The Days of Tao

by Wesley Chu

  Cameron continued not to look at the friends he was abandoning. A part of him wanted to tell them how sorry he was for doing this, that he had no choice. He just couldn’t risk being wrong again. He had done it far too many times, and there was too much at stake. What hurt the most was that even if he was right, and one of them was a Genjix spy, that would mean that the other one probably wasn’t. That meant he was at best leaving someone innocent stranded.

  Cameron didn’t look back at the shore until they were past the break point. When he did, all he could see in the darkness was the sand and the waves and the trees behind them. Then he saw the two silhouettes standing alone on the beach, still in the same spot he had abandoned them, hoping that he would change his mind at the very last minute and come back.

  Cameron took a deep breath and slowly let the air escape his lungs. The calming exercise did not work. The adrenaline drained from his body and then the dozen injuries he had sustained during the fight came rushing back.

  He sat down next to Emily and spoke quietly. “The Genjix were able to follow us every step of the way. They would have kept hounding us until we got rid of the leak. I had no choice. You have to—”

  Emily turned away from him and looked out to sea into the darkness.

  The trip to safety was equally perilous and nerve wracking, if not outright dangerous. It took the three of them a day of being tossed around in the Ionian Sea before they reached Italy. The country was in complete chaos. It was the new front line for the battle for the Mediterranean. The Genjix forces had walked into most of the northern African countries hardly firing a shot. Egypt and Greece were now embroiled in civil war. Israel had completely closed its borders.

  Cameron and the two survivors joined the throngs of humanity fleeing up the length of Italy, trying to escape the fighting. They moved from refugee camp to refugee camp, passing numerous checkpoints until they made contact with an IXTF unit who arranged for their transportation by train from Italy to Switzerland and then finally to Paris.

  Once they reached Paris, Cameron was moved to a hospital where he stayed for a week so he could have his wounds dressed and the slugs in his body taken out. The wound in his hip had festered and had left him weakened and walking with a limp. Between that, the one in his shoulder, his two fractured ribs, and a punctured eardrum, Cameron had more than enough souvenirs to bring home. However, it wasn’t what he had brought back with him that worried Tao.

  Cameron left a part of himself back in Greece; he couldn’t quite put his finger on what. He felt incomplete, as if part of his soul or whatever made up Cameron’s being had broken into pieces. Seth and Yang’s death and his decision to leave Negin and Surrett behind kept him up for hours every night. Once he would fall asleep, they haunted his dreams. He often woke screaming their names, crying sorry to whoever was close by. He would replay everything over and over both when he was awake and when he was asleep. No matter what, he couldn’t let go, and he couldn’t stop blaming himself.

  He couldn’t stop hating himself.

  It wasn’t until the fifth day at the hospital, staring out the window, that something strange happened. Cameron’s hand took on a life of its own and slapped him. He saw the hand coming, moving from his side until it extended away from his body, and then moved toward his face, all completely out of his control. He frowned, confused. He wasn’t sure if he should stop it until it connected with the right side of his face. He was so shocked he tipped over his chair and fell.

  He stood up angrily. “Hey, what the hell? You hit me!”

  I am tired of this. You did what you had to do. For the last time, this is not your fault. Own your decisions, and move on.

  “You’re abusing our symbiotic relationship, Tao.”

  And I am going to keep doing this until you snap out of it.

  Rage came to Cameron easily, and he was about to scream at his Quasing when he noticed the patient next to him laughing uproariously. Cameron looked in the mirror at the angry red handprint on his face. He must have looked like an idiot smacking himself.

  He couldn’t help it. He began to chuckle. “Thanks Tao. I probably needed that.”

  Yes you did, son.

  “I’m still going to get you back for it one day.”

  I eagerly await your revenge.

  Cameron looked over at Emily sitting next to him staring out the window. She hadn’t even noticed he fell. “Can you snap her out of it too?”

  Emily wore the same haunted expression on her face as Cameron did, and even right next to him, she seemed a million miles away. He had tried to talk to her a few times after that night, but she hadn’t responded. It hurt him that she blamed him for the decisions he was forced to make. He felt like she must hate him, yet she never left his side.

  Give her time. She has been through a lot.

  “So have all of us.”

  Yes, but you are a soldier. You understand that these hard choices must be made. She does not.

  A somber Roen came later that day to discharge him. It had been months since Cameron had seen his father. Roen was a little grayer in the head, a little softer in the midsection, and dared Cameron say it, a little wiser in the face. That, or he just looked tired. Probably tired.

  “Thank God you’re all right,” Roen said as he grabbed Cameron and pulled him into a tight embrace.

  Cameron squeezed back until his hurt body ached. “I see the desk job is treating you well.”

  “That better be from Tao and not you,” his father replied. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you earlier. The world is falling apart on me. Damn Canadians.” Roen pulled back and looked him over. “Wow, you look worse than that time I dared you to catch a rooster.”

  “Yeah, well, you’re a terrible father for letting me try, and I got these genes from you.”

  “I’m going to have some serious words with Tao tonight.” Roen noticed Nazar standing behind Cameron for the first time. “Agent Sajjadi, I presume.”

  “Nazar got us here from Italy,” Cameron said. I don’t think we would have made it otherwise.”

  Nazar, the man Cameron had been assigned to save, had become their caretaker since they left Greece. He helped carry them during the long walks up Italy, protected them while at the refugee camps, and was the one who made contact with the IXTF.

  Roen extended a hand. “You have my thanks, sir.”

  “Director,” Nazar shook it. “It is an honor to meet Cameron Tan’s father. You’ve raised a fine young man.”

  “He’s all right,” Roen grinned. “Just a little hard of hearing sometimes. I hear you have valuable information. It better be worth getting my son shot and beat up over.”

  Nazar patted his briefcase. “I need to see Command immediately.”

  Roen nodded. “We have a transport departing this afternoon. It’ll take you and my son to Prophus Command in Greenland. I hope you packed your thermals.”

  “What about you, Dad?” Cameron asked.

  Roen shook his head and pointed in a random direction. “The front line is that way. I’ll be home in a few weeks.”

  East is the other direction.

  Cameron let Roen know.

  Roen scowled. “Both still smartasses, I see.”

  “Dad, if you’re staying, I am as well. I want to fight.”

  His father’s expression changed, and he stared Cameron down. “Son, grow up. You just fought through a terrible ordeal. I’m not sending you home because I want to keep you out of danger. I’m sending you home because I want you rested and recovered. It’s going to be a long war, Cameron. I need you at full strength.”

  Roen is absolutely right. Wow, I cannot believe I just said that.

  Cameron, who had spent the past three days preparing to argue with his father about sending him home, stopped. He nodded. “Okay, Dad.”

  “Besides,” Roen said, “Your mother is going kill me if I don’t lock you down and ship you to her fortress of solitude as soon as I get my paws on you.”

  “Sound
like I’m going to jail.”

  “You’re not passing Go or collecting two hundred dollars either,” Roen replied cheerfully. “Come on, we have some time to kill before you head to the clink. Spend a few hours with your old man?”

  Cameron looked over at Emily standing off to the side staring out the window. He didn’t know what she was going to do next, but she was probably not coming to Greenland. This may be his last chance to say goodbye for a while.

  “Sure, give me a second,” Cameron said. “I’ll be right there.”

  He walked to her and looked out the window. The hospital yard was a mess. A triage was set up in the center of the yard to take care of the incoming injured. Refugees flowed in by the hour. A food bank was handing out bottles of water. Next to it, the Red Cross was accepting blood donations. Everywhere he looked, he saw the best of humanity.

  “I’m leaving for Greenland soon,” he said.

  Emily didn’t reply at first, and then he felt the back of her hand brush against his, and then she clasped it. They stood there together, in silence, and continued to watch the activity outside.

  “Did I ever tell you about my dad?” she finally said.

  “No.”

  “He used to be an agent. I’m going to the States and see him. He got hurt on assignment a few years back. Never really recovered. His health has deteriorated recently. I was supposed to spend the summer with him instead of going to Greece. I ran away because I was too scared to deal with him dying.” She paused. “He’s a host.”

  “Oh? I didn’t know that. You never talked about him.” Cameron’s heart went out to her. There was something unique and tragic for children of Prophus agents.

  Emily nodded. “Io’s been with my dad since he was young. Dad always wanted one of his kids to be an agent so he could pass Io along. That’s why I ran from it, to be honest. After he got injured, following in his footsteps was the last thing I wanted. But now, I know what I want to do with my life. I want to fight. I want to avenge Seth.” She looked at him, and a small smile appeared. “Maybe you could train me, give me some pointers.”

  “It would be my honor,” he grinned back. “You know you’d have to listen to whatever I say then.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Oh, never mind. It’ll never work.”

  An IXTF agent interrupted them to let her know that her transport to the airport had arrived. She threw her arms around him. “Take care of yourself. You’re my only best friend left.” She gave him one more squeeze and kissed him on the cheek, and then she was gone.

  “Tao, I didn’t know her dad was a host. Do you know Io?”

  Never heard of him, or at least he is not prominent.

  “Really? I thought all you Quasing knew each other.”

  Hey Cameron, I know this one human. You must know him.

  “Point made.”

  “Son, you hungry?” Roen said, coming up behind him. “I found this pizza joint a few blocks away. It’s French pizza—” he made a face “—but French pizza’s better than no pizza. Interested?”

  Cameron smiled. He didn’t love pizza as much as his father did, but heck, who knew when the next time they were going to have another meal together. “Sure, Dad, I’d love to. Lead the way.”