The Lives of Tao

by Wesley Chu

  Sonya nodded. “If the Genjix have been tracking this new host through Homeland, I want to get a map of all the street cameras. The new host can avoid detection better if he knows where not to walk around with his face exposed.”

  Good idea. Are you sure you want to start this assignment this morning? You have had very little sleep lately.

  Sonya craned her neck and stretched. “I am a little jet-lagged, but it’s nothing I haven’t done before. I was looking forward to that time off in the Caymans – but it’s nice to be back in Chicago. It’s been almost two years. Tell Command they still owe me a vacation. A training assignment shouldn’t be too tough. I haven’t had the chance to read the new host’s file. I assume you did during the flight? Why do you think they want this new host so badly?”

  I have read the file. This one will be more work than you think. The Quasing is Tao. Several in the Genjix Council have a vested interest in him. They would love to get their claws around that troublemaker.

  “Sounds like my kind of Quasing.” Sonya got out of the car and walked into the building. Tao sounded familiar, like a name she heard in the distant past. “Did Tao work with Mother before?”

  Dania was Tao’s previous host’s mentor. They worked together for many years. I believe you two met when you were very young.

  Sonya chuckled. “And now I get to mentor his new host. How poetic.”

  Let us just hope things turn out better for both of you than it did for Dania and Edward.

  “I’ve heard of Edward. I think Dania and he did pretty well for themselves in the organization.”

  I was referring to both of you living a long life.

  The elevator dinged and opened onto the twentieth floor. Sonya walked out and looked around. “So what’s the scoop on this trainee? We can’t just send him to our boot camp? Is he police or National Guard?”

  Worse. The Keeper’s report says he’s a civilian, an unimpressive one at that. Your main focus will be physical readiness at first, followed by hand-to-hand combat, then firearms, then squad tactics. The Keeper stresses that he needs to be up to speed quickly. Someone in the Genjix hierarchy is willing to spend significant resources to find him.

  Sonya smiled. “Ooh, nice. A complete build from scratch. I’m going to enjoy this. Will he require a protection detail?”

  You are it. This unit on the right.

  “Still doesn’t seem too bad. He shouldn’t take up more than half my time. I guess a vacation in Chicago is as good as any.”

  Chicago is a hotbed of Genjix activity. There will be more work here, I am sure.

  Sonya checked her watch and then knocked on the door. There was a rustling sound on the other side. She waited another second before knocking again. If she had to cancel a two-week beach vacation, the new host would have to deal with waking up early. Finally, the door opened and a tall thin man with brown hair and a pretty face appeared.

  “Not our host?”

  The roommate. Antonio Desilarez.

  “Too bad. He’s kind of cute.”

  “Hi.” Sonya smiled. “I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, but...” She stopped. Antonio was gaping at her as if she had suddenly grown elf ears. There were a few uncomfortable seconds before he seemed to finally collect himself. Sonya paused and waited; it was early after all. Maybe he was still getting the cobwebs out of his head. He swung the door open all the way and leaned against it. She saw his eyes check her out, lingering a little longer on her chest than the rest of her.

  “I’m sorry, can I help you?” He stuck out his hand. She could swear he lowered his voice. “Hi, I’m Doctor Antonio Desilarez. My friends call me Antonio.”

  Ooh, a doctor.

  “Ooh, a douchebag. I wonder how many times this week he’s used that line.”

  He seems quite practiced at it.

  “I’m looking for Roen,” Sonya said. “He’s not expecting me, but he’ll want to see me.”

  “Of that I have no doubt.” Antonio studied her face and pointed at her forehead. “You have a nasty abrasion there. Do you want me to take a look? I’m a doctor.”

  “I think we already established that,” Sonya replied sweetly. “Thanks, but I’ll be all right. Is Roen in?”

  Antonio stepped aside and magnanimously waved her in. “Of course. How rude of me. Can I get you something to drink? A beer, water? I can make some eggs for you if you like. I’m sorry, you’re very distracting. What was your name again?”

  “Sonya,” she replied. “And just getting Roen will be fine.”

  Persistent, isn’t he?

  “I find it quite flattering. Girl likes a little attention once in a while, even if it’s from a douchebag.”

  Doctor Douchebag.

  Antonio finally seemed to get the picture and his face fell. “Sure thing,” he said. “Roen’s still asleep. The last door on the right. Are you sure I can’t get you anything?”

  “Quite,” she said and glided past him to Roen’s room. Sonya stopped at the open doorway and looked around. The room was neatly organized, with stacks of paper sorted in bins on the desk. The laundry was in a hamper in the corner sorted by color, and clothes were folded in the open closet divided by seasonal wear and utility. She went to the bookshelf and glanced over the books, which were arranged in alphabetical order. “Tao or the host?”

  According to the evaluation, this is all Tao.

  “He’s left his mark on the new host already then. Roen Tan is that malleable?”

  It would seem so.

  She walked over to the bed where several blankets were rising up and down. Roen was snoring somewhere in that mound. There was an arm exposed hugging a pillow. She sat down next to him and leaned in close, walking two fingers up the arm. “Wake up, sleepyhead. It’s time to lose the donuts,” she cooed.

  Roen yawned and turned over. Sonya grinned and tapped him harder. “You’ll be a fun one to take on field missions. Get up, or I might have to get a little rough.”

  Roen awoke groggily and turned to face her. His eyes widened; he looked puzzled, as if unsure what was happening. Finally, he whispered, “Are you real?”

  Sonya laughed and blew into his face. “Do I feel real? I’m Sonya, and I came to ask you for something.”

  “Um... huh... ask what?” he stammered.

  She chuckled. “Quite the glib tongue you got there. Baji wants to know where those two million rubles Tao owes her are. It’s been fifteen years now, and she’s adding interest.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  FIRST LESSON

  Even at an early age, I sensed greatness in Temujin. He was strong and cunning, able in the ways of war. I was his noble ancestor, and I trained him in the ways of politics and battle. For on the harsh steppes, war must be waged and blood must be shed before there could be peace. And in Temujin, I had the perfect weapon. The question is, can the weapon be sheathed after it has drawn blood?

  Roen still couldn’t wrap his head around the vision that was hovering over his bed – a pretty girl. She was curvy and muscular, yet slender, with large luminous blue eyes, pale creamy skin, luxurious long black hair, and a whole list of other adjectives that currently escaped him. He gaped, mouth wide open. His brain didn’t seem to be working right. The sounds coming out of her mouth sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher in a Peanuts special. All he heard was wah, wah, wah.

  You sly dog. You never told me about her.

  Roen could’ve sworn he detected amusement in Tao’s voice. “You think I would keep HER a secret?”

  “Well,” the vision of beauty said petulantly. “Where’s my money?”

  She is such a riot.

  “Who?”

  Baji. Say hello. I have not seen her host Sonya since she was a little girl.

  “Sonya, Baji, hi! It’s so good to see you.” Roen spoke as if they were old friends, and as he did with old friends, he hugged her. Later on, he would stand by that reasoning and vehemently deny that he hugged her because she was pretty. Sonya laughed and hugged him back,
not missing a beat. She smelled very good, he noticed.

  Tell her I lost those rubles playing craps. I think the dice were rigged. Roen conveyed the message.

  Sonya grinned and stood up. “You’re so incorrigible, Tao. Of course they were rigged. Wait until the Keeper finds out how you’re using your stipends. Anyway, get up.”

  “For what?” Roen yawned.

  “For your workout. I’m putting you through your paces today.”

  Roen sat up and stretched, and then plopped back into bed. “Tao and I have an agreement. I’m off on Saturdays.”

  “That’s because your butt is mine on Saturdays from now on.” She tapped her wristwatch. “You’ve got five minutes before I drag you out in your jammies. I mean it.”

  Roen watched her walk out of his room. Immediately, he hopped out of bed and ran to the bathroom; he took extra time to use mouthwash and comb his hair; he also sprayed on cologne.

  You are going to calisthenics, not prom.

  “You never told me the other agents were so hot.”

  The last time I saw Sonya she was ten. Her mother was a host; she and I used to work together. I am glad she had a peaceful transition. Sonya is a fourth-year host, but has known about us since she was a child. She has already spent many years preparing for her ascension with Baji, so she is quite advanced. You would do well learning from her.

  Ten minutes later, they were outside jogging down the street. Late April in Chicago was a bit on the soggy side. The ground was wet and a soft layer of mist rested on the city. The sun was just rising from the horizon, and an orange haze bathed the streets in a warm glow. A touch of cool wind blew in from the west that stirred the newly budding leaves.

  Roen had lost twenty pounds since Tao had first put the hammer down on his diet and lifestyle a short month ago. Gone were the days of frozen foods, burgers, and chips, replaced by celery, carrots, raw spinach, and pieces of chicken so small he could eat them in one bite.

  He hadn’t gotten around to purchasing new clothes yet, and his once-tight jogging clothes wore loose on him. Sonya gave him a look and promised to take him shopping.

  “Toward the lake?” Roen asked as they warmed up.

  “Someplace new,” she replied and turned north. Roen shrugged and followed close behind.

  “How long have you been at this?” he asked as they jogged through the quiet streets.

  “Running? I like to do the marathon here every year if the missions allow for it,” she replied. Already, Roen had a difficult time matching her pace.

  “No, I meant this Quasing thing.” He was already starting to breathe through the mouth. There was no way he could keep this up for long. Thankfully, Sonya noticed and slowed down.

  She spoke without any hint of trouble. “I knew about Baji since I was little. Mother used to work closely with Edward. She decided early on to not hide any secrets. By the time I was ten, I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps and have been training ever since. When she developed cancer a few years ago...” Her voice trailed off. “I had to continue her work.”

  “I’m sorry,” Roen said after a pause. Still uncomfortable with women, he often drew blanks speaking to them. Sonya being attractive did not help matters. “Do you think these Prophus can be trusted?” he asked. “I mean, Tao told me some stories about what they’ve done, and I can’t help but feel like a puppet dancing on their strings.”

  It is all right. Just pretend I am not here.

  She beckoned him to turn off the path onto another street. “It’s true that they have influenced our evolution, and as a result terrible things have happened, but there’s been good as well. The Prophus might have caused a few wars, but they’ve been responsible for peace too. Baji once was the Quasing for Franz Ferdinand, the Archduke of Austria-Este. He was in the process of trying to reform and stabilize Austria-Este with all its ethnic groups when he was assassinated. Sadly, had he lived, the First World War might have been avoided. It’s difficult to determine where humanity would be without Quasing influence. For all we know, if it wasn’t for them, Neanderthals could be ruling the world.”

  “Didn’t Franz Ferdinand cause World War I?”

  “His assassination did, courtesy of the Genjix. They wanted the ethnic tensions to continue in the region and were in control of the monarchy. It goes in hand with their belief that conflict breeds innovation. Look at the unmitigated disaster that followed his death.”

  “I guess.” Roen was not convinced. “Where’re we going, by the way?” This was obviously not a random jog.

  “We’re close.” She pointed ahead. “Just down the block right off Lake Street.” They stopped in front of a rundown warehouse with a Morimoto Chocolates sign at the front, and she led him to a side door down a small alley. Roen studied the building; it didn’t look like any chocolate place he’d ever seen, though he kept his hopes up. The window panes were darkened and smudged, but looked to be in good condition. The door was rusty and weeds grew from between the cracks on the sidewalk. Above them, the elevated train tracks rumbled as a train passed by overhead.

  “Come on, what are you standing out there for?” Sonya called from inside. “We have a lot to do; my report says you needed to be field ready yesterday.”

  “Report? What report? Who are you reporting me to, Tao?”

  Your mother asked me to keep tabs on you.

  “That’s a very mature thing to say.”

  Stop taking yourself so seriously, Roen.

  He followed her into a small dark room. How much did she know about him? The small room was the size of a walk-in closet. There was a large metal circular door that looked like a bank vault on the far wall. Roen studied the shiny steel surface of the hatch and then the rusted surroundings. Something wasn’t right. Sonya fiddled with several buttons on a small panel and then the hatch rumbled and hissed open.

  “Safe house CW12,” she stated as she walked in and turned on the lights, “your new training center.”

  Roen followed her and looked around in amazement. The interior looked nothing like the exterior. They stood on the upper floor of a two-level warehouse that seemed impossibly larger inside than it appeared from the outside. There was a running track along the edge of the upper floor that opened to a workout area on the lower level; assorted weight lifting machines littered the main gym floor with rows of dumbbells stacked on one side; there was a boxing ring in the center and a firing range on the far side. The near corner had what seemed like living quarters, including a kitchen with a television. There was also a bank of computers next to it. Everything seemed state of the art.

  “What is all this?” he asked in a small voice.

  Start memorizing these locations. They could save your life one day.

  “It’s one of our safe houses. We have a few in every major city; completely self-sufficient and always stocked with supplies. This particular facility is masked as a storage warehouse for cake mix. Passcode: 93276 and your voice imprint.” Sonya walked to the weight station. She turned to him and patted the bench. “You ready?”

  Roen’s eyes grew wide. “Ready for what? Lifting? I don’t think I have ever touched weights before.”

  “I can tell. You’ve lost a fair amount of weight already, but unless you plan to run away from every Genjix you meet, you’d best pack on some muscle and learn a stiff jab.” She pointed a finger at him and beckoned him closer. “Don’t worry, I’ll spot you.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked. “I mean, you look tough and all, but you’re a little thing.”

  “Oh?” There was a glimmer of a challenge in her voice. “Care for a little wager? We’ll start light, twenty-fives on a side. Loser pays for dinner.”

  Roen lay down on the bench and looked at the bar over his head. “Dinner? Sure!” Truth be told, he was willing to pay her just to have dinner with him, but at least this didn’t sound so desperate. “Here goes nothing,” he muttered.

  Do not make me look bad in front of Baji.

  Roen lifted the b
ar and steadied it. This wasn’t too tough, at least not as bad as he feared. He lowered the bar to his chest, surprised at the ease. When he tried to lift the bar back up though, it wouldn’t budge. Roen strained harder. He pushed. He grunted. He yelled. His arms responded by collapsing, bouncing the bar once off his chest.

  “Errr... gr... arghh,” he groaned, squirming and straining. “It’s on my chest,” was all he could gasp.

  Come on, you can do it!

  “My, we do have our work cut out for us,” she murmured. “Baji thought you were further along than this.” She lifted the bar off him and put it back onto the stand.

  Stop making me look bad then.

  “Piss off, Tao,” Roen growled in between deep breaths.

  “Sorry? What did you say?” Sonya’s upside-down face came into view as she leaned forward. Roen had to take a moment to admire her perfect complexion.

  “Um... nothing,” he replied lamely.

  They spent the rest of the morning working on different weights and machines. Since Roen was new to weight lifting, Sonya took the time to teach him the proper techniques and, as she claimed, was able to out-lift him on every apparatus. He marveled at how someone with such a small frame could be so strong. By mid-morning, Roen lay on the floor exhausted as his muscles ached and begged for mercy.

  She knelt next to him and handed him a cup of water. “Not bad for your first time. Don’t worry about the low weights. You were game to try and that’s really all that matters. The rest will come.”

  “Are we done?” he begged, bone-tired.

  “One more thing,” she said, walking over to the wall and picking out two pairs of boxing gloves. “Put these on.” She tossed a pair to him. Roen fumbled the catch and the gloves bounced off his chest. He stared at them as if they were spiders.

  “I don’t like to fight,” he said.

  Oh, come on, Roen. What are you going to do next time a Genjix wants to kill you, beg him to death?

  “What’re you going to do when a Genjix tries to kill you?” Sonya asked, giving him a stern look.