Crossworld of Xai

by Steven Savage

  The door opened gently, thanks to Sister Moon. The co-leader of the Panoramic League regarded Jade calmly, her face covered by a strange, featureless silver mask. Jade found the effect rather unsettling, and imagined it was intentional. Jade remained uneasily unsettled.

  Moon seemed calm. Sun was apparently standing, probably pacing. HuanJen sat at a table, papers in front of him, as calm as could be. It was a more or less what she’d expect - Huan was always calm.

  “I see you have the reports,” Sun snapped. Jade resisted the urge to tell him where she could stick said reports. She was surprised at her own calmness - Sun’s rage was just … something that was.

  “Yes. Jape had them in my mailbox at the Guildhall. I’m sure we’ll inform Rake of the changes.”

  Sun looked at Jade, only his eyes and mouth visible beneath his spired bronze mask. Jade met his gaze calmly. You didn’t back down when people were angry or attack them - you became calm, a pillar around which they could turn.

  She thought of it as a spiritual equivalent of “sit and spin” sometimes, in her less kind moments.

  “Good.” Sun nodded, then smiled a bit. “Sorry to not include you, we wanted to find out if HuanJen was planning to investigate any of the incident. We couldn’t find you.”

  “I was busy.” Jade answered. It was honest, if busy was considered ‘thinking moodily.’

  “I understand.” Sister Moon said quietly. She was much calmer than Jade had expected her to be, which was surprising.

  “I told them we are continuing our work,” HuanJen said pleasantly, “like we talked about.”

  Jade recognized the signal to confirm her mentor/lover. “We did. The incident can be due to any number of causes, so we’re continuing with our original assignment in social integration, just staying more aware.”

  “That’s what he said.” Sun crossed his arms. “Do you two practice this?”

  “It comes naturally,” HuanJen answered.

  There was a moment of silence. Jade felt the weight of peoples thoughts around them. Something had to be said.

  Much to her relief, Sister Moon finally spoke.

  “You two really walked into it, didn’t you?”

  “We always do,” Jade confirmed.

  ” … we just walk out as well,” HuanJen added. “Sun, Moon … if we begin to investigate, even if we get clearance of the Guild or go against their wishes, there’s no guarantee there is anything to find. Or anything we won’t make worse.”

  Sun tried to speak a few times. When his voice finally rumbled forth, it was irritated and resigned. “So, you do not consider it a supernatural incident or sabotage?”

  “I consider it one factor of many. If anything threatens the Leagues changes or the people her, I will react. I will investigate as necessary. I hope you understand.”

  There was another silence. HuanJen’s voice was kind, caring, and made it obvious he was completely unmovable in his intentions. There wasn’t room for debate as debate had already been accounted for and dealt with.

  “Keep us informed.” Moon said. Sun gave her a strange look, and then nodded.

  “Would you like to …” HuanJen began, rising from his seat, only to change his tone, “… I see not. Well, Jade has Jape’s latest reports, judging by what she is carrying and our conversation earlier, we shall continue. Good day.”

  The final two words sounded almost like a question.

  “We shall talk later.” Sun replied. He quickly escorted Moon out of the door.

  Jade opened her mouth, only to find HuanJen’s hand covering it. The mystic raised a finger to his lips. He was focused on their surroundings, body seeming to resonate like a tuning fork. After a few moments, he removed his hand, but not after Jade gave it a quick kiss.

  “We should be alone,” HuanJen stated preference not fact.

  “Yeah.” Jade’s pointed, white-furred ears twitched. “So why is it I want to leave?”

  “A good idea.”

  The couple quickly exited the meeting room, shutting the door behind them, plunging the chamber into soundlessness.

  A few moments of seemingly aimless travel through the Hixx Center brought Jade and HuanJen to a small, windowed room on the third floor of whatever building they were in. Jade wasn’t sure, herself. There were at least four parts to the Center.

  “So, what’s up?” Jade asked.

  “Nothing we wouldn’t know.” HuanJen paced a bit around the unfurnished room. “They suspect sabotage or a sign of sabotage to come. They obviously feel we’re supposed to investigate it. Ironic as we were supposedly so unwelcome.”

  “And?”

  “I don’t think anyone’s attacking them. I don’t think the incident is a sign of something to come, I don’t think anyone planted that scroll to throw them off. I am suspicious.”

  Jade grimaced playfully. “So you’re suspicious just not in the way Moon and Sun and Tradell expect?”

  “Exactly. I think we’re going to need to talk to Dealer Zero.” HuanJen mused. “And I’m going to need a tape of the last performance of the Panoramic League.

  Jade crossed her furred arms. “The League doesn’t let people videotape their performances.”

  “Then I suspect there must be an inordinate number of tapes available” HuanJen’s eyes sparkled with a knowing merriment.

  Jade nodded “We’re not officially investigating for the League.”

  “No. No we aren’t.”

  A moment of silence. The lovers merely looked at each other.

  “I’ll work on getting the tape.” Jade said with an evil grin.

  “And I … well there are many things to do. A few things I should say for personal reasons.”

  Jade felt a lot more sentences behind her mentor’s words, but said nothing. There were times even she knew when to shut up.

  January 9, 2001 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar

  It was The Usual Tuesday at the Nax. The people who called it The Usual Thursday said the capital letters automatically.

  There were also Usual Wednesdays and Usual Fridays, and other Usual Days depending on which group of people you were talking about. The Nax Bar and Grill was located near enough Temple Street and the University that many unusual people spent their Usuals there. It was a normal and friendly place for the strange.

  The most prominent Usual Tuesday group in question belonged to a mix of mystics and other people who had gone there for years. A few clerics, a policeman, a technologist, a nurse, and some others.

  Richard Nax, the owner, had gotten used to them. Admittedly some of them occasionally had unexpectedly unquiet lives, but they were decent people, good folks, and they’d helped him out on a few occasions. They were the regulars you wanted to have. They liked peace and quiet and were glad to help ensure such qualities were there to be enjoyed.

  The burly Nax was currently talking with one of his waitresses when they began streaing in. The Usual Tuesday group was coming in en masse, which was unusual.

  He recognized them all. He watched them arrive in the space of a few minutes.

  Rake. Minister. A squat human with sandy hair and some native beads, always wore black.

  Lorne. Gendarme. Huge blond man with a ponytail. His boyfriend Xianfu was with him, a shorter, handsome oriental man, an Outrider turned teacher, Richard understood. Lorne smiled more with him around.

  Clairice. Nurse, still wearing most of her official Guild Medical outfit. Severe-looking if pretty woman, dark hair.

  Brandon, the dusky guy who always smiled and charmed the ladies. Technologist, obvious from his diadem and his pocket-laden coverall. He moved like a cat.

  Slate and Garnet, the Vulpine couple (married, he remembered), a study in contrasts; Slate was tall and gray-furred, Garnet was petite and red-furred. Garnet waved to Richard as she entered.

  For a few minutes, Richard wondered where the last two were. HuanJen and Jade. He supposed the rumors were true …

  The two of them entered together. HuanJen had a rem
arkably serious look on his face. Richard wondered what was going on - the group had also requested a back room, and they only did that when they really needed privacy.

  Mr. Nax squelched the curious thoughts. He was a barowner and often bartender. He’d find out if he needed too.

  Though he was curious …

  The Usual Tuesday Group HuanJen and Jade belonged to had settled into the back room. They had ordered drinks. They made conversation, but it was the light conversation of people knowing another conversation was coming up.

  They knew HuanJen was going to have a Talk. The Talk had capital letters just as much as Usual Tuesday did.

  HuanJen normally would have a Talk with people who needed it - privately, or in a small group. As a Zone Cleric, he often was called upon to counsel, to advice, to aid, like many of his friends. He didn’t suddenly start things out of the blue with groups of people, but they knew it was coming. Garnet had picked up something from Jade and told it to Slate, who told it to Lorne, who recognized the signs …

  “Ahem.”

  The group looked at HuanJen automatically. Immediately the mystic knew they understood the situation. Jade restrained herself from rolling her eyes at her lover’s surprise.

  “I know it’s the usual Tuesday night, I know we like to relax … and I’m sure you all know I’m going to say something. I … normally don’t do this.”

  HuanJen went silent for a moment. Jade felt something within him she’d rarely sensed - perhaps a part of him only she’d seen. Being a Holy Man was really part of being there, not doing things, already being inserted in the path of trouble instead of finding it.

  “You’re all wondering about the Panoramic League, what happened. I know you worry, I know you have for awhile. We are those who support others, who keep things running, and the most difficult thing at times is helping each other. And I know you are concerned, I know you talk among yourselves, and I know … I am not the easiest person to help.”

  Jade could feel each sentence holding its own paragraph of meaning.

  “I am fine, Jade is fine, though if she disagrees you know she’ll say otherwise. We are in a difficult situation, but . .. we know we can count on you. I did. We’ve always known. And so, yes, the Panoramic League situation is annoying, yes it makes the Zone Cleric work difficult - and I know any of you would be there, just like we’ve always been there for each other. But sometimes things need words.”

  HuanJen felt Jade hold his hand. She understood how strangely difficult this was for him. He wasn’t used to telling people how he felt, even if he could quickly wallow in words, because he liked to let feelings guide his actions. He could say how he felt in a few words, but something like this was a challenge.

  The Zone Cleric looked over his gathered friends. “And I know I can count on all of you. I wanted you to know that. I probably do not say it when I should. I am thankful for all of you in my life. My … family.”

  “Huan?” Rake asked after a moments thoughtfulness.

  “Yes.”

  “We, ah … aren’t going to, ah, find a good response to, ah this, so, ah, keep talking or tell us you’re done.”

  “Oh, no, this is the standard moment of deep thought followed by someone making a witty remark that breaks the tension.”

  “Really?” Rake nodded. “Good job there.”

  HuanJen smiled. “Thank you. Now of course, this is the point where we laugh good naturally and go on about our business, secure in that all is well and the great dramatic sayings have been made.”

  “Oh, and we’re all closer and ready for a group hug,” Jade added.

  “Do we also get to get drunk and say how we love each other?” Brandon asked in the same voice he used to inquire about blueprints and wiring, trying to be as calm and technical as possible.

  “It’s optional,” Jade noted, eliciting a few laughs.

  “Thank you everyone,” HuanJen said sincerely.

  Lorne finally spoke. He blinked a few times, as if trying to contain something behind his eyes. “It’s difficult, I know. I … don’t think I’ve ever told people here how much they mean to me. I’m glad to know you’re OK.”

  “Yeah.” Clairice smiled with a kind of sad and caring relief. “You know, we all worry about each other. Some of us are harder to worry about.”

  “Quite,” Rake added sagely.

  “You’re one of them,” Brandon tossed out with a grin and a twinkle in his eye. “Shall I list the many times you went off on your own, or that time with the motorcycle …”

  “Oh, holy men are the worst,” Jade remarked, “trust me.”

  “You are going to be a cleric, dear,” HuanJen chided.

  “I never said I wasn’t going to be difficult to help, I’m just noting you are now. I’ll be a pain in the ass on my silver mountain in my own time.”

  “I think,” Slate rumbled, “we get the message. I do. And there is no reason to be uncomfortable.”

  Everyone looked at Slate curiously, even Garnet. Slate did not speak much, and what he said he meant. He also tended to be less than gifted in the sensitivity department in most peoples opinions. When he spoke of emotions, he meant it.

  “Yeah,” Lorne nodded, “Slate’s right. Let’s relax.”

  “Good idea, babe,” Xianfu lay back in his chair. He was still getting used to Lorne’s group of friends, but you could make yourself at home there easily.

  “So, spill,” Garnet half-commanded, “you two doing anything with the League? No, I won’t tell anyone. There’s some things the Guild of Housewives doesn’t need to know.”

  “There’s no Guild of Housewives,” Slate commented.

  “Yes, dear, that’s what we want you to think.”

  “Nothing officially,” HuanJen answered. Rake, at the two words, looked up to Heaven in mock-imploring. “However, let us just say I wish Dealer Zero had come here …”

  “Not to have a big moment of bonding, I assume?” Clairice inquired, curious. Dealer Zero and HuanJen had a mixed past, largely due to Magician-Priest having had to deal with a rather criminal phase of Dealer Zero’s divining career. The blurred past suddenly seemed more blurry.

  “No, I need some advice,” the Taoist cleric admitted.

  “He’s probably trying to get into Riakka’s robes,” Brandon said. The Technologist had an odd sincerity in his voice.

  “Draw him a map, then,” Clairice shot back affectionately with the full knowledge that she was one of the few women Brandon hadn’t hit on in their group.

  “Back to normal,” Jade whispered under her breath.

  Something felt new inside of her head. She wasn’t sure why, but she enjoyed it.

  January 10, 2001 AD, Xaian Standard Calendar

  Dealer Zero was nervous.

  Nervousness was his ground state - life never seemed to give him much time to relax, so he’d adopted nervousness as normal. After all, the past few years had resulted in him finding an old Tarot deck, learning divination, traveling dimensions, setting up shop in Metris, and dealing with the rather observant and annoyingly inoffensive HuanJen. Nervousness was something you got used to and could eventually integrate into your life.

  Besides, for years, next to his bed, under the trenchcoat he seemed to wear constantly, was a deck of Tarot cards. Any moment he could lay them out and find something new to worry about.

  Zero even looked nervous. He was a man of indeterminate height with long dark hair and a beard. He gave people the impression of trying to use his hair as camouflage, as if the world would pass him buy if it couldn’t make out his face.

  Lately, he’d even started buying some of HuanJen’s medicinal potions - not the ones now produced by Guild Medical thanks to their agreement with Guild Esoteric. Those were simple medicines. HuanJen knew how to brew up special drinks that went beyond medicine.

  He’d just made an early delivery. Jade over time had taken over the simply deliveries of what was brewed up in HuanJen’s study. This meant something was serious.


  “What’s up?” Zero asked, right as HuanJen set a bag on the table in his shop, the one he did readings on. Glassware clinked inside it.

  “I’ve been trying to reach you.”

  “I’ve been busy.”

  “Try candy, but fancy confections, like on Sullivant avenue.” HuanJen would have been joking had he been anyone but HuanJen.

  “Thanks Romeo.” Zero spat, but he did so playfully. He had asked no one for romantic advice as, by and large, he wasn’t sure he should. Most peoples love lives were highly personal affairs, and trying to apply their advice probably wouldn’t work for him.

  “I need some help,” HuanJen said sincerely.

  “Is this a job help or is this help kind of help?” This was an important distinction to Zero. He did help for money all the time, that was his job. It was the actual kind of help he was sort of adjusting to. He hadn’t fully settled into Xaian culture lately, which placed a lot of emphasis on trust and honesty, and, despite its rather mercantile nature, doing things for reasons other than money.

  “Help kind of help. I need help with the Panoramic League.”

  “Oh … I …” Zero closed his eyes. “I tried one more reading. Chaos. Look, trying to read them is like trying to unravel a thread from a sweater.”

  “I know,” HuanJen sat down at the table, “But I think you can help me with something else.”

  ” … this is gonna be like when Jade wanted me to keep an ear out for sleazy and underhanded mystical things. The one that got me that nasty call from Minerva Monroe’s boyfriend?”

  “Well, yes, but not nearly as bad. And before you say anything,” HuanJen raised a warning hand, “I know you’ve changed. Actually … I think I almost consider you a friend.”

  “Wow, I’m almost flattered,” Zero grinned, then scowled. He actually liked HuanJen when the cleric didn’t scare the shit out of him. This was a rather different HuanJen.

  “Ok, what do you need?”

  “I have a tape of the last Panoramic League performance …” HuanJen began.

  “Right, like I can get one, look …”

  “No, I have one.”

  Zero blinked. He felt an overwhelming urge to read his cards with the question ‘the hell?’