s face had a sour expression. “I don’t have a problem with what’s happening. Things happen. So I figure I was the least likely to offend anyone. Ironic, eh?”
“Yes. Well, are we settled?”
“Yes. I will … avoid being inappropriately social. Nice friends though. They … well, ask much about work?”
HuanJen smiled. “Only when appropriate. They still fear they are not supportive. But they are there. I always know that.”
Jape regarded the Taoist cleric with eyes that suddenly seemed as deep as the ocean.
“You’re an interesting man, HuanJen. Very much so. I’m glad we get to be executed by someone interesting. The trolley is coming, and goodnight.”
HuanJen watched Jape board the trolley. Behind dark eyes, his mind was carefully piecing together information.
“Hey, Huan?”
The mystic turned to find Jade behind him, looking at him with a mixture of concern and distaste. He had an idea where both emotions had come from.
“Yes?”
“What you didn’t beat the shit out of him? The Vulpine grinned with mock malice.
“I made sure things were made clear. No, I didn’t tell him about any of the past.” HuanJen quickly intuited Jade’s questions. “I rather suspect he knows …”
“I suspect the League researched us enough.” Jade shook her head. “Let’s get back to the bar. I don’t want to deal with them right now. Trust me …”
“Jade?”
“…nothing.”
December 20, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar.
Jade sat in the study at the apartment, looking at a picture. Yandella’s gift to her.
She had looked at it several times lately.
She had not shown it to HuanJen. This made her feel slightly guilty.
It was a rather sloppy-looking painting when one first looked at it - but as one looked closer, it revealed finer and finer details.
It was a picture of her, sort of.
Black fur and green eyes, but there were images of other eyes around her portrait, and the darkness of her fur and hair blended into something else. One could get the vague impression of a hood or a shroud.
Jade carefully at the picture down on the study’s desk, and went over to one of the bookshelves that dominated the room. She sorted through a selection of books and files, finally extracting a lone file. The file was not so much hidden as just kept very out of the way.
It was marked, simply “M”.
There were a lot of papers in it - photocopies, printouts, and hand-scrawled notes. She’d been quite busy.
December 22, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar.
Slate was laughing.
Slate didn’t laugh much - it wasn’t that he didn’t have a sense of humor, he just didn’t find many things worth having a large emotional outburst over.
Garnet’s latest interest in the Xaian Wrestling Federation had given him new reason to laugh. He sat on the living room couch, Garnet on his left, Rake on his right, watching the television with wide eyes eyes.
“This is hilarious!” Slate slapped his knee. “Now these people, they’re good. They’re delivering this dialogue with straight faces. I loved that comment on the Powersmiths too!.”
Rake nodded. “You, ah, just have to, ah, admire it. Now, from what Garnet told me … and there you go.”
Garnet bounced up and down and hugged Slate. “I called it. I knew she’d leave him. Well, The Exorcist is now a single man and without a manager! Cutest guy in the XWF is free! Send in the ladies.”
“It, ah, can’t be permanent. They’re ah, too good together onscreen.” Rake waved his hand as if brushing off dust. “He’s not exactly, ah, bright, but he’s good with her. The writers, ah, will put them together, ah, again. They’re too much fun.”
“No,” Garnet commented, “They’ve been trying to branch out The Exorcist as a more fleshed out character. My guess is this is going to be a long-term plot. And he’s really picked up good moves.”
Slate sat back in the embrace of the couch. “You weren’t kidding, this, my dear, is a truly unique experience. And that first match between Goldenray and The Anomaly was something! I almost thought it was real.”
“Well, it is real,” Garnet commented, “Just the plots are specific. But there’s no special effects. It’s not just silly stuff, Slate, these people work hard.”
“You, ah, have a unique sense of entertainment, ah, Garnet.” Rake said, sitting back. “Still, ah, this is different than the usual Tuesday get-together.”
“And Jape wasn’t there.” Slate said firmly. “I do not understand how my sister works with him. And he showed up just to … show up?”
“They’re OK so far.” Garnet commented. “He’s just … a hazard of the job. At least he only stayed for a bit.
“Well, ah, it was wise of Brandon to start an, ah in depth discussion of, ah Mr. Pynn’s idea to change the names of the major portals. Nothing like Traveler’s Guild, ah, ephemera to bore someone - or give someone the cold shoulder”
“Actually this is Brandon,” Slate cautioned. “I don’t ask about his sex life or anything else. He may have been serious.”
“He was,” Garnet nodded, “He’s native, people don’t want a change like that. Hell, I don’t want a change like that.”
“Ah, true.” Rake sighed. “Speaking of native, ah, things … HuanJen and Jade …”
“No comments except Jape.” Slate said primly. “Honestly, Rake, my sister can take care of herself, and from what little I know this is mostly social work.”
“True. Just, ah, keeping track of things.”
Slate pointed at the television. “Watch large muscular people hurt each other. You need it …”
Rake nodded. Still, part of his mind wandered back to the top of Shard tower months ago …
December 23, 2000 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar
Sister Moon heard a knock at her door of her room. It was evening, she was just settling in, and of course, someone had to interrupt.
Worst, she was out of costume. The uniform of the Sister Moon was part of Panoramic League tradition - and currently the part of tradition was lying haphazardly on a chair, one of the few pieces of furniture in the small quarters provided by Hixx’s Convention Center.
She was going to have to put it on. Again. Each time was harder, because each time was one more time closer to when it would be put away.
Sister Moon arose from her position on the small bed. She was a young woman, pretty in an odd way, with a peach-shaped face and short black hair. Despite her youth her eyes and thin-lipped mouth gave the impression of an age greater than her body.
“Just a moment.”
She threw the blue robe on over her nightshirt. Blue, sky color, cool. Lunar. Symbolic.
” … almost ready.”
The silver mask went into plac
e next. Silver. Reflective. Like the moon, but whereas the sun shone, the moon reflected. But what was light without reflection?
All symbolic. The Sister Moon was part of balance. Two leaders, always matched, always balance. The cycles of the world.
For now. Some went on longer than others.
“Coming.” Moon strode to the door and opened it, and saw a very unwelcome sight.
HuanJen.
Actually, Moon corrected herself, it wasn’t that he was unwelcome. It was what he represented. He seemed a nice enough guy, but he wasn’t aware of what he was doing as far as she was concerned - or who he was. No one liked to see morticians either. Despite her suspicions about him, she had to regard him as an innocent caught up in all of this ��� whatever it was.
“May I help you,” Moon asked, knowing she wasn’t going to like what she was hearing. She had definitely inherited her mother’s intuition, and it was a mixed blessing.
“I have a few issues to deal with.” HuanJen produced an envelope seemingly from nowhere.
“Oh, no …” Moon closed her eyes under her mask. She was thankful sometime for the traditional garb that concealed her visage. She had one of those faces that broadcast her emotions all too easily.
“Yes. A few complaints from Guild Esoteric and the Entertainer’s Guild. A few of your members picking up money on the site … weren’t always helpful when asked for Guild certifications.”
“Which they don’t have,” Moon crossed her arms.
“Yes. There’s no problem with them doing it, but when they avoid the issue of being Guildmembers, there is a problem.”
“And you have names?”
HuanJen handed the envelope to Sister Moon. “Yes. Once they understood, most were helpful. Still, you understand.”
The Taoist mystic stepped forward and shut the door behind him. He sensed it would be necessary.
Sister Moon perused the envelope’s contents, then nodded simply. “I will talk to them. They will not like it.”
“I don’t expect them to, actually,” HuanJen admitted. Moon regarded him curiously.
“What do you mean by that?”
The Magician-Priest’s voice was without guile. “This is a change for them. A great one.”
“Yes it is.” Sister Moon placed the envelope carefully on another pile of papers. Papers. Paperwork. Bureaucracy. It had all been so different a few months ago.
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